The worst aspect of contemporary Detroit?

**night-timer** · April-12-14, 07:12 PM

A recent D-Yes thread about panhandlers at gas stations in Detroit got me thinking. When normal day-to-day activities like re-fueling at a petrol station in Detroit turns into a potentially hazardous experience, what is the worst low-point for you in Detroit today? Corruption in politics, blight, drugs and gangs, police/crime/safety issues, joblessness? There's no single answer or 'right' answer, just fishing for opinions on what irritates you the most.

**313WX** · April-12-14, 07:28 PM

The widespread blight, crumbling infrastructure and abandonment really is the straw that breaks the camel's back for me. And Detroit's to the point where there's really no way to avoid it.

There's just too many memories painfully brought up of the past when seeing it [[that can never be replicated). Despite the marginal gains now being made downtown, throughout most of the city there's still the feeling that you're living in a shell of what was once a great major city that continues to die and is never coming back.

**sumas** · April-12-14, 07:37 PM

Parenting, our area children are so charming, had several over for activities today. They are just so needy for approval/attention from adults. It can break your heart to see these great kids sucked into their parents cycle of bad habits.

Right now it is way after dark and kids are running up and down the street. They are having kid fun but zero supervision. Seriously sad. Parents don't give a shit.

**animatedmartian** · April-12-14, 07:38 PM

The most irritating thing for me is the sprawl. I get it's the Motor City and all, but I don't like to spend more than 30 minutes in a car going from point A to point B every day. Then the bus systems around here are so lousy that there's really no other options for getting around. I don't see how millions of people just endure it for years at a time.

**Tetherunit** · April-12-14, 07:52 PM

The worst part of contemporary Detroit is the cathartic negativity that seems to percolate through the popular media narrative about the City. Secondly, is our reluctance to engage our unique regional heritage of racial dysfunction which probably contributes greatly to my first choice.

**Dan Wesson** · April-12-14, 07:53 PM

Growing up, working there and now visiting family the very real sense of never ever feeling safe.

Always on the lookout, swimming with the sharks.

Bike jacked twice had to fight 'em off. Robbed at knife point at middle school. Being a safety boy on the corner of baldwin and palmer had my watch stolen that was elementary school. Car tires slashed, radios stolen crap like that. Personal safety. Living around gangs, drugs and thugs. Fighting, hopefully giving as good as you got.

Went for a drive in the D two years ago, had my wife, daughter and baby grandson. We went through a neighborhood my wife and I lived in years back. I went down some streets between 7 mi and state fair, barlow, westphalia. Them streets looked like a bomb went off and they were war zones with cars, appliances and debris askew in the streets.

Then it dawned on me, I had the most precious people to me in that little Scion. What if we had a flat? What if that car broke down? I got a little worried and said to my myself, what the hell am I doing here with my family?

No more manure tour Bub. Get your ass out of dodge. On the way out, down 7 mile towards the Chrysler, I saw cops in their squad cars and they looked so out of place.

Like I said...

Growing up, working there and now visiting family the very real sense of never ever feeling safe.

Forget downtown, midtown it's the east side this ghetto rat came from.
Say all you want about resurrection, till it's made it way to 8 mile then over to 94, I'm not a believer.

**Tetherunit** · April-12-14, 08:02 PM

An oversimplified and utopian answer to many of the challenges you list would be to eliminate poverty.

**Honky Tonk** · April-12-14, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by Tetherunit

An oversimplified and utopian answer to many of the challenges you list would be to eliminate poverty.

Are you running for Ms. America?

**Tetherunit** · April-12-14, 08:27 PM

Isn't this what we like in America? Short answers to complex problems

**313WX** · April-12-14, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by Tetherunit

Isn't this what we like in America? Short answers to complex problems

No.

Instead, the American way is to simply run away and isolate ourselves from our problems.

When that doesn't work, we just pass the buck along to our children and grandchildren's generation...

**Hermod** · April-12-14, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

The most irritating thing for me is the sprawl. I get it's the Motor City and all, but I don't like to spend more than 30 minutes in a car going from point A to point B every day. Then the bus systems around here are so lousy that there's really no other options for getting around. I don't see how millions of people just endure it for years at a time.

The sprawl [[and the driving) is not unique to Detroit. In Detroit, the sprawl is due to people wanting to put as much distance between the Detroit disfunction and their family as they can [[accepting an unpleasant commute as a part of the package).

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · April-12-14, 08:51 PM

My biggest daily dislike, and I work constantly at fighting it in my head, is the enormity of the cities problems. But I tell myself, because it's true, that we don't live in statistics. I want to keep my home clean, my block safe, my business productive. Hopefully, the people working to improve our lives and city [[which I would say includes everyone on this board, even those with whom I disagree) rub off on others. A good attitude can be contagious and can change things, bit by bit.

**Dan Wesson** · April-12-14, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by 313WX

No.

