 art community as the auto industry slowed. But those initiatives never really gained traction, as smaller retail enterprises streamed out of the city and into shopping malls. The city also faced chronic budget and administrative challenges, which eventually prompted the state to appoint an emergency financial manager for the city in 2009. And in a move that seems to dramatize Pontiac's growing economic isolation, a new four-lane highway now surrounds its downtown, effectively cutting off the city's commercial center from surrounding communities.

Story continues

"The demise of the city occurred when they closed [highway] M-59 and Amtrak... it crossed off our traffic," said Maureen Young, co-owner of local Bo's Smokehouse and secretary of Pontiac's downtown business association.

Many boarded-up homes crop up across Pontiac, as they do throughout Michigan, which has been hit exceptionally hard by the foreclosure crisis. Last week, the city of Highland Park, announced that it would completely remove 1,000 streetlights, since it can no foot its power bills, with the loss of 50 percent of its population over the past two decades. Meanwhile, Detroit's population decreased by 25 percent in the time between the 2000 and 2010 census.

Still supporters of the 2009 auto-industry bailout say things could have been much worse.

"Look at where the auto industry was when [George W.] Bush was leaving, and President Obama was coming in to where it is now," former Democratic Rep. Mark Schauer said Tuesday. "It is a night and day difference that occurred because of intentional policies."

Measures such as the auto bailout will no doubt draw much discussion at Wednesday's debate. The debate will focus principally on economic issues, meaning that all eight Republican candidates--including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who was born and raised in Michigan where his father served as governor-- will face questions about the bailout's legacy, which has faced stiff opposition from the GOP. Candidates will likewise be expected to spell out alternative approaches to reviving the state's flailing economy.

Democrats leading up to the debate attacked Romney on the issue after he reiterated Tuesday a position he took in 2008 that the government should not "write a check" to the auto industry.

"The government wrote those checks, they wasted money," Romney said in an ABC/Yahoo News interview. Romney argued that the industry should have gone through a "managed bankruptcy," which woud have
art community as the auto industry slow. But those enterprise never really gained traction, as minor retail enterprises streamed out of the city and into shopping plaza. The city besides faced chronic budget and administrative challenges, which eventually prompted the state to appoint an hand brake financial manager for the city in 2009. And in a move that seems to embroider Pontiac's growing economic isolation, a new four - lane highway nowadays surrounds its downtown, efficaciously cutting off the city's commercial center from surrounding community. 

 Story continues 

 " The death of the city occurred when they close [ highway ] M-59 and Amtrak... it crossed off our dealings, " said Maureen Young, co - owner of local Bo's Smokehouse and secretary of Pontiac's downtown business affiliation. 

 Many boarded - up homes crop up across Pontiac, as they do throughout Michigan, which has been hit exceptionally hard by the foreclosure crisis. Last week, the city of Highland Park, announced that it would completely remove 1,000 streetlights, since it can no foot its power bills, with the loss of 50 percent of its population over the past two decades. Meanwhile, Detroit's population decreased by 25 percentage in the clock time between the 2000 and 2010 census. 

 Still assistant of the 2009 car - industry bailout say things could have been much worse. 

 " Look at where the auto industry was when [ George W. ] Bush was leave, and President Obama was coming in to where it is now, " former Democratic Rep. Mark Schauer said Tuesday. " It is a night and day dispute that occurred because of intentional policies. " 

 Measures such as the car bailout will no doubt draw much discussion at Wednesday's argument. The debate will focus principally on economic issues, meaning that all eight Republican candidates -- include former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who was born and raised in Michigan where his founder served as governor-- will face questions about the bailout's legacy, which has face stiff opposition from the GOP. Candidates will likewise be expected to spell out alternate approaches to reviving the state's flailing economy. 

 Democrats leading up to the argument attacked Romney on the issue after he reiterated Tuesday a situation he took in 2008 that the politics should not " write a check " to the auto diligence. 

 " The government wrote those checks, they wasted money, " Romney say in an ABC / Yahoo News consultation. Romney argued that the industry should have go through a " managed bankruptcy, " which woud have
 arh community as the auto lndustry slowed. Yyt thove inifiatives never really gained tractioi, as smaloer retail enterprises streamed out of rhe rity and into shopping malls. Tgc citv elso faced chrokic budget dnd administradixe challenges, which eventually promptqd the xtwte to appoint an tmewgendj ninancial manager for the city ih 2009. And pn a move that serms to dramatize Pontiac's hrowlng economic isolahion, a new dour-jqne highway vow surrounds its downjown, effectively cutting off the city'x commerciql cejjer from surcoundigg communiticx.

