CH. 7 loads bus with Suburbanites afraid of the CIty and brings them down

[Detroitnerd]

I guess it's only fair, because I avoid going to the suburbs if at all possible. I always feel like I'm going to die of boredom.

Not sure we need these kind of people. They're the flotsam of society. The lumpen proletariat. If you're afraid of simply going to any city [[outside of those covered by government travel warnings) in 2011 and you live in an industrial society, you're about on par intellectually with someone who is afraid of lunar eclipses as a sign that the gods are displeased.

Detroit has tried to cater to the suburbs for too long - tried for 40 years to turn downtown into one big Disneyland to try to lure those suburbanites back. Well it isn't going to happen - and Susan Lunchbox from Jerkwater Nowhere isn't going to save the city by going to a Tigers game once a year. The city doesn't exist to impress suburbanites any more than Chicago exists to impress people from Moscow.

There are plenty of educated suburbanites and others who understand that urban areas are vital to human society who support the city.

I had a jerk like this at my house about a year ago, relative of a friend. N-word this, Detroit-that. Why bother to try to rehabilitate such a worthless piece of shit? And he was some white-trash basement dweller. Who cares what people like that think? What's next? Try to rehabilitate the KKK and get them to come to the next NAACP rally?

Great post. I well know and understand you want us all to work together as a region, but some people need to be condemned. Good job doing it. I enjoyed reading this.

[iheartthed]

On the other hand, I was on a bus tour of investment properties in metro Detroit. Getting to an apartment building on the east side of Detroit produced comments like "I had no idea it had gotten this bad" from a number of people who hadn't been in that area for a while.

These doses of reality can cut both ways.

To be honest, I've caught myself saying that on some recent visits to the city. Not because of the crime, but just the complete desolation of some areas.

[Steve bennet]

Not sure we need these kind of people. They're the flotsam of society. The lumpen proletariat. If you're afraid of simply going to any city [[outside of those covered by government travel warnings) in 2011 and you live in an industrial society, you're about on par intellectually with someone who is afraid of lunar eclipses as a sign that the gods are displeased.

That's almost exactly my point!

Are the kind of people on the bus really the kind of people you want in the city to begin with? Lions and Tigers fan are annoying enough, but I guess they "are good for the economy."

I don't understand how someone could live in this region for 20 plus years and know nothing about the city. Do they live under a rock or something?

[Detroitnerd]

That's almost exactly my point!

Are the kind of people on the bus really the kind of people you want in the city to begin with? Lions and Tigers fan are annoying enough, but I guess they "are good for the economy."

I don't understand how someone could live in this region for 20 plus years and know nothing about the city. Do they live under a rock or something?

I've met some people like that. Proud that they never went south of Eight Mile Road. Heck, I've even heard of some people proud that they've never gone south of I-696!

[corktownyuppie]

That's almost exactly my point!

Are the kind of people on the bus really the kind of people you want in the city to begin with? Lions and Tigers fan are annoying enough, but I guess they "are good for the economy."

I don't understand how someone could live in this region for 20 plus years and know nothing about the city. Do they live under a rock or something?

Yes, it's a large rock called "ignorance", and it's large enough to encompass in the millions here in Metro Detroit. But I'm not just talking about Tiger fans and Lion fans. Everyone here in the city complains about how shitty the city services are. Lights. Cops. Roads. Taxes. Everyone wants businesses to start hiring again. You want banks to start lending again. Developers to risk capital again.

You want all that? You want to be taken seriously as a city? You want to stop being the laughing stock of urban America? You don't want taxes to keep going up? Insurance rates to keep going up? Well, then you need money.

Money.
Money.
Money.

Money.

Detroit has learned 1,000 ways to shoot itself in the foot. You finally have wealthy suburbanites becoming re-interested in coming back. Let's not blow it for the thousandth time.

[Detroitnerd]

Yes, it's a large rock called "ignorance", and it's large enough to encompass in the millions here in Metro Detroit. But I'm not just talking about Tiger fans and Lion fans. Everyone here in the city complains about how shitty the city services are. Lights. Cops. Roads. Taxes. Everyone wants businesses to start hiring again. You want banks to start lending again. Developers to risk capital again.

You want all that? You want to be taken seriously as a city? You want to stop being the laughing stock of urban America? You don't want taxes to keep going up? Insurance rates to keep going up? Well, then you need money.

Money.
Money.
Money.

Money.

Detroit has learned 1,000 ways to shoot itself in the foot. You finally have wealthy suburbanites becoming re-interested in coming back. Let's not blow it for the thousandth time.

Meh. Suburban leisure dollars are not going to bring the city back. Best to try to cater to people who want an urban lifestyle.

Now, if we were a real region under a supercity government, I'd welcome those suburban TAX dollars.

[iheartthed]

After watching the first part of this segment, I just remembered that Detroit is in the Midwest. Mind is blown. The video seemed to hit on just about every stereotype that the coastal elite has about those people who dominate that section of flyover country...

