Michiganaians: Detroit bankruptcy

[sunnsnow]

Detroit - "Hockeytown" is now Detroit "Empty Pockets". Bad city management or too many hands out or both??

[Monkei]

Detroit - "Hockeytown" is now Detroit "Empty Pockets". Bad city management or too many hands out or both??

Probably a little bit of everything, but losing a lot of your tax base, people moving out of the city, doesn't help any. Back in the mid to late 90s Atlanta had the same problem of a shrinking tax base, the people who stayed in the city in the upscale neighborhoods saw property taxes raise to try and get the city out of the red. I think Detroit is way past that though.

[TexaninVA]

Detroit - "Hockeytown" is now Detroit "Empty Pockets". Bad city management or too many hands out or both??

Detroit's road to ruin was well known for many years, yet no elected official could ever make the tough decisions to cut back spending and/or find a way to attract businesses. As a result, now it's "game over" for what used to be one of our finest cities.

My question ... is Detroit a preview of coming attractions for other entities that are also bankrupt ... eg State of Illinois is one that comes to mind.

[keithwand]

Coleman...Kwame...

[nitehawk]

Coleman...Kwame...

???

[Golf View]

???

Both were corrupt mayors who looted the city along with their supporters

[keithwand]

???

Coleman (mayor) and Kwame well known thieves that lined their pockets and did not care about Detroit. Ditto City Council.
It's a shame the rest of MI is painted with the same brush as Detroit. The suburbs and Up North especially is beautiful.

[billethkid]

filing for bankruptcy is sometimes nothing more than a step in a financial game plan (with emphasis on the GAME aspect).

Just another way to stave off having to pay creditors.

Also keep in mind politicians are in no way shape or form in the same category as business people or managers. Their job is not to say no to anything and pass along freebies to ANYBODY that may vote for them....hence the need for the endless checkbook.

As is usually the case with politicians for some reason voters continue to reward incompetence with re-election.....therefore they get what they deserve.

btk

[Suzi]

Coleman (mayor) and Kwame well known thieves that lined their pockets and did not care about Detroit. Ditto City Council.
It's a shame the rest of MI is painted with the same brush as Detroit. The suburbs and Up North especially is beautiful.

Coleman Young many, many years ago was the beginning and Kwame is the most recent very corrupt elected official who filled their pockets (and the pockets of their family and friends). In addition, the unions played a huge role in Detroits' fall. The expectations of the unions regarding wages and benefits were in distinct contrast to what the city could afford. Additionally, Coleman Young allowed terrible crime in his city - driving the tax-paying citizens out to the suburbs or out of Michigan.

Seriously, I was born and raised in Detroit. The riots in 1967 were a warning shot that this city was losing control. No one in charge was willing to DO ANYTHING because they were too busy lining their pockets. 3 months ago i took a drive through the city. It is absolutely dreadful. I feared that if I had a flat tire, I'd not be seen again. Abandoned/burned-out homes and businesses all the way to the city limits. Garbage and graffiti everywhere. My former home on the edge of the city in what was a beautiful, vibrant community while growing-up, is the only occupied home on the street. All the rest are burned-out or boarded-up. My church has had all of the beautiful stained-glassed windows and fixtures of any value removed to protect them.
Its enough to make you sick.

No one in their right mind would want to visit Detroit. I used to frequent Greek town (the food was so-o good) but now I wouldn't even try. I hear some people go to the casino downtown......big deal....not worth the risk. Thats it. Nothing else is left. They are selling off items in the art museum for heavens sakes. Many, many years ago, Chicago was faced with the same problems of crime etc, but they chose to protect their downtown area (cops walking the beat - the ones with the checkered hats) and today that area attracts many tourists to the Magnificant Mile.

I fear that there is NO hope for Detroit. I'd say "drop a bomb" but it already looks like they did. I don't know what the governor has in mind for Detroit but I wish him luck. There are other areas of blight in Michigan, just like other older manufacturing cities everywhere, but the remainder of Michigan is beautiful. The Great Lakes State is green and lush and a water wonderland. But the drain of taxes to feed Detroit drags all of its citizens down and we loose population because of those high taxes. Maybe better minds than mine can figure out a solution.

[TexaninVA]

Coleman Young many, many years ago was the beginning and Kwame is the most recent very corrupt elected official who filled their pockets (and the pockets of their family and friends). In addition, the unions played a huge role in Detroits' fall. The expectations of the unions regarding wages and benefits were in distinct contrast to what the city could afford. Additionally, Coleman Young allowed terrible crime in his city - driving the tax-paying citizens out to the suburbs or out of Michigan.

