Post No. 4

Posted By: Jacquie Trost, 2/4/2008

If I don’t live in Detroit proper I’m told my opinions on the City don’t matter.

If I talk about living outside the City, but mention I patronize and promote Detroit, I’m told I am a non-voting pseudo-cheerleader -- which means I have no right to speak my opinions on the City.

Fortunately, a blog, by definition, is a personal commentary.

The unfortunate thing is, the same stale issues and problems preventing people, like me, from moving downtown still exist. Clearly government and civic organizations aren’t receiving the message; otherwise they’d be making changes to combat the issues Detroit is facing. In fact, most of the attraction efforts led by the various City organizations are not aimed at getting people to move into the City, they’re focused on getting more people to visit the City. Is that to blame?

A few years ago I was going to move to Detroit but when it came down to it, the astronomical cost of my car and renters insurance made it virtually impossible. When I was looking to buy a home this past year, the same issues arose. Except this time I had to worry about high City property taxes and potentially losing my investment if the Detroit housing market didn’t rebound. We all have our reasons for moving (or not moving) to the City, but part of the problem might just be the elitist attitude some Detroit residents have when it comes to "outsiders" talking about their City.

It’s going to take more than a few new restaurants, cultural events, lofts or attractions for people to start moving back. Some serious changes need to be made. If potential residents and businesses don’t think they can trust their leaders, or think City officials are corrupt, they won’t reside in Detroit anyway. When residents perceive the City to care more about tourists than the people actually living in the City, what are we left with? Could that be an issue needing to be sorted out?

The only hope the City has is for us "cheerleaders" to talk about Detroit. Maybe then more people will come downtown, pumping more money into the local economy, creating more City jobs, justifying more reliable city services and amenities, ultimately attracting more people to move downtown. In fact, I think an endorsement by a non-Detroit resident is a positive thing -- especially if that person has had negative experiences in the City. I’ve taken relatives and friends to areas downtown they never knew existed, to eat at restaurant they’ve never heard about, and to see new developments being built. Every time, those same people are surprised at what’s going on downtown, mentioning how they are now going to promote the positive changes in Detroit. The only way to combat Detroit’s perception is through education.

I admire those who are able to live in Corktown, buy a fixer-upper in Boston Edison, or afford one of the new lofts -- those who want to live downtown-- because they believe in the City and want to be a part of the resurgence. But there are many of us who can’t, or won’t, because our personal and financial situations won’t allow it.

Someone recently made a good point: Ultimately Detroit needs to get its priorities straight. It not so much about the pridefulness of City residents and suburbanite naysayer’s, it’s about Detroit taking care of its residents first. What matters more -- the “flash in the pan” economic burst that comes along with tourism? Or is it a stable economy made up of satisfied Detroit residents who live, work and positively promote the city.

Comments:

Tuesday, February 05, 2008 10:20 AM by Kim

Detroit can't and won't "get its priorities straight" without active, engaged, participating and voting residents. Change does not happen in a vacum.

There are many Detroit residents who want the things that you demand and that you expect with the snap of your fingers. These are residents who have spent years working towards these goals. Detroit needs more residents like this to hold elected officials and other civic leaders accountable and to affect change. (Change has and does happen thanks to these residents, but it doesn't happen overnight)

Vast assumptions about the cost of living and the lack of certain amenities without actually educating yourself on what resources and opportunities available are what hinder Detroit. Expectations of what Detroit should have before you could stomach moving here will never be met when you're sitting on the outside looking in.

When you look a little harder at Detroit, you can find all that you expect...it's just not served on a silver platter. I found what I needed. I have searched for reasonable insurance rates for exceptional coverage, and found it. I have searched for decent affordable rental properties in safe neighborhoods and have found them. I have searched for decent and affordable homes to purchase in safe neighborhoods and have found them. I have seached for exceptional grocery stores in the city limits and found them. I have searched for tax incentives and found them. I have searched for big box retail that may not be in the city but is similar distance I would drive in the suburbs and I have found them. I have searched for good, safe schools to send my childeren - public, charter and private and I have found them.

Detroit is not nor will it ever be perfect, but I think anyone who has to justify why not to live in Detroit either needs to get a thicker skin or should stop justifying their choice and should just love it as a visitor as you seem to.

Criticisms of Detroit are old news.

