/Detroit

[LittleHurt05]

Has nothing to do with weather. Animals will be animals until they are all dead or locked up. These people have no conscience. Give them all guns so the good ones have a chance.

 

Weather does play a part. There's a reason shootings increase so much during the summer, people are outside all the time. If Chicago didn't have a cold winter, shootings would be even higher.

 

It just makes me laugh when they city uses it as an excuse.

[Jenksismyhero]

Weather does play a part. There's a reason shootings increase so much during the summer, people are outside all the time. If Chicago didn't have a cold winter, shootings would be even higher.

 

It just makes me laugh when they city uses it as an excuse.

 

That's why the City was trying to get schools to go as close to 24/7/365 as possible. More school=more kids off the street=less opportunity to shoot someone. So incredibly sad.

 

I actually just watched a 48 Hours special about Chicago violence over the weekend. I think it aired several months ago, but it was still pretty good. They had camera crews in town for like 6 months following around the parents of that girl that attended Obama's inauguration and was killed. They found that girl's killer in 2 weeks after a bunch of national press started asking Rahm tough questions (and he responded by putting 200 more police on the ground). They also interviewed another mother who lost her teenage girl in a similar way. It's been over a year since her daughter was killed and the murderer is still missing. AND she claims the CPD basically refuses to get back to her when she calls for updates. So, yeah. If you want justice it helps to have politicians that need their annual PR boost by looking good in front of the cameras.

 

They also made the case that the drug trade in Chicago is ridiculous, heroin especially. They interviewed one of the coroners for a collar county and he all but said heroin deaths are the vast majority of cases he reviews. I really believe all parties involved (the county, city and suburban communities) have agreed to "ignore" the violence problem because at least it's contained right now. If they ever actually cracked down on it like they should all this crime would be pushed out to the suburbs. As is they can just point the finger and say "no no, all this violent crime only happens in the really s***ty areas of town. Please still come to Navy Pier."

Edited July 8, 2013 by Jenksismybitch

[Harry Chappas]

The guy that I bought the paper from every morning was shoot and killed a half hour before I would have bought it last week.

 

He was shoot on the corner of 99th and Halsted not a good neighborhood but somewhat safe especially at 7:00 in morning. People getting on the Dan Ryan going to work witnessed it. Two guys come up behind him and shoot him 10 times, they were shooting into traffic as well. No regard at all for any human life.

 

Chicago, especially the south, east and west sides are getting really close to falling into disarray. I could give a s*** what the stats say. At least there is some media coverage about it now as the Trib had a nice write-up about it. Armed robberies, home invasion,etc. are becoming commonplace throughout these parts of the city in the middle of the day.

 

 

 

 

 

[StrangeSox]

Has nothing to do with weather. Animals will be animals until they are all dead or locked up. These people have no conscience. Give them all guns so the good ones have a chance.

jesus christ

[Jake]

It's definitely getting to the point that I may not try going to school in Chicago anymore. I'm shopping for grad schools and I might just settle in Madison/Bloomington/Ann Arbor/Toronto instead, as much as I'd like to be able to see Sox games at will.

[southsider2k5]

It's definitely getting to the point that I may not try going to school in Chicago anymore. I'm shopping for grad schools and I might just settle in Madison/Bloomington/Ann Arbor/Toronto instead, as much as I'd like to be able to see Sox games at will.

 

Downtown Chicago is fine.

[Jenksismyhero]

"All of the crime happens in the crappiest neighborhoods! Please come to Navy Pier!"

[Jenksismyhero]

"Oh, except we had to change the July 3rd fireworks and Taste of Chicago because gangs started to cause problems, and you might get robbed/assaulted on the Mag Mile or on any form of public transportation......but chances are really good that you won't be killed!"

[NorthSideSox72]

Here is my pie-in-the-sky idea...

 

Most property values in Detroit proper are absurdly low anyway, and the city isn't getting tax receipt income from huge percentages of property that is empty and abandoned. So the best bet, really, is to re-condense the city. New Orleans should have done this too.

 

Pick neighborhoods where the percentage of homes/businesses/lots are continuously and legally populated at a low percentage, and move everyone out. Take over abandoned properties (and buy others for dirt cheap) in neighborhoods with higher density. Set up a lottery system of some kind, with some user choice, to move people out of the awful neighborhoods and into the less awful ones that are at least somewhat populated. People who are up to date on taxes and mortgages get first choice. Apply for as many federal loans and grants as you can, put the money into rehabbing any homes that are not to code and/or below current living standards for those being moved. If they don't want to move to any of the choices, and if they are up to date on taxes etc., then try to buy them out.

