Shame On You
It’s getting late and I am so tired of hearing about the mayor of Detroit. What a joke. People that don’t live in Detroit already think that Michigan is some little backwoods state. Everyone in the metro Detroit area knows that the area is very racist. And I mean that both ways!!!!!!!!!! When we moved to Austin and then to Philly I was pleasantly surprised to see that there wasn’t a race divide. Everyone seemed to get along and in less than one year I saw more interracial marriages and relationships than I had ever seen in my whole life in Michigan. Where we lived in Philly was very multicultural. You could walk just about anywhere in either city and you didn’t get the impression that people thought you were out of place or didn’t belong. Perhaps that is why people here just don’t get it. They ask me how the city of Detroit can elect such a theif and liar.
Once I explain even further all the other things he has done(navigator, alleged Manoogian party, giving sister 100,000 job, using credit cards for personal use, etc)they are amazed that he was elected. Oh and don’t get me started about the Belle Isle aquarium and Detroit Zoo. I guess they don’t understand how the people of Detroit can stand behind him just because he is black. I don’t get it myself. I realize that some Detroiters would do anything opposite of what the suburbanites would want done but they are just shooting themselves in the foot. The spin I hear already is just too much. Personal problems are one thing and should be left out of it. EXCEPT when you use the city credit card to pay them and you fire officers that are looking into your wrong doing and end up paying 9 Mil of taxpayer money. That latter is what the city of Detroit need to keeo in mind.
Gregg had said that if Kwame was reelected that we would no longer frequent anything in downtown Detroit. I guess it is easier to do when you just move out of state. I still remember reading that Kwame was reelected when we were here in Austin the first time. I was happy that we had moved and didn’t have to hear about him ever again. Now he is on national news and has disgraced the city yet again.
When Detroiters complain about abandon buildings, no TP in school restrooms, lack of books in classes, failing city services, etc. they should remember that 9 Mil could have bought a lot of thing not just two men’s silence! Use your voice and do not vote for this man again, join the protest march, ask him to resign. If you aren’t part of the solution then you are part of the problem.
Hello Nicole, I wanna comment some more, is it possible I can send my comments offline?
About the Detroit Zoo, thanks to the Detroit Zoo Society for keeping it running and making improvements!! Too bad Oakland County Parks & Rec or Heron-Clinton Parks could not get control! I wait till the mayors name comes off the water tower. Detroit does not support it, the DZS does!!
I agree about the zoo tower. I don’t know what ever happened to Rackham golf course but there is another thing that he ruined.
I live in Detroit, and am white, and I love it…there are no racial divides. They are blown way outta proportion by people like you. It is good that you moved, because you are the type of people who we need outta this region. People that buy into the BS that there is racial tension. The riots happened over 40 years ago!! MOVE ON!!! Its a new generation here in Detroit. Us, 20 somethings arent afraid of the city or blacks like the boomers of your age…More and more people are embracing the city, and it truly is a magical place with tons of history and beautiful architecture. All the boomers will die off soon, or move outta state, and then us Detroiters wont have to listen to your BS that you spew about the city that you live 2,000 miles away from. We are happy to have people like you not there…cuz you bring the place down. Yeah, Kwame’s an idiot!!! Tell us something we didnt know. City workers are going to strike until his resignation, which is a start…a small one, albeit a start!
Good for you. I am glad that you find it such a wonderful place. When I was young I enjoyed it as well. We hung out in Detroit at least 3 times a week. I have had many friends robbed at gun point outside a bar and even in Greektown, and beaten senseless for no reason at all at the fireworks. I always figured it didn’t happen to me or I was more careful so it didn’t matter.
Now that I am a mother it matters a lot. Gregg and I had thought of buying in Detroit for a short time. We loved the Boston Edison district and Palmer Park. The problem always boiled down to inadequate city services. We would have paid three times the taxes for services that were never consistent and horrible schools. Both those neighborhoods pay for extra security to drive the streets some even payed for private waste removal and snow removal. Then we are talking about paying tuition for a private school. I’ve been in DPS classrooms and they are seriously lacking in many areas. When I was working on my masters I worked in the charter school run by Wayne State and I wouldn’t have put my kid in there.
Add in the corruption that has happened by the mayor and wasted tax dollars and I am running from the city. We ran to Milford. I loved it. And now we are in Austin and I love it even more. I just hate having to explain to my friends….”what in the hell is going on in that old city of your.”
I’m glad Detroit has a new idealistic person willing to give it a shot. People like you are what gives Detroit a chance. But I wouldn’t want to see those kids you talked about taking sledding in Clarkston attend a DPS school. See if you can convince your Chicago or Grosse Pointe friends to move into the city with you.