Bottom line, actually rolling up your sleeves and committing to Detroit as the active, engaged and voting resident is the only means to your end. (Do you really think Chicago, New York or San Francisco changed/improved because outsiders demanded it?)

Tuesday, February 05, 2008 10:37 AM by Jacquie

Actually, I am more than a visitor -- I've worked downtown for years, and probably spend more time in the City than I do at my home in Ferndale. As far as the lack of amenities and conveniences, I have heard, firsthand, that this issues exist from my friends who live in the City. Friends who have weeks worth of trash sitting on curbs. Friends who have to drive to Dearborn, Ferndale or Troy to do any sort of shopping. Friends who wait hours for the police to show up after a crime has been committed at their home, if they people show up at all.

It's presumptuous to assume people who don't live downtown aren't active or invested in Detroit. I have been involved in City park clean-ups, volunteered at Detroit soup kitchens during the holiday's and donated money to neighborhood conservation and cultural restoration efforts. Just because I'm not a voting resident, doesn't mean I don't try do all I can to help the City as a "visitor".

Tuesday, February 05, 2008 8:23 PM by Detroiter

Good for you Jacquie. Your work at a soup kitchen and cleaning a park has got the wheels of Detroit moving. That's what it'll take to retain Detroit's creative class! You got it all figured out.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008 9:44 PM by Sandra

I think it’s sad when people from Detroit think they’re better than everyone else. When someone talks about the City and what he or she does to support a place that clearly has some problems, they are chastised for not living in the city.

Every little bit helps, no matter where you’re from. People of Detroit: accept the fact you live in a city that needs help and stop knocking down others who are trying to make a difference.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008 10:50 AM by Detroiter

I don't share the opinion that those posting on blogs about all of Detroits problems are helping any.

All to often, people in the suburbs sit in their arm chair and say "Detroit needs to do this" "Detroit needs to do that" "tsk tsk tsk on Detroit". Its unclear to me how this is helpful.

But as another poster put it, if Detroit success is based on the number of outsiders blogging about all thats wrong with Detroit and what needs to change, then Detroits future is looking bright.

Opinions are like assholes, everyones got one and they all stink.

These 5 blog postings were the biggest waste of internet space. If Jacquie represents this regions creative class, then we are all doomed. The lack of creativity in these blog enteries and the inability to go beyond the most superficial flaws and most common stereotypes in Detroit speaks volumes to what is wrong with this region. Instead of building concensus to seek out solutions, Jacquie resorts to the same ol same ol finger pointing of Detroit and what it should do and what it is doing wrong.

Mass Transit isn't a problem for Detroit to solve alone. Crumbling infrastucture and SE Michigans growth strategy isn't a problem for Detroit to solve alone. Poverty and homelessness is not a problem for Detroit to solve alone. But according to Jacquie, one of Michigans poorest cities sure has its work cut out for it if it wants to resolve this regions biggest issues.

The only thing revealing in these posts is how useless armchair Detroit boosters are for this region. But alas, a park was cleaned in the process.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008 12:58 PM by non-detroiter

so "detroiter", what you're saying is so meaningful? it doesn't seem like you have the answers either. you only want to personally attack people, and promote the "insider vs. outsider" view of detroit. which does, sorry to say, make you an elitist and perhaps part of the problem.

Thursday, February 07, 2008 3:56 PM by Detroiter2

"I think it’s sad when people from Detroit think they’re better than everyone else"

Sandra, I don't think many people who live in the city proper think they're better than anyone else, however, there is a certain perspective and outlook that you CANNOT understand when you go past 9 mile into the burbs. Living in Detroit CHANGES you, your opinions, and your view on the city. It's the ultimate love / hate relationship. On one hand you curse it to the morning, on the other you defend it til the death. You see the problems the city faces from an angle that you simply cannot understand until you live here. Until you wait for police to show up, until you can't leave your street because of snow, until you get the condescending suburb people comments about getting shot, EVERY day, you will not understand.

Now, unfortunately this, "Its a Detroit thing, you wouldn't understand thing", comes off as snobbery or holier than thou-ness. I know there are several times where things I've said to non-Detroiters have sounded this way. Sometimes however, when we, as Detroit residents, get people who don't live here talking about what will fix the city, but who do little to fix it (which is not the blogger Jacquie, who seemed to have done her share), it gets offensive, it gets annoying, it's bull-shit.

It would be like someone who doesn't smoke telling a smoker how to quit, it comes from a place that can seem really offensive and off-base to a city resident.