 

For the emptied neighborhoods, raze the structures, and allow the land to lay foul. Find any number of uses for the empty land as, in some sense, green space. Parks, prairies, urban farming co-ops, whatever you can find, ideally at least some of it private. You build a patchwork of green belts around the city. Then you can significantly reduce city services costs in those areas, to almost zero. Reduce the size of fire and police forces, schools, everything, re-use infrastructure parts from areas no longer used, condense transit, all of it - which will realize significant cost savings over time. Police force reduction should NOT be as large as actual reduction in tasks though, so that you can actually somewhat increase police presence in the populated areas.

 

That open land, doesn't have to be open either - casinos, etc., open ALL the doors, let them all buy the property for next to nothing, to get them on the tax rolls. But in exchange, they have to be flexible as to location of their facilities - allow for good zoning plans in place.

 

This plan would, inevitably, cause a lot of havoc in the short term. Long term, it would essentially allow the city to reset and restart, and be able to economically maintain itself and maybe even grow.

 

[southsider2k5]

Here is my pie-in-the-sky idea...

 

Most property values in Detroit proper are absurdly low anyway, and the city isn't getting tax receipt income from huge percentages of property that is empty and abandoned. So the best bet, really, is to re-condense the city. New Orleans should have done this too.

 

Pick neighborhoods where the percentage of homes/businesses/lots are continuously and legally populated at a low percentage, and move everyone out. Take over abandoned properties (and buy others for dirt cheap) in neighborhoods with higher density. Set up a lottery system of some kind, with some user choice, to move people out of the awful neighborhoods and into the less awful ones that are at least somewhat populated. People who are up to date on taxes and mortgages get first choice. Apply for as many federal loans and grants as you can, put the money into rehabbing any homes that are not to code and/or below current living standards for those being moved. If they don't want to move to any of the choices, and if they are up to date on taxes etc., then try to buy them out.

 

For the emptied neighborhoods, raze the structures, and allow the land to lay foul. Find any number of uses for the empty land as, in some sense, green space. Parks, prairies, urban farming co-ops, whatever you can find, ideally at least some of it private. You build a patchwork of green belts around the city. Then you can significantly reduce city services costs in those areas, to almost zero. Reduce the size of fire and police forces, schools, everything, re-use infrastructure parts from areas no longer used, condense transit, all of it - which will realize significant cost savings over time. Police force reduction should NOT be as large as actual reduction in tasks though, so that you can actually somewhat increase police presence in the populated areas.

 

That open land, doesn't have to be open either - casinos, etc., open ALL the doors, let them all buy the property for next to nothing, to get them on the tax rolls. But in exchange, they have to be flexible as to location of their facilities - allow for good zoning plans in place.

 

This plan would, inevitably, cause a lot of havoc in the short term. Long term, it would essentially allow the city to reset and restart, and be able to economically maintain itself and maybe even grow.

 

I'd love to see that happen. Unfortunately, no one has the money for it.

[NorthSideSox72]

I'd love to see that happen. Unfortunately, no one has the money for it.

The City of Detroit certainly doesn't. The idea would be to try to combine federal and state grant/loan programs (there are a zillion of these for various purposes), and go to the private businesses that are still strong in town (there are some), and start doing it one neighborhood at a time. Doesn't have to be done all at once.

 

Still pie in the sky, but not entirely impossible either.

 

[bigruss]

The City of Detroit certainly doesn't. The idea would be to try to combine federal and state grant/loan programs (there are a zillion of these for various purposes), and go to the private businesses that are still strong in town (there are some), and start doing it one neighborhood at a time. Doesn't have to be done all at once.

 

Still pie in the sky, but not entirely impossible either.

I'm sure Ilitch would still be on board to buy more property in Detroit, he clearly wants to own Detroit.

[southsider2k5]

The City of Detroit certainly doesn't. The idea would be to try to combine federal and state grant/loan programs (there are a zillion of these for various purposes), and go to the private businesses that are still strong in town (there are some), and start doing it one neighborhood at a time. Doesn't have to be done all at once.

 

Still pie in the sky, but not entirely impossible either.

 

I have stated almost the exact same plan for Gary IN, except breaking it into multiple towns to make the managing of the rebuilding a little easier, and a little better able to focus on the block by block details that would be necessary for a project like that.

[EvilMonkey]

Here is my pie-in-the-sky idea...

 

Most property values in Detroit proper are absurdly low anyway, and the city isn't getting tax receipt income from huge percentages of property that is empty and abandoned. So the best bet, really, is to re-condense the city. New Orleans should have done this too.

 

Pick neighborhoods where the percentage of homes/businesses/lots are continuously and legally populated at a low percentage, and move everyone out. Take over abandoned properties (and buy others for dirt cheap) in neighborhoods with higher density. Set up a lottery system of some kind, with some user choice, to move people out of the awful neighborhoods and into the less awful ones that are at least somewhat populated. People who are up to date on taxes and mortgages get first choice. Apply for as many federal loans and grants as you can, put the money into rehabbing any homes that are not to code and/or below current living standards for those being moved. If they don't want to move to any of the choices, and if they are up to date on taxes etc., then try to buy them out.

