Our Mission
It is the position of DAREA that the City of Detroit Chapter 9 Bankruptcy (2013) violates the Michigan Constitution, Article IX Section 24, which states that pensions accrued financial benefits and political subdivisions shall be a contractual obligation which are not to be diminished or impaired. Therefore, DAREA shall continue to advocate for the restoration of City of Detroit employees’ pension benefits taken during the City of Detroit historic bankruptcy. Through DAREA efforts to organize both active and retired employees of the City of Detroit it is our intent to expose the unfair financial burden shoulder by the employee and to pursue political and legal actions to ameliorate financial obligations and restore pension benefits.
"After a lifetime of working, raising families, and contributing to the success of this nation in countless other ways, senior citizens deserve to retire with dignity."
~ Charlie Gonzalez
The D.A.R.E.A Story
The Detroit Active & Retired Employees Association (D.A.R.E.A) was established in response to the City of Detroit's proposed and eventual bankruptcy. This critical period forced retirees to make impossible choices: vote "yes" to accept a 4.7% cut in pensions, or face a 20% reduction if the majority voted "no". The majority voted "yes", opting for the lesser cut.
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Additionally, those who retired between 2003 and 2013 faced clawbacks due to alleged overpayments on annuities. D.A.R.E.A members attended court hearings, filed objections, and were denied at every turn. We escalated our fight to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, only to have our appeal denied. We then petitioned the United States Supreme Court, which declined to hear our case.
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Despite these setbacks, we have not stopped fighting for the restoration of our rightful pensions and the cessation of the clawback. We remain steadfast in our mission because we believe in the justice of our cause. Our commitment to advocating for fair and equitable treatment for all retirees and pensioners is unwavering. We continue to challenge the injustices faced by our members, driven by the conviction that we are right and that our efforts will ultimately prevail.
We Need Your Support Today!