Detroit's new czar faces deep decay of city's neighborhoods

Reuters ^ | March 24, 2013 | Steve Neavling and Bernie Woodall

[1rudeboy]

When the state-imposed manager of Detroit, Kevyn Orr, starts the job on Monday he will wade into a city of crumbling neighborhoods where police fail to respond to some calls, arson fires burn out of control and residents scour charred buildings for scrap metal to sell.

Except for the business district and a cultural area including a university, museum and some theaters, the city of Detroit, population 700,000, is in bad shape.

Orr, a Washington, D.C.-based bankruptcy lawyer, will have the official title of "Emergency Financial Manager." But his remit as an unelected administrator will range far beyond money.

His top priority on Day 1 will be improving public safety.

"We have to gain the public's trust, and to do that, we have to show progress with fire and police services," Orr told Reuters in an interview last week.

This could be what one former Detroit police chief called a "Herculean task" for Orr, recruited by Michigan's Republican Governor Rick Snyder to fix Detroit because of his "very successful career in restructuring and bankruptcy."

Orr's most notable career achievement to date was as a top lawyer in the restructuring of Detroit-area carmaker Chrysler.

Orr said he thinks the stories of Detroit's demise "are over-rated in my opinion." "The city center is a lot better than people thought," he said, and he hopes he can push that recovery momentum out to the neighborhoods.

As he travels a sprawling city larger than Boston, San Francisco and Manhattan combined, he will encounter the realities of Detroit's long downward slide.

[Bon mots]

[1rudeboy]

for your list

[Gay State Conservative]

Deep decay? As in *forthcoming* deep decay? Good God...I've been to Detroit...a couple of times...recently.THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO DECAY!

[1rudeboy]

That’s not true, but if that’s how you feel about it . . . .

[cripplecreek]

Orr said he thinks the stories of Detroit's demise "are over-rated in my opinion." "The city center is a lot better than people thought,"

I tend to agree despite the beloved fantasies. The fact is that many much larger cities are racking up debt at an astounding rate with every intent of dumping it on the American taxpayer at some point.

[GoldenPup]

Orr, a Washington, D.C.-based bankruptcy lawyer,

Who until last week had property leins on his property for non-payment of property taxes...
Unbelievable!! Birds of a feather??

[cripplecreek]

Let the bashing begin.



Michigan legislative action thread

[UCANSEE2]

Except for the business district and a cultural area including a university, museum and some theaters, the city of ...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It might just be too late for Detroit, no matter who takes charge.
I wish the guy luck. Detroit was home to many folks on my dad’s side.
They worked for Ford, on the line and in the office, when times were good.

[UCANSEE2]

As he travels a sprawling city larger than Boston, San Francisco and Manhattan combined, he will encounter the realities of Detroit's long downward slide.

[43north]

Wow, talk about a thankless task. The corruptocrats have let Detroit run into the ground and they do not want anyone to find out where they’ve stashed the loot that they’ve pilfered. That’s why jesse jackson is coming to lead the inevitable protests - all that loot was pilfered by black politicians. As we all know, jesse and his family are as pure as the driven snow... Oh my bad! That’s racist!

[cripplecreek]

Canada is dumping huge sums of money into Detroit because they need it to be strong and now the time is right with the state