{Article} This Is the Part of Detroit That Most People Are Not Aware Of

[MizMotown]

This story first appeared on the TomDispatch website.
In late October, a few days after local news cameras swarmed Detroit's courthouse to hear closing arguments in the city's historic bankruptcy trial, "Commander" Dale Brown cruised through the stately Detroit neighborhood of Palmer Woods in a Hummer emblazoned with the silver, interlocking-crescent-moon logo of his private security company.

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/...ing-privatized

[Hypestyles]

heh.. well, I imagine Palmer Woods folks, in the aggregate, have the money to hire out private security. "Good for them", I guess. Over here in Russell Woods... forget it.

[bailey]

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/...ing-privatized

This story first appeared on the TomDispatch website.
In late October, a few days after local news cameras swarmed Detroit's courthouse to hear closing arguments in the city's historic bankruptcy trial, "Commander" Dale Brown cruised through the stately Detroit neighborhood of Palmer Woods in a Hummer emblazoned with the silver, interlocking-crescent-moon logo of his private security company.

Satisfied, he continued on, guided by a futuristic tablet map of the neighborhood's languid streets. These had become even more impenetrable last year when the bankrupt city paid for and constructed a series of traffic barriers on the community's edges

fucking elitists building walls.

[Wesley Mouch]

fucking elitists building walls.

god-blessed pragmatists investing in Detroit.

[MizMotown]

All a matter of perspective...lol. That's what everything always will be, different points of view. The real question what is the real motives behind anything? If it's ego-driven it will always be the need to collect "more". If it's spirit-driven it will always be for the good of all. Heads or tails?

[belleislerunner]

I'll bite and respond to a little of the sensational reporting.

"In the second, running water has systematically been cut off from at least 27,000 households this year alone, the latest in a series of government-enacted policies that have made daily life an increasingly desperate battle."

27,000 homes think it's okay to steal water without paying their bills. How did this many people think it's okay to be thiefs and steal without consquences? What can the people of these law abiding sections of the city teach the other criminals in the 27,000 homes?

"The injustices pile up: the threat that Child Protective Services will seize custody of children who are living in waterless homes; the streets upon streets of emptied houses, their roofs caving in, their porches collapsing, their bricks blackened by fire; "

What injustice is here? The injustice of someone trying to afford an asset they clearly have no economic means to afford. Roofs caving in? Porches collpasing? These are signs that you have no right owning a home - this means YOU as the homeowner are the sole cause of the problem. You are trying to live in an asset you can't maintain - you must buy an asset you can maintain or rent. What skills can the people who live in homes that don't have collapsing roofs or porches teach those who clearly live above their means?

I'd be embarrased to know Laura - her journalistic abilities show she's more interessted at blaming people [[i.e. victim mentlaity) as opposed to being part of the solution.

[MizMotown]

I'll bite and respond to a little of the sensational reporting.

"In the second, running water has systematically been cut off from at least 27,000 households this year alone, the latest in a series of government-enacted policies that have made daily life an increasingly desperate battle."

27,000 homes think it's okay to steal water without paying their bills. How did this many people think it's okay to be thiefs and steal without consquences? What can the people of these law abiding sections of the city teach the other criminals in the 27,000 homes?

"The injustices pile up: the threat that Child Protective Services will seize custody of children who are living in waterless homes; the streets upon streets of emptied houses, their roofs caving in, their porches collapsing, their bricks blackened by fire; "

What injustice is here? The injustice of someone trying to afford an asset they clearly have no economic means to afford. Roofs caving in? Porches collpasing? These are signs that you have no right owning a home - this means YOU as the homeowner are the sole cause of the problem. You are trying to live in an asset you can't maintain - you must buy an asset you can maintain or rent. What skills can the people who live in homes that don't have collapsing roofs or porches teach those who clearly live above their means?

I'd be embarrased to know Laura - her journalistic abilities show she's more interessted at blaming people [[i.e. victim mentlaity) as opposed to being part of the solution.

In your perspective what's the solution? What do we do with the folks that may be unable to work, disabled, mentally ill, under-educated, addicted, layed-off, too old, or cannot find a suitable job that pays enough?

