Reinvention In The Rust Belt

If Detroit is not revitalized and branded it has been said that Michigan as a whole cannot rebrand. Detroit is the city that most people outside of the state look at and determine Michigan’s prominence, domination and future. Rather right or wrong that is simply the way that it is. Michigan over the past few years has attempted to gut the city of what they perceive as the ugliness of Detroit, people in poverty. In this attempt most of the people whom had to leave Detroit because of unemployment after the downturn are the very people that the State needs.

Gentrification in Detroit, with whites beginning to move in and occupy areas that have been previously inhabited by blacks is gaining momentum, with a cheerleading media and political elites leading the way with tax breaks for corporations, new residents who are predominately white and economically middle to upper class, and a heavy police presence. All of the above factor are manifestations of a political climate in the United States of Republican led initiatives of austerity programs. Spurred on by the idea of privatization, and the Free Market economic policy of corporations having the freedom to influence and control the resources of Public institutions and politics, further eroding the opportunities for the average person, which is magnified in the Black community with disastrous results. Juxtaposed with the majority of the city, where, blight, unemployment, closing of schools, crime are all remnants of a once great city are evident to anyone that courageously visits these

Some people believe that Detroit is comparable to a blank canvas. A place where an opportunity is lurking right around the corner. They imagine it as a deserted place, in which a businessman can create anything they dream of. However, the harsh reality is, Detroit is not a blank canvas. It has been splattered with an era of prominence, scribbled on with the invention of the automobile, and engraved with a history of racism and corruption. Although much of Detroit’s glory has been stripped away, there are still people who exist in the city’s remnants. Actual people, with actual families, actual homes, and actual lives. When outsiders talk about the city’s revival, they are often forgetting about these people, or the actual citizens of

When people move to a new city, they want a city that their children can grow up, have friends, and be safe with other children in the community. That is not always the case here in Detroit, since “In the group’s survey of 1,300 Detroit high school students, 87 percent said a family member or friend had been shot, murdered or disabled as a result of violence in the previous 12 months” (Abbey-Lambertz). That number is too high for anyone regardless of location. It got so bad in Detroit that at one point “It used to be that nobody wanted to go downtown” (Foroohar). Now it is sad when people are scared to go downtown in their city. It makes the city look bad when its own resident do not want to go downtown. Along with murder and violence, Detroit also has a drug problem. There is a location in Detroit “on the old Cass Corridor, and area better known for prostitutes and drug dealers” (Perman). Drugs and prostitutes generally are appealing to live around. Now everything is not all bad about

These families have struggled with poverty, domestic violence, drugs, and unemployment. One of those families was J.D. Vance’s family. Vance grew up in the “Rust Belt” of Ohio, into a struggling, poor, abusive family. Vance escaped his hardships by enrolling into the Military and going to school. However, other people weren’t as lucky as he was to get out, other families were still stuck in “Hillbilly” Middletown. Things were going good for these families until the 1970s and 1980s came along. This is when things took a toll, industrial jobs were cut, causing a down-ward spiral for everyone in Ohio. This is when the alcoholism, drug use, and domestic violence became a norm. For about a century, the region seemed to be on a upward spiral. Middletown’s streets today are full of “shuttered storefronts and drug dealers, (Rothman,New Yorker).”

This was when essentially a white flight took place for working class whites leaving areas undergoing racial and ethnic change like Dover and Archer Park. This area was necessary to analyze for the study because this area represented the white working classes belief as the last place in Chicago for people trying to escape the city and for white municipal workers who needed to stay within the city for work, but wanted away from declining geographic locations. Because of this connivence and being the last place for them to go while still being within the areas of the city, Beltway became a place that should be cherished and never let head into a decline. Now, what exactly what does a neighborhood heading into decline mean for white blue collar workers of Chicago? William and Taub describe that community members of this area describe a neighborhood in decline as having these aspects, “appearance of empty lots, graffiti, poorly maintained lawns, large numbers of FOR SALE signs, and unsupervised young people. Residents linked these attributes to crime, gangs, and social decay” (Kindle Location 504). Because people are aware of these facts in the community, and the area is of such importance to them, the neighborhood has a high loyalty factor, with people maintaining upkeep of their homes and treating the neighborhood as if they

With that said, it is thought that the drug trafficking that goes on in Dane County are from these two nearby cities. Another concerning factor would be that of Health. Although Dane County residents are quite healthy overall, by digging deeper into the data we find significant differences in the rates of death and disease (Health disparities) amongst her residents. The rate among our black residents of the community is more than double, which is concerning. Nonetheless, I believe with special attention to the vulnerable population in the community health disparities. Income, education, racism, environment, access to adequate and affordable housing, likewise, safe neighborhoods are all necessary in order to design an individual chances for a long and healthy life. It is my hope, that collaboration and partnerships between community members and government agencies, creating opportunities to improve health through programming and policy change will influence the community and the environment in which we live, work, and

City area can no longer rest on its reputation as a diversified economy with a well-educated population. The region has fallen behind in growth and competitiveness compared to its peer cities and it needs concerted focus to improve.

