Detroit, Rock City
Written: Nov 20 '99 (Updated Nov 20 '99)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: great art, on the upswing, a survivor
Cons: cass corridor, bad PR
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| vanity's Full Review: Detroit |
I have to adamantly disagree with Will3 on this Detroit thing. Honestly, I'm not even sure you were there. While Detroit does have some places that are merely shells of their former selves, there's much to recommend it. As for the failed greed comment, let's look at the history.
Detroit is the result of successful greed. NAFTA and Asian cars killed the decent wage for work (and the UAW bloat, both the good and the bad I'm willing to accept) when automakers realized they could up their margin by lowering labor costs moving manufacturing south of the border. The greedy people didn't fail, they actually succeeded beautifully. It's the working man whose expense they succeeded at, and now the town is revitalizing in ways apparently will3 never got to see. I saw Detroit at it's worst, in the late 70s, early 80s when it literally was a burned out shell, homes abandoned, poverty everywhere. Now that ex mayor Coleman Young's incompentent reign has finally ended though, the city isonce again able to make efficient use of it's funds, and is genuinely making progress towards rebuilding and reestabl itself as a community. Poverty and drugs exist everywhere, and it sounds like you were plunked down in the middle of a bad area, and mistook it for the norm of the whole city.
Racially diverse and tolerant, Detroit has been thorugh it all from economic collapse to race riots, and still come out with it's head held high. The once astronomical crime rate has dramatically reduced in the last 15 years, renovation of old buildings in underway and serious regrowth tax abatement incentives exist to revitalize the city proper in the face of non auto industries having moved during white flight in the early 70s to the burbs. In the city proper, you have beautiful Hart Plaza, Trapper's Alley, Greektown, a great live music scene, (not to mention the historic value - detroit is rich in musical history) and the Detroit Institute of Arts boasts the 5th largest collection of any museum in maerica with over 60,000 works, including impressive American, Modern and European art collections.
The people are strong, resilient, and are working hard to improve the city they love. There are very strong communities within the city and a great push of historical preservation going on as we sit here. Right now Detroit may not be the gleaming beacon it was 100 years ago, but it's definitely on it's way back and certainly not a symbol of failed greed. Will3, you were there on a day trip and you act as if you're an expert on the history and cuilture of a place that's not only new to you, but a foreign country. "It didn't have a reason for exisiting"? Like oh, sorry let's just flatten it and make it nicer for _you_. Disneyland it ain't, but before you dismiss the validity and raison d'etre of the home and hearth of so many people, at least open your eyes all the way.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
vanity
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Member: leslie harpold
Location: new york, ny
Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 38 members
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