Comments on: We left Detroit… http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2008/03/27/we-left-detroit/ Rantings and photos of Metro Detroit in a post-industrial era. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:48:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Brian Reilly http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2008/03/27/we-left-detroit/#comment-25 Brian Reilly Thu, 22 May 2008 23:53:33 +0000 http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2008/03/27/we-left-detroit/#comment-25 Dear Stuck, I read your response (echo?) to the post I dropped to Dan Howes in the Detroit News. I am a native Detroiter (West side, St. Mary's of Redford Parish) who has been kicking in and around the Great Lake State for many of my 46 years. I have made a lot of money, and lost a lot of money, and would not have it any other way. If I still had a lot of money, I would likely still be in that place where so many people are just damned bitter at the train which no longer stops at the station. Hell, the STATION isn't even open any more. We live in interesting times. In some important ways, Detroit has been in the vanguard of urban development and policy of this nation. In some important ways, it still is. Watch for more Detroits throughout the nation. Methinks that Detroit and Michigan are just further down a road that much of our nation and even civilization started on a long time ago. It will be interesting, sweet, sad to watch. I really like it here in MD. The people seem nicer, the country is very pretty, and the people dress a lot better. More nice looking women too. Regards, Brian Reilly Dear Stuck,
I read your response (echo?) to the post I dropped to Dan Howes in the Detroit News. I am a native Detroiter (West side, St. Mary’s of Redford Parish) who has been kicking in and around the Great Lake State for many of my 46 years. I have made a lot of money, and lost a lot of money, and would not have it any other way. If I still had a lot of money, I would likely still be in that place where so many people are just damned bitter at the train which no longer stops at the station. Hell, the STATION isn’t even open any more.

We live in interesting times. In some important ways, Detroit has been in the vanguard of urban development and policy of this nation. In some important ways, it still is. Watch for more Detroits throughout the nation. Methinks that Detroit and Michigan are just further down a road that much of our nation and even civilization started on a long time ago. It will be interesting, sweet, sad to watch.

I really like it here in MD. The people seem nicer, the country is very pretty, and the people dress a lot better. More nice looking women too.

Regards,
Brian Reilly

]]> By: Linda D. http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2008/03/27/we-left-detroit/#comment-21 Linda D. Thu, 01 May 2008 03:48:16 +0000 http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2008/03/27/we-left-detroit/#comment-21 You have done a great job articulating what so many young people in Detroit are feeling. My husband is a UAW member and has been on strike for 9 weeks now. I work in Real Estate and Property Management. We have had it with Detroit and will be trying to leave soon. IF, and thats a big IF we can sell our house we are looking toward South Carolina. The whole area is depressed and it started in 2002 but it is getting more attention now because the recession wave has made its way across the country and the true pain and the severity of the job losses and lack of tax income is being seen nationally. Thank God we are thirty and not fifty picking up and trying to start over. Best wishes to you and your family. Detroit, a nice place to visit but trust me...I used to live there and you dont want to! Linda D. You have done a great job articulating what so many young people in Detroit are feeling. My husband is a UAW member and has been on strike for 9 weeks now. I work in Real Estate and Property Management. We have had it with Detroit and will be trying to leave soon. IF, and thats a big IF we can sell our house we are looking toward South Carolina. The whole area is depressed and it started in 2002 but it is getting more attention now because the recession wave has made its way across the country and the true pain and the severity of the job losses and lack of tax income is being seen nationally. Thank God we are thirty and not fifty picking up and trying to start over. Best wishes to you and your family.

Detroit, a nice place to visit but trust me…I used to live there and you dont want to!

Linda D.

]]> By: admin http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2008/03/27/we-left-detroit/#comment-12 admin Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:22:26 +0000 http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2008/03/27/we-left-detroit/#comment-12 <p>I haven't really let anyone know about the blog, though, certain people do know. I have friends, family, business associates and clients in the Detroit area, so I never really put my name anywhere on the site, as so many take it personally when I write not so nice stuff about the area.</p> <p>That said it's not too difficult to find out who I am, if you dig enough.</p> <p>I was at the Smithsonian Kite Festival in D.C. on Saturday and couldn't believe the number of people downtown. The Metro was like what I imagine riding the Tokyo subway would be like. People were packed in like sardines, and thousands of kites of all types were being flown on the mall, by all types and ages of people. It was incredible to see. I said to my wife, "why did we ever put up with Detroit at all?"</p> <p>We've still got family and friends in the area, and I've got plenty of photo projects to finish up in Detroit, so we'll be back frequently, but I don't know if we'll ever move back.</p> Thanks for the encouragement. And I've long enjoyed your blog. I haven’t really let anyone know about the blog, though, certain people do know. I have friends, family, business associates and clients in the Detroit area, so I never really put my name anywhere on the site, as so many take it personally when I write not so nice stuff about the area.

That said it’s not too difficult to find out who I am, if you dig enough.

