Detroit 1967 Race Riot Video

A well made video outlining the causes and destruction of the Detroit Riots.

Why the Parent's of Detroit Meter Maids do not love them

My girlfriend parked out in front of my building a couple nights ago. When I took the dog out the following morning I observed a true Detroit Hero....a meter maid....putting a ticket on her windshield. A quick glance of the parking situation revealed that a parking violation was humanely impossible. As the ugly monster put the ticket on the window I yelled something to the effect of "Excuse Me" or "Hi" which resulted in this courageous woman dropping the ticket and sprinting to her car.......as fast the best could. After processing the pathetic display I moseyed over to check out the ticket. The violation was something that makes me want to punch myself in the face. Apparently, she had violated the ordinance that required people to not park within TWENTY feet of a cross walk. Twenty feet? Is that in case someone may want to bring a boat across the street? I was flabbergasted. BUT, there is more. The crosswalk she claimed was obscured was actually on the other street. NO crosswalk is on the street the vehicle was parked. If you look at the pic you can clearly see a curb signify it is NOT a crosswalk. There IS a cross walk, with a ramp, crossing the other street. I took a picture because at 7am you are so pissed about being up that an incident like this pushes you over the edge and you are ready to fight this injustice. After a cup of coffee I realized that fighting the ticket would cost more time, effort, and money then paying the ticket. Apparently I am no more courageous than the sloth that wrote the ticket. Although, I do feel much better after writing this. If there are any meter maids out there that know I am wrong please let me know. I would feel better knowing it was a violation.

Detroit Promotional Video from 1965

Video narrated by then Detroit Mayor Jerome P. Cavanaugh......I thought he was just a statue.

Typical City of Detroit Government

One of the factors that makes buying in downtown Detroit a feasible and practical move is that you get a tax abatement called a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone. A NEZ is essentially a tax break that lowers property tax a substantial amount.....somewhere in the vicinity of 75% or so. Although I should note that by taking up residence in Detroit you get hit with an income tax that swallows 2.5% or your pay per period. So the fact of the matter is that the NEZ tax break makes moving to Detroit about as economical as a moderately priced suburb. SO, with that said, I go to my mailbox today after a week vacation and find my tax bill. When I first saw the envelope I got a little pissed at myself for pissing so much money on way on beer the prior week but I quickly calmed myself realizing at the MOST it would be like $800. Much to my chagrin, and I say chagrin because I should have known the incompetent thieves that work for the City of Detroit.....the kind that have a GED and make $7.00 an hour but think they are fucking gifted......would fuck up my taxes. The tax bill is close to $4300. The incompetent asses had not lowered my taxable value although I had filed all the correct paperwork. I hold in my hand a signed document from the State of Michigan spelling out the taxable value of my property at a fraction of what the city billed me at. Tomorrow begins, what I believe to be, a LONG, arduos, uphill battle against the evil/ignorant city workers and their infamous lazy work ethic. I am hoping this epic is actually only a two part series ending with my writing tomorrow about someone saying "oops" and righting the wrong. I fear and expect to be bitching about this injustice for the next few months, ultimately losing the battle, and having to pay the crooked bastards. I am going in at 8am so rest assured I will be taking notes.

No posts over the last year

I haven't touched this blog in about year. When I was contemplating moving to downtown Detroit I wrote a moderate amount. After I moved, I stopped entirely. I haven't the faintest clue why. Well, that all changed today. I intend to use this blog to vent about all the bullshit I have seen and encountered while living Downtown. Most recently my tax bill. I am going to leave most of the posts from last year as a gauge of my naivety. Although, this blog will be taking shots at Detroit I do want to reiterate that I DO live here, I enjoy it, I am not leaving anytime soon. I just keep getting shit on by it.

What is Brush Park?

