Benjamin Apostle

Honors 1000
Hudson
Essay 3

Can We Recover?
The Population in the city of Detroit is almost the same size currently, as it was in 1910
which was right before the citys automotive boom (Declining, 1). The exodus that has
occurred over the past decades has plagued the city with vacancies, deprived it of funding
through taxation, and degraded it to a state of racial divides and a negative reputation in the eyes
of the world. This is a well-documented issue in the city and the inhabitants of Detroit, as well as
the surrounding suburbs, have yearned for a solution. I believe that before we can act we must
first take notice of what other cities have done when confronted with such a problem, then
compare those to plans we have already put into action that have either worked to a small degree
or failed, and finally, fully understand the ramifications of leaving the city in this weakened state
of vacant lots and dwindling population. In fact, our Mayor Mike Duggan believes solving the
problem is not only a principle issue, but the most important issue facing the city (Dolan 1).
Cleveland, Ohio has suffered a similar shift in population over the last 40 years, losing
half of its population in the last 40 years (Bradbury). However, our neighbors to the south have
taken a much different approach to solving their issues. According to the citys elected officials,
the city screams for regional government. This is a concept that the population has objected to
many times already, and has been voted down on multiple occasions. The general plan of action
down in Ohio essentially consisted of cutting losses, and having the city convert to a smaller,
more densely populated region centered around cultural attractions. They attempted this by
almost quadrupling the budget, and leaving the abandoned properties to rot (Bradbury). This
solution was flawed, and has since been neglected. However, over in Chicago, steps were taken
to address an issue with strong ties to this one. In 1993, the city of Chicago passed the Fast Track
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Benjamin Apostle
Honors 1000
Hudson
Essay 3

Demolition (FTD) Ordinance (Fast 1). This plan calls for all abandoned properties to be
destroyed in swift fashion 30 days after abandonment (Fast 2). Citizens or inhabitants of the
property were mailed a notice 30 days in advance of the demolition, once the vacancy was
confirmed, and if no response is received, the places are destroyed. This action cleaned up
several of the less appealing areas of Chicago, but unfortunately this plan failed to increase
population over the past 20 years in the windy city (Fast 2). Former Mayor of Detroit Dave Bing
implemented a similar plan which promised to demolish 10,000 vacant properties by the end of
his term (Bradbury). This plan also proved unsuccessful, and was an indicator that we need more
than to destroy, we need to populate and rebuild.
The single standard a Mayor should be defined on is whether the population of the city
is going up or down Said Mayor Mike Duggan in an interview with the Wall Street Journal at
City Hall in June (Dolan 1). Duggan will implement his Neighborhood Plan, which would have
the old abandoned properties sold to their neighbors for virtually nothing, or completely
eliminated (Dolan 1). This will open the door for new residents, as well as lower the amount of
drug trafficking being done in those buildings, thus making the city safer and more appealing. In
a survey conducted in 2010, it was made public that Detroit has close to 25,000 abandoned
homes, and near 75,000 vacant lots (Duggan 1). Of these, around 60,000 are government owned,
and there is virtually no plan to rebuild, repopulate, or do anything at all with this land (Duggan
2). It just sits, and that is unacceptable said the at-the-time candidate for office Duggan in
reference to the lots of land that the city is wasting away underneath. The Duggan
Neighborhood Plan is a 10 point operation which, when broken down, consists of a few basic
principles: first, seize all abandoned or drug-supporting houses and demolish ones in poor
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Benjamin Apostle
Honors 1000
Hudson
Essay 3

condition, next, increase the standard for coding in neighborhoods and with builders, then give
incentive to residents of sparsely populated outer neighborhoods to move inward and congregate
in stronger neighborhoods, and finally, crack down on illegal scrappers to discourage the
activity and force banks to participate in the reconstruction and repopulation process (Duggan 4).
I believe this new plan is the best solution that is already in the works, and any future plans to
follow this one or aid it, must follow suit. The removal or immediate occupation of vacant
properties is the key to increasing the population of Detroit in the future, and we must force
organizations who would rather not get their hands dirty, to take part in the future of the city they
claim to identify with. If people have no incentive to return, why would they?

The rapid yet steady decrease in population mass in Detroit has impacted many facets of
life and political operation in the city. At the most basic and personal level, the toll that living in
such circumstances takes on an individual is staggering. In a study conducted on 1,306 randomly
selected African Americans in Detroit, 87.2% suffered from some form of Post traumatic stress
disorder due to a traumatic event in their life caused by their living conditions, and over half of
those were due to specifically assault (Goldmann). Nearly 20% of individuals who suffer from
PTSD can never recover, and will be mentally plagued by the condition for the rest of their life
(Goldmann). If people dont feel safe where they live, why would they stay? In fact, the ones
who do stay simply lack the option to leave. The population drop left thousands of abandoned
buildings, which since then have been taken over by organized crime, drug cartels, and
prostitution facilities (MacDonald). With illegal activities comes a darkness that can destroy a
neighborhoods moral and eliminate any sense of safety among its residents. The negative
reputation of the city has discouraged many entrepreneurs from coming to Detroit, which limits
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Benjamin Apostle
Honors 1000
Hudson
Essay 3

the job market and spikes unemployment. Due to the incredibly high Unemployment numbers of
23.4%, we have attained the undesirable title of most unemployed residents in the country
(Barro). With no one employed, no one is making money. This is causing people to live in the
same underprivileged conditions they always have. Low employment rates also are not a selling
point for attracting new residents, even in better neighborhoods. The lack of population also
takes a substantial toll on the government of the city. Cities rely on taxation of their populace to
function, and that is an area where Detroit struggles. The city had been accustomed to a specific
amount of income from taxes many decades ago, and did not adjust well to losing much of that
income. It's a vicious cycle: People leave because conditions are terrible, which erodes the tax
base, which worsens municipal services, which makes conditions worse, which drives more
residents out (Barro). Detroit handled its lack of money so poorly in fact, that it filed for
bankruptcy in 2013. To be specific, it filed the largest municipal bankruptcy case in history
(MacDonald).

The city wronged the residents, and in turn, the residents destroyed the city they were
fleeing. The fate they feared would come was only accelerated by their departure as they
themselves pounded the nails into Detroits coffin. People are the lifeblood of cities. They cannot
stand alone without residents to support them, and Detroit is in no condition to accommodate the
populace it so desperately requires. However, our current Mayor is taking drastic measures to
solve the issue. He is documented saying that if this doesnt work, I will not be reelected. Why
would they? I wouldnt in reference to his chances at reelection if his plans to increase
population backfire. The Neighborhood Plan seems to have the right idea: which is not only to
destroy, but then also to create. All while offering positive incentives to bring back old residents,
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Benjamin Apostle
Honors 1000
Hudson
Essay 3

and attract new ones. The properties that are not demolished will be restored or bought at
incredibly low prices by surrounding land owners and citizens, and the neighborhoods are
projected to increase in population by the end of Duggans first term (Duggan 6). This plan
seems like it has evolved and learned from the failed attempts of the past in Detroit, and other
major cities to perhaps usher in a brighter future for the city of Detroit. Even if the Neighborhood
Plan doesnt produce the exact expected results under Duggan, I believe it has the right outline
and ideals to give rise to a revised version down the road. His plan must come into being if we
are to begin raising the population of this city.