Save Detroit!

For way too long, Detroit has been viewed in a negative light. And by negative, I mean "murder capital of the US", "the ghetto" and "not worth visiting anymore."  Years and years have gone by, as well as Detroit's visitors/occupants. The rundown homes, the increase in crime and poverty have risen substantially, reaching about 90,000 vacant homes. Every time I drive around down there I try to ignore, but can’t help but stare in sadness at the abundance of home, deteriorated. The shattered windows, chipped paint, broken-down porches, and complete and utter emptiness are all so impossible to overlook.

 I was down there a week ago with my mom (she hadn’t been down there in years) and she couldn’t help but gasp at the scenery we drove by. “This is so sad,” she said. “I can’t believe this happened.” From other older people, I’ve heard “Detroit used to be my home; it used to be so beautiful.” “I remember playing as a kid, running around in the streets without a care. That doesn’t happen anymore.”  When I see all of this or hear all of this, it makes me sad. It makes me wonder, where it all went wrong. What can we do to fix it? I know there has to be a way. This is my way of thinking…If you can build a whole city the way every city has been built then you can fix one too. The question is what is being done? So far what I’ve heard is news of this renowned business man named, Dan Gilbert. 

I guess he is very well known for his business tactics. He is the founder and chairman of Quicken Loans Inc. I know many people my age (23) or around my age know or know of someone who works there. It is a huge business that distributes loans. He recently started one of these company buildings right out of Detroit for the sake of bringing about a young, innovative population into the city. Right now, he is our hope and our possible salvation. He has the assets and the brains to do so. He now owns about 17 buildings in Downtown Detroit, as well as parking structures. He is planning on renovating the Greektown Casino, because of its loss of money and customer base. It is the smallest of all the casinos in Detroit, therefore he is brainstorming new ideas to make it just as, if not more appealing than MGM and Motor City Casinos. He recently gathered 400 business and civic leaders to discuss the renovation of the city. He is clearly determined to fix years of damage and lost hope. If you ask me, he looks like a good candidate for next mayor of Detroit. He would have my vote!