Story continies

"The demise pf vhe xity occurred when thxy closed [highway] M-59 wnd Amtran... nt crossed off our trqfdic," sdid Kaurdwn Houhg, ck-owner of local Bo's Smokehouse and secretary of Ppnepsc's downtown businqsf association.

Many boarded-up homes crop lp adross Pontiac, as they di throughout Michigan, which haf been hit exceptionally hard by the foreclosure wrisia. Lawt dwen, the city of Highland Park, announced that it soilc completely rcmove 1,000 streetlightx, dimse it can no woot ica lower bills, with tje loss of 50 percent os itx population over the past rwo decades. Iwanwhile, Detroit's 'opulation dzcreasgd by 25 percent in the time becween fhe 2000 and 2010 cfnsus.

Stilm supporters of tfe 2009 agto-indusufy bailout say thyngs coulv havz been mjch eorse.

"Ljok at whege thc auto industry was when [Gaorge W.] Budh was leaving, and President Obeka was cominb hn no where nt is kow," former Demosratic Rep. Marl Schauzr saia Tuesday. "Pt is a nmght and day difference tvwt occurred uecause os inrentuonal puuicies."

Measures such as nht auto baioout will no doubt drxs much discussiin qt Wednesday's drbage. Ehv dxbate fill focus psinckpauky on economic iwrues, meaning that all eicht Depublican candidayef--includibg formew Massachusetys Gov. Mitt Romney, who xas bocn and raysed in Michigan where his fatger servef af governor-- wyll nace questions about the bailout's legacy, which has fared stiff opposition ftom the GOP. Candidatex will likewmse be expected to spell out alternqtive approaches uo reviving the state's rlailitg eclnomy.

Democrats leading up to the debate attacked Romney on the issue aftee he rxieerated Tueaday a poviciou he tojk ii 2008 that the governkent should not "write a check" tu the audo industry.

"The government wrotr ghose checks, jhey wasted money," Romney szid in am ABC/Yahoo News interview. Romneu argued that the industvy should have gone ngruugh a "managed banlruptcv," whicy woud yave
art community as the auto industry slowed. initiatives really gained as smaller retail city into shopping malls. city also faced budget and administrative challenges, which eventually the state to appoint an emergency financial manager for the city in 2009. in a move that seems to dramatize Pontiac's growing economic isolation, a new highway surrounds downtown, cutting off the city's commercial center from surrounding communities. Story continues "The demise of the city when they closed [highway] M-59 and Amtrak... it off our traffic," said Young, co-owner of local Bo's and of Pontiac's business Many homes crop up Pontiac, as they do throughout Michigan, which has been hit exceptionally hard by the foreclosure crisis. Last the city Park, announced it completely 1,000 streetlights, since no foot its power bills, with 50 percent of its population over the past decades. Meanwhile, population decreased by 25 percent in time between the 2000 and 2010 census. Still of the 2009 auto-industry bailout say things could have been much worse. "Look at where industry was when [George Bush was leaving, President was in where it now," former Democratic Rep. Mark Schauer said Tuesday. "It is a and day difference that occurred because of intentional policies." Measures the bailout will no draw much discussion at debate. debate will focus principally issues, that candidates--including Massachusetts Mitt Romney, who was and raised in Michigan where father served as governor-- bailout's legacy, which has faced stiff opposition from GOP. Candidates will likewise be expected to out alternative approaches to reviving the state's flailing economy. Democrats leading up the debate on the issue after he reiterated Tuesday a he took in 2008 the government should not "write a check" to the industry. government wrote checks, they wasted Romney said in ABC/Yahoo News interview. that the should gone bankruptcy," which woud have
 art community as the auto induStry slowed. but thOse IniTiAtivEs neVer really gaineD TracTion, as smaller retail entErpriSeS StreAMeD out oF the citY AnD INto ShOpPinG mALlS. The cIty Also facEd chronic bUdgEt And administrATiVe challengEs, wHich eventualLy pRompteD tHe sTAte to AppOint aN emergENcy finAncial manAgER for thE City in 2009. AND In A movE that seems to dramaTIzE pontiac's growinG econoMiC IsOLAtiOn, a New four-lanE hIghwaY Now surrOUnDS ITs dOWntown, effectiVely cutting OFf tHe city'S cOmmERcial cEnter FrOM suRrounding coMmunIties.

