Why can't Detroit annex neighbouring cities to regain its population?
If the problem with Detroit's declining population is people moving to the burbs, then why can't the City of Detroit start annexing neighbouring cities to regain its population and tax base? Detroit has only 138 square miles of land, while Chicago has 228 square miles, Toronto has 243 square miles and New York City has 305 square miles.
In 1996, the Provincial Government amalgamated the City of Toronto with the surrounding municipalities of East York, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough and York to create a new City of Toronto. Streamlining also saved $138 million a year.
Why can't the same thing be done with the City of Detroit?
Maybe a full annexation wouldn't be a good idea
There has to come a time when people here in the city and suburbs have to remember that one cannot exist without the other.
When visitors come to Detroit, they have no idea of the name of many of the suburbs that are located here. They only know about Detroit in general, and currently, we as a region aren't putting our best foot forward.
There are some departments that should be regionalized. I'm pushing regionalization mainly on transportation since that will be the only way that the service would be sufficient. Cobo is already ran by a regional authority, why stop there?
There is no way that the city and suburbs can thrive the way they are.