I was raised with the mentality that 8 mile was the border line, a myth only further reinforced by the storytelling I heard over and over again as a child about Coleman Young telling white people to hit the road (a myth later refuted by my own education later on in life), more specifically 8 Mile.
Anything north of 8 mile was flowers, puppies and rainbows. But cross the mighty 102 and you're apt to hear air sirens and "Welcome to the Jungle" as a soundtrack.
This city's never fully recovered from the '67 riots. One look at abandoned buildings and decaying structures is proof of that. Some wounds have healed; and the shopping mall-esque (thanks Doyle) revitalization of Woodward is proof that things are on a slight rebound. But the balance is delicate, and so is the temperament of the city's condition. In some ways Detroit's renaissance is as delicate as a porcelain figurine: put it in the wrong hands and it's bound to shatter and splinter into a thousand pieces.
Above all it is without question that the African-American community has endured most of the burden of the city's plight. While the suburban folks will try and lay claim to it, there's no contest. A public school system in utter chaos and public transportation are just two of the key issues that come to the immediate top of my list when thinking about some of city government's key failures to serve its people.
So where does one point the finger? At an administration that refuses to tackle the escalating levels of violence and crime in the city? An administration that values creating a façade that everything is going nicely and as planned, placing cosmetic band-aids over the issues rather than address the injuries and grievances at their core? Perhaps the blame can be placed on the total lack of communication and co-operation between the administration and city council?
Ah yes, the mighty city council. In some ways, it seems as if the DCC is a perfect metaphor for the current state of Detroit government: in perpetual gridlock with people putting their personal interests above the betterment of its constituents. A perpetual tug of war in the world of huge egos and lack of accomplishment, a place where civility has a propensity to take a back seat to a mentality better suited for wrasslin on TV. I’ve pretty much given up on the council being of any relevance, and can pretty much blame the whole current shebang on them. And Kwame. But he’s a subject for another day (coming soon. I promise.)
So imagine my complete lack of surprise when I read in the Freep yesterday that city council is, in essence, attempting to pass legislation that would section off an area of Detroit (neatly christened “Africantown”) that will be predominantly funded by the city, with an emphasis on African-American owned businesses.
Forgive me if I sound ignorant or naive to the facts, but doesn’t this sound a bit like reverse racism? Wouldn’t this just add fuel to the fire for suburbanites who already hold the stereotype that whites aren’t welcome in the Motorcity, except during hockey season and when the Tigers play? Wouldn’t this just give the latent, tongue biting keep it at home racists that already African-Americans for “ruining their city in ’67” (as one relative of mine once so succinctly put it) more of a reason to hate Detroit, and the African-American population as a whole?
Is this what we need right now? Is this what it’s come to again?
Once and for all, city council as we know it needs to be abolished and replaced with a Ward-based system. There are simply too many people on that council that have become too comfortable with their seat of power and don’t earn it. There is no opportunity for younger people with more vigor and vitriol to run for a seat without having to raise massive amounts of money and have major connections. Making delegates accountable for a set geographical area would serve to be mutually beneficial to the progress of the council, as well as provide more of an incentive for community involvement.
This city is in a fragile balance, and probably more than ever in the past 100 years at a definite crossroads. One wrong flip of the coin and progress could come to a screeching halt. Imagine what it’s going to look like if the national papers pick this one up and run with it. Once again, Detroit will live up to the notion we’re still stuck in a decade already gone by, trying to figure things out and get it right so we as a community can catch up to the other major metropolises in the nation.
Can you imagine if this passes? Honestly, I don’t even think I want to at this point.
It’s time for a change in Detroit city government though. And hopefully next November will bring this. It can’t happen soon enough.
(The genius behind DetroitBlog also weighs in on this issue with his usual brilliant insight. Man, I swear to god, if I ever meet you…beers anywhere in the D are on me. You know how to get ahold of me)
Posted by rob at September 22, 2004 07:29 AM