- removing confidential documents and student medical records from vacant buildings
- securing or boarding up buildings
The Governor forced us into his command and control of the schools. Yet for four years, Snyder’s Emergency
Managers left newly closed school buildings open to become eyesores in the community. In four years, there
has been time to make buildings secure. Once secure, he could put abandoned properties to good use. This
could have been accomplished by:
- selling the property
- granting the property at full value to worthy non-profits who were not educational competitors
- demolishing the property
Cutting Water Services to Buildings To Prevent Flooding
When the Governor, through his agent, the Emergency Manager, Kevyn Orr, cut flowing water to 29,000
Detroit residents for bills of $150 or more, Civil Rights activists commented to news media that vacant
buildings still had running water, and flooding. Some of these vacant buildings were schools. This is an action
directly within the Governor’s control which people complained about, but were ignored. Because of stripping
of pipes and other materials by vandals and construction companies, water flows unchecked. It is unknown
whether the Detroit Public School District is still paying the water bill for wasted water. Here is a photo of
water at Crosman.
Here is what Crosman looks like from the outside, below. School Board member Elena Herrada recalls:
Citizens and others came to the school board asking for this dangerous building to be boarded
up. Schrupp, the real estate manager said they could not afford to do it. It is in front of the bus
stop on the service drive of Lodge Fwy next to Herman Keifer Hospital.
Even if they could not board up the building, they could request the water services be shut off at the curb. The
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