What can be done to improve Detroit? (Marshall, Grosse Pointe: homes, neighborhoods)

[zoomzoom]

Originally Posted by RedWingsFan

I know it's a really liberal thing to say let's not talk about race. But let's face the facts. Detroit is a mess and one of the biggest reasons is race. You cant possibly discuss Detroit and not discuss race. It's the most segregated major city in the country. You can't overlook that. It has a lot to do with why Detroit is a ghetto and the suburbs are mostly nice.

I don't want hurt anyone's feelings but it's the truth. Detroit at one time was a thriving city of mostly white people. Then blacks starting moving there to get work. With them they brought a lot of crime and the white people fled for the suburbs. Now the city is around 80 percent black, while the suburbs are 80 percent white. It's crime ridden, a mess and a ghetto. Those people turned it into a dump that is so dangerous to go into that my grandmother who was born and raised there is so fearful that she won't cross into that city today!

How do you get Detroit back on track? Get the bums out that are there now. Clean it up, tear down the shacks and half burned buildings and rebuild. Make the land and houses expensive so that only upper class people can afford it. Lock the criminals up and throw away the key. Then once it's a safer and whiter place more people from the suburbs will visit and some will move back.

That's the truth plain and simple.

You can look to the northern suburb of Troy to see a big difference. Troy consistently ranks as one of the safest cities in the country. Not the state, but the country! Why? What's so different there? It's mainly hard working white people who don't committ crimes. They take care of their property, cars, etc. And they value education, something most of the people living in Detroit do not. If they make Detroit more like Troy it will improve!

I didn’t think anybody could be so insensitive and cold towards the black population. (And I’m not black, so I‘m not trying to defend my own race). Come on, I though that was old. If you really think that Whites are that supreme, then slavery would never have happened. The white people are the ones that did not allow the Blacks to establish themselves. I mean, for real, did you ever read that questionnaire that people who lived in GROSSE POINT had to complete? Take a look at the following excerpt from it (This from something written by George Galster, originally from the questionnaire used in Grosse Point):
__________________________________________________ _____________________
Grosse Pointe’s “Point” System
Private Investigators’s filled out questionnaire re:
Is their way of living “typically American”?
Are husband’s immediate associates “typical”?
Are Their friends predominantly “typical”?
Appearances: swarthy, slight swarthy or not?
Accents: pronounced, medium, slight, or none?
Dress: neat, sloppy, flashy or conservative?
Grammar: good, fair or poor?
Grosse Pointe’s “Point” System
Maximum score on questionnaire = 100:
50 needed to purchase home in Grosse Pointe
EXCEPT:
Polish descent required 55
Greek descent required 65
Italian decent required 75
Jewish descent required 85
“Negroes” and “Orientals” do not qualify
__________________________________________________ ______________________
Whites were the ones with the better jobs in Detroit, and had the money to flee. The Black population had to, and to this day have to, stay in Detroit because they were treated unfairly, and preference was given to whites for any job. Yeah people SAY they are not racist, but then even long after we ruled that racism was IMMORAL why don’t people understand that today??

-zoomzoom

[so-cal]

After reading RedWingsFan I heard my "old" young self. I still feel this world should be perfect, but growing with age and experience, I realize it will never be. Detroit will not change. It is too far gone. My advice is rather than fighting a loosing battle, try other options. I did right after college years ago and never looked back. There is so much culture out there and things to experience in life then what the Detroit or it's metro area can offer.(It has tried, but failed) I feel your frustration about your town but we can't blame it on one "type" of person. I know, I heard all the stories too about the bugarlies and thefts when my parents lived in Detroit. Don't worry, I used the "throw away the key" idea too before in conversation.
I am not trying to be rude or sarcastic, but there is so much more to life out there than the Red Wings. I promise you that. I understand though sometimes we feel that a good hockey team is the one thing that the state of Mi. can offer us. (in addition to those Wolverines) In the big picture, we create our own destiny you know....

[RedWingsFan]

Originally Posted by so-cal

After reading RedWingsFan I heard my "old" young self. I still feel this world should be perfect, but growing with age and experience, I realize it will never be. Detroit will not change. It is too far gone. My advice is rather than fighting a loosing battle, try other options. I did right after college years ago and never looked back. There is so much culture out there and things to experience in life then what the Detroit or it's metro area can offer.(It has tried, but failed) I feel your frustration about your town but we can't blame it on one "type" of person. I know, I heard all the stories too about the bugarlies and thefts when my parents lived in Detroit. Don't worry, I used the "throw away the key" idea too before in conversation.
I am not trying to be rude or sarcastic, but there is so much more to life out there than the Red Wings. I promise you that. I understand though sometimes we feel that a good hockey team is the one thing that the state of Mi. can offer us. (in addition to those Wolverines) In the big picture, we create our own destiny you know....

Trust me, I know there's more out there than the Red Wings. I left Michigan 10 years ago! My family still lives in the metro area though so I go back to visit each year. Detroit is a dump (except for a few things downtown) and it will remain a dump unless those that live there were all relocated and then someone came in and bulldozed it and then rebuilt it. If the same people remain it doesn't matter what you do to the city because they will destroy it and you will be right back to where you are now.

You said "we create our own destiney you know..."

THAT'S the point I've been making all along. We all make our destiny and the many people in the city of Detroit have no ambition or common sense to try to clean up that city and make it better. They think things get handed to them, they don't they are responsible for making their city and life better. That's may point, thanks for agreeing.

