47 percent

A recent report revealed that almost half of all of Detroit's 300,000 properties failed to pay their 2011 property taxes. Over $245 million in revenue went uncollected in a city that is at the brink of bankruptcy and has struggled to maintain even the most basic services. This is in addition to all the vacant properties and abandoned homes where no revenue is possible. The city has all but given up trying to recoup this money.


Are people not able to pay their taxes, or..and it seems from the reporting done this may be more of the case, are people  choosing  not to pay what they owe. "Why should I send them taxes when they aren't supplying services? It is sickening. … Every time I see the tax bill come, I think about the times we called and nobody came." is the sentiment from one resident.

At what tipping point is there that the collective action (or inaction) overwhelms the system and disables the ability for the community, or the city government in this case, to respond in a rational or reasonable way. If people just say no and give up, it seems the response from the city is to give up in return.

You can read more about it here.

Dark Matter

For anyone who drives around Detroit, in particular the East side or other scarcely populated neighbourhoods at night, you'll notice that it is incredibly dark and you could be forgiven for thinking your on a rural country road. The difference is that your actually in a tense urban area with lots of real and lurking danger. Some of this is due to crumbling infrastructure, lack of attention from the city and intentional vandalism that then gets neglected amongst the other things to deal with. Recently it has become apparent that scrappers have targeted the copper (of course) in transformer cabinets and have begun stealing materials that are integral to the freeway overhead lights. The result is darker highways.


In Detroit's attempts at resurrecting neighbourhoods and community cohesion it seems like a simple and important matter to first have basic services that allow people to feel safe and comfortable venturing outside after dark. Darkness leads to isolation.
Read more about the stuff here.

HELP

Its been a long time coming but it seems that it's inevitable now that the state will step in and take over the city. detroit in crisis

more D.

Heading back for some winter images this coming weekend. If you are interested in helping out with some pictures, were looking for some connections in the Detroit area. Lots of promising and interesting things coming soon.