"Perhaps the most shocking aspect of Detroit's tragic decline is that it has occurred within one of the richest regions in the United States. With a population of 4,200,000-almost half of Michigan-metropolitan Detroit compares favorably in wealth to any metropolitan region in the nation. In 1983, of the 33 largest metropolitan areas in the United States, only Washington, D.C., and Houston, Texas, had significantly higher average household incomes than Detroit's metropolitan area. The average income in Washington, D.C.'s metropolitan area was $38,629; in Houston it was $36,390. Metropolitan Detroit had an average household income of $33,241, and this figure was deceptively low since it included the average household income within the city of Detroit: $21,556...Even more revealing of the wealth surrounding the city is the data on property values which are usually assessed at half of the market price. Detroit's valuation dropped from $4,937,375,000 in 1960 to $4,271,216,000 in 1980. Within the same period, Oakland County's valuation rose from $1,351,984,00 to $10,431,731,000; Macomb County's rose from $641,591,000 to $5,443,984,000; and Wayne County's figure climbed from $2,645,862,000 to $4,137,465,000."
-Detroit: City of Race and Class Violence,1989, B.J. Widick (238)
This blog has attempted to capture not only what Detroit must overcome in revitalization efforts, but also we attempt to flesh out exactly what revitalization means. Is it bringing a business into the city and hence more than 3,000 jobs, but still having one of the highest poverty rates in the country? Since the 1960s, Detroit has been host to a plethora of revitalization efforts including: from 1967 until 1977 New Detroit social programs, which focused on every social issue discussed in this blog and more, spent more than $28 million in the city (Woodford 183); 24,000 homes in Metro Detroit were eliminated by a 1970s effort to create 200 miles of freeway (Woodford 164); when the Renaissance Center opened in 1977 “[it] destroyed as much business as it created; three downtown hotels closed and several office buildings were left with vacancies;” and the start up of the People Mover in 1987 “was supposed to attract 15,000 passengers daily...but it was averaging on only 10,000 riders a day” (Widick 247). So when we are talking about Detroit’s revitalization, we are not talking about something that started this year, as national media may portray. So given the almost 50 years of consistent revitalization attempts and continuing declining population and high poverty rates, two points: the revitalization of Detroit is not an overnight effort and more needs to happen than has been.
Trickle down economic development initiatives have not been the only revitalization efforts. Before the 1967 Race Riots, the Detroit Community Action Program sought to: “develop programs which [would] assist people in becoming self-sufficient and socially responsible citizens, generate participation in community life and the problems of others and build into the lives of the impoverished the skills and aspirations necessary for useful and rewarding lives” (Georgakas 239). Now if you live in Detroit and want to contribute positively to the community you can join ARISE Detroit! ARISE stands for Activating Resources and Inspiring Service and Empowerment. The mission of ARISE Detroit!, as stated on the organization’s website, is to “launch a new wave of volunteerism for the many worth while programs and activities that are struggling with the issues that trouble our community - illiteracy, high school dropout rates, crime and youth violence, drug abuse, domestic abuse, neighborhood blight and unemployment.” Detroiters do their part!
Detroit’s revitalization should be presented soberly, but with hope. Hinging the possible success of the city on some new talent, new business, new transportation project and on the success of a sports team oversimplifies the obstacles facing Detroit. After examining Detroit’s past, we can see that the ups and downs of Detroit cannot be traced to one source, but instead to a complex interaction of socio-economic factors. Thus their is not ONE solution to Detroit’s woes. Instead, Detroit should continue to engage in many solutions to revive the city. While the national media loves to tell the oversimplified tale as to how Detroit will rejuvenate, Detroiters have it right. According to their passions, they each are taking a piece of the dynamic story of Detroit and hoping to make an impact for the better. They know there is no quick fix.
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