Much has been made of Detroit’s recent efforts to cope with its badly damaged economy and plummeting population. A number of high-profile photographers have documented the encroaching loneliness with devastating effect, a number of radical rezoning strategies have been suggested, and Michael Moore is always willing to give his opinion on the matter.
Now, the city’s mayor is getting involved:
Mayor Dave Bing said Wednesday he “absolutely” intends to relocate residents from desolate neighborhoods and is bracing for inevitable legal challenges when he unveils his downsizing plan.
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In his strongest statements about shrinking the city since taking office, Bing told WJR-760 AM the city is using internal and external data to decide “winners and losers.” The city plans to save some neighborhoods and encourage residents to move from others, he said.
“If we don’t do it, you know this whole city is going to go down. I’m hopeful people will understand that,” Bing said. “If we can incentivize some of those folks that are in those desolate areas, they can get a better situation.”
“If they stay where they are I absolutely cannot give them all the services they require.”
Activists contend that the crisis Bing decries is being made up by city organizers, and being driven by big business interests hoping to have quick, easy, and cheap access to large sections of property. But those contentions seems to be at least a bit of whistling into the wind, as other cities’ mayors may not be far behind.