This is why noone should move to Michigan (or the Detroit area) (Warren: middle-class, transplants)

[ineedtoleavemichigan]

I have lived in Metro Detroit my entire life and I absolutely hate it. I would just like to share my personal opinions about the area and the state in general. Although this all may sound very pessimistic, I don't care. If you plan on moving to Michigan or the Detroit area, here is your official warning. I plan on moving within 6 months. Here's why (in no particular order):

1.) Roads - In Michigan, Summer is not really summer; it is construction season. The 'Motor City' has the worst roads I have ever traveled in the country, and I have been all over the US.
2.) Weather - If you wake up in the morning during an average Michigan winter, you have over a 60% chance of not seeing the sun AT ALL. You will enjoy three months of true 'summer' weather the entire year, only to be plagued by construction the entire time. Michigan State Flower: the construction cone. Do you like snow? You ****ing better!
3.) Job Market - Michigan is ranked #1 in unemployment for the entire frickin' country. Being a recent college graduate, I can't find a job to save my life. If you move here, you better know someone.
4.) Racism - I speak primarily of Metro Detroit when I say that racism is quite prevalent. I live in a suburb that is 97% white (literally). This doesn't personally scare me, but if you are a minority then don't plan on traveling into the white suburbs unless you want to get pulled over. According to my previous law professor, Michigan is one of the most segregated states in the union.

I do like a few things about Michigan. Number one is the lakes, absolutely. Michigan has a wide variety of beautiful lakes. The problem? Yeah, you only get three months out of the year to enjoy them unless you play ice hockey. The people are also generally nice, but don't expect to see people smile very often. It's hard to smile when you have to live with the above list .

I WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS
!BRING IT ON!

[ranman469]

agreed thats some of the reasons why we left there.
but you need to add

5.the fact that detroit blames everyone else for its problems, and lives in the past.

[sugarbeet]

While I don't necessarily disagree with some of your points, keep in mind that "the grass is always greener." I have a feeling that wherever you move - and I hope you're able to do so asap - you will come up with a list of things you don't like.

[Michigansnowflake]

lol, we dont need your kind in Michigan if you feel that way.

You couldnt pay me to live in SE Michigan anyway. I lived there 40 years, spent the last 2 in Charlevoix, its absolutely beautiful, my husband has a great job, they are expanding even.

We love ALL 4 season, yes winter too.........we ski, sled, ice fish, play in the snow...I dont know what your complaining about SE Mi hardly gets any snow nowadays. One of the reasons we moved North was because I wanted MORE snow in the Winter, SE Mi just doesnt have it.

Road problems? again, mostly in SE MI, sure, we have construction up here, but no where near what they have downstate. Knowing the back roads is a pleasure, whilst the tourists sit in any traffic.

I dont care about diversity, anyone who wants to live here can and they are welcome. I am not keeping anyone out.

Its too bad you cant enjoy the outdoors any other time than *3 months of true summer* cause the woods are fabulous in the Spring and Fall and Winter.....matter of fact, they are better cause you are not sweating your ass off and swating away the bugs.

Yup, dont let the door hit ya on your way out, cause with an attitude like that, we dont need you anyway.

[ineedtoleavemichigan]

MichiganSnowFlake, thank you for your opinions. I stated my OPINIONS as well, so have grace by not telling me to have the door hit me in the ass on my way out. But guess what? If you like Michigan so much, then have fun. Michigan deserves you. I'm guessing you actually have a job here and that you don't care about getting sunlight or freezing, amongst other things. Oh and since you don't live in SE Michigan, this winter has been snowy as all hell so I'm afraid your wrong.

As for the other comment, I'm sure the grass IS always greener on the other side, but I know for a fact it will be better than living here. The weather alone is downright miserable, especially for someone with seasonal affective disorder.

[Michigansnowflake]

lol, snowy as hell,..you dont know from snowy as hell..........we have had snow on the ground since November,and we will have snow on the ground through April, no melts, no seeing grass,......... tell me the same is true for SE MI.

[usroute10]

About the summers here.

I think that it is pretty summerlike from June and September, which is 4 months. I define summer like as 70's to 90's. Even in the spring and early fall, the weather stays pleasant for most of the time - 60's to 70's - which is pretty decent. I am not liking this year's winter. It has been extremely cold and snow has fallen EVERYDAY for the past month. In the winter of 2005-06, it did not snow any after December, and in the winter of 2006-07, the temperatures remained in the 50's and 60's until late January.

