"It's easy to look at those people and say, what's the big deal, until someday," something like this happens in your neighborhood.

Hunter doesn't even represent Delray, and since he is term-limited, can't run again for the Legislature anyway. But he thinks someone should speak up for the 800 mainly black and Hispanic folks who live in what was once a bustling Hungarian area.

What he and the other Democrats want for them is no more than "a seat at the table" for the local residents' group, the Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition. Hunter insists that the Democrats did have an agreement with the Senate majority leader, but that Richardville couldn't sell it to his Moroun-addled caucus.

Speaking without bitterness, he said, "I imagine he found it more expedient to throw us under the bus than to risk his standing with them." He said Richardville suggested he vote the bill out anyway, and continue his fight before the full Senate. Why didn't he?

"In this process, your vote is the only leverage you have." The only time his vote really mattered was in the committee.

If he couldn't trust the Senate majority leader then, he reasoned, why trust him when the bill reaches the entire Senate?

This process isn't over. The governor says he is still "relentlessly" determined to get a new bridge, and says he'll win approval within months. We all need to hope he is right.

The real question for all of us is how long are we willing to let a decrepit billionaire buy our politicians and fill our airwaves with lies? After Matty was found in contempt of court in another case last week, he sent his son (Matthew, aka Moroun the Lesser) out to try to slime Wayne County Circuit Judge Prentis Edwards, saying his ruling was an effort to get Snyder to appoint Edwards' son to the bench.

Michigan needs to show that we are a government of, by and for the people, not a wholly owned subsidiary of a rich creep who owns a broken-down bridge. One day, Matty Moroun, now 84, probably will lie dying in a hospital bed. Wouldn't it be lovely if they found him one with a magnificent view of the new bridge?

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