1st
Repost: Let People Know About Detroit
Repost of a note that was written by someone who was recently attacked in Midtown. This isn’t meant to scare or deter people, but we need to have real, honest conversations about what is happening in this city. We can’t ignore or pretend that the problems don’t exist and we have to work together to effectively fix them.
————
We need to let people know that no matter what the media, Midtown Alliance or the visitors and tourism bureau says – Detroit is not Portland. Young people are coming here with their guard down. They come ignorant to the real social and economic woes of our city. The other day a young man from California walked into the gallery. He said he was “just checking out Detroit”. When he left he walked north on Rosa Parks into a rather bad part of town – where the ‘67 rebellion began. He was almost skipping joyfully as he went off to discover our fair city. He was ignorant to the fact that in the area where he was headed, his backpack was not going to last long on his back. How would he know? The press and corporations are pushing a slanted image of Detroit. Groups like Midtown Alliance and the Cultural Center Association are reporting that crime is down, when in fact it is getting worse. Be wary of groups like this. They are just trying to sell condos. Besides, when you attract people who come from different political, economic and ethnic backgrounds, there is a process of learning and understanding that will need to take place in order for a community to exist. We are ignoring this in our great city and that is leading to distrust, which leads to fear and violence. Neighbor against neighbor. Stop reporting that “crime is down in Midtown” (Midtown Alliance) and start addressing the deep social and economic needs of the people. Spending millions of dollars on a light rail system that will only serve the privileged few (while the bus system for the poor is being dismantled) and paying incentives to move new people into the city while ignoring those that have struggled here for decades will only breed animosity and we will all suffer for it. Though I do hold these three individuals accountable for their horrific actions, we will only be able to heal the plant if we go deeper to the root, not just by cutting off the bad limbs.
————
Reward fund for Aaron and Jackie - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reward-fund-for-Aaron-and-Jackie/225389187496613?sk=wall
News story: http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/28697534/detail.html
DetroitYES thread with info about attackers & car: http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthread.php?10857-reward-for-Midtown-attack-on-Aaron-Timlin-amp-Jackie-Strez
