Is Michigan and Detroit really that bad? (to buy, college)

[jmlowman]

I thought Michigan was one of the early adopters of nuclear generation of electricity. As a kid in the 50s, I remember visiting such a facility up north. At that time electricity was dirt cheap and the utility companies in our area gave a better rate for those with all-electric homes. What changed?

[junior 88 fan]

Fictional movies, scare tactics from environmental whacko's and a governor who plays along with the party lines of the anti-nuclear 'Messiah', knowing that it is a huge solution to lower eletrical costs. Where's the power going to magically come from to charge all these wonderful battery powered cars that Jenny and Noblahblah brag about?

[ahmetq2001]

I really hate reading messages like this about any city because unless u have lived there you really don't know what its like. I heard nyc was full of thieves and murderers but when i lived there the rent was so high i had to live in poor parts of town such as harlem and brownsville. Yes, i did hear police sirens 24/7 but never was robbed and obviously not murdered. Nyc has some beautiful townhomes and homes but unless u bring home about $8000+ a month u will never step foot in one. Theres lots of jobs but they dont pay enough to afford even a nice apt in middle class area. I was making about $20/hr and still could not afford a place. I lived and visited many cities both north and south and found some really cheap places but either they were cheap and boring or fun and very expensive including california. Detroit and chicago to me mirror each other...they both sit on lakes and both have basically the same weather but are completely different. Detroit is michigans big money maker it confuses me why the governor wont step in and get his or her hands dirty and turn that city around. Race and poverty excuses are old. Nyc has many housing projects and spends billions of dollars on free medicaid and food stamps but still brushes off the haters and reins supreme. Detroit needs to get off the race card, lower taxes, and raise her name high like it was decades ago. I know she can. Yes the winter are terrible...Get the snow trucks out like NYC, Chicago and Philly and open up the roads and sidewalks.

I think Detroit in particular is still playing the race card. People although they don't admit probably dont care about detroit because its 80% black. Other races not all but most have moved to the suburbs but are still using Detroit's resources.


People need to remember everybody came here as poor immigrants some free and others in slave ships. The only rich "white looking" people that came here to "VISIT" or "Govern" were aristocrats and they had no intentions on mating with "COMMONERS" which is what most whites that have their roots here are. There is not such thing as "white" or "black". Most whites that came here to settle were not of the aristocracy. The Europeans dont consider themselves white but either French, Scottish, English, German, etc. Im saying this because alot of people think Oh Im white im better or oh Im black or indian Im nobody. So will leave the blacks and other minorities here to "ROTT""""

SO detroit is suffering. When people think of Michigan they think of "Detroit" "Grand Rapids" not all the small suburbs.

So if Detroit wants to rise up she's got to get off the ****in race card, start issuing job timesheets instead of food stamps, Get the police back on patrols and get the neighborhood involved in cleaning up the streets.

[OK1]

Good and bad things about Detroit (the city, not suburbs) from someone who grew up there:

Good: rents and mortgages are cheap, even in nicer areas
Bad: Nicer areas of Detroit are not that nice compared to those of other cities. There is lots of crime everywhere, but not as much as you'd expect. Stay away from drug-dealing and from the really bad neighborhoods you'll probably be OK. Sometimes people deliberately target for crime or harass whites (there are so few in the city; race relations are bad). Only crime ever committed agaisnt me in 20 years was racial vandalism and someone stealing my hubcaps.

Good: because of cheap rents, there is a big arts and music scene, and decent avant-garde theatre and spoken word poetry. If you want to make rock and roll in particular, this is a good place to do it.
Bad: these scenes tend to be very self-contained and hard to find out about; few people in the city proper care, except for those who are directly involved in creating. Few people in the suburbs are willing to come in to the city to support them. Even the local "alternative" media almost never reports on local art, theatre, or music. (Yes, I know Metro Times will announce upcoming rock shows at the standard clubs). If you didn't grow up in Detroit area you'll probably have trouble meeting people--they'll be nice once you do though.

Good: there are plenty of good and cheap restaurants, at least in the central neighborhoods.
Bad: there are probably at most 5 decent groceries in the entire city, and they are tiny. If you want to buy decent food you'll have to drive to the suburbs.
Bad: there is a severe lack of retail in general in the city. There are liquor stores, fast food, nail salons. Most neighborhoods do not contain stores for everyday needs. You end up having to drive to the suburbs. Mexicantown might be one exception, Hamtramck and Cass Corridor if you're willing to put up with really crappy quality in a lot of things.

