Kevyn Orr has now submitted his initial economic plan for Detroit, and it is what we expected—a slash and burn program to force workers throughout the city to pay back bondholders, while “restructuring” the city in the interests of the rich.

With all the arrogance of a dictator, Orr, an unelected official, has declared there will be no vote by the people or negotiations on the terms of his plan. It is not a “plebiscite,” he said.

Workers of Detroit, we must reject this! The Socialist Equality Party election campaign is dedicated to mobilizing and organizing every section of the working class—auto workers, health care workers and service workers; teachers, firefighters and city workers; the employed and the unemployed; black and white, immigrant and native born, in the city and the suburbs—in opposition to the emergency manager and the plans of the corporate and financial elite.

We say that the program of Orr, accepted by the entire political and media establishment, is based on a lie. This is not about balancing the books or restoring the city to health by improving services and ending corruption. No, it is about impoverishing the working class in order to enrich the wealthy bondholders and multi-billionaires like Little Caesars Pizza CEO Mike Ilitch and Quicken Loans chief Dan Gilbert.

If Orr’s plan is implemented, health insurance for 28,500 active and retired city workers will be cut or eliminated. Wages for firefighters and other city workers will be cut even further.

The Public Lighting Department will be sold off to private utility monopolies. Half of the streetlights shut off, leaving the poorest residents in the dark. Other public assets like the water and sewerage department and Belle Isle are also targeted for sale to private investors.

Home foreclosures and demolitions will be accelerated sharply as part of an effort to “downsize” Detroit, while low-income workers and the elderly are evicted from downtown apartments so real estate developers can jack up the rents.