Monday, October 27, 2014

A New Vision For Rebuilding Detroit



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Once the powerhouse of America's industrial might, Detroit is more recently known in the popular imagination as a fabulous ruin, crumbling and bankrupt. But city planner Toni Griffin asks us to look again — and to imagine an entrepreneurial future for the city's 700,000 residents.

MY COMMENTS****************************************************************

This particular video saddened me because I have seen and heard stories of Detroit growing up. I had really been more emotional after watching a PBS documentary concerning the subject years ago.  It had focused on a man who worked for the Detroit Sheriffs office who had the task of officially informing residents of eviction notices and proceedings against them.


Unfortunately, a job is a job, but this particular gentleman  knew all the people he was basically removing, or attempting to remove, from the place they have lived in for years. When the economy of Detroit had fallen, starting in the late 1960's, he associated with, partied with and even befriended many who now suffered from the fall of the auto industries and associated companies.  When the "big three" closed up, all the jobs went with them. People were left without homes, apartments, money, etc. When they could not keep up, he came, a sort of harbinger of doom to add to their troubles. He had official notices from the city stating your home is no longer your own. He was very sad to do his job, but nonetheless he continued to do it.

When the "big three" closed up, all the jobs went with them. People were left without homes, apartments, money, etc.

Unfortunately many more cities will soon face this dilemma. On the article we were to read concerning " How Did  Economists Get It So Wrong", no real expert or financial guru could see Detroit's future of misery. None of them could even evaluate fully their own estimations. The financial world cannot really be put into a "trained dog" level, in my view. It will always be a runaway pup that you have at least 60% control. More and more people will be asked to contribute to the financial success of states, towns villages and cities. We may even have to get involved on a government level to ensure we are allowed to work in order to survive. Companies cannot drop us at the drop of a hat just to make sure their profit margin goes up. We need guarantees .


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