[Brother WilliamX]

Once a person has bashing the City that they used to live in they are no more part of that city. Regardless to whatever color they are. ZoomZoom, I really do respect everything you stated in your post, and thanks for showing the BIG PICTURE about Detroit. ZoomZoom, your post reminds me of a cool white guy that's a member in our Community group, and its people that's like him and you that is helping to bring about a change. Chicagoland92, thanks for posting...Based on your statement, all black people are ghetto and commit crime. That is definitely NOT the case.

People are blind to the fact that most whites who have lived in one of the inner-cities of America, show just how racist they are after moving outside of the city, and on the CrimeWatch Network more crimes happens in the suburbs then the inner-city.

Again, I am asking people like RedWingsFan who is bad mouthing Detroit, to stop bit**ing so much, and offer a positive solution to solving the inner-city problem you started. As of this date many of the same Whites that took flight leaving Detroit, is slowly slipping back into Downtown Detroit, that's because our Black administration has let their guards down, and that's due to the fact that they are sell-outs.

I also notice that most negative posts about Detroit is from people who seem to never mention the slum areas of the city that poor and uneducated whites live in, and yet they are always spitting venom about Blacks. What's the deal with that RedWingsFan since you seem to be the main racist hater.

[RedWingsFan]

Originally Posted by Brother WilliamX

Chicagoland92, thanks for posting...Based on your statement, all black people are ghetto and commit crime. That is definitely NOT the case..

No, not all of them but a good marjoity of them fit the bill.

Originally Posted by Brother WilliamX

People are blind to the fact that most whites who have lived in one of the inner-cities of America, show just how racist they are after moving outside of the city..

Oh, you are right. We should choose to raise our kids in a place filled with crime so we don't appear to be racist. NOT! Even blacks that get educated and get good jobs leave! And you are full of it on thinking that most crimes happen in suburbs rather than in cities. Full of it.

Originally Posted by Brother WilliamX

Again, I am asking people like RedWingsFan who is bad mouthing Detroit, to stop bit**ing so much, and offer a positive solution to solving the inner-city problem you started. ..

I've offered solutions, go back and read them. And once again WE didn't start the problem. When WE lived there it was nice, it was when blacks infiltrated the city that it became what it is today! Learn the history of the city you live in and you will become painfully aware of this.

Originally Posted by Brother WilliamX

What's the deal with that RedWingsFan since you seem to be the main racist hater.

It's not so much the race that I hate... it's those that commit crimes, remain uneducated, burn houses down, sell crack, etc. In the Detroit area they just so happen to be black.... I have nothing against blacks that work, don't commit crimes, get educated, marry and not have all their children out of wedlock and put them on welfare, etc....

[bretttournay]

Hey Chitown the Detroit Metro area has over 4 million people, unlike Chicago the downtown area and city of Detroit is an arm pit. The suburbs are a great place to raise a family. Check out the states of Oakland county, you'll find maybe 10 counties that rank higher in income, housing and way of life. Go to Wikipeda encyclopedia for more information. Sadly those stats will be falling over thext few years. The unions have been sucking the auto industry dry and that kind of income will not return for the labor force. Name me a company that would want to move production to michigan......... Jobs are leaving and with them are families, college grads, ect.. I wish nothing but the best for all the Michaganders. One last thing and it can't be understated, the weather is horible. Clouds, cold and people that have lived there forever think it's like that everwhere.

[Blue Grass Fever]

Originally Posted by RedWingsFan

And you are full of it on thinking that most crimes happen in suburbs rather than in cities. Full of it.

You'd be surprised as to how many kids from the suburbs come to Detroit to buy drugs and come to "make trouble".

[Blue Grass Fever]

Originally Posted by Brother WilliamX

I also notice that most negative posts about Detroit is from people who seem to never mention the slum areas of the city that poor and uneducated whites live in, and yet they are always spitting venom about Blacks.

Yes, Detroit has its nice "white-trash" section people tend to overlook. I will be offering tours for anyone who is interested!

I'd have to agree with you B W X about the suburbs of Detroit-it sucks. I'd rather live in the city as opposed to the suburbs but the "country" trumps 'em all!

[RedWingsFan]

Originally Posted by Blue Grass Fever

You'd be surprised as to how many kids from the suburbs come to Detroit to buy drugs and come to "make trouble".

While I think you were trying to show how what I said was wrong, you actually proved my point. People are committing the crimes in Detroit... and making trouble in Detroit...

[Bellarosa]

I have a solution for Detroit. The welfare recipients could actually get their own jobs, earn their own money, and actually pay their own taxes from their own hard-earned money to benefit their own community. Hard-working people in other communities should not be expected to pay taxes from their hard-earned income to support a community that only wants handouts.

And noone who is working hard to provide for themselves (instead of leeching off welfare) is going to pay taxes into a city government that does not use the money to improve the city. And the citizens of Detroit repeatedly vote in corrupt leaders who do not improve the city's infrastructure.

Any logical hardworking individual will move to a location, such as a suburb, where the taxes, which they pay from their own hard earned money, actually are used to benefit the people paying the taxes, again from their own HARD EARNED MONEY gained from a JOB.

Detroit doesn't have a tax base because the residents will not work and, therefore, are not generating their own tax base.