Displacement may be a problem in Detroit, but I doubt it ranks among its biggest. Gentrification is the only reason that Detroit still exists at all--the tax revenues for the city are overwhelmingly funded by the suburbs ringing the city. Attempts at mixed income revitalization projects have faired poorly. Those who purchased expensive condos near Tiger Stadium were less than thrilled to have to step over sleeping addicts and panhandlers on their front porches when they arrived home, and the values of those places quickly plummeted. And Kwame Kilpatrick--the self-proclaimed "gangsta mayor"--has proposed "Africantown" as a revitalizing structure of the city. That's a good one; fight racism and discrimination with more of the same.

Let's talk about cleaning up the crime in the city--Detroit may no longer be the number one murder capital of the U.S., but it's waaay up there. Firefighters who served in that city have told me stories about what goes on that have haunted me for days--the human brutality of black on black violence there is nearly incomprehensible. My husband overheard an African American Policewoman--packing a gun--who insisted that her fellow officers walk her to her car after a Tigers game let out. And that's a relatively safe part of town.

Making Detroit a place to do business (implicitly, a place where the city's residents can be employed) means that they'll have to have at least basic education. We can discuss teacher quality and the state of the schools, but the fact is that most students in Detroit aren't going at all. (A 21.7 high school graduation rate--the lowest in the nation). Until folks start taking some responsibility for themselves, their families, and their communities,nothing will change.

You must not live in Detroit. Gentrification is not one of the biggest issues in Detroit today. Sure, gentrification sucks, but Detroit has way bigger problems. For instance, the economy. Detroit and Michigan have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Industry has stopped delivering jobs, and the area has little else to offer. People are in poverty, losing their homes. The state government is cracking because they have no revenue from taxes, yet there are huge increases in the number of people who need social services. The city government is riddled with scandals. Economic fixes are few, far between, and sketchy- such as the reliance on casinos to turn things around for the city.

Detroit is also burdened by a little thing called racial tension. The city has never recovered from the riots and turmoil of the 60's and the flight of middle and high income people and businesses that followed. Sure, crime is an issue. I personally find Detroit to be more of a ghost town than crime infested city, though it certainly carries the stigma of being the murder capitol.

This is a nice video!

Well as a Detroiter and Michigander I have been one to experience crime, disappointments and let downs in that town. I have been in an attempted car jacking which I was able to get out of and I witnessed a shooting by just being across the street from it.

It is interesting what someone thinks is right for neighborhood revitalization. After going to Mexican town with some friends my friends saw a coffee shop being built on a corner near the train station. My friend said, "why do that, why not put a check cashing place there." Different perspectives and needs, but I agreed with her. In that neighborhood no one will be able to afford a leisurely cup of coffee.

The Detroit metropolitan area needs healing bad. It has unresolved issues just like in any relationship. If you don't heal your wounds you will play out your traumas until you clear them. That is what Detroit has done.

I like in this video how that woman mentions the small businesses in the city. It is true that there are many great small businesses making an effort. It is a great step!

Also this video touched on urban gardens. There is the most amount of vacant land inside Detroit that why not put gardens there? My sister lives just a few blocks from an urban farm with horses, chickens, ect. Its awesome!

http://www.detroitagriculture.org/

I volunteer here...

http://www.earth-works.org/

Anyway, I feel Detroit has a lot of potential. It is hard to bear witness to it at times. But, my feeling that if Detroit can rise from the ashes then it can be a good model for cities and various worldwide issues that need to be dealt with and healed.

The thing about Detroit is that neighborhoods aren't consistant.

There will be a really nice neighborhood, well kept (and rather expensive) homes, and then, two blocks over, you'd have no idea that was the case at all, with just abandoned homes and bums and the whole deal.

The place is truly strange.

Agreed, gentrification is not Detroit's challenge right now. As a city built for 2 million people, it is now home to just under a million. Folks who move in aren't taking anyone's places ... the places were empty.

But here's the other thing: having moved to the city last fall, I'm in love with it. The urban ag scene is amazing, Eastern Market is one of my favorite places on the planet, and I find that it is remarkably creative and innovative who are partnering in making what I believe and hope will be an entirely new model of what a "successful" city looks like (check out some of these creative, Detroit-committed types here: www.detroitevolution.com)

I love it here, because unlike Boston and Ann Arbor (other cities I lived in), there aren't pre-set paths for you to fall into. Here, everything is carved anew. So much is possible, so much is happening. It's like nowhere else

See y'all at AMC. Perhaps there should be a Feministing gathering?