Nicole, this is from one of my good friends who lives next door to me in the D, an exerpt from her blog…Guess what, she is from Grosse Pointe Woods, and now lives in the city!
if you dont care about detroit, why do you keep talking about it? either leave the damn place alone, or roll up your stupid sleeves.
last night i had to listen to some fucking dickweed complain about how terrible detroit is and how glad he is that he moved to chicago..blah blah blah.
its the oldest story in the book.
it is really annoying when people who have nothing to do with the goings on within the city walls waxing faux intellectual about the citys “problems” and how they have the key to fixing them.
i had to listen to a girl one of my classes say that detroit public schools are full of criminals. and another girl said not to bother trying to go out to eat in detroit because there are no restaurants open past 8 pm. (!) same girl could not understand our professors point about the community building aspect of front porches. i paraphrase “but where im from, we dont have front porches. we all have decks in the back”. sorry dear, but sharing a key card entry gate to your cul-de-sac does not a community make.
im not saying dont move away. but just try not to think you are an authority on cities, and especially not this one just because you dipped your toe in it. seriously. it is a little hard living here, but the people that do actually give two shits instead of just abandoning ship. you think anyone wants to hear some guy talking about how crappy your city is? especially if you are one of us that love it here. and even worse if you are one of us that study cities and understand it beyond what you see with your eyes.
and anyway, if youre a douchebag to begin with, detroit will not treat you kindly. no wonder mr chicago hates it here.
just stop with the hating. we have to hear it every day in the news, i dont want to have to hear it from my contemporaries too.
That does nothing for me. I truly do not care about Detroit anymore. I also don’t care who Miss America is but I still have an opinion about the topic. The theory above is to say that no one should have an opinion about the city unless it affects them. It affects each person in an individual way. People in Texas think I have an accent. I am asked all the time where I am from. I always say Detroit as most everyone has never heard of Royal Oak, Troy or Milford. And now I inexplicably am asked, “what the hell is going on in Michigan. I hear things are so bad.” Oh and now all I hear is , “what the hell is going on in the city of Detroit with that mayor.” Let me tell you this happens A LOT. We are in the process of opening a business here and when I have to call the comptrollers office and various other offices they always ask me what is going on up in MI. I just sigh and say things are bad. But now with the mayor stuff It is just embarassing. So yes I would love to let it go. As soon as I kick my Michigan accent I’m sure I will stop getting the questions and won’t have to reply.
I have no problem abandoning a city that doesn’t have my best interest at heart an I feel sorry for those that don’t think they deserve better.
But I would like to know what school in the D do your kids attend. I recall you mentioning taking them sledding in Clarkston during one of the snow storms.
“i truly do not care about Detroit anymore”
yeah, right. that’s why you and your husband are incapable of blogging a single day in which you don’t mention the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan.
Why are you so embarrassed of a place you left and “truly don’t care about?”
Its like you need to tell everyone else how much you “don’t care” so you can convince yourself. You’re gone but you haven’t left it behind, you completely bring it with you. Look at Greggs online show? look at his central topics. All he can do is talk about Detroit and he’s been gone for how long now? Its a shame that he got run out of town and you had to take off with him, but if you are so happy in your new place that’s great. but quit trashing Detroit. best of luck to you.
Jace if you read my blog then you know that I do not write about Michigan every day. I mentioned the Mayor topic because it is national news. The other posting about Michigan was answering a question that someone asked me.
I didn’t say I was embarrassed about Michigan I said that the mayor scandal is embarrassing. What’s embarrassing is that the city of Detroit likes to try to deflect from what the real issue is. The mayor lied! Whether or not he is convicted or perjury HE LIED. His lie cost the city 9 Mil. Plus other indiscretions. But Detroiter will point to the affair first and say it is a personal issue. Focus on the Main Problem. Is that not worth bashing? Are you OK with what is going on? I’m tired of trying to explain to non detroiters what the mindset is. Believe me they just don’t get it.
You are correct. Gregg talks about Detroit topics on his show. That is his audience. You obviously listen and so do thousands of other Detroiters. That is why he talks about Detroit. Not to mention his co host(s) is from Michigan.
I don’t care and don’t care if you believe me. I LOVE it here in Texas which is not to say I didn’t love it in Michigan but I really don’t care to ever move back to Michigan. Thank you for your best wishes.
I respond because no matter what I write on any topic someone always reads into it incorrectly.
