Considering Bankruptcy in Michigan

But the state may be hesitant to allow the bankruptcy plan to go through, as other cities may choose to follow.

"'We can make it until March 1 - maybe,' Mr. Cooper said of Hamtramck's ability to pay its bills. Beyond that? The political leaders of this old working-class city beside Detroit are pleading with the state to let them declare bankruptcy - a desperate move the state is not even willing to admit as an option under the current circumstances.

'The state is concerned that if they say yes to one, if that door is opened, they'll have 30 more cities right behind us,' Mr. Cooper said, as flurries fell outside his City Hall window. 'But anything else is just a stop gap. We're going to continue to pursue bankruptcy until the door is shut, locked, barricaded, bolted.'"