Good neighborhoods for young people: Hamtramck, Cass Corridor/Woodbridge, Southwest side, Corktown
Good for families: Rosedale Park, East English Village, Indian Village, Grandmont, Minock Park, Sherwood Forest, University Village, Boston Edison (maybe), Southwestside, Hamtramck, Corktown

Good: there is lots of free and cheap parking.
Bad: that's because everyone drives everywhere. Gas is expensive, insurance in the city is through the roof, and the weather does a number on your car. Public transit is laughable and taxis are only available by calling ahead.

Most underrated neighborhood: Mexicantown
Most overrated neighborhood: Downtown.

Overall, I am not moving back. I'm moving to a more functioning city. Some people really like the adversarial charm of it, but for most, including me, the benefits are not worth the significant troubles.

[paulmcall]

Don't forget great response time from the police unless there is a dead body or shots being fired.
The whole city is rotten from the inside out. Public schools are a joke and crime is rampant. Former mayor just finished a stretch in jail. Another city council person will be indicted soon on bribery counts. Nice.
And don't get us started on taxes eek.

[LIS123]

Michigan unemployment rate hits 14.1 percent in May - Michigan News, Updates, Photos & Video | Detroit, Lansing - MLive.com

Looks pretty bad. My guess is that the true unemployment rate (U6, considering people who stopped looking for work and underemployed) is much higher than this (probably along the lines of 25%).

[lovindfw]

Yes, it really is that bad. I haven't been here a year and now I am working on getting the h*ll out.

[zthatzmanz28]

Originally Posted by lovindfw

Yes, it really is that bad. I haven't been here a year and now I am working on getting the h*ll out.

[lobster5757]

I just moved here to MI and I love it. I am a native Southern California girl. I mean, what a beautiful state Michigan is! The people are friendly and there is much to do here. There is much potential in the state of Michigan which, I think will be realized and utilized in time.

I moved here from Southern California about 2 months ago... and CA is what everyone should be really worried about making our economy worse than it is... The cost of living in Southern California is outrageous, the traffic is horrendous, the cities are closing libraries, parks and getting rid of cops and get this...fire departments. Have you seen the wild fires that hit every year? I would have moved for that reason alone!

The out of control homeless population and vast number of people on social services is not being reported about CA either. There is much crime from the drug cartels in San Diego and border towns that you do not hear about on the news. I mean serious violent crimes and murders. It is really bad in Southern California and somehow the media picks on Detroit? Wow.

PS. Sure am glad I moved to MI too...there is a serious drought/water shortages in CA/AZ, which will only become worse as they are having trouble bringing in water from the Colorado river....lots of water here in MI. No one is really addressing this issue with CA either! Scary.

[LIS123]

Originally Posted by lobster5757

I just moved here to MI and I love it. I am a native Southern California girl. I mean, what a beautiful state Michigan is! The people are friendly and there is much to do here. There is much potential in the state of Michigan which, I think will be realized and utilized in time.

I moved here from Southern California about 2 months ago... and CA is what everyone should be really worried about making our economy worse than it is... The cost of living in Southern California is outrageous, the traffic is horrendous, the cities are closing libraries, parks and getting rid of cops and get this...fire departments. Have you seen the wild fires that hit every year? I would have moved for that reason alone!

The out of control homeless population and vast number of people on social services is not being reported about CA either. There is much crime from the drug cartels in San Diego and border towns that you do not hear about on the news. I mean serious violent crimes and murders. It is really bad in Southern California and somehow the media picks on Detroit? Wow.

PS. Sure am glad I moved to MI too...there is a serious drought/water shortages in CA/AZ, which will only become worse as they are having trouble bringing in water from the Colorado river....lots of water here in MI. No one is really addressing this issue with CA either! Scary.

I agree with this post. It may sound weird, but Michigan is a better than some other states. One of those states, IMO, is California. CA is a complete disaster thanks to its leftist policies and out-of-control Government. Michigan management is not great, but it is structurally more sound than California (lower taxes, lower deficits, fewer problems with illegals, etc). When the Economy picks up, I'd take Michigan over California.