About the roads:

Yes, the roads are bad, and the construction on them seem endless during the summers. I can't stand. I would like to make I pitch to get rapid transit in the Detroit Area. Have light rail/or subways along the "spoke" roads (Michigan Avenue, Woodward, Grand River, Gratiot, and even Jefferson), going from downtown into the inner ring suburbs. That might get more folks off the roads and the roads might be preserved longer with less traffic.

About the jobs:
This is what happens when you make your local economy dependent on one industry. We need to invest in alternative energy and maybe even nuclear energy. Also, we need a culture in Michigan - education needs to be the number one priority.

About the racism:
Yes the metro area is very segregated. Unfortunately, black middle-class residents are leaving Detroit - which is unfortunate for Detroit. This exodus will increase the diversity of the suburbs - if the white folks don't leave like they did in Southfield and Oak Park.

I hope you are able to find a job here. As a resident of the neighborhood of Warrendale in the city of Detroit, I would say if you can find a job, give the City a chance. The resurging downtown and "midtown" areas have an increasing number of restaraunts, bars, art galleries, and other businesses in a fairly walkable, dense, and relatively safe environment. It is also very diverse. And let me reiterate that it is alot safer than it used to be.

[motown mary]

Negative attitudes like yours are a huge part of the problem - why would you want to bring people down (specifically people who are moving here, and people who live here & take pride in their homes)? If someone wants to relocate to the area, if they have found a good opportunity here, then let them come and enjoy all of the positive things this state has to offer, of which there are many. I think this type of post is alarmist & is intended to spark emotion. There are two sides of the coin for each of your points and you can choose how to respond to uncontrollable circumstances, like snow and road construction.

Please don't spend time needlessly worrying potential transplants...and try focusing on good things, like your upcoming move.

[Coldjensens]

I really like it here. We moved from ultra popular OC California. A lot of things here are better, some are worse. It is a push. I do no consider the economic conditions as a factor since the economic conditions anywhere are temporary.

Roads:

The road system, especially the freeways here are great overall. For the most part, it is a very well designed system, especially when compared to other places. The roads are badly worn and need repair and maintenance, but it is a good system. they will always need repair because of the freeze thaw cycle. They need to quit taking the asphalt short cut for temporary savings and go back to concrete. I am amazed that there are not toll roads here. Perhaps they should start charging tolls and get the roads in better condition.


Weather: The weather here is interesting. It changes all the time. Yes the sunless days get old after a while, but that changes regularly too. It was sunny for most of today, now it wil be cloudy for a week, then sunny again. Weather is a matter of personal taste. My wife hated the never changing weather in Southern CA. I think that I liked it better, but this is ok too. I wish that we had more snow. If it is going to be cold, we may as well enjoy it. I would far rather have snow than mud.

Spring is nice. Summer is very pleasant. Fall is unbeatable. The weather and general atmosphere in the fall is better than anywhere that I have ever been.

Jobs: this is difficult for anyone to discuss. If you have a job, it does not look bad. If you do not, it seems terrible. Over 90% of the employable people in the State have jobs. That is hardly the doomsday that so many people try to make it out to be on these threads. On the other hand, if you are one of the unemployed, it may seem like doomsday. It is one of the worst unemployment condition in the country, but not a reason to condemn the entire state. It is a reason to get out and try to do something.

Racism.
It is everywhere. People who say it is worse here than other places generally have not lived in other places. Racism is everywhere. Some places it is more focussed on Hispanics or Asians than blacks. Racism between and by minority groups is as prevelant as between whites and other races. It is everywhere.

There are a lot of other good things about Michigan. Our public schools, universities and medical care are better than most places. Our lakes streams forests and fields are as, or more beautiful than most places, better than many. this is a very pretty state. You could go on and on on either side of this discussion and each side's list would be equally long and equally accurate. When all is said and done, Michigan is like everywhere else. There are good points there are bad points. Whether you like it here depends on how you personally prioritize the various points.

[Greenchili]

Well.....I was born and raised in Sterling Heights MI. Moved to beautiful
CA in my senior yr of high school(1976). Never looked back. Michigan
has got to be the most boring place on earth,to me that is. The weather
is the worst,the mosquitos,the rain,the humidity. Its just an all around
depressing state. I havent been back for over 20 yrs.and have NO desire
to ever do so. And snow, you can have it. Been there done that!
Sorry,but I agree with the OP.

Greenchili