Well, that cash we spent on "Cool Cities Initiatives" was really worth it, wasn't it?

TV 8 Website ^ | June 28, 2007 | WOOD TV 8

[mombyprofession]

Michigan residents leaving cities for suburbs

Updated: June 28, 2007 12:28 PM

GRAND RAPIDS -- A new U.S. Census Bureau report shows more and more Michigan residents are fleeing big cities and heading straight for the suburbs.

The report shows two-thirds of those cities have lost population over the past six years, including Flint (9.8 percent), Detroit (8.4 percent), Lansing (4 percent), and Grand Rapids (2.3 percent).

The drop in Detroit is the second highest in the nation, next to New Orleans which is trying to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.

Americans have left industrial cities in the Northeast and Midwest, and moved south and west due to the nation's declining manufacturing economy.

Experts say older cities are now trying to reinvent themselves, relying on universities, cultural attractions and health centers.

Stay with 24 Hour News 8 as we will break down which West Michigan communities are gaining and losing from the movement.

[mombyprofession]

Yep- all that money that Granholm spent on Cool Cities initiatives was really worth it!!! (sarcasm on full blast)

[VOA]

KEYWORD: DEMOURBANWASTELAND

BUMP!

[wideawake]

There was quite a bit of propaganda around nationwide pumping up Detroit as a hip place to visit or move to.

And then there was Eight Mile.

[L98Fiero]

I’ve come to the conclusion that modern cities, by and large, can only function as socialist entities.

[AU72]

I’m still anxiously awaiting the report on the success of “Midnight Basketball”.

[finallyatexan]

If Flint lost 9.8% then there is no one left there. Everyone left the city years ago - that is why the wonderful downtown of my youth is now a drug infested ghetto.

[doodad]

They are airing radio ads down here in Atlanta with Jeff Bridges as the spokesman begging business to move to Mich.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Ugly, cold, and crime-infested. Michigan would have to build domed, technologically-advanced, futuristic cities from scratch to keep younger people from fleeing. It’s destined to turn into North Dakota. ;)

[Alberta's Child]

Some of the statistics on Michigan are pretty shocking. The U.S. unemployment rate would be something like 0.2% points lower if Michigan were left out of the calculation.

[Kieri]

They are airing radio ads down here in Atlanta with Jeff Bridges as the spokesman begging business to move to Mich.

It's Jeff Daniels, who lives in Chelsea, MI, and created the Purple Rose Theatre there.

[doodad]

Thanks, you are right. I saw the right guy in my mind.

[Tokra]

Ugly, cold, and crime-infested. Michigan would have to build domed, technologically-advanced, futuristic cities from scratch to keep younger people from fleeing.

Ugly???Ugly??? You have either never been to Michigan or if you have, you must have had a seeing-eye dog. Michigan may be having economic problems - but you certainly can't call it "ugly". Michigan is one of the most beautiful states in the country. We have more coastline than the entire Eastern Seaboard. We have more lakes than any other state. (Minnesota calls itself the Land of 10,000 lakes - Michigan has 11,000. We have more lighthouses and beaches than any other state.

Yes, there is crime in Detroit, there is also crime in Atlanta, Houston, LA, Phoenix, Denver and every other big city.

Cold? Not right now - we have been sweltering for the past couple of weeks. Yes it's cold in the winter, but its also very beautiful in the winter and there are many winter sports that those in the South will never experience. We have 4 distinct and beautiful seasons - our fall colors are second to none.

Michigan has its problems (what state doesn't) but being "ugly" is certainly not one of them.

[Alberta's Child]

Minnesota calls itself the Land of 10,000 lakes - Michigan has 11,000.

I believe Minnesota still has you beat, though . . . there are actually about 12,000 lakes in Minnesota, and that only includes bodies of water 10 acres or larger. When you add those that are 5 to 10 acres in size, the number climbs to somewhere near 15,000+!

[Tokra]

The 11,000 figure for Michigan only counts the larger lakes, if you count every small lake I believe there are more than 17,000.

[Alberta's Child]

Of course, they're both small potatoes compared to the central Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan -- both of which have more than 100,000 lakes within their borders.

If you were to try fishing in a different lake for every hour of every day, it would take you almost 23 years to cover those two provinces!

[FourPeas]

Americans have left industrial cities in the Northeast and Midwest, and moved south and west due to the nation's declining manufacturing economy.

A job led us south and it was one of the best things that ever happened to us. Michigan *is* beautiful, but the south has its own beauty.