Detroit: Do-It-Yourself City

**Cooper** · January-07-11, 02:07 PM

Looking back at 2010, I counted more than 20 positive stories on Detroit's revitalization in national or international media sources [[and many more in local publications like Model D, Metro Times, and Hour). Ten alone were in the New York Times. You can find all the links here:

http://www.rethinkdetroit.org/2011/0...yourself-city/

The theme that comes up again and again is that Detroit is a tough, resilient, do-it-yourself city. If you're young, creative, and work hard enough, you can do anything here and make a name for yourself.

What I'm wondering is, to what extent do you believe the hype?

**fryar** · January-07-11, 02:13 PM

There's something to it.

**j to the jeremy** · January-07-11, 02:33 PM

There is truth to it. As a young person living in the city, I can say there is a lot of room for exploration and determination to mix. The article you posted does a good job of examining all sides of the debate. The big issue now is how to use this creative energy to improve the entire city, and work with existing community organizations to create a real Detroit which is neither black nor white, but still proud.

Chuck La Chez · January-07-11, 02:36 PM

Why isn't the city laying off employees and using these proven people as sub-contractors? The cost will be the same but you get an actual worker on the team.

I believe the hype. When the council lines are drawn, these people have the potential to be the next leaders of Detroit.

**Gannon** · January-07-11, 02:42 PM

Hate to bring it up, but it gets better.

With the previous administration especially, and the previous City Council...

...if you are not a person of color, you swim against the current, too.

Unless, of course, you have a TON of that color green...

**mwilbert** · January-07-11, 11:59 PM

To paraphrase Tom Lehrer:

Detroit is like a sewer... what you get out of it depends on what you put into it.

**English** · January-08-11, 01:42 AM

Originally Posted by Gannon

Hate to bring it up, but it gets better.

With the previous administration especially, and the previous City Council...

...if you are not a person of color, you swim against the current, too.

Unless, of course, you have a TON of that color green...

What can be done to change it? In Chicago, the younger Daley forged a multiracial coalition that wasn't perfect, but seemed to work for their city [[whatever you think about their politics). Other large cities seem to have forged some kind of consensus to move into the postmodern world. Not here...

Chuck La Chez · January-08-11, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by English

What can be done to change it? In Chicago, the younger Daley forged a multiracial coalition that wasn't perfect, but seemed to work for their city [[whatever you think about their politics). Other large cities seem to have forged some kind of consensus to move into the postmodern world. Not here...

http://www.detroitmi.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=2898