[Lowell]

I'll bite and respond to a little of the sensational reporting.

"In the second, running water has systematically been cut off from at least 27,000 households ....
27,000 homes think it's okay to steal water without paying their bills. How did this many people think it's okay to be thiefs and steal without consquences? What can the people of these law abiding sections of the city teach the other criminals in the 27,000 homes?

Now wait a minute.

"27,000 homes think it's okay to steal water? ... it's okay to be thiefs [sic] ... the other criminals in 27,000 homes?"

Putting aside that homes can't steal, on what do you base your allegations of theft or crime? Stealing means violating a criminal code law, like illegally tapping into water lines to divert and steal water. Are you saying that something like that is happening with these 27,000 households?

Failure to pay a bill is neither stealing nor a crime. It is a civic matter, a contract breach at the most. It's between buyer and seller. Period.

Do you think it fair to blanket malign thousands of people as criminals when no crime has been committed. Imagine if life's fortunes left you in a position being unable to pay a bill? Would you like being called a criminal?

[Zacha341]

Who's paying? I have a family member over there and they want the extra security. We came home while visiting to the door open and the service came fast. I found them to be professional and thorough. Robbers must have been scared away as nothing was taken.

fucking elitists building walls.

[EastsideAl]

fucking elitists building walls.

She should have come to Indian Village. Premium neighborhood with no walls.

And on the apparently unlivable east side too.

[Bham1982]

She should have come to Indian Village. Premium neighborhood with no walls.

And on the apparently unlivable east side too.

But also comes with high[[er) crime, even with private security patrols. Indian Village can't be walled off in any practical way, so probably an issue of street grid rather than philosophical differences between communities.

[EastsideAl]

But also comes with high[[er) crime, even with private security patrols. Indian Village can't be walled off in any practical way, so probably an issue of street grid rather than philosophical differences between communities.

Believe it or not, restricting access has been discussed in the past around here. And pretty soundly rejected. The feeling of most Villagers is that, for better or worse, we are a part of the city and not apart from it. For all that, and for being on the oh-so-scary east side, I don't think our crime is all that much higher than Palmer Woods' or other nice west side neighborhoods.

[sumas]

Believe it or not, restricting access has been discussed in the past around here. And pretty soundly rejected. The feeling of most Villagers is that, for better or worse, we are a part of the city and not apart from it. For all that, and for being on the oh-so-scary east side, I don't think our crime is all that much higher than Palmer Woods' or other nice west side neighborhoods.

Actually, the article addressed safety and private security. You are right, communities with defined identities fair rather well regarding crime. Barriers. do little.as do private security companies. Neighbors watching out for neighbors make a huge difference.

[Bham1982]

Believe it or not, restricting access has been discussed in the past around here. And pretty soundly rejected. The feeling of most Villagers is that, for better or worse, we are a part of the city and not apart from it. For all that, and for being on the oh-so-scary east side, I don't think our crime is all that much higher than Palmer Woods' or other nice west side neighborhoods.

Logistically, how would this be done? Indian Village is on a street grid, so, to me, it would seem almost impossible to have a Palmer Woods-style gated community. Palmer Woods is built in a suburban, "subdivision" style, with limited access points. Indian Village flows seamlessly into the adjacent blocks.

I mean, I guess you could just block every single road in/out of Indian Village except for one, but that would be crazy, and would make adjacent neighborhoods even more deprived. I don't think too many people would support such an arrangement.

[mkhopper]

Some members of my family and I like to occasionally tour around the city just to see different things. One day drive through the 'Points, another cruise around up and down Woodward, maybe Grand River, etc.

While driving through Palmer Woods one day, we got stopped by one of these security guys, who was looking way too intense and far too happy to be rousting what he may have perceived as troublemakers. [[Because a car load of white, middle and senior-aged people throws off that vibe I guess.)

After explaining that we were just checking out the nice homes, the guy then wanted me [[the driver) to give my name and home address while he recorded me on his tablet. I told him no, I would not be providing that information to him and we were then told, quite plainly, to get out. We would be followed to Woodward and if he saw us in the neighborhood again, he would notify the police.

