Detroit Unemployment hits 17.1%

[Medic]

http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/29/news/economy/metro_area_unemployment/index.htm?postversion=2009072910

At this point, has anyone read any good solutions to the problems in Detroit? Seeing reports on how bad things are is almost expected when talking about that area.

I know its chic to say "Michigan needs to reinvent itself" by pulling other industries into the state. Where do you start? Being that I'm out in California, if there was ever a time when businesses were willing to leave this state the time would be now. I guess you could try and appeal to the Biotech and Tech industries of Cali by offering huge tax incentives to get those companies to move.

Anyhow, I've stopped reading the local papers online in Detroit because they're too depressing. Has there been any good news?

[zilla]

I heard a good idea last week, make Detroit smaller.

On a unrelated topic medic, did you make it out to the beach last week? I heard the ocean was going nuts on the west coast.

[Medic]

How do you "make Detroit smaller"? Simply allow the systemic issues to persist until you have nothing left? At some point you have to introduce a stop gap policy I would think.

Contraction is never a good thing. The people living there need jobs, food, shelter, entertainment. Let's assume that you simply allow the area to continue its regression and people move out (which is currently what's happening). While this may initially sound appealing, remember that the people you are losing are mostly skilled workers, managers, and executives as they will be most likely able to afford to leave the area (speculation, I know). You get left with a population that simply can't sustain itself.

I always felt the problem in Detroit (and Michigan in general) was that the economy of the state was almost completely dependent on the car industry.

edit: My wife made me promise to stop surfing until the kids are out of the house :( So no, I do not get to enjoy nature's nectar of beautiful waves until the kids are in college

[Mich97c]

On a unrelated topic medic, did you make it out to the beach last week? I heard the ocean was going nuts on the west coast.

I heard they were having 12-15 foot surf. God I miss California.

[Wolvrin704]

There are no simple solutions. What is needed is a clear thought out long range plan. One of the biggest problems with this country as a whole and especially politicians is they usually think short term, solve my problem NOW.

I kind of agree with Zilla on this. Detroit needs to be smaller.......in a physical sense. Get rid of the blighted neighborhoods, induce people to move to better planned areas and revitalize the city that way. If you make it physically smaller there won't be as much infrastructure to maintain either. Unfortunately, it would take money to do even this and of course a long range vision via a city planner with the support of the politicians.

[zilla]

I heard they were having 12-15 foot surf. God I miss California.

20-25 on the larger sets.

[zilla]

How do you "make Detroit smaller"? Simply allow the systemic issues to persist until you have nothing left? At some point you have to introduce a stop gap policy I would think.

Contraction is never a good thing. The people living there need jobs, food, shelter, entertainment. Let's assume that you simply allow the area to continue its regression and people move out (which is currently what's happening). While this may initially sound appealing, remember that the people you are losing are mostly skilled workers, managers, and executives as they will be most likely able to afford to leave the area (speculation, I know). You get left with a population that simply can't sustain itself.

I always felt the problem in Detroit (and Michigan in general) was that the economy of the state was almost completely dependent on the car industry.

edit: My wife made me promise to stop surfing until the kids are out of the house :( So no, I do not get to enjoy nature's nectar of beautiful waves until the kids are in college


This is what they refered to:

I kind of agree with Zilla on this. Detroit needs to be smaller.......in a physical sense. Get rid of the blighted neighborhoods, induce people to move to better planned areas and revitalize the city that way. If you make it physically smaller there won't be as much infrastructure to maintain either.