MSU proposes urban agriculture project in Detroit

[corktownyuppie]

How will this help fix Metro Detroit's social problems?

Well, it's arguable that many of Detroit's social problems could be helped by people not being unemployed.

I have other concerns, too. How much money will farming really make for people in Detroit? It's certainly not going to rival the money industry once made in the city, right? And while ant green energy developments sound promising, does Detroit really have enough room within its borders to become a major player?

Maybe I'm wrong to doubt these things. I'd like to be proven wrong by someone, actually.

Well, first, vacant land is earning zero money and costing millions in social problems related to blight. So I think any fantasies of turning back the clock to 1950 as far as industry is concerned are probably of a lower priority than the intensive care financial and social issues brought to the table right now.

Second, Detroit has 144 square miles. There's more than enough room within its borders to become a major player in agriculture. And even though MSU is the rival to my alma mater, they're not a commercial developer looking to making some quick coin. They're a research institution looking to inject a major investment to make Detroit the "silicon valley" of the urban agriculture world.

Let's get out of our own way. 50% of our population is unemployed. Maybe we should be a little less choosy about which industries should and shouldn't employ our people.