I lived near detroit for a few years when Kwame Kilpatrick was mayor. There were lots of stories like this one when we were there. Guns found on sidewalks, cops not showing up when called, multiple houses burning to the ground when the fire department forever to respond - despite suburban departments ready to help but unable to assist due to permissions/red tape.
Rosa Parks was living in the city then too, and I remember reading a story about how they were going to evict her because her caretakers stopped paying her rent. Rosa f*cking Parks!
There are nice and beautiful things in Detroit, but yeah, I'm glad I don't live there anymore. I think Kwame Kilpatrick is in jail now, right?
I lived near detroit for a few years when Kwame Kilpatrick was mayor. There were lots of stories like this one when we were there. Guns found on sidewalks, cops not showing up when called, multiple houses burning to the ground when the fire department forever to respond - despite suburban departments ready to help but unable to assist due to permissions/red tape.
Rosa Parks was living in the city then too, and I remember reading a story about how they were going to evict her because her caretakers stopped paying her rent. Rosa f*cking Parks!
There are nice and beautiful things in Detroit, but yeah, I'm glad I don't live there anymore. I think Kwame Kilpatrick is in jail now, right?
Yeah, he is. But thinks he has a strong chance of getting out next month.
I'm mostly a lurker, but I live here. Well I live in south Royal Oak, but my husband and I spend a lot of time downtown. Outside of the four years we lived in Texas, we've both lived here our entire lives and made a choice to move back last November. I love this city and it makes me sad that all you hear about is the bad. You rarely read stories about the good in and around the city. It straight up pisses me off when people who have never stepped foot anywhere near here talk about what a shitty place this is. Are there bad things/places? Hell yes, there are. But is there good here? Yes. There are lots of people that are trying to make this a better place to live and be, despite hearing mostly negative things about the city they love.
And, fwiw, DH and I spend lots of time driving around the ghetto looking at old neighborhoods, houses etc and I've never in 33 years seen a dead body. Then again, I've never drove around Detroit with or looking for drugs or prostitutes etc, so that probably has a bit to do with my feeling of relative safety in the city.
I'm mostly a lurker, but I live here. Well I live in south Royal Oak, but my husband and I spend a lot of time downtown. Outside of the four years we lived in Texas, we've both lived here our entire lives and made a choice to move back last November. I love this city and it makes me sad that all you hear about is the bad. You rarely read stories about the good in and around the city. It straight up pisses me off when people who have never stepped foot anywhere near here talk about what a shitty place this is. Are there bad things/places? Hell yes, there are. But is there good here? Yes. There are lots of people that are trying to make this a better place to live and be, despite hearing mostly negative things about the city they love.
And, fwiw, DH and I spend lots of time driving around the ghetto looking at old neighborhoods, houses etc and I've never in 33 years seen a dead body. Then again, I've never drove around Detroit with or looking for drugs or prostitutes etc, so that probably has a bit to do with my feeling of relative safety in the city.
Royal Oak is absolutely lovely. I lived there while working in downtown Detroit. I would move back to Royal Oak in a heartbeat.
I travel to Detroit for work and have been driven by some of the areas linked to in the pics. It is obvious to see how beautiful some of the abandoned buildings and areas used to be.
I have heard some excellent presentations from organizations that are working to revitalize the city and I believe the city will reinvent itself and come back even better. It is going to take the partnership of local business (there are some big companies there that should be reinvesting more into their community) taking the redevelopment responsibility out of the hands of the local municipality though to rescue some of these areas from the decline they are in.
The city's coffer's have absolutely been raided and they are having problems even offering basic services. When I was there one of the local news stories was how local bus services were being suspended on some lines because the city did not have the money to service the buses or the money TO BUY THE GAS to run the buses. Many residents were left without any way to get to work, etc..
Post by horseoutside on Aug 3, 2012 20:14:54 GMT -5
H and I just visited Detroit for the first time a few weeks ago! I've been fascinated by it and wanted to visit for ages. We met lots of locals and they were all shocked, but thrilled, that we were just there for a fun weekend. Everyone was so friendly, and you could tell how much they love/are heartbroken by what's happened to their city.
The level of decay is truly amazing... but it was so interesting to see and, as some pps said, the downtown is really being regenerated. Lots of lovely places to eat and drink and some of the architecture is just stunning.