 

For the emptied neighborhoods, raze the structures, and allow the land to lay foul. Find any number of uses for the empty land as, in some sense, green space. Parks, prairies, urban farming co-ops, whatever you can find, ideally at least some of it private. You build a patchwork of green belts around the city. Then you can significantly reduce city services costs in those areas, to almost zero. Reduce the size of fire and police forces, schools, everything, re-use infrastructure parts from areas no longer used, condense transit, all of it - which will realize significant cost savings over time. Police force reduction should NOT be as large as actual reduction in tasks though, so that you can actually somewhat increase police presence in the populated areas.

 

That open land, doesn't have to be open either - casinos, etc., open ALL the doors, let them all buy the property for next to nothing, to get them on the tax rolls. But in exchange, they have to be flexible as to location of their facilities - allow for good zoning plans in place.

 

This plan would, inevitably, cause a lot of havoc in the short term. Long term, it would essentially allow the city to reset and restart, and be able to economically maintain itself and maybe even grow.

Interesting plan, I have talked in vague outlines about similar things. For the really empty areas they can probably get away with some form of eminent domain to claim the abandoned ones, then green them up and remove the city services like you mentioned. Condense the are they need to supervise and lower costs dramatically.

[cabiness42]

I have stated almost the exact same plan for Gary IN, except breaking it into multiple towns to make the managing of the rebuilding a little easier, and a little better able to focus on the block by block details that would be necessary for a project like that.

 

There are too many municipalities in Lake County already. I can't imagine having more.

 

[Jenksismyhero]

Someone read my post!

 

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2013/07/10/ill...icago-violence/

 

Funny that she called Rahm, Ron. And she's from Chicago.

Edited July 10, 2013 by Jenksismybitch

[pettie4sox]

Someone read my post!

 

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2013/07/10/ill...icago-violence/

 

Funny that she called Rahm, Ron. And she's from Chicago.

 

There are a lot bigots in the comment section.

[bmags]

Detroit has been trying to recondense the city for the past decade. The issue is they have no money to make an incentive. It's literally them just saying "please move here, or else soon your bus line is going to cut out" except the people are poor and can't. It's a horrible situation.

 

Also, Jake, I really find it silly that you would reconsider grad school in Chicago over this.

[NorthSideSox72]

Detroit has been trying to recondense the city for the past decade. The issue is they have no money to make an incentive. It's literally them just saying "please move here, or else soon your bus line is going to cut out" except the people are poor and can't. It's a horrible situation.

 

Also, Jake, I really find it silly that you would reconsider grad school in Chicago over this.

The plan only works if you do more than "incentivize". It has to be eminent domain, for the good of public safety. Has to not be a choice, though you can say you are going to force it eventually, but if you line up first you get better choices of where you go.

 

This would of course result in all manner of court battles, over just how far eminent domain can go. Judging by a few past cases I am aware of, it probably can work, but they will have to battle to get through the first wave.

 

It isn't likely to happen. Just what I'd like to see happen.

 

[RockRaines]

I have a ton of HS friends in Detroit (all from the Ann Arbor area) that are all about saving the city and stuff. Essentially, they view it as a hipster paradise and want to bring in a really progressive culture to help rejuvenate the city. I have also seen them mention a lot about the Ilitch's buying out a ton of land and buildings in Detroit and they are worried that the city will be run by 2-3 companies/families and they'll be able to do pretty much anything they want to do. I would argue with them that it was that case for the most part anyways (big 3 auto) and any money being invested into Detroit right now is a good thing.

It already is owned by 3 families. Illich, Dan Gilbert and Peter Karmanos own most of the buildings downtown. Dan Gilbert owns almost all of the office buildings.

[RockRaines]

Detroit has been trying to recondense the city for the past decade. The issue is they have no money to make an incentive. It's literally them just saying "please move here, or else soon your bus line is going to cut out" except the people are poor and can't. It's a horrible situation.

 

Also, Jake, I really find it silly that you would reconsider grad school in Chicago over this.

They gave away houses for free, nobody took it.

[EvilMonkey]

Essentially, they view it as a hipster paradise and want to bring in a really progressive culture to help rejuvenate the city.

That's how it got so f*cked up to begin with. What other liberal idea do they think will work there? Communes? Organic farms? Solar panels?

[farmteam]

That's how it got so f*cked up to begin with. What other liberal idea do they think will work there? Communes? Organic farms? Solar panels?

Detroit was screwed up because it was a hipster paradise?

 

Side note, we need to really stop using the word "hipster." Long past its expiration date, or at least its current colloquial usage is.

[Balta1701]

Detroit was screwed up because it was a hipster paradise?

Only hipsters are stupid enough to believe in stable, well-paying jobs.

[pettie4sox]

That's how it got so f*cked up to begin with. What other liberal idea do they think will work there? Communes? Organic farms? Solar panels?

 

Are you f***ing trolling?!?!?! Please tell me you're f***ing trolling.