Can Detroit be turned around? What is the lesson for other cities?

[mrstickball]

Kasz216 said:

mrstickball said:

NintendoPie said:

spurgeonryan said:

 

So basically it is like a mining town. Once the mine goes dry, the town dies.

Well, it seems that way. But I'm sure they could bring back more business if they tried.

That's the key.

The problem is that they don't. The city is 90% liberal. Said liberals don't understand what makes a city attractive to new businesses. They continue to do things that scare off businesses, which perpetuates all of the problems the city has.

I think the first step is for the state of Michigan to step in and put the city under their control - kick out every government worker/elected official, and put it under a manager with unilateral powers. Allow them to change tax code and what's needed to fix the city. It'll take years or decades, but it can work.

That's closer to happening then you probably realize.

"Frustrated by the lack of concrete progress, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, last month appointed a team to scour the city's books. The audit could result in a state takeover of Detroit's finances through the appointment of an emergency financial manager. Such a manager, who would seize control of the city's checkbook, could then propose federal bankruptcy court as the best option.

Snyder, who has called the situation "a crisis in terms of financial affairs," said the team would deliver its report in February.

"Detroit is teetering on the verge of bankruptcy after the City Council has failed to make the necessary cuts to deal with having a smaller population," said Rick Jones, chairman of the Republican majority caucus in the state Senate.

"

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/stuck-reverse-detroit-edges-closer-bankruptcy-1C8149698

I was fully aware that it was happening - assuming that Detroit lets it happen without blood being shed (and I really don't put it past the rats they call politicians in the city to do that).

@NintendoPie - I understand that. The politicians are a mirror image of the electorate... They voted them in, afterall.