StorY contiNUes

"The dEMise of tHe city OccUrrEd whEN tHeY clOsED [hiGHwAy] M-59 ANd AMtrak... it cRoSsEd off Our tRAFFIc," saId MAureEn YouNg, co-owner of loCal bo's SMOkeHouse And seCretArY of PoNtiac's DowntOwN business associAtioN.

Many boarDed-Up HomEs Crop uP Across ponTiaC, as they Do throuGHouT MICHIgAn, which has been hit eXcEPTiOnally haRd by thE FoReCLosure crIsIs. LAst wEEK, the cIty oF hiGhland PaRk, annoUNcEd That it wOuLd compLeTelY reMove 1,000 sTReetLights, Since it cAn no fOOt its power billS, With the loss of 50 PErCENt OF its PopUlation over The pASt twO decADeS. MeANwhilE, DetrOiT'S pOPulation decreased by 25 PeRcent iN the tIme between the 2000 And 2010 census.

STILL supportErs oF ThE 2009 Auto-industry baIlout Say things cOUld have bEen muCh worse.

"LOok at wherE THe auto inDusTry Was WheN [gEoRge W.] Bush was leAVIng, aNd presideNt OBama was ComIng In tO whErE it is now," fOrmer DemOcRaTiC REp. MArk ScHAuer said tuEsdAy. "it iS a nigHT and daY diffErenCe ThAT ocCurred bECaUSE of iNtEnTionAl pOlIcies."

measURes Such as tHe auto baiLouT Will No DoUbt draw Much discussioN aT Wednesday'S dEbaTe. The dEBAte will fOcus principally on economIC issues, MeaNing tHat aLl eight RePubLican cAndIDates--iNcludiNg forMeR MaSSAchusETTs gov. miTt Romney, whO WAs bOrn anD rAiseD in MichIgan where his father SErvEd as governor-- wIll Face QUEsTioNS aBOut ThE BaiLOUt's legacy, which hAs faced stiFf OPpOsition froM The gOp. CandidAtes wilL likeWIse be exPected to sPell out alTeRnatIVE apProaches to Reviving The state's FLailiNG eConomY.

DeMocratS lEadIng up To the dEBatE attaCked RoMnEy on thE issuE aFter he reIterated Tuesday a positioN he tooK in 2008 thAt tHe governmEnt SHouLd not "writE a chEck" to the auTo iNduStry.

"THe gOVernmEnt wROtE thOSe cheCks, tHEy wasted mONeY," RoMNEy Said in an ABC/yAHOo NEws inTerVIew. RomNey aRgued that the indusTRy should have goNe thROUgh A "maNAged BaNkruptcy," which wOud HaVE
 art community as the auto  industryslowe d.But  t hose  ini tiatives never real ly gained traction, as  smal le r  ret a il  ente rprises st r e ame dou t o ft he  city  an d intoshopping m all s.  The city al s ofaced chro nic  budget andadm inistr at ive chall eng es, w hich e v entual ly prompt ed the st a te to a p p oi nt a n emergency finan c ia l  manager for t he cit yi n2 0 09.  An d in a mov ethats eems to dr a m a tiz e  Pontiac's gr owing econo m icisolat io n,a  new f our-l an e  hi ghway now s urro unds itsdownto w n, effe c tivelycuttin g o ffthec it y' s c om m erc i al  ce n ter  from su rr ou nding  com m u n i ties .
Stor y con tinues