I was at the Smithsonian Kite Festival in D.C. on Saturday and couldn’t believe the number of people downtown. The Metro was like what I imagine riding the Tokyo subway would be like. People were packed in like sardines, and thousands of kites of all types were being flown on the mall, by all types and ages of people. It was incredible to see. I said to my wife, “why did we ever put up with Detroit at all?”

We’ve still got family and friends in the area, and I’ve got plenty of photo projects to finish up in Detroit, so we’ll be back frequently, but I don’t know if we’ll ever move back.

Thanks for the encouragement. And I’ve long enjoyed your blog.

]]> By: Nev http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2008/03/27/we-left-detroit/#comment-11 Nev Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:19:31 +0000 http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2008/03/27/we-left-detroit/#comment-11 Hey! I just noticed I was on your blogroll. (don't know how that got passed me?) Who are you? Can't find any contact info. I think your post sums up a lot of what the younger generation feels about MI/Detroit. We want to love it and stay,.. but there's just so many things that make it hard to do so. I 100% understand where you're coming from. Good luck with your move! Hey!

I just noticed I was on your blogroll. (don’t know how that got passed me?) Who are you? Can’t find any contact info.

I think your post sums up a lot of what the younger generation feels about MI/Detroit. We want to love it and stay,.. but there’s just so many things that make it hard to do so. I 100% understand where you’re coming from. Good luck with your move!

]]> By: admin http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2008/03/27/we-left-detroit/#comment-10 admin Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:30:05 +0000 http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2008/03/27/we-left-detroit/#comment-10 I suppose if I thought that it was a negative attitude that was Detroit's problem, I'd agree with you. I guess I write what I do out of frustration, not with Detroit per se, but the attitude Metro Detroiters have. I don't think it's cynicism that's left the area in shambles, but rather a lack of desire for change, and that has more to do with a belief that the area's "not bad." The area is bad. It's really bad. My saying doesn't make it so, just as my photos don't. You don't mind the photos showing burned out houses but, putting it in words is too much. I guess I understand, and I'm sure others agree. I think Metro Detroit has a huge amount of potential, but barring some huge collective change in motivation and desire it will never change. Obviously most will be alright with that. As long as they can make a living, and root for some pro sports teams, life's good. For others, like myself, that's not enough. I want Metro Detroit to be an area where people care about their health, care about collective health of the area in which they live, and realize they're all in the same boat. You can't let Detroit rot, and think the suburbs will survive unscathed. Maybe I'm not really able to let go. I love Detroit, but I hate it as well. So I left...again, and while I'm in an area where almost everything is so much better, I still miss Detroit. I suppose if I thought that it was a negative attitude that was Detroit’s problem, I’d agree with you. I guess I write what I do out of frustration, not with Detroit per se, but the attitude Metro Detroiters have. I don’t think it’s cynicism that’s left the area in shambles, but rather a lack of desire for change, and that has more to do with a belief that the area’s “not bad.”

The area is bad. It’s really bad. My saying doesn’t make it so, just as my photos don’t. You don’t mind the photos showing burned out houses but, putting it in words is too much. I guess I understand, and I’m sure others agree. I think Metro Detroit has a huge amount of potential, but barring some huge collective change in motivation and desire it will never change. Obviously most will be alright with that. As long as they can make a living, and root for some pro sports teams, life’s good. For others, like myself, that’s not enough. I want Metro Detroit to be an area where people care about their health, care about collective health of the area in which they live, and realize they’re all in the same boat. You can’t let Detroit rot, and think the suburbs will survive unscathed.

Maybe I’m not really able to let go. I love Detroit, but I hate it as well. So I left…again, and while I’m in an area where almost everything is so much better, I still miss Detroit.

]]> By: Cooper http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2008/03/27/we-left-detroit/#comment-9 Cooper Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:06:11 +0000 http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2008/03/27/we-left-detroit/#comment-9 I stumbled upon your blog from a Google search. Your photos of Detroit are gorgeous, evoking equal measures of beauty and sadness. But I don't understand your motivation for blogging. If you're leaving or have left Detroit because "the whole Metro Detroit area is a black hole of despair and self-pity," why do you contribute to that despair yourself? I don't advocate mindless boosterism; at minimum, we ought to be honest, and reality in Detroit is sobering. But why share cynicism in a region that is already engulfed by it? That only adds to the pervasive resignation that makes the region so unappealing. I stumbled upon your blog from a Google search. Your photos of Detroit are gorgeous, evoking equal measures of beauty and sadness. But I don’t understand your motivation for blogging. If you’re leaving or have left Detroit because “the whole Metro Detroit area is a black hole of despair and self-pity,” why do you contribute to that despair yourself? I don’t advocate mindless boosterism; at minimum, we ought to be honest, and reality in Detroit is sobering. But why share cynicism in a region that is already engulfed by it? That only adds to the pervasive resignation that makes the region so unappealing.

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