Relevance of Detroit officials in manager's hands

March 15, 2013 | Modified: March 15, 2013 at 7:01 pm
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The skyline of the city of Detroit is shown Thursday, March 14, 2013. Gov. Rick Snyder announced that he has chosen Kevyn Orr, a partner in the Cleveland-based law and restructuring Jones Day firm, as Detroit's emergency manager. Snyder's already declared a financial emergency in Detroit, saying local officials lacked a plan to solve it. The move makes Detroit the largest city in the U.S. to have its finances placed under state control. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

DETROIT (AP) — What role Detroit's elected leaders will play in the city's fiscal crisis is now up to a Washington, D.C., lawyer appointed by the governor to turn things around.

Emergency manager Kevyn Orr says he wants to work with the City Council and the mayor. But many in Detroit see the state takeover as stripping away the voice of the people to have their elected leaders lead.

Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Orr to the job on Thursday. He starts work on March 25.

He says he wants to "have full partnership with the council and their staffs," but "everything is on the table."

Michigan law allows emergency managers to control all spending, including renegotiating labor contracts, selling off assets and even suspending elected officials' salaries.