Seriously, I was born and raised in Detroit. The riots in 1967 were a warning shot that this city was losing control. No one in charge was willing to DO ANYTHING because they were too busy lining their pockets. 3 months ago i took a drive through the city. It is absolutely dreadful. I feared that if I had a flat tire, I'd not be seen again. Abandoned/burned-out homes and businesses all the way to the city limits. Garbage and graffiti everywhere. My former home on the edge of the city in what was a beautiful, vibrant community while growing-up, is the only occupied home on the street. All the rest are burned-out or boarded-up. My church has had all of the beautiful stained-glassed windows and fixtures of any value removed to protect them.
Its enough to make you sick.

No one in their right mind would want to visit Detroit. I used to frequent Greek town (the food was so-o good) but now I wouldn't even try. I hear some people go to the casino downtown......big deal....not worth the risk. Thats it. Nothing else is left. They are selling off items in the art museum for heavens sakes. Many, many years ago, Chicago was faced with the same problems of crime etc, but they chose to protect their downtown area (cops walking the beat - the ones with the checkered hats) and today that area attracts many tourists to the Magnificant Mile.

I fear that there is NO hope for Detroit. I'd say "drop a bomb" but it already looks like they did. I don't know what the governor has in mind for Detroit but I wish him luck. There are other areas of blight in Michigan, just like other older manufacturing cities everywhere, but the remainder of Michigan is beautiful. The Great Lakes State is green and lush and a water wonderland. But the drain of taxes to feed Detroit drags all of its citizens down and we loose population because of those high taxes. Maybe better minds than mine can figure out a solution.

The photos of Detroit do indeed look like a war zone ... kind of like Germany after it had been bombed to ruin in WWII. The difference is, in Detroit's case, a LOT of the blame goes to corrupt politicians, municipal workers, unions and ignorant voters who kept reelecting them. This same pattern is widespread in various other states and cities across the US, not to mention the guys in Washington.

[keithwand]

Coleman Young many, many years ago was the beginning and Kwame is the most recent very corrupt elected official who filled their pockets (and the pockets of their family and friends). In addition, the unions played a huge role in Detroits' fall. The expectations of the unions regarding wages and benefits were in distinct contrast to what the city could afford. Additionally, Coleman Young allowed terrible crime in his city - driving the tax-paying citizens out to the suburbs or out of Michigan.

Seriously, I was born and raised in Detroit. The riots in 1967 were a warning shot that this city was losing control. No one in charge was willing to DO ANYTHING because they were too busy lining their pockets. 3 months ago i took a drive through the city. It is absolutely dreadful. I feared that if I had a flat tire, I'd not be seen again. Abandoned/burned-out homes and businesses all the way to the city limits. Garbage and graffiti everywhere. My former home on the edge of the city in what was a beautiful, vibrant community while growing-up, is the only occupied home on the street. All the rest are burned-out or boarded-up. My church has had all of the beautiful stained-glassed windows and fixtures of any value removed to protect them.
Its enough to make you sick.

No one in their right mind would want to visit Detroit. I used to frequent Greek town (the food was so-o good) but now I wouldn't even try. I hear some people go to the casino downtown......big deal....not worth the risk. Thats it. Nothing else is left. They are selling off items in the art museum for heavens sakes. Many, many years ago, Chicago was faced with the same problems of crime etc, but they chose to protect their downtown area (cops walking the beat - the ones with the checkered hats) and today that area attracts many tourists to the Magnificant Mile.

I fear that there is NO hope for Detroit. I'd say "drop a bomb" but it already looks like they did. I don't know what the governor has in mind for Detroit but I wish him luck. There are other areas of blight in Michigan, just like other older manufacturing cities everywhere, but the remainder of Michigan is beautiful. The Great Lakes State is green and lush and a water wonderland. But the drain of taxes to feed Detroit drags all of its citizens down and we loose population because of those high taxes. Maybe better minds than mine can figure out a solution.

:agree:

[ewstanley]

I was in Detroit in May. I have family there. I am from Michigan. My father in law had a business in Detroit during the riots. All of the businesses around him were burned and looted except his. Someone had written "Soul Brother" on his store and it was thought it was owned by an African American. My parents and grandparents and many family members are buried in Detroit. I know of some that have had family member exhumed to move remains out of the city. It is just too dangerous to visit gravesites in the city. Detroit is in very bad shape. I did not feel safe at the cemetery.

[YouNeverKnow]

I was in Detroit in May. I have family there. I am from Michigan. My father in law had a business in Detroit during the riots. All of the businesses around him were burned and looted except his. Someone had written "Soul Brother" on his store and it was thought it was owned by an African American. My parents and grandparents and many family members are buried in Detroit. I know of some that have had family member exhumed to move remains out of the city. It is just too dangerous to visit gravesites in the city. Detroit is in very bad shape. I did not feel safe at the cemetery.
True but sad. We just moved down here from the Detroit area and it was getting to the point that we were afraid to go downtown for anything. (Sports, weddings, etc.) It's sad that you have to fear for your life when attending an event in a town. It was well publicized that the police were very slow at answering calls and the ambulance response time was miserable. Too many shootings that they couldn't keep up. Crime is out of control, government is corrupt, school system is over 300 million dollars in debt. The rest of Michigan is a beautiful state but Detroit is pulling it down with it.

