a serious question?

[Kevin77]

hello everbody. i have a question? i was wondering since you guys haved lived in detroit longer than i have. why is the city portrayed to the world like it's a desolate decayed crime ridden city. my girlfriend and i have been here a little over a month and couldn't be happier!!!! people here are warm and friendly, there are problems in every city but it seems like detroit gets kicked the most. prime example: we are originally from chicago (which is certainly not what it's cracked up to be) and when our parents (who by the way have never even set foot in detroit) told us that if we moved here that we would be robbed and car jacked as soon as we hit the city limits. i'm just wondering why people always dwell on the negative and don't see the positives thing happening here.

[wolverine]

BTW, welcome to the forum Kevin. A lot of the bad stuff people say about Detroit is perpetuated through stereotypes that are either old, or exaggerated by people who have never visited the city. I think a lot of people see the worst when articles are posted in the newspapers of burned out buildings and empty streets.

I took a whole bunch of my friends to Detroit today who are from all over the U.S., mostly East coast, and city dwellers. So you'd expect them to be critical, but they love the city. I rememeber taking them to Detroit last year and they were really surprised how clean the downtown was. Today there was a lot of people walking about, and a lot construction work being finished up.

But remember back in the 80's a lot of this was non-existent. Stores were closing up, and redevelopment was hard thing to visiualize. It instilled hopelessness in residents and visitors and the bad Detroit perception was born. These next few weeks, Detroit will prove itself to the world that things have improved greatly, and the city is well on its way to a better future.

[Michi]

Please tell us your story of when your parents come to visit in the summer, Kevin when you can walk around and show them the great city you now live in. Sure, there's a film of chaos that looms over the city, but once you get attached, it's easy to really fall in love with the rawness of Detroit. It's as if you know the truth to what everyone else believes, which is a big lie and misconception.

Don't get me wrong, there are definately problems and issues in Detroit that are very real, but as you said, it's not foreign to what other large cities in America experience.

I've been here just under 2 years now and though my parents didn't react quite as harshly as yours, they still had their concerns. They travel down from "up north" Michigan now and they have a totally different perspective on their state's largest city. One that they would still be in the dark on if they didn't have the opportunity to come down and visit their son. What's even better is they are able to take home their experiences and new-found education and sense of reality to their friends, colleagues, and neighbors and give an accurate assessment of what Detroit is like.

Anyway, I oftentimes think that Detroit's worst enemy is its own people. How great is it to be able to have the opportunity to go downtown when the eyes of the world will be on us to welcome guests to our city and offer a hand of hospitality? It's the greatest feeling to be a part of the positive side of Detroit, being that that side still may be a minority aspect. And with that said, it's no wonder to me that you speak so highly of the Detroiters that you've come across so far. We have the potential to create our greatest asset to be our people, and I think that has the greatest effect on dispelling the evil, intentional, stereotypes used to bring this city to its knees.

[Kevin77]

thanks for the info michi and wolverine. by the way michi, my father and my fiance's father will be here next tuesday, they are staying through super bowl weekend. i'll be sure and let you know how they reacted. DETROIT RULES!!!!!!!!

[Michi]

Excellent! Thanks, that will be great! I always love to hear the good news from visitors. And being they will be with you, I'm sure there will be nothing but good news!

[Kevin77]

after reading jonathan's glowing report about detroit i have to give mine now. michi, my father and my fiance's father have been having a fantastic time here!!!! THEY LOVE IT. in fact my father is like jonathan, he wants to find a place here for him and my mom for getaways. they love the people and the food here (my dad has went nuts over lafayette coney island) never in their wildest dreams did they think detroit was this nice. they still love the great city of chicago, but detroit has won a special place in their hearts. TWO THUMBS UP TO THE MOTOR CITY.

[speck76]

The city still siffers from the fallout of 1967

The residents elected a crook for a mayor (Coleman Young) and kept re-electing him. Instead of mending fences with the suburbs, he built higher walls......

The city also does not know how to market itself....it markets the same things the most major cities have, instead of touting what is unique about the city.

I now live in Orlando FL.....the world's #1 vacation destination....and a GREAT place to live. Sans the crap Michigan winters, I miss Detroit.....great restaurants (Orlando has more trendy restaurants, but they are all chains, whereas Detroit has nice restaurants that have been around for more than 5 years) great waterfront (it's not the ocean, but it is not bad) and great culture (which Orlando has none)

Anyway, I oftentimes think that Detroit's worst enemy is its own people.

I agree.....too many people have the "eff-you" attitude.....and maybe because I moved to the more relaxed South, it is more noticeable now.....but it is certainly not going to win the city residents any tourists

[RustTown]

Speck, where are you from in the metro? You can not be from the city. The only thing I've seen you post in your short time here is nothing but negative quips and comments about the city.

And, you've got to be kidding me about the friendliness of the city residents. Out-of-towners routinely comment on how helpful Detroiter's are. You sound like the quintessential "Disgruntled Ex-Detroiter" (either city or suburb)

[speck76]

Speck, where are you from in the metro? You can not be from the city. The only thing I've seen you post in your short time here is nothing but negative quips and comments about the city.

And, you've got to be kidding me about the friendliness of the city residents. Out-of-towners routinely comment on how helpful Detroiter's are. You sound like the quintessential "Disgruntled Ex-Detroiter" (either city or suburb)

And THAT is exactly the response I expected.....which is sad.