Detroit has tried to cater to the suburbs for too long - tried for 40 years to turn downtown into one big Disneyland to try to lure those suburbanites back. Well it isn't going to happen - and Susan Lunchbox from Jerkwater Nowhere isn't going to save the city by going to a Tigers game once a year. The city doesn't exist to impress suburbanites any more than Chicago exists to impress people from Moscow.

This right here. If you live less than 30 minutes from Detroit but haven't bothered to go there in 30 years then chances are you probably haven't spent much time in any big city over that time. What is the benefit of trying to change Susan Lunchbox's perception of Detroit? Is she suddenly gonna hop on the phone and advocate that nephew Johnny Lunchbox living in suburban Cincinnati start searching for jobs in Detroit? Convince Bob and Linda Lunchbox in Orange County, Calif. to spend a couple days in Detroit on their trip to Chicago this fall? She's not. Nor do I think Susan operates in the orbit of the type of people who fuel booming cities. Ms. Lunchbox and her friends just aren't "big city" type of people, and there is nothing wrong with that. But that's just a waste of time and resources for Detroit to spend energy trying to court people like her. Detroit's flaw is that it's the big city that seemingly repels people who thrive in the big city.

[corktownyuppie]

Meh. Suburban leisure dollars are not going to bring the city back. Best to try to cater to people who want an urban lifestyle.

Many of those suburbanites want an urban lifestyle but don't know that they can have one here. That's the whole point.

Now, if we were a real region under a supercity government, I'd welcome those suburban TAX dollars.

I agree. We'll be more likely to get suburban cooperation, like with the Cobo Hall deal, if they feel some emotional connection and vested interest in the city doing well.

Let's been honest. We need them more than they need us right now.

[j to the jeremy]

^sorry if mine came across wrong. The city or suburbs or rural americans are way overweight. Its unattractive. i wasnt making a generalization about suburbs but about everywhere america. i was overseas this summer and the first thing that hit me when coming back was that just about every adult here has an overweight issue. it is stuck in my mind for now.

Over 50% of adult Americans will be obese by 2030.

http://www.businessinsider.com/50-pe...se-2020-2011-9

[Detroitnerd]

Many of those suburbanites want an urban lifestyle but don't know that they can have one here. That's the whole point.

You think so? I'm doubtful. The people who want an urban lifestyle in the suburbs get one. They do it by going to Chicago, going to New York, going to the Bay Area. The move to Seattle or Portland or Austin. Meanwhile, we spend a great deal of effort trying to cater to people who, frankly, distrust or loathe urban environments by trying to take our city and turn it into gated campuses, Disneyland attractions or futuristic Habitrails. Instead, we should be finding ways to provide services, fire, police, transit, streetlights and the basics of an actual city life. I feel that your heart may be in the right place, but your head is in the wrong one.

I agree. We'll be more likely to get suburban cooperation, like with the Cobo Hall deal, if they feel some emotional connection and vested interest in the city doing well.

Let's been honest. We need them more than they need us right now.

I feel you are putting the horse before the cart. If we get the city doing well, then the vested interest will come along naturally. Do we need regional cooperation? Yes. We all do, whether we know it or not. But if we are to have a successful city center, it's hopeless to try to turn it into a drive-in destination for people who fundamentally distrust cities; it's much better, I think, to draw in the kids who currently move away for other cities.

What's more, I think the tide is turning. The metropolitan retrenchment has already begun.

[corktownyuppie]

it's much better, I think, to draw in the kids who currently move away for other cities.

What's more, I think the tide is turning. The metropolitan retrenchment has already begun.

It may seem that we disagree, but I think our positions are closer than I originally first thought. I don't think Susie Lunchbox is planning on moving down here anytime soon. But her son or daughter might. The problem right now is that for every 5 people that I know who've come to see how great it is downtown, 3 of them will flat out say, "I'd do it in a heartbeat, but my parents would kill me."

These are people who will never live in Detroit. But we have to stop them from discouraging their kids to do so, and I think these types of "bus tours", hokey as they are, go a long way to help.

[English]

After watching the first part of this segment, I just remembered that Detroit is in the Midwest. Mind is blown. The video seemed to hit on just about every stereotype that the coastal elite has about those people who dominate that section of flyover country...

My thoughts exactly. I thought, "Is this tongue in cheek, or are they actually serious?"

Then again, I don't have any relatives or friends with these points of view. That's because this demographic wouldn't have a friend like me -- not just the chocolate coating, but with my sociopolitical POVs.

I still say that we take a busload of "stereotypical" Detroiters and have them spend time in a place where many of us don't feel welcome, whether real or perceived -- up North. Let's film it just the way they've done this segment. Hey, I'll tag along. I haven't been up North yet myself, not really.

If it doesn't work the other way around, then stop snarking at DYes for pointing out how utterly ridiculous this is. If these people are afraid of the city, screw 'em. I'm tired of making people who hate me and everything that I came from and am feel comfortable, unless they show people like ME the same kind of consideration. It's 2011.