While I understand the want for security and if the residents of the neighborhood can foot the bill for a private organization, then more power to them, but I thought this was a bit extreme.

We actually discussed cruising back through just to see if the guy would make good on his threat but decided that the call of Lafayette coneys was too strong and left to get some food in a more inviting location.

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

Some members of my family and I like to occasionally tour around the city just to see different things. One day drive through the 'Points, another cruise around up and down Woodward, maybe Grand River, etc.

While driving through Palmer Woods one day, we got stopped by one of these security guys, who was looking way too intense and far too happy to be rousting what he may have perceived as troublemakers. [[Because a car load of white, middle and senior-aged people throws off that vibe I guess.)

After explaining that we were just checking out the nice homes, the guy then wanted me [[the driver) to give my name and home address while he recorded me on his tablet. I told him no, I would not be providing that information to him and we were then told, quite plainly, to get out. We would be followed to Woodward and if he saw us in the neighborhood again, he would notify the police.

While I understand the want for security and if the residents of the neighborhood can foot the bill for a private organization, then more power to them, but I thought this was a bit extreme.

We actually discussed cruising back through just to see if the guy would make good on his threat but decided that the call of Lafayette coneys was too strong and left to get some food in a more inviting location.

You should have continued your drive through the neighborhood, perhaps after asking for his name and address.

[Wheels]

"There was pride in the water company," she says. "The one piece of power that black people had in this city is now gone."

Detroit entitlement thinking at its best!

[Jimaz]

So then would it be a crime if one were to deprive another of water with the intent to cause death by dehydration? Or could that be done legally?

[belleislerunner]

Everyone should have the right to go to the nearest drinking hole/well/Detroit River and obtain their own water via buckets or methods they so choose. For the thousands [[or millions) of years of human civilization - that's how it worked.

However, if you would like someone else to pump the water from a well/water source, clean it, sanitize it and deliver it via infastructure conveniently to less than 10 feet of where you live regardless of the temperature outside - that is not a human right. That is a luxury item and you must pay for it.

[warsaw7]

Everyone should have the right to go to the nearest drinking hole/well/Detroit River and obtain their own water via buckets or methods they so choose. For the thousands [[or millions) of years of human civilization - that's how it worked.

However, if you would like someone else to pump the water from a well/water source, clean it, sanitize it and deliver it via infastructure conveniently to less than 10 feet of where you live regardless of the temperature outside - that is not a human right. That is a luxury item and you must pay for it.

Couldn't agree more!

[Wesley Mouch]

So then would it be a crime if one were to deprive another of water with the intent to cause death by dehydration? Or could that be done legally?

Absolutely nobody is being deprived of water. Water is available nearly everywhere. Nobody going to their local church is being turned away when they ask for a glass or bucket of water. Nobody.

Oh, are there some people who can't get to their church? Sure. Do you think there's a church in Detroit that won't find a way to get them water.

I have no problem with anyone wanting to fund water for the poor and disabled. Go ahead. Nobody is stopping you from paying their water bill. Go right now down to the water board and pay someone's bill for them. There are dozens of charities and gov't programs that'll take your money and help. Open your wallet.

What I can't abide is the notion that excusing the payment of reasonable water bills. It destroys the city we love. The poor are better off with a functioning city than they are with free water for anyone who just doesn't want to pay their bill. In each and every moment of our day, we can encourage the creation of a sustainable and viable Detroit -- or we can fall back to anarchy. Detroit of the last 20 years has shown us what anarchy does to the poor. We can do better.

And we don't do better by ignoring the responsibilities of society. We do better by helping our neighbors. Not by being stupid.

[Jimaz]

So then would it be a crime if one were to deprive another of water with the intent to cause death by dehydration? Or could that be done legally?

Should that be done legally?

Absolutely nobody is being deprived of water....

The number of words in your reply reveals more than the words themselves.

[Jimaz]

So then would it be a crime if one were to deprive another of water with the intent to cause death by dehydration? Or could that be done legally?

Should that be done legally?

[Jimaz]

Lady Jessica's vow