I make a negative comment about the city....and I am labeled at a "Disgruntled Ex-Detroiter"....no......I am not.....I love Detroit.....I moved out 9 years ago, but still miss the city, miss the teams, and miss the culture.....but I don't miss the attitude.

Perhaps if Detroit residents could actually take some criticism, and use it to improve the city, the city would not be where it was today. In any relationship, you have to eventually think "hey, maybe the problem is ME"

So, I ask you, why is the future of the city so great? What leaders are leading the city back to another golden age? How is the city going to lose its negative reputation? It is going to take a lot more than some local-serving casinos, a few sporting events, and a hip-hop mayor to fix Detroit......it is going to take new ideas, and open minds.....of which I personally do not see.

[Zissou]

You can answer your own questions by reading some of the other threads on this site. Weve gone over this stuff a lot.

And he said you SOUND like a disgruntled ex-Detroiter. And you do. All you post is negative things about the city. How about posting positive comments when a thread takes a positive turn instead of instantly killing the vibe? Someone mentions how their family wants a vacation home in Detroit and you instantly counter with the 1967 riots. Come on man.

[speck76]

You can answer your own questions by reading some of the other threads on this site. Weve gone over this stuff a lot.

And he said you SOUND like a disgruntled ex-Detroiter. And you do. All you post is negative things about the city. How about posting positive comments when a thread takes a positive turn instead of instantly killing the vibe? Someone mentions how their family wants a vacation home in Detroit and you instantly counter with the 1967 riots. Come on man.

Ugh.....I posted nothing but reality.......and reality is ugly. "Say nice things bout Detroit" was a great slogan in the late 70's for the city, but it really did not help the cause. Some plans, actions, and follow through would be better off to do the trick.

If you ARE interested in nice things.....here are a few.

-The zoo is nice.....not as nice as more modern zoos, like San Diego, Atlanta, or DC, but it is nice.

-Detroit has a lot of great, historic restaurants, like the various Coney/Koney Island restaurants.....my favorite is National in Royal Oak.

-Belle Isle is a nice urban oasis....it was designed by the same guy that designed Central Park in NYC.....now, it has not been mantained as well, and the aquarium could not get funding (or did it?) and the zoo....or whatever they call it now, is it even open anymore....was ok.

-The theater district is great....the Fox, Gem, Fisher, and Masonic typically have the Mastercard Broadway series shows playing...or whatever else is touring at the time. You can actually park your car inside the old Michigan theater. As for the many other theaters, many are still standing, but rotting.

-Casinos....Detroit has 3 casinos....they are nice, but not like Las Vegas.....the 3 temporary casinos opened 5 or 6 years ago, and were supposed to build adjacent permanent facilities with huge hotels, shows, and restaurants on the riverfront within 2 or 3 years, but due to some dumb lawsuits by old cronies that were left out of the action, the facilites are still not open, and the plans have been scaled back a lot.

-Comerica Park and Ford Field......two great new stadiums....2 last place teams

Come on now.....in all reality, Detroit has some good things going for it....but it is going to be a long time before the city has a good reputation, and the improvements made so far are not going to do it. Bring in some new businesses......instead of hanging on to the failing American auto companies. Get out....see what other cities are doing, and do it better. Detroit did a great job with both the All-Star game and the Super Bowl....but those are over, and 2 weeks from now, nobody will remember that.

If you remember, Atlanta was once a very slummy city....then it cleaned up for the '96 Olympic Games...after which, it was the place to be in the South......but again, due to 8 years under 1 bad Mayor.....it was headed back to the grave.....fortunately, it again is turning itself around. If Archer would have been replaced by someone that was more than an Escalade and a pinstripe suit, Detroit would be much better off.....instead, Detroit elected Coleman Young Jr.

[tapezord]

yes, what is your point? Detroit is Detroit, big deal.

[Zissou]

Come on now.....in all reality, Detroit has some good things going for it....but it is going to be a long time before the city has a good reputation, and the improvements made so far are not going to do it. Bring in some new businesses......instead of hanging on to the failing American auto companies. Get out....see what other cities are doing, and do it better. Detroit did a great job with both the All-Star game and the Super Bowl....but those are over, and 2 weeks from now, nobody will remember that.

Your explanation still doesnt explain why you have to post negative stuff when we are discussing positive things going on in the city.

Nobody will remember them? Moving away has obviously effected your grasp on the city. And try reading this message board for Christs sake. How many people have said they had a great time who were from out of town? Quite a few. And they said that they are going to tell others how great Detroit was. I guess that wont have any effect on the city now will it? How about all the new residential and renewed interest in Detroit that was spurred by those two events? How about the city bringing Compuware downtown? Wow a non automotive company that you chose to ignore. Ernst and Young are moving employees downtown and rumor has it that Rock Financial is looking at possibly interested in the Hudsons block. Its easy to be negative all the time when your mind is selective I suppose.

[hudkina]

Don't forget both EDS and PriceWaterhouseCooper moved downtown as well.

[Michi]

Yah, though I appreciate your comments, speck, you're kinda preaching to the choir. It doesn't help that you're so far removed from the nucleus of activity and discussion either. I don't mean offense, but Detroit is much more of an issue in Detroit than it is in Orlando. We hear the stuff you're saying on a daily basis. It's old, boring rhetoric that has been stripped to the bone. We're trying something new after last weekend's event that gave us a bit of a confidence boost. That's all.