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

[jt1]

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?

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.