To be more specific, southwest Detroit's inner city neighborhoods.
The photos posted here came out of my phone.
Key impressions:
- vacant land, everywhere
- devastated housing stock
- dirt, grime, trash, graffiti
- despair
I'll have more to say soon.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Detroit without much comment. . .
Last week I visited Detroit.
To be more specific, southwest Detroit's inner city neighborhoods.
The photos posted here came out of my phone.
Key impressions:
I'll have more to say soon.
To be more specific, southwest Detroit's inner city neighborhoods.
The photos posted here came out of my phone.
Key impressions:
I'll have more to say soon.
Larry, the post this morning that you apparently saw fit to delete was 100% correct and was one reason the country is in rapid decline.
ReplyDeleteYour union dues at work
ReplyDeleteAnon 11:39, of course, your claim is not true. My wife recently lost her job. The ordeal of qualifying for unemployment benefits included regular visits to the unemployment office with reports on how many jobs she had applied for, etc. That is just one example of how over the top your propositions where.
ReplyDeleteAnon 1:11, the situation in Detroit was not caused by just any one factor. You pick unions. Granted, they played a role, but so did off shoring. The wealth disparity that exists in this country is amazing. My faith tells me that God cares about the issue and the people who are being hurt by it.
Heartbreaking. An economic Katrina.
ReplyDeleteBlame it on george Bush.
ReplyDeleteWhat other factors caused Detroit's demise? Not enough welfare, or perhaps a demographic shift?
ReplyDelete80% of births are out-of-wedlock.
ReplyDeleteMr James,
ReplyDeleteHow does this wealth disparity work. Do you decrease the salaries of some and give it to those who earn, or are subsidized by the gvt, less? Seems to me like a quick way to disfranchise those who have earned their salary vs those that require subsidies. It doesn't make any sense,e specially since many are already on government subsidies for not working.
I was there as well last week. I looked at Detroit and saw opportunity everywhere and a reviving spirit. I was fortunate to visit both SER Metro, Southwest Solutions and the WARN Training center - there is truly a spirit that the city is coming back to life through both the agencies that work in the community and the young and vibrant people that are moving to Detroit from all parts of the country. It's the entrepreneurial spirit and community commitment that will bring the city back. Government support helps but it's not the fix all - just a stop gap measure at times. I too saw the blight but did not walk away with tears - rather with hope for that city. A part of me wanted to join the effort but I couldn't walk away from my commitment to my community in Houston.
ReplyDeleteAnon 11:29, I really love your spunk and "can do" vision! Still, the scale is the deal: loss of over 1MM in population; devastation outside the center city core where it appears all the investment is taking place. Real estate deals, development work, and jobs all conspire to make this the hardest challenge in the US.
ReplyDeleteI agree that govt can't do it all, but govt must do its deal first so that the market can function. I really believe the US should take the challenge on and invest in this great city and at the same time build coalitions with business, community groups and non-profits to work at it.
Here's a great report on Dan Gilbert's commitment: http://www.businessinsider.com/dan-gilbert-investment-in-detroit-2013-4
Thanks for your comments!
Poof...gone, the former center of the American socialist experience
ReplyDelete