Hunter issues statement on opposition to Detroit Lighting Authority proposal as Republicans fail to move bills

LANSING — Senator Tupac A. Hunter (D-Detroit) issued the following statement today on his opposition to legislation to create a Detroit Lighting Authority. The Senate Republicans failed to gain enough support for legislation — House Bills 5688 and 5705 — to establish a Detroit Lighting Authority, and passed on the bills for the day before adjourning until July.

“This proposal is just another paternalistic approach by Lansing politicians to tell the City of Detroit what to do. While addressing issues with the City’s public lighting is necessary to improve the safety of our communities, the oversight for it should not be taken away from the City,” said Senator Hunter. “Governor Snyder and the Legislature should not be the ones dictating the terms of this legislation or empowering themselves to pull the strings of this lighting authority by giving them majority representation. I’m tired of Lansing Republicans acting like they know what’s best for Detroit, and that more meddling from Lansing in the City’s affairs is the remedy for all that ails Detroit, a recurring issue with their approach to the City’s problems.”