Why can't Detroit annex neighbouring cities to regain its population?

[Stosh]

Sounds great on paper. In reality, if I was a resident of a bordering community there is no way I would support this. Detroit and it's citizens need to clean up and improve our 138 sq miles until we could even mention this with a straight face.

I think the bigger question is why we allow the city of Detroit to be stuck with the lion's share of the regions homeless, mentally ill, impoverished. Until we address the social ills in a regional manner Detroit will be stuck.

Certain townships actually wanted to and voted for annexation to Detroit after 1928, but were voted down by Detroiters. You had your chance.

How does having all these homeless, mentally ill and poor people influence the bottom line for Detroit? Sounds like a state problem to me.