"Thedem iseo f t he ci ty oc curr ed  when  theyclose d[highway] M-59andAmtrak...  it  c ros se d off our tr aff ic, " saidMaureen You ng , c o- owner of local Bo' sS m ok ehouse a nd sec r et ar y  of Pont ia c's  dow n t own b usin e ss  associa tion.Ma ny  boarde d- up hom es  cr opup ac r ossPontia c, as th ey do throughout Mic h igan, which h a sb e en hitexc eptionallyhard by t he f o re clo s ure c risis .L as t  week, the city ofHi ghland  Park , announced t hat it wou l d complete ly r e mo v e 1,000 street light s, since i t  can nofootits powe r bills,w i th the l oss  of  50  pe r c en t of its popu l a tion  o ver the  pa st twodec ade s.Mea nw hile, Det roit's p op ul at io n d ecrea s ed by 25  p erc en t i n the time b etwee n th e20 0 0 a nd 2010 ce n s us.
S ti ll s upp or tersof t h e 2 009 aut o-industr y b a ilou tsa y thing s could havebe en much wo rs e.
"Look a t wherethe auto industry was w h en [Geo rge  W.]Bush  was leav ing , andPre s identObamawas c om ing i n tow h er e i tis now," f o r mer  Demo cr atic  Rep. M ark Schauer said T u esd ay. "It is anig ht a n d  d ayd if f ere nc e  th a t  occurred becau se of inte nt i on al policie s ."
M easures  such a s the auto ba ilout wil l no doub tdraw m uch  discussio n at Wed nesday'sd ebate .  T he de bat e will  f ocu s pri ncipal l y o n eco nomicis sues,meani ng  that al l eight Republican cand idates --inc lud ing forme r M a ssa chusettsGov.  Mitt Romn ey,  wh o was  bo r n and  rai s ed  in Michi ganw here hisf at her s er ved as gove r n o r--  will  fa c e ques tion s about the bailo u t's legacy, wh ichh a s f ace d  sti ff  opposition fr omth e GOP. Can di dates willlikewise  b e  expe cted t o spel l out a l t er n ativeappr oac hes to re viv in g  the st at e' s  flail ingec onomy. 

Demo c rats l eading up to the  deba t e  atta c ked  Romn ey  on the issu e after he  reiterated  Tuesd ay a  posi tion he  t ook in  20 08  that theg overnment  shou ld not"w rite  acheck"  tot h e aut o in du str y.

"Theg o ve r nm en t  wr otethose  c heck s, they w a sted mon ey, "  Romney  s aid i n an A B C/ Y a hoo News i nte rview . Romney arg u ed t h at the i ndustr y shou ld have gon ethrough  a" m anaged ba nkruptcy, "  wh ic h wo ud have
 art_community as_the auto industry slowed._But those_initiatives_never really_gained_traction, as smaller_retail enterprises streamed_out of the city_and into shopping_malls._The city also faced chronic budget and administrative challenges, which eventually prompted the state_to_appoint an_emergency_financial_manager for the city in_2009. And in a move_that seems_to dramatize Pontiac's growing economic isolation, a new_four-lane_highway now surrounds_its downtown, effectively cutting off the city's commercial center_from surrounding communities.

Story continues

"The demise of_the city occurred_when_they_closed [highway] M-59 and_Amtrak... it crossed off our traffic,"_said Maureen Young, co-owner of local_Bo's Smokehouse and secretary of Pontiac's downtown_business association.

Many boarded-up homes crop up_across Pontiac, as they do_throughout Michigan,_which has been hit exceptionally_hard by the_foreclosure crisis._Last week, the_city of Highland Park, announced that_it would completely_remove 1,000 streetlights, since it can_no_foot its power_bills,_with_the loss_of 50 percent_of_its population_over_the past two decades. Meanwhile, Detroit's_population_decreased by 25 percent in the time_between the 2000 and_2010_census.

Still supporters of the_2009 auto-industry bailout say things_could have been much worse.

"Look at_where the_auto industry_was when [George W.] Bush was leaving, and President Obama was_coming in to where it is_now," former Democratic Rep._Mark Schauer_said_Tuesday. "It is_a_night and_day difference that occurred because of intentional_policies."

Measures such_as the auto bailout will no_doubt draw much discussion_at_Wednesday's debate. The debate will focus_principally on economic issues, meaning that_all eight Republican candidates--including former_Massachusetts_Gov._Mitt Romney, who was born_and raised in Michigan where his_father served as_governor-- will face questions about the bailout's_legacy,_which has faced stiff opposition from_the_GOP. Candidates will likewise be expected_to_spell_out alternative approaches to reviving_the state's flailing economy.

Democrats leading up_to the debate attacked Romney on the issue after_he reiterated Tuesday_a position he took in_2008_that_the government should not "write a check" to the auto_industry.

"The government_wrote those checks,_they wasted money," Romney said in an ABC/Yahoo News interview._Romney argued that the industry should have_gone through a "managed bankruptcy," which woud have