The “ Keep Indianapolis Beautiful” organization is the reason there is a great appreciation for art, nature and sense of community in Indianapolis. As we know it today, Indianapolis is at its highest peak in employment and rated as one of the best cities to relocate to in America for better careers and quality of life. However, back in the 1940’s Indianapolis was referred to as a “raw, dirty and unkept city…”, a city people should avoid. Gangs, drugs, loitering and other illegal acts surfaced many neighborhoods and communities during that time. Considering where Indianapolis is today, one would never believe this city used to be ins such despair. Thanks to many civic leaders, devoted women and passionate residents, Indianapolis went from a trashy, neglected city to a place of beauty, pride and opportunities. Throughout this profile, I will identify how KIB’s legacy was created, its contibution to social capital through “private action for public good”, and why KIB is vital for not only Indianapolis, but the world in its entirety.

In Chicago, there are geographic disparities that affect communities as a whole due to political- economic distortions and underrepresented communities that lack resources. The neighborhood I reside in, Pilsen, is one community in Chicago that is currently being affected by violence and gang rivalry. Pilsen is located in the Lower West Side area and is known as one of the primary Mexican American neighborhoods in Chicago. One current main social problem that Pilsen encounters in the neighborhood is violence in the community that result in high school drop out and death rates. As well as issues in poverty and limited resources. The violence occurring in Pilsen has brought community members to advocate for change within the area. As a member of the community I have seen violence as a social problem that is being committed by the own community members who are residing in the area.

To begin with, Trump’s future plans on labor would not deliver the promised jobs in the Rust Belt and would lead to the breakdown of labor unions. While campaigning to people in the Rust Belt(States such as Ohio, Michigan, Illinois), Trump has mentioned in his campaign visits that he will aid the people in those states by imposing tariffs on foreign nations such as China and also renegotiate NAFTA, a trade deal that would lift trade barriers between the Northern American states. However, in a letter to Trump which was signed by 600 economists, Trump’s plan would not bring any jobs in those states. The letter mentions, “He has misled voters in states like Ohio and Michigan by asserting that the renegotiation of NAFTA or the imposition of tariffs

I have lived in New Harmony, Indiana since I turned three. New Harmony easily remains one of the smallest towns in the state. Although New Harmony became my hometown, I was born in Indianapolis; it is scary to wonder about who I would be if I had grown up in the largest city in the state rather than here. “Here” being a town with a population of around 800 and one K-12 school with an enrollment of less than 200. This is the atmosphere that I grew up in. By the time I made it through 1st Grade, I was attending all of the basketball games, rooting for the Rappites and belting out the school song. I became New Harmony Rappite down to my bones.

City street lights mark the edges and corners of blocked off territory. Land labeled “ghetto” and “dangerous” translates to land that was ignored for the profit of the few. This land exists a short drive away from us, they are backyards to the neighborhoods we chose not to stray from. They are West Garfield Park, East St. Louis, Englewood, The Ville, and every impoverished community that suffered in isolation while those around watched. Our generation can be quick to judge the actions of oppressors or the lack of necessary change in our history, however a lot of these remarks can be made about today’s segregated neighborhoods. In cities such as St. Louis, where segregation is deep rooted and has allowed further issues to stem from such divisions, the voice of the community is often silenced by quick, misguided assumptions on such areas. These are not “bad neighborhoods” they are not populated by “bad people”, but are rather neglected portions of a city that has found it easier to accept these stereotypes than look beyond the superficial. We have the tools and knowledge to solidify that there is more to these neighborhoods than gangs or torn down houses, the question is now what do we do with them?

Detroit is a very well-known and diverse city. “Somewhere behind its neglected, graffiti covered skyscrapers are charming reminders of a city that was once among the world’s wealthiest” (Gray). This city has been through a lot. Detroit was first founded by the French in 1701 and then used as a fur trade post. Jumping a little in the future, it has had riots and protest for equal rights among its busy streets. Detroit is also known as the Motor City. “By the mid-twentieth century one in every six working Americans was employed directly or indirectly by the automotive industry” (Sugrue). Yet after everything this city has endured Detroit is thought of as a place of fear. It has a lot of history and has a lot to offer if people would let

Revitalization efforts in downtown areas have gained momentum over the past few decades, this paper is focused on revitalization strategies, recognizing the process of decline, while identifying key strategies used in downtown revitalization efforts over the past fifty years (Faulk 2006). Downtowns, unlike suburban shopping malls or office complexes, evolved slowly over time, responding to changing technologies, social and economic patterns. A city’s identity relies heavily on the image of its downtown, so inevitably cities of all sizes commit themselves to achieving successful downtown redevelopment (Robertson 1995). As I have been reading literature on downtown revitalization a number of strategies and principles have surfaced. Many of