Yvonne Ross, Yolanda King and Rose Roots are suing the City of Detroit. (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
DETROIT (WJBK) -
"When I came to Michigan and Detroit, in particular, I was impressed with how people in the City of Detroit lived," said Yvonne Ross.
However, that was 30 years ago and the Detroit three women see today is a lot different.
"There was a time when there were seniors on the block, people looked out for the seniors. Now the seniors are looked out for someone to be preyed upon," said Rose Roots.
"You go to downtown Detroit and you see plenty of police officers, but you call them when you're not downtown, call them when you have somebody breaking into your house, and see what the response is," said Yolanda King.
"I am hurt. I'm angry," Ross said.
Ross, Roots and King have lived in Detroit for decades, and like so many, their frustration with the current state of the city has reached a boiling point and the consent agreement was the final straw.
"We're being told what to do with no input. What we say does not matter," said Ross.
Now they've filed a lawsuit, not against the state, but the City of Detroit, the City Council and Mayor Dave Bing. They claim the city had no right to agree to the Financial Stability Agreement, and they are making a lot of the same arguments Detroit Corporation Counsel Krystal Crittendon made in her lawsuit, claiming the state owes the city millions of dollars in unpaid bills and revenue sharing, thus making the consent agreement invalid.
Both King and Ross work for the city. Roots is retired. All three are union members, but they say this has nothing to do with the union and everything to do with being citizens.
"To appoint people to come into the city and be paid money for a city they say is going broke and pay their staff whatever amount of staff they choose, there's something wrong with the system," said Roots.
However, legal experts say this lawsuit could be thrown out because the judge could rule that, as citizens, these women don't have legal standing, but they believe they do because they live there and are affected by every decision that's made.
"I want to be able to live here with some dignity," said King.
We contacted the mayor's office and were told no comment. Meanwhile, a hearing is scheduled for July 13.
Monday, June 17 2013 11:31 PM EDT2013-06-18 03:31:06 GMT
Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr is working on improving city services, including the streetlights. More than 40 percent of them do not work, but the Detroit Public Lighting Authority is now beginning its work.
As Kevyn Orr tries to solve Detroit's financial crisis, he is also working on improving city services, including the streetlights. More than 40 percent of them do not work, but the Detroit Public Lighting Authority is now beginning its work.
Friday, June 14 2013 10:25 PM EDT2013-06-15 02:25:13 GMT
A team led by a state-appointed emergency manager said Friday that Detroit is defaulting on about $2.5 billion in unsecured debt and is asking creditors to take about 10 cents on the dollar of what the city owes them.
A team led by a state-appointed emergency manager said Friday that Detroit is defaulting on about $2.5 billion in unsecured debt and is asking creditors to take about 10 cents on the dollar of what the city owes them.
Monday, June 17 2013 9:27 PM EDT2013-06-18 01:27:07 GMT
The jury in the manslaughter trial of Detroit officer Joseph Weekley did not reach a verdict on Monday. The jury has now deliberated for two full days.
The jury in the manslaughter trial of Detroit officer Joseph Weekley did not reach a verdict on Monday. The jury has now deliberated for two full days.
Monday, June 17 2013 11:31 PM EDT2013-06-18 03:31:06 GMT
Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr is working on improving city services, including the streetlights. More than 40 percent of them do not work, but the Detroit Public Lighting Authority is now beginning its work.
As Kevyn Orr tries to solve Detroit's financial crisis, he is also working on improving city services, including the streetlights. More than 40 percent of them do not work, but the Detroit Public Lighting Authority is now beginning its work.
Monday, June 17 2013 10:43 PM EDT2013-06-18 02:43:12 GMT
He is a Detroit lawmaker serving his second term in the state House, but he may be spending a little too much time at his own house. M.L. Elrick puts state Rep. John Olumba's attendance record under the microscope.
He is a Detroit lawmaker serving his second term in the state House, but he may be spending a little too much time at his own house. M.L. Elrick puts state Rep. John Olumba's attendance record under the microscope.
Monday, June 17 2013 10:36 PM EDT2013-06-18 02:36:35 GMT
The FBI and local police have teamed up hoping to solve a 38-year-old murder mystery. They are searching an Oakland Township field looking for Jimmy Hoffa.
The FBI and local police have teamed up hoping to solve a 38-year-old murder mystery. They are searching an Oakland Township field looking for Jimmy Hoffa.
Monday, June 17 2013 6:45 PM EDT2013-06-17 22:45:07 GMT
In a surprising move, Tucker Cipriano pled no contest to murder in the beating death of his father. Cipriano made the plea just days before members of his own family were set to testify against him.
In a surprising move, Tucker Cipriano pled no contest to murder in the beating death of his father. Cipriano made the plea just days before members of his own family were set to testify against him.
Monday, June 17 2013 5:55 PM EDT2013-06-17 21:55:56 GMT
A new search for the remains of Jimmy Hoffa is underway in northern Oakland County. Armed with a search warrant, the FBI moved in Monday morning and started digging in Oakland Township.
A new search for the remains of Jimmy Hoffa is underway in northern Oakland County. Armed with a search warrant, the FBI moved in Monday morning and started digging in Oakland Township.
Monday, June 17 2013 4:56 PM EDT2013-06-17 20:56:42 GMT
General Motors is recalling more than 193,652 SUVs from the 2006 and 2007 model years because a circuit board in the driver's door could short and cause a fire.
General Motors is recalling more than 193,652 SUVs from the 2006 and 2007 model years because a circuit board in the driver's door could short and cause a fire.
Yvonne Ross, Yolanda King and Rose Roots are suing the City of Detroit. (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