Brush Park is about a 24 block area of Detroit between Woodward and Beaubien and extending to Mack Ave and the Fisher Freeway. In the 1850's up to the early 1900's the area housed some of the most affluent families in the Detroit area including the J.L Hudson family. In the early part of the 20th century a migration began as the rich moved to areas such as Boston Edison and Indian Village. By 1910 most of the houses in Brush Park were boarding houses. The post WWII exodus from the Detroit left Brush Park for the most part a ghost town. Little had been done with the area up to this point mostly due to static created by the wretched Coleman Young administration but fortunately things are changing. If you were to take a quick run through the area now you would see nearly every building is being renovated and converted into urban housing. Most of the stores on Woodward are occupied and businesses like coffee houses and bakeries, that would have died in a matter of months a few years back, are now thriving. It's an interesting contrast of urban decay and urban rebirth. ModelDMedia has more information and a few pictures of the area if you are curious.

Why are we honoring Proof?

On the way home from work yesterday I noticed a sign on the freeway paying homage to the recently deceased rapper Proof. I was flabbergasted. I understand that the man was an amazing musical talent, probably a good friend, and also a loyal Detroiter but does it make sense to make a hero of a murderer. Beyond the fact that he killed another man, the manner in which he did it was brutal. After an argument over a game of pool he cold bloodedly shot an ex-military man in the face. Does this seem like someone we want to raise up as an Ambassador of the city? If Detroit wants to change their image and attract more business and tourism I think we need to separate ourselves from the image built up in rap songs not glorify it. If the best thing Detroit has to offer is a murdering rapper why would anyone want to invest anything in it's future?

Alter Rd - the edge of Detroit

If 8 Mile is the official border of Detroit then Alter Rd on the eastside must be the other edge. I am not sure there is any where in the city where the glaring difference between the suburbs and the city is so prevelant. I live one block off of Alter and I witness day in and day out the enormous disparity between the sides of the street. On the Detroit side you will find run down houses, empty buildings and crime. On the other side you will find rich Grosse Pointers in SUV's going to church at St. Ambrose in their green polo shirts. The difference is even more stifling when you view it from the water. As you approach Alter Rd. on the Detroit River you see two parks. The first is Angel Park on the Detroit side. An amazingly wasted piece of property that contains burnt out cars and more litter than some garbage dumps(although recently their have been some updates including a riverfront pier section). As you cross Alter via the river you come on to Windmill Pointe Park. A beautiful park with a pool, marina, recreation center, and anything else the little GP yuppies could dream up. The polarity that one views from the river is so dramatic it is typically only seen in cartoons. If the cartoon analogy doesn't work for you I have a real life description. Living on the border street our front yard is typically inhabited with playing children, ice cream trucks, and constant police presence. Our backyard has three abandoned houses that we throw rotten fruit at, an unidentified stench that only our dog can find....to roll in of course....and as far as I can tell ZERO police. I should probably close this post by explaining that I do enjoy living here. I find the duplicity amusing and education. Grosse Pointe Park is actually a decent place to live with lots of younger people and most importantly quality bars. If you are ever in the area I recommend hitting up the Tap Room and be aware of what side of the street you park on.

The Detroit Beer Company

DBC is my spot. I think they have some of the best beers around and usually have a pretty decent crowd. They are located on Broadway in close proximity to Comerica Park and Ford Field. DBC is a terrific place to before or after the games or if need be watch the game on one of their big screen TVs. Good lunch and dinner menu as well.

"Made in Detroit"

I just finished the book "Made in Detroit" by Paul Clemens. Although I am a little bias because the book sort of parallels my childhood in Detroit, I still think it is a great read for anyone intersted in a unique perspective of Detroit. The author dabbles in the history of the city and tries to understand how it ended up in the state it is in. The unintentionally comedic, ignorant quotes of ex-Mayor Coleman Young are almost woth the price of the book alone.

Detroit's New Budget Proposal

Kwame has released his budget proposal for next year. Highlights include charging $25 a month for trash pickup and if I am reading this correctly, and I am hope I am not, I think he wants to charge handicap people $.75 to ride the SMART bus. Check out the article.