Lifting Detroit Up Today... and Everyday!

**MizMotown** · October-11-09, 12:29 PM

I get so tired of all the negative conversations, stories, rumors, lies, half-truths, articles and even threads about "our" city. Like it needs more of that!

What can we say today about Detroit that is positive and uplifting.

Today I affirm that people CARE about this city and the metro detroit area!

**dcmorrison12** · October-11-09, 12:40 PM

I will be toasting the completion of the Woodward Light Rail - New Starts Grant application today at a local coffee shop with a fellow DDOT friend.

That, my friend, is the best of news

**Gannon** · October-11-09, 12:49 PM

Miz,

If people didn't care, this place would be a WHOLE lot worse.

It is exactly those who choose to stay and work for better that make Detroit the treasure that it really is, in the midst of what the world might see as hopelessness and despair and devastation and destruction.

That doesn't lessen the pain I feel each time I reach for a tool and remember the fellow who decided it was OK to smash my window and grab my toolbox last month. It DOES help me realize why I felt wrong considering moving to the suburbs when my world was so turned upside down a few months back.

We need to take the bad with the good, if we ignore the former we will not be able to fully appreciate the latter. [[in much the same way that not a one of us appreciates our health until we've gotten over a good flu attack, I just spent a day fighting off one and am overjoyed today to breathe and not have any head, neck, and back pain from clogged lymph nodes)

I also affirm that this town will show the world that we are resilient even in the face of overwhelming negative forces against us, both from within and without the city limits! It is mind-boggling to me when the next wave of hard luck comes our way, or how deeply rooted the political corruption really is.

I am not surprised to see the media spotlight on us, and hope they are able to search out the same glimmers of hope, love, forgiveness, and FREEDOM that me and my friends all share. Any light they shine on goodness will allow it to grow...but we need to face the weeds so WE can root them out.

Enough of my Chauncey Gardener wisdom...cheers and more, thanks for starting this thread!

Much love,
John

The Spirit of Detroit is real...where 'he' is there is liberty [[freedom).

Buy American · October-11-09, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by MizMotown

I get so tired of all the negative conversations, stories, rumors, lies, half-truths, articles and even threads about "our" city. Like it needs more of that!

What can we say today about Detroit that is positive and uplifting.

Today I affirm that people CARE about this city and the metro detroit area!

Sorry Miz....ask the firefighters who were running all night in NE Detroit where an arsonist was burning buildings and homes, one by one...

The sad thing about that is, he/she probably lives in the same neighborhood where the fires are being set and could care less about being positive and uplifting.

**Gannon** · October-11-09, 01:02 PM

All we're saying, Buy, is to focus on the good...those firefighters who risk their lives for us...and not give too much attention to the arsonist, other than to plan their capture.

Buy American · October-11-09, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Gannon

All we're saying, Buy, is to focus on the good...those firefighters who risk their lives for us...and not give too much attention to the arsonist, other than to plan their capture.

I know what you're saying Gannon....it's hard to focus on the "good" and think "positive" and be "uplifting" when it comes to Detroit with all this crap going on....AND, when you have family members and friends and sons and daughters of co-workers out there night after night...and for what? As far as capturing them, that's a joke. An arsonist a few weeks ago firebomed the same house 4 or 5 times in one night....after the second time why wasn't someone staking out that house? It's not rocket science to figure out what's coming next. Sorry, it's hard for me to be positive....Detroit is my hometown, I love it but hate what it's become.

DetroitDad · October-12-09, 01:26 AM

A good thread, with the phrases "Quo Vadis" and "God Did It" flanking both sides of the top of the page.

It makes you think.

In another thread we are talking about how Detroit is the center of yet another "worsts" poll, with those laughing at Detroit and talking about how bad it must be to be Detroit.

Then in another thread we have much more coherent conversation about the mess at Cobo, and how the rest of the country [[possibly world) is about to go through, in affect, the same thing Detroit did.

