Three hundred and thirteen portraits (313)

Lots (lots!) has happened over the last few months in Detroit. The most obvious is the city has gone bankrupt. The writing has been on the wall for a long time. There is no other exit strategy. However, the fallout will be tremendous and the ones who will ultimately feel the pain are Detroiters themselves. Check back soon for some exciting news on the second part of "The Detroit Project". 313 portraits of people in the city. The real D.

brewing storm?

Today is the start of uncharted territory. The State government has appointed an emergency city manager to oversee the next steps in trying to get Detroit righted again; or at least to stop the civic down slide. The city council doesn't know if it's relevant anymore, the citizens are unsure of what's next and in fact some people, Jesse Jackson, the most vocal, have called for civic unrest and revolt. The next month or so promises to be interesting and possibly a volatile time in the city's history. Stay tuned.

winter

Just got back from a quick, yet intense visit. Had a winter storm which always offers a unique perspective on the city landscape. Things become noticeable you never noticed before and other things become cloaked in a cover of snow and disregard. More photos soon.

back at it

discarded

It becomes immediately evident crossing county lines into Detroit how much garbage there is. Many parts of the city have become dumping grounds for all manner of unwanted stuff. Clothes, tires, boats, cars, paper, shoes, furniture and sometimes, as above...even animals.

help?

The next few weeks will be a crucial period in Detroit's history. The Governor of Michigan announced that he will appoint a "city manager" to tackle the fiscal crisis in the city. It's a lifeline thrown to the city that is important and desperately required..but ultimately may be too late. Nevertheless, it's a start and it might be the ignition that is needed to start the fire of renewal. Let's hope.

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.