They arent my kids…They are my brothers. They are my nieces and nephews. I am single and loving Detroit, I dont have kids, and I will cross that bridge when I get to it, if I ever do. My brother and his wife are part of the problem that everyone needs a McMansion thats built with no character in a treeless, sidewalkless front yard that is all of the new subs in Oakland County. This is a problem that is happening with all cities around the country, not just Detroit…URBAN SPRAWL, creating eyesore strip malls that you are about to put your new business in, with no character and no sense of neighborhood…creating traffic problems…
Also, Jace is right…YOU, along with Gregg both blog about Detroit like no other, because you miss the shit out of here. Its sad, cuz you are so in denial!! The writing is on the wall…Just try for a month not to say anything about Detroit…at least not how bad it is…cuz you arent here anymore. And, do you think we give a fuck what TEXAS people think about us up here!? I have been to TX, its a shithole….and way too hot!!!
Nathan grow up. Your brother has enough sense to know where his children will be safe and get a decent education. Why wouldn’t people move to the suburbs. Take a look at the wonderful city you so defend. It’s been run into the ground…and not by suburbanites, but by the people who live there. Nobody came into the city and turned it to shit. Those residing there and elected to serve there did that all on thier own. Then you Detroiters, after knowing all the dirty, crooked things Kwame had done in his firt term, re-elect him. That is why the city stays in the condition that it is in. The mentality of those running the city, and those voting these people in multiple terms is the reason the city is the way it is. Kwame is stealing from the people of the city of Detroit. Those who can least afford it, and he is allowed to continue, is defended and relected. That, Nathan is where the problem lies…and not with people like Nicole and Gregg, who merely answer questions that are asked of them. Gregg is a talk show host. He is supposed to talk about current events. People call in and discuss. That’s what a talk show is. If you don’t like what is being said, why are you listening to his show or, reading he and Nicole’s blogs. Just go away.
Philly doesn’t have a racial divide ???
Did you live in the city or the suburbs ???
Come’on give me a break Nichol, people know better than that.
Philly is just as bad as Detroit in almost every way.
And only two things come from Texas… Steers and….
I can’t wait for the day you two whimper back to Detroit.
Because you will when Jungle Java goes down in flames.
BTW, I see Homberg got yet another big promotion to PBS
He’s got to be something right !
Guess what a lot of people live in the city of Philadelphia. Way more than in Detroit. Are there poor parts and rich parts in Philly? For sure. Is there crime? Name me one big city that doesn’t. But the difference is blacks don’t blame whites for their problems or vice versa. I would have liked to have lived in the city but couldn’t afford what I wanted. We like new construction and at least 2500 sq. ft.. That is one wicked ass expensive city.
There is nothing in Michigan. If you are fortunate enough to have a job that is why you are there. I don’t ever want to go back. The JJ could “go down in flames.” and I still wouldn’t want to go back to Michigan. The only time you will see me in Michigan is for JJ training in May and maybe once in the fall for one Michigan football game.
Homberg, don’t make me laugh. He left CBS because they already took away two of his three stations and now they were going to take away WWJ. WWJ can sell itself they certainly didn’t need Homberg to run that station into the ground too. I feel sorry for the people who work at PBS. I know a few of them and they are not happy about this move. He is known for stabbing his people in the back while talking out of the side of his mouth. I also feel sorry for the viewers.
I do appreciate your concern for us but I would worry more about the situations you have going on in your city/state.
Nicole,
I like your writings. I find it interesting to see how others (Michiganders) make do when they leave the Great State of Michigan. I spent five years in Texas. My wife is a “native” Texan born and raised (by the way she loves living in Michigan. I loved living in Texas.
You are right about a few things. The weather this time of year in Austin is hard to beat. Loved the Austin area and the nightlife. You cannot beat the BBQ. However, for my tastes, the summers are brutal,long and just not a lot fun. One thing I came to realize after awhile in Texas, the people hole up in the summer down there like we do in the winter up here.
After awhile in Texas, it just felt like something was missing. Not anything I could really put my finger on. Maybe living in an area with no Major sports teams? No changing of the seasons and the renewal you feel in the spring? No snow at Christmas? Who knows. I don’t and have really never been able to figure out what it was. It was just something. I would think Gregg would eventually yearn to be back in a major league sports town.
Eventually I had a chance to come back to Michigan, working for the same company with a five day work week instead of six day week in Texas, and for more money. Just could not turn it down.
I have lots of family in Texas. I could go back to Texas if it were necessary and be ok with it. However, my family wants no part of going back there. My stepson moved to Michigan after he graduated high school (in Texas) five years ago and he gets upset if I talk about moving the crew back to Texas.
I hope you guys do well in Texas. I did. Keep up the writing. Tell it like it is or how you see it. I check your blog and Gregg’s every few days ( I like Greggs insider info on the state of affairs in local radio). Just giving you my take on a situation not totally unlike yours
Jay
P.S. don’t try to adopt a “Texan” accent. The natives hate it when “Yankees” do that.