[Trumpeteer]

We live out of state but visit MI every year, as I grew up in SW [[and have the t-shirts to proclaim it) and ALWAYS stay downtown and love it. Last trip we tried to take an older cousin and his wife who live in Macomb over to Slows for lunch. As always, it was packed with a line outside so we went to Nemos instead. While talking with them on the phone last night, my cousin said he saw a story where "that BBQ joint" we wanted to take them to was ranked 6th best in the country. I replied that it didn't surprise me as they're always so busy. My cousins wife replied that it was "too bad they couldn't have put it in a better place"! They also say that the light rail idea is stupid because "who wants to park their car out on 8 mile to go downtown?" I said maybe someone who works there?? Always making cracks about needing a gun to come downtown, afraid their car will get stolen, on and on.

Negative things that happen in Detroit, shootings, carjackings, robberies, etc. happen in the major metro area we live in every single day BUT doesn't get the pub that it does there simply because of perception. I read and sure understand the frustration of those of you who live in and love this rising city of Detroit. Hang in there!

[Gistok]

I guess it's only fair, because I avoid going to the suburbs if at all possible. I always feel like I'm going to die of boredom.

I wonder just how many more Detroiters want to leave the city [[but can't afford to)... because if they must die one day... that would likely be one of their preferable ways...

[[Sarcasm alert off)

[rjk]

I'm all for the story. These 13 people all had the same mindset of the city.

Let me ask everyone on this board; of all your family and friends that live outside of the city limits, is there reactions the same as the report.

Personally I have relatives that would fit right in to what the report was all about.

I lived, worked and played in the city for years. I get tired of defending the city because of what the news reports.

I couldn't help but feel that the people on this tour were overstating the fear factor. I would bet you that prior to this tour if you gave these people a coupon for a free dinner at some place like Mario's they'd have no problem going to Detroit.

How can you live in this area and not have friends or relatives that have gone to sporting events, the art museum, plays or concerts and not hear about the safety of the downtown area? Not to mention the casinos which seem to have a lot of suburban looking people. On that note, many of the people on that tour look like they'd fit in very nicely at one of the casinos. Again, give them 30 dollars worth of chips and they'll be there with bells on.

I honestly don't know anyone who is afraid to go to the entertainment districts in Detroit.
I know people who don't go, but that has to do with their older age as they just don't get out much.

[Detroitnerd]

Cracking up about the location of Slows.

"Why'd they put that barbie-cue playace down dere? With alla them blayacks?"

[corktownyuppie]

I honestly don't know anyone who is afraid to go to the entertainment districts in Detroit.

Not sure how much time you spend in the suburbs, but the answer is a lot. A lot. And there's a lot of skeptical people older people out there who need some convincing when their kids [[25-year-old kids, btw), come and visit me.

[Trumpeteer]

Cracking up about the location of Slows.

"Why'd they put that barbie-cue playace down dere? With alla them blayacks?"

Actually her reason was because of the lack of parking as they perceived it. That's also a wierd dialect for someone from MI

[Detroitnerd]

I'm no expert on dialect, but I've been hearing a weird kind of "double-A" in the nasal Midwestern accent among white females lately. As the region shifts, it almost sounds like a Minnesota accent to me at times. The short-A sound is so nasal it crests and falls, as in "I'll see ya when ya get bay-ack." Might be just me. I only seem to hear it when I listen to the local radio spots.

Anyway, point about parking -- and not bigotry -- taken. And I'm still chuckling over it.

[Steve bennet]

Yes, it's a large rock called "ignorance", and it's large enough to encompass in the millions here in Metro Detroit. But I'm not just talking about Tiger fans and Lion fans. Everyone here in the city complains about how shitty the city services are. Lights. Cops. Roads. Taxes. Everyone wants businesses to start hiring again. You want banks to start lending again. Developers to risk capital again.

You want all that? You want to be taken seriously as a city? You want to stop being the laughing stock of urban America? You don't want taxes to keep going up? Insurance rates to keep going up? Well, then you need money.

Money.
Money.
Money.

Money.

Well money, and a population who doesn't vote idiots into office.

City Council aside, they also voted Kwame in for a SECOND term, and they wonder why the city is a laughing stock.

[Steve bennet]

Many of those suburbanites want an urban lifestyle but don't know that they can have one here. That's the whole point.

They can't, really.

Detroit has all the disadvantages of a big city, and, I'm going to go as far as to say, none of the advantages of living in a big city.

[Autoracks]

terrible idea. Lets bring a bunch of scared suburbanites to the slum for some shock and awe.

[Hypestyles]

I still say that we take a busload of "stereotypical" Detroiters and have them spend time in a place where many of us don't feel welcome, whether real or perceived -- up North. Let's film it just the way they've done this segment. Hey, I'll tag along. I haven't been up North yet myself, not really.

heh-heh-heh... ah, the sticks and the boondocks.. where open klan rituals are as regular an occurrence as missing teeth..

[corktownyuppie]

They can't, really.

We can't? Hell, that's why I decided to move back here 3 years ago. Well, I should probably start packing.

[313WX]

I wonder just how many more Detroiters want to leave the city [[but can't afford to)... because if they must die one day... that would likely be one of their preferable ways...

[[Sarcasm alert off)

I'm one who do wants to leave the city [[and I will), but that also includes Michigan.