It makes me wonder; are these people and cities who are laughing at Detroit, comparable to the heart laughing at the lungs for having cancer?

With that in mind, I am very excited about all the developments that still seem to be going forward, despite the poor economy. I, like DCM am also very excited about the light rail line, and coming transit that should follow. More importantly, I'm very excited every time we get a new forumer here on DYES, and anytime someone from the upcoming generation shows interest in the city. Who knows what these individuals will be contributing in the future?

**sumas** · October-12-09, 03:46 AM

I will take a page from several other posters and send hugs.

Shit does happen here but I don't like to feed the trolls. Same shit happens in the burbs. It just isn't televised. Does anyone know that when Lakeside Mall opened a security guard was murdered? That never hit the news.

Oops, I am trying to be positive. I remember a book that was published years ago, entitled, When bad things happen to good people. Great title, stupid book!

Buy American · October-12-09, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by sumas

I will take a page from several other posters and send hugs.

Shit does happen here but I don't like to feed the trolls. Same shit happens in the burbs. It just isn't televised. Does anyone know that when Lakeside Mall opened a security guard was murdered? That never hit the news.

Oops, I am trying to be positive. I remember a book that was published years ago, entitled, When bad things happen to good people. Great title, stupid book!

Believe me, I was once very positive about Detroit. I worked for the City of Detroit, was proud of what I did. As I have said in many of my posts before, I love Detroit, it's my hometown....I just don't like what its' become...AND I don't see any bright lights at the end of any tunnel either. Until something can be done about the drugs and dealers, gangs and corruption in City Hall, not much is going to change. Felons are appointed, appointees are stealing, politicians are raping and pillaging...are there any roll models for a young person in Detroit to follow? I don't think so. Someone, and I don't know who that someone could be, needs to go in and clean Detroit from the top where all the fat is, down to the bottom. Honesty and integrity is non-existent. It seems to me that when money is made readily available for any elected official, whether it be for the City of Detroit or DPS, they just take it. Then, the hide behind all the preachers and clergy with storefront churches when they are caught. The sad part about that is that the residents continually give these thieves first, second and third chances. Why?

I have never said there is no crime in the suburbs, but there is absolutely no comparison in any stretch of the imagination that it equals Detroit. To say it's not publicized or televised is irresponsible. To mention a murder at Lakeside in 1976 is irresponsible. Show me statistics that come close to Detroit's crime rate and maybe I'll agree with you, but until then, don't tell me the same shit happens in the burbs.

**jjw** · October-12-09, 04:41 AM

One definite positive is that there is a new mayor in town which means a new day has begun. Perhaps with this change in leadership, more positives may be on the horizon.

**wolverine** · October-12-09, 07:41 AM

I do hope though people here can differentiate between outright bashing and criticism. If you are critical, you are identifying problems, and suggesting solutions, hopefully based on reliable facts. I can agree there is a lot of city bashing but only focusing on the positive is also creating a false reality of the city.

**MizMotown** · October-12-09, 07:58 AM

Thank you to those who can see the vision in this thread. I hope we can keep it going because there are definitely alot of things to be positive about.

All we're saying, Buy, is to focus on the good...those firefighters who risk their lives for us...and not give too much attention to the arsonist, other than to plan their capture. :-)

[[affirmed)

I also affirm that many families who deserve much needed assistance find that help today and can remain in peace knowing their family is safe and taken care of.

**rajdet** · October-12-09, 11:00 AM

MizMotown, I agree with you. I have a saying, It's not seeing is believing, it's the other way around, believing is seeing. If you believe there are good people and good things happening around you, that's exactly what you will see. I believe in the bright future of metro Detroit.

**MizMotown** · October-12-09, 11:45 AM

Declare not to be true a thing that seems true. It's important to not let the 'seemingly' bad outweigh the good.

Affirm anything is to assert positively that it is so, even in the face of all contrary evidence.