[janieb]

Coleman Young many, many years ago was the beginning and Kwame is the most recent very corrupt elected official who filled their pockets (and the pockets of their family and friends). In addition, the unions played a huge role in Detroits' fall. The expectations of the unions regarding wages and benefits were in distinct contrast to what the city could afford. Additionally, Coleman Young allowed terrible crime in his city - driving the tax-paying citizens out to the suburbs or out of Michigan.

Seriously, I was born and raised in Detroit. The riots in 1967 were a warning shot that this city was losing control. No one in charge was willing to DO ANYTHING because they were too busy lining their pockets. 3 months ago i took a drive through the city. It is absolutely dreadful. I feared that if I had a flat tire, I'd not be seen again. Abandoned/burned-out homes and businesses all the way to the city limits. Garbage and graffiti everywhere. My former home on the edge of the city in what was a beautiful, vibrant community while growing-up, is the only occupied home on the street. All the rest are burned-out or boarded-up. My church has had all of the beautiful stained-glassed windows and fixtures of any value removed to protect them.
Its enough to make you sick.

No one in their right mind would want to visit Detroit. I used to frequent Greek town (the food was so-o good) but now I wouldn't even try. I hear some people go to the casino downtown......big deal....not worth the risk. Thats it. Nothing else is left. They are selling off items in the art museum for heavens sakes. Many, many years ago, Chicago was faced with the same problems of crime etc, but they chose to protect their downtown area (cops walking the beat - the ones with the checkered hats) and today that area attracts many tourists to the Magnificant Mile.

I fear that there is NO hope for Detroit. I'd say "drop a bomb" but it already looks like they did. I don't know what the governor has in mind for Detroit but I wish him luck. There are other areas of blight in Michigan, just like other older manufacturing cities everywhere, but the remainder of Michigan is beautiful. The Great Lakes State is green and lush and a water wonderland. But the drain of taxes to feed Detroit drags all of its citizens down and we loose population because of those high taxes. Maybe better minds than mine can figure out a solution.

SuzieQ you are correct about the corruption in Detroit, it has been that way for so many years. The state of Michigan wanted to take over Belle Isle and turn it into a State Park and the city council voted it down. It is a shame that this jewel is not put to better use.

However the downtown area around Greektown is very vibrant, especially if there is a Tiger game that night. I had some friends in from out of town that used to live in the area and we went to Mexican village (although it looks very run down, it is quite a popular eating area near the bridge to Canada) and then we went to Greektown for some pastries and drove around the stadiums. Of course this is only a small little area of Detroit that is in pretty good shape. I know that Dan Gilbert and Mike Ilitch have put their hearts and soles into Detroit as well as some other business men. Hopefully something can be done to help the city but the footprint of Detroit needs to be downsized and hopefully someday there can be some honest politicians (do they exist?) in charge

[Monkei]

I worry about the retired government workers whose only source of income is their retirement checks.

[TexaninVA]

I worry about the retired government workers whose only source of income is their retirement checks.

I fully agree .... that would indeed be a major source of worry. First news reports indicate they will be lucky to get a dime on the dollar in pension payments.

My frustration is that anyone who knew anything about Detroit could see this coming years ago. But, there were simply no politicians who had the brains, inclination or courage to "obviate" the problem ... ie address it before it became too big to solve. It was just too easy to rabble rouse and play to the galleries for the easy interim fix.

As I said in an earlier post, given the abundance of other cities / states in a similar dismal fiscal condition, Detroit is simply a preview of coming attractions.

[janmcn]

A Michigan judge has blocked the bankruptcy saying it violates the state's constitution and must be withdrawn.

[gomoho]

I worry about the retired government workers whose only source of income is their retirement checks.

I understand the city workers get 90% of their salary as their retirement amount. Since the average in the country is 35% guess an adjustment would put them in life with everyone else. If they weren't paying out these ridiculous amounts all along they may not have had to file bankruptcy.

[keithwand]

I feel sorry for the folks holding general obligation bonds thinking they were insured and then maybe not in bankruptcy. Detroit (really Birmingham) is my home and I wish it well and I love the state.

[Jim 9922]

[QUOTE=Suzi;710923]. The riots in 1967 were a warning shot that this city was losing control. No one in charge was willing to DO ANYTHING because they were too busy lining their pockets.

I agree 100%. It was the people, the leaders (business and union), and government who all let things go to pot.
We lived in St Claire Shores and worked in Detroit 1964 thru 1969. The riots were the handwriting on the wall and we got out of there ASAP and never looked back. I'm surprised that it took so long to collapse.

[rubicon]

What happened in Detroit happened in Stockton, CA and is happening in Chicago. These are teachable moments but they continue to be ignored

Nothing is free.

[asianthree]

motion to stop bankruptcy