Fires in Flint, Michigan

The mayor of Flint, Michigan recently laid off 46 police officers and 23 firefighters.  The layoffs come after months of failed contract talks between the mayor's office and public safety unions. The mayor's office has been demanding 15 percent wage and benefit cuts from the police and firefighters unions.

Firefighters union president Raul Garcia accuses the mayor of trying to be a union buster...

Mayor Walling says the city has little choice but to make cuts in public safety. Flint's facing a 6 million dollar deficit and public safety is 60 percent of the city's budget...

But Flint's public safety unions say the city will be less safe. In addition to the layoffs, the city will be closing two fire stations.

Firefighters union president Raul Garcia says if any Flint police officers or firefighters die in the line of duty, it will be Mayor Walling's responsibility.

Since that announcement on March 24 there have been 50 fires in the city.

Via Metafilter