Priorities

[kgourlay]

Surveys have shown that 2/3 of residents in the metro area favor expanded mass transit.  When it comes to paying for it though, the tone changes completely. 

Cuz the ones with the most money are the few that would actually be hurt by a light rail system. The auto industry. Same goes for fixing the roads. Coincidence that Michigan has some of the worst roads in the nation? That Detroit has some of the worst roads in Michigan? Nah... It sux but it's true.

And the Cobo expansion?  The only show Cobo has that even uses the whole space is the Auto Show.  Is the economic impact for that one show enough to justify $600+ million of additions to the building?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do y'all realize that Cobo operates at a loss? For all the conventions and stuff going on, and for the millions that companies sink into the auto show for the privilege of being there, Cobo *still* costs Detroit taxpayers money. Makes me sick. Of all the profit potentials the city has, you would think that one would be up there. Maybe they should stop using the platinum alloy trash bags and switch back to plastic. And *then* we can start talking about expansion.

[rbdetsport]

Here is the website for the newest proposed Cobo Expansion.

http://www.detnews.com/2005/business/0502/10/C01-85668.htm

[Michi]

Public (mass) transit trumps all. Mass transit will recreate the urban market that Detroit once use to be.

The number one argument against it is there's no money, and a close second is that there's not enough density to support it. Tell that to communities building it and they'll just laugh at us in the face.

My bet (and it's not a bad thing) is that Grand Rapids will produce something before we do...again a region that is not as well off and much, much smaller. They have all the ingredients, plus the brains (the human know-how) to create transit. Plus, they are not as doom and gloom and have much more regional pride. Something very important that is needed.

Anyway, I can't even imagine all the things that would follow mass transit...in city and suburbs. We'd actually have a competitive city again and it would be a no-brainer to invest in facilities such as Cobo because Detroit would reemerge as a city for all, and not just for those who can and will park on top of the demolished old city and pretend they live in a trendy new city.

[tracer1138]

Another thing to consider is that some of these, ie. the permanant casinos, are largely private investments.

I would also have to go with light rail. Assuming we extend the lines through some of the listed areas, it could help accomplish several items on the list by default. Kill as many birds with one (albeit expensive) stone.

[statedude3]

I voted for the Grand Circus Park option...but I have to explain that thought a bit.

Until the past few months, the large majority of development downtown has been East of Woodward. With the BC Hotel and Fort Shelby renovation as well as a few smaller projects getting underway there is momentum in a westward direction which is promising.

I will believe that "Detroit is on it's way up" when new developments begin poping up between Griswold and 3rd...to me that is where the future of Detroit lies.

[Jasoncw]

I don't remember if I voted or not, but I'd say that the light rail is the best out of those. It's good in itself, but the development benefits in the long term outweigh those of any other single project, imo.

[splbrgmi]

I think before any of these priorities happen. Detroit will need a brand new city council. Even though it's impossible, we have to slowly start changing the majority of members and replace them with ones that truly want to the city to grow. I've been to many council sessions, so don't tell me that care about the people of Detroit and all that bullish. They do not. All they want is their job (of course though) and could care less about the city of Detroit. I noticed that when someone suggested that we should not have 9 council members and instead 8 based on the population and that they should be paid less. You should see how their faces all turned red, afraid that it might have to be done.

We have the most embarrassing council and they have to go, They care nothing about but the past, and they deny that Detroit needs to drop its past mistakes under the coleman young era and move on, for example... get moving with privitization, it's for the better. Can someone please please please tell me why the hell so many people are against privatization. What would residents care, why would council even care. People still go to the zoo today, is it any diffrent. In fact it might be better now. Maybe they can expand, renovate, without council sitting there and interferring with creativity, which should not be their job anyways.