We speak the word, we confidently affirm, but we have nothing to do with the 'establishing' of the word, or bringing it to pass. -H. Emilie Cady

**kathy2trips** · October-12-09, 03:57 PM

I've been in Texas for over 20 years and still have my "accent"! I'm very proud of the way I talk and Texans think it's sexy!

**kathy2trips** · October-12-09, 10:20 PM

Back in the 1800s Milton Hershey wanted to go beyond caramels and make a milk chocolate bar. He tried his own formulations, but it wasn't quite the mellow, smooth taste of European chocolate. So he went to the European confection capitals of the world and asked if he could tour their factories. They said, NO! They weren't about to just give this Yank their trade secrets. So, Hershey went back to PA and started developing own his milk chocolate bar. He got the process by trial-and-error, but one element was lacking. He couldn't figure out how to keep the milk from going sour during the process. Even today, many people from other countries will remark that the Hershey bar tastes a bit sour, compared to, say, a Cadbury. But that is the unique quality of Hershey bars and kisses that make them so special. What did we do when the Japanese wanted to develop their car business? We just handed it to them. Then, American cars started looking like Japanese cars! Even now, it's hard to tell them apart. Sad. Why are we, as a country, so willing to shoot ourselves in the foot? I don't understand this death wish we seem to have as a country, not just Detroit. Strange how we used to make everything, and we were dependent on no one. That gave us freedom. Now, we're dependent on OPEC and China, and we'd better be nice to them, because our existence depends on them??? They have the energy and manufacturing we used to have. There is only so much Detroit can do as a city; MI needs to be on board in its recovery. As for me, I left because Texas was an attractive places for businesses to start-up or move, and there were jobs going begging for people. And, I had a free place to live, with relatives. If you are anti-business, you must be anti-jobs, too. Taxing businesses is a horrible way for gov'ts to raise funds. They pass it on to consumers, and eventually, like Comerica, they'll leave. Reverse that trend, and you're on your way. Seems to me that lifting Detroit up requires the heavy lifting of voting out the crooks that run the city. And there's a lot more than just one or two.

**Jimaz** · October-13-09, 07:35 PM

Check out DetroitYES Forums > Discuss Detroit > WSU Math Corps = Detroit Kids Graduating.

**alsodave** · October-13-09, 08:42 PM

Ah yes, the ol' life was better when negroes were segregated argument. Maybe we should start shifting the blame of Detroit's slide from Coleman Young to Ossian Sweet.

It's easier to lament the old days than to comment on current events--Jimaz 's link or even Cub's Georgia Street Project.

Positive with blinders on? Nope
Positive about pockets of growth and opportunity happening? It's a start.

DetroitDad · October-13-09, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by alsodave

Ah yes, the ol' life was better when negroes were segregated argument. Maybe we should start shifting the blame of Detroit's slide from Coleman Young to Ossian Sweet.

It's easier to lament the old days than to comment on current events--Jimaz 's link or even Cub's Georgia Street Project.

Positive with blinders on? Nope
Positive about pockets of growth and opportunity happening? It's a start.

I really think it's up to the reader to take what they will from those two great posts.

The racism view is one way of taking it. I'm not 100% sure that is what they meant, as it didn't have to be a black and white issue.

Mainly, I think White Flight was really just the start of suburbanization. As is said, the hallmark of suburbia is the impoverishment of public space, and the aggrandizing of private space and an every man/family for themselves attitude.

Greed is a funny thing. It seems to me that what happened with "white flight" was that a bunch of white middle class Detroiters decided to leave the dirty and crowded cities for suburbia, and make a profit doing it at the expense of their white brethren back "home". Wern't those original Detroit homes then rented out to lower income whites and blacks? Then, those renting out the homes along with those staying there didn't have the interest or means [[one or both) in keeping them or the neighborhoods up the way blocks upon blocks of home owners who used them as their family's primary residence. What resulted was a systematic breakdown and eventual collapse of Detroit, with the black population [[redlined out of suburbia), and various whites [[the poor, the city employees, or those unable to sell their home and buy a suburban oasis, the noble, etc.) being caught holding the hot potato when the music stopped.