Instead, the American way is to simply run away and isolate ourselves from our problems.

When that doesn't work, we just pass the buck along to our children and grandchildren's generation...

That be called 'kicking the can down the road".

**softailrider** · April-12-14, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by sumas

Parenting, our area children are so charming, had several over for activities today. They are just so needy for approval/attention from adults. It can break your heart to see these great kids sucked into their parents cycle of bad habits.

Right now it is way after dark and kids are running up and down the street. They are having kid fun but zero supervision. Seriously sad. Parents don't give a shit.

Grandparents don't give a shit either.

**Hypestyles** · April-12-14, 09:09 PM

the anti-urban racism/lack of economic parity.

**illwill** · April-12-14, 09:14 PM

The decimation of our once, second-to-none fabric of incredible architecture throughout the entire city. And the street cars. We were the Art-Deco capitol of America. Detroit had charm! Lee Plaza was only one of many Art-Deco buildings at one time in Detroit. We no longer have a city of great architecture aside from approximately 10 strong neighborhoods. Detroit is now a city that's majority vacant land, burned out homes and tiny auto garages that are falling over. No flow, no continuity. Because of this, the city isn't walk-able. This kills the density factor that many city-dwellers seek. Being able to walk slowly through various neighborhoods and admiring the architecture in the summer, winter, spring and fall.

No matter what, those buildings will NEVER be duplicated again. Wiped off the map and forever gone. SAD!! Today we see Detroit rebuilding itself to resemble the suburbs. Suburban-style homes with siding etc...

I would also say no retail is also a miserable aspect of contemporary Detroit.

**dtowncitylover** · April-12-14, 09:23 PM

The negativity and the provincialism. Though I would say they are linked. It amazes me how ignorant some people still are, at least here in the suburbs, about the world and how cities/urban areas usually work.

**sumas** · April-12-14, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by softailrider

Grandparents don't give a shit either.

hey that is unfair, the best of our best are raised by grandmothers. Kids get infatuated by other kids. They like the life style and baby mama's pay no attention. I doubt Grandmothers want to do a repeat. They are way more very careful and caring on that second round.

**Lombaowski** · April-12-14, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

The most irritating thing for me is the sprawl. I get it's the Motor City and all, but I don't like to spend more than 30 minutes in a car going from point A to point B every day. Then the bus systems around here are so lousy that there's really no other options for getting around. I don't see how millions of people just endure it for years at a time.

Try living in DC, Chicago, or LA. Places with real traffic problems.

Originally Posted by sumas

hey that is unfair, the best of our best are raised by grandmothers. Kids get infatuated by other kids. They like the life style and baby mama's pay no attention. I doubt Grandmothers want to do a repeat. They are way more very careful and caring on that second round.

I'd like to see statistics in Detroit in particular, of how many grandmother's who were single mothers, that are now raising their grandkids. Generations upon generations of single parent homes is no way to maintain a stable community.

**sumas** · April-12-14, 09:56 PM

It is close to 11 PM. Kids are still running up and down the street. Honestly these are great kids. Rapes are on a upswing here. I cringe to think one is harmed.

**Cliffy** · April-12-14, 10:14 PM

Easily far and away the crime. The city will never move to the next step without controlling crime.

**sumas** · April-12-14, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by Lombaowski

Try living in DC, Chicago, or LA. Places with real traffic problems.

I'd like to see statistics in Detroit in particular, of how many grandmother's who were single mothers, that are now raising their grandkids. Generations upon generations of single parent homes is no way to maintain a stable community.

Hate to burst that bubble, but every Grandmother here were married. Home owners and it is unfortunate that some of their kids got caught in street culture. I really love my area children and other area residents do too. We do our best our very best to insure their success

**Lombaowski** · April-12-14, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by sumas

It is close to 11 PM. Kids are still running up and down the street. Honestly these are great kids. Rapes are on a upswing here. I cringe to think one is harmed.

I stayed with a childhood friend of mine on the westside last summer, and there were ten-year-old kids running around at 1 am by his house. He had cool neighbors though, we were outside and some of the neighbor guys brought some brandy over and I got the lowdown on the neighborhood.

**Bobl** · April-13-14, 12:13 AM

Previous posts about children running up and down the street late nights illuminate a problem. Parents don't care for or about their children. Kids are raised in the streets.
Is the crime that results a surprise to anyone?
A friend who lives near Seven Mile and Schoenherr tells a story of coming home from work to find someone had broken in. Garbage can was still outside his broken window, foot prints in the snow led next door. He confronts the neighbor about his two children. Neighbor scoffs at him. "There's nothing in your place that my kids could want."

**Lombaowski** · April-13-14, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by sumas

Hate to burst that bubble, but every Grandmother here were married. Home owners and it is unfortunate that some of their kids got caught in street culture. I really love my area children and other area residents do too. We do our best our very best to insure their success

That's cool, good luck to you and your neighborhood. I'm rooting for you.