Why is Detroit shrinking?

[Detroitnerd]

Detroitnerd: Your script is funny, but it let's not forget how much "businessmen" hated the unions in Detroit, in addition to the issues with black labor. Granted, many unions followed workers into the suburbs, but the concentration and sheer number of unions in Detroit was intense and allowed for unparalleled synergy.

Yes, you're right. And neighborhoods like Hastings Street were notable sources of political power. Ironically, the court rulings that outlawed racial covenants in housing aided in the spatial deconcentration of Hastings Street, and ended the era where Detroit's blacks of all incomes lived together, which had created a strong political bloc.

[Hermod]

Yes, you're right. And neighborhoods like Hastings Street were notable sources of political power. Ironically, the court rulings that outlawed racial covenants in housing aided in the spatial deconcentration of Hastings Street, and ended the era where Detroit's blacks of all incomes lived together, which had created a strong political bloc.

Greatly diluted by the effects of "at-large voting" for the city council members. A concentrated voting bloc is only as strong as its numbers in those cases. How long did it take for Detroit to have a black councilman?

[Detroitnerd]

Greatly diluted by the effects of "at-large voting" for the city council members. A concentrated voting bloc is only as strong as its numbers in those cases. How long did it take for Detroit to have a black councilman?

There's little doubt about the political implications for blacks of at-large voting for council, instituted in 1918, right after the first batch of Southern blacks moved north. But the kind of political power that comes from a neighborhood where the poorest hooker or dice-thrower knew the most respected surgeon, undertaker or lawyer was something that deconcentration definitely did away with. And when all blacks lived together [[with the exception of a few black "villages" on the west and north sides), it definitely meant that upper class African-Americans had a vested interest in improving their lot as a group. [[Not so much when the leaders of Detroit's black community get to live ensconced in Palmer Park...)

[Hermod]

There's little doubt about the political implications for blacks of at-large voting for council, instituted in 1918, right after the first batch of Southern blacks moved north.

At-large voting was one of those great progressive ideas [[get rid of the ward bosses) that had unintended consequences. Of course eugenics was also a great progressive idea.

[Wesley Mouch]

At-large voting was one of those great progressive ideas [[get rid of the ward bosses) that had unintended consequences. Of course eugenics was also a great progressive idea.

Its really a good idea to pay attention to history. The main thing I realize is just how many good ideas go bad. There are always unintended consequences.

There're also unintended consequences to doing nothing. So we're stuck with doing our best. And right now, by-ward voting will shake things up a bit. But you are right. There will be unintended consequences.