We see the same thing, sort of, happening in suburbia now, only without the race tie in.

Greed is a funny thing. White flight in and of itself wasn't a black and white issue, it was a greed issue with attempted racial blame on both sides. We can talk about the race issue like we'd talk about the class issue on the Titanic, sort of, in that it is there, but arguably had nothing to do with what sank the ship, it just had to do with who was left behind.

Detroit will continue to get better and probably remain a culturally and ethnically diverse city. Lots of futures and investments are riding on Detroit, and we lost many of the bad people right along with the good. I think Detroit just needs to balance it's scales.

LouHat · October-15-09, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by alsodave

Ah yes, the ol' life was better when negroes were segregated argument.

And they're not now? I remember those negroes. I'll bet back in those days, in terms of friendly personal interaction, we were tons less segregated than we are today. I even had a negro "mammy" or whatever it was they called it. How about that?

**kathy2trips** · October-15-09, 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by alsodave

Ah yes, the ol' life was better when negroes were segregated argument. Maybe we should start shifting the blame of Detroit's slide from Coleman Young to Ossian Sweet.

Wow, I didn't read ANYTHING like that in the post. Your determination to make this a racial issue is telling in and of itself.

The family that bought my grandparents' house east of the Packard plant kept it up beautifully. I believe it's still in their family, and though the neighborhood is horrible, their particular street looks pretty good and the house looks painted and pretty.

Trash comes in many colors, Dave. It's the trashy people that have no pride in ownership, or even where they rent that make neighborhoods turn south.

This is one reason why there are Homeowner Associations, now, that can take your house away if you paint your door the wrong color, not to mention keeping that rusted, fenderless Plymouth on your front lawn.

**alsodave** · October-16-09, 01:57 PM

There was no determination to read anything in these posts. I based my comments on what I read--and also what Maxine1958 had posted previously.

Of course "trash" comes in all colors. So does neighborhood pride. But it's easy to turn this into "Detroit" residents versus "suburnanites".

**Maxine1958** · October-16-09, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by alsodave

There was no determination to read anything in these posts. I based my comments on what I read--and also what Maxine1958 had posted previously.

Of course "trash" comes in all colors. So does neighborhood pride. But it's easy to turn this into "Detroit" residents versus "suburnanites".

Wait, what? What did I say about about race? I said I didn't understand the 'white flight' concept for bashing the city. We had families of both colors in our neighborhood before and after. And the 'trashed' houses were occupied by both colors also. Don't drag my name down that path. That's not what I said.

**MizMotown** · October-14-09, 10:31 AM

May Detroit be safer today. Whether one less crime happens or one less person become homeless... whatever it is... I affirm that Detroit is safer today!

**windsor_shane** · October-16-09, 11:45 PM

wow this thread dosnt seem to be going in the right direction..... ok ive got something. i want to recap my Detroit good times from this summer.

My girlfriend and i visited Belle Isle and the Conservatory, it was free.. and a good time, i got lots of photo.. Detroit has got a great park island,.
We also checked out the new Dequindre cut... once this is all done the connection between Eastern Market and the Riverwalk will be great... i dig that project.
We went to Eastern Market for the first time this summer and even though it was pouring rain and it was busy and we had a great pizza... im not sure what the little pizzeria was called but we both loved it!
Two times this summer we went to Dakota Inn. great authentic German food and live music. What a Gem!!!
A few Tigers games, Greektown and Layfette Coney Island.. mmmmm
We went to Mexican Town and then saw a concert at the Filmore.. that was a great time.. The Filmore is one of the gerorgous theaters of Detroit.
Michigan Central Station, though some people will protest, we took a 'self guided tour' of the place and took some great photos. Detroit is a wonderland for photographers and urban explores.
Slow's..... i can't count how many times.
Took a few drives... saw Indian Village, Bosten - Edison, checked out the Fisher and Guardian Buildings... wow!

ok so there are good things in Detorit... Thats just my Windorite perspective