News, Stopping Detroit's brain drain. (Ann Arbor, Dearborn: real estate, 2009, unemployment)

[John1960]

The city is pushing for new businesses, arts and a revitalized downtown to keep young people in this hard-hit town.

DETROIT (CNNMoney.com) -- Three years ago, with a freshly-minted law degree, Connecticut native Tom Northrop started job hunting in Detroit.


Stopping Detroit's brain drain - Sep. 21, 2009

[KellyBundy]

I don't have any answers. I have a bachelor's and paralegal certification and can't find anything that pays more than $10 an hour with very minimal benefits. How could I be happy with that? So I guess I will be another educated person leaving. It's sad because I am really close with my family. Trust me, it's killing me inside.

[MTUCache]

I've left Detroit twice now, and will still strive to get back there someday if at all possible.

It's pretty overwhelming and depressing to realize that the place where I've left my roots has become rotten and dried up. It's not exactly comforting to know that I honestly have no idea where I'll end up next year, the year after, or a decade from now.... definitely not the way I had anticapted raising my son.

I've moved to Colorado, back to Detroit, and Chicago now in the last two years basically chasing work. My wife (an automotive engineer) has worked six months in the last three years. We've had fluxuations between making well over six-figures between us to both being on unemployment for six months. At one point we even entertained ideas of moving all the way around the world (NZ), but concluded that if CO was too far to be from our families then NZ was completely out of the question.

[ocean2026]

See the Detroit News story on this site a few months ago. It the educated people leaving and that will kill Detroit. For example- Kelly Bundy could get a paralegal job here in Texas for more than $10 an hour, she would not have state income tax to pay, her real estate tax would be 1/3 of Detroits, and she wouldn't have to pay much for heating ( there would be more AC in summer). Moreover she is way less likely to be robbed, raped or murder and if she stays out of the big cities, she would be totally safe and secure in the fact that Texas will grow for the near and far future.

[VM1138]

Lately I've been thinking it'd be nice to live near Detroit if they can get their act together. But as a History major I really don't see a future for me in the region. Someday I'd like to live down there, though.

[waltlantz]

Cities like Detroit (or entire Michigan state) won't just up and wither away like some say (or want) they will.

However it'll be a generational thing. I hate to say it but certain generations have to pass on and newer ones have to take up the mantle to see any real change over in culture, especially politically. As long as certain individuals are sowing small seeds of progress (Bing, few buisness start ups and graudates coming or staying) the rest will come, alibiet much later.

[VM1138]

Yeah, I've got to say, if Bing keeps going the way he is, he may actually make some much-needed progress in cleaning Detroit up. But really, how long can it last? Maybe I'm a bit of a cynic, but Bing will just be replaced with another goon who will destroy the city.

[KellyBundy]

The elected officials are representative of those who elect them. And judging by the average intelligence of the typical Detroit voter, the next mayor will be just as much of a joke.

[canudigit]

Originally Posted by VM1138

Lately I've been thinking it'd be nice to live near Detroit if they can get their act together. But as a History major I really don't see a future for me in the region. Someday I'd like to live down there, though.

You could check into The Henry Ford, which is the collective name for the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. I am a history buff and I am totally in love with the place. I have looked at their job page, albeit not in the real recent past, and they had several history-related jobs that needed filled.

The Henry Ford is a jewel in the Detroit area's crown that seems to get overlooked, just like all of Detroit's other fine attractions, whenever there is a discussion about Detroit anywhere. It's always negative and all about unemployment, crime, etc. Detroit is SO much more than those statistics. Here are a few other great things about Detroit, if I may:

The University of Michigan, Dearborn campus. Awesome school, and about half the price of U of M Ann Arbor.

The Detroit Institute for the Arts. Seriously, why don't people talk about this place more? They have some incredible artwork and historical artifacts, such as an entire hallway full of Medievel suits of armor. SO cool!

The Motown Museum. All of these contemporary, black artists can essentially trace their roots to Detroit and the Motown sound. Seems it gets overlooked though.

The Detroit riverfront. We love to go downtown and walk along the riverfront from roughly the Ren Cen to Joe Lewis Arena. It's a vibrant, fun place to be in the summer.

Great Lakes Crossings in Auburn Hills. Everyone shops, so why not hit a destination shopping attraction that has all of the cool restaurants, etc.?

Comerica Park and Ford Field (Yeah, I know, the Lions...sigh). These two parks are awesome and conveniently located within walking distance of Greektown and the casinos, if gambling is your thing.


Okay, I guess I didn't mean for this to turn into a post on the fine points of the Detroit area, but I just get SO tired of people constantly bashing Detroit. Of course Detroit has its problems, what city doesn't? We just lived in the Phoenix area for a short while and personally, give me any city in Michigan over that crazy place! I digress, but my point is, Detroit has so many great things to offer and it is NOT completely dead, or even close, IMHO, so I just wish that people would quit acting like it is the anus of America. There are worse places and there are better places. And so many people who bash Detroit have never even been there, they are just going on what they hear in the media. It gets so tiresome.

[Brie85]

The "brain drain" is unfortunate but many graduates are forced to move away just to find gainful employment. It's a shame, especially because Michigan has such wonderful universities. Many good potential employees have been passed up because companies aren't hiring.