sign of the times

**d.mcc** · April-03-09, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by bragaboutme

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...4020403/&imw=Y

I knew it was worse, but not this fast..

Hate to say it...I am a victim of the exodus. I would LOVE...to return, but there isn't much in the way of jobs that can support those of us that would come back in a heart beat if we could.

**bragaboutme** · April-03-09, 10:05 AM

I see your point. Many have tried to stay but simply can't. Michigan is a beautiful State, but you can't enjoy the beauty if your unemployed. This is different from when people were moving here from other states, they didn't lose their jobs for them to come here. Now people are leaving with their tax base in tow. It's sad but a reality, and the turn around won't be anytime soon.

**tetsua** · April-03-09, 10:38 AM

Hate to say it, but me and the wife recently became statistics of the exodus. We fought hard to stay, but when lay offs are looming, and there's a nice secure offer in another city you have to do what is financially responsible. So many things have to change before this exodus can stop in Michigan.

**Locke09** · April-03-09, 10:44 AM

I can verify from my own family experience that when one person leaves and becomes established elsewhere, they then begin to "pull" many others in the family[[often the ones who have just finished college) out to where they are with promises of an easier time finding a job, lower taxes, more affordable housing, etc. I'm even starting to see family members who have finished high school decide to go ahead and leave to attend college where other family members have relocated. I don't expect any of them to come back.

**ndavies** · April-03-09, 11:02 AM

I'm also a victim. Lost my job at thanksgiving. I start a new Job in Indiana on Monday. I'm in the process of packing up the stuff I'll need for the next few weeks.

I'd love to stay but need to work.

**tetsua** · April-03-09, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by ndavies

I'm also a victim. Lost my job at thanksgiving. I start a new Job in Indiana on Monday. I'm in the process of packing up the stuff I'll need for the next few weeks.

I'd love to stay but need to work.

I heard that Ndavies, and good luck to you. Which part of Indiana is your new job in, I started a gig in Chicago just a month ago.

**ndavies** · April-03-09, 11:39 AM

I'm headed to Elkhart, Indiana. A place with a worse economy than Detroit.

I'll be working for a supplier of Heavy[[semi) truck components. Their business is down, but not completely hammered like the auto companies are. It's a Sr. software engineering position. Some supervisory responsibilities along with engineering work.

**Lloyd** · April-03-09, 11:56 AM

I left Detroit during the mass exedus <mentioned in the article> of 1979 to 1983. At the time, Detroit was just starting to really show the decline that was to come. The Auto Industry had crashed, the economy crashed and there seemed to be no reason to stick around as it did not appear recovery was likely. Now, some 25 years later, it seems as if those feelings were right. the Auto Industry is worse off then ever, the economy is a train wreck and another exedus is making recovery less likely as time goes on.

The problem, of course, is the total lack of solutions. Exchanging emails with an old friend who stayed behind today, I was reminded of the time when casino's were heralded as the savior of Detroit but, due to the stupidity, or corruption, or maybe both, of the political leaders, instead they brought the downfall of the warehouse district as speculators bought up that once healthy area only to leave it a ghost district when the casino's were built elsewhere.

**g-dub** · April-04-09, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by ndavies

I'm headed to Elkhart, Indiana. A place with a worse economy than Detroit.

Yeah, unemployment there is over 15%. Anyway, that's only like 3 1/2 hours from Detroit--makes for some easy weekend visits. I drive in from Chicago and it always feels like just an hour or so longer of a drive than I'd like.

**Ghetto_butterfly** · April-04-09, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by ndavies

I'm also a victim. Lost my job at thanksgiving. I start a new Job in Indiana on Monday. I'm in the process of packing up the stuff I'll need for the next few weeks.

I'd love to stay but need to work.

I'm sorry to hear that NDavies, but I wish you good luck at your new job. I too work for a Commercial Vehicle supplier [[have been for 5 years now) and I can ssure you that this market is not doing half as bad as the PC automotive industry.

May I ask what becomes of the Vinton building project, of which you were/are one the original developpers?

Lorax · April-03-09, 11:38 AM

If I can add a note of cheer to this otherwise depressing trend, I left Detroit 25 years ago, and have lived just about everywhere in the years since, but last month bought a home in Southfield which I'm in the process of restoring- it's a 56 year old mid-century modern ranch on nearly an acre of land.

I have encouraged friends here in Florida to reverse the trend as well, and have been actively trying to get them to buy homes, not as investments, but to live in. As disturbing as this trend is, I was one of the people to leave 25 years ago for greener pastures, only to find them not so green after all.

Eventhough I did well for most of those years, the homing instinct kicks in during middle age, I believe, for many of us, and hopefully enough of us will re-connect with our past and choose to make a difference.

I have found than no matter how far you travel, we're all Michiganians- with a way of thinking and doing that in my biased opinion makes us friendlier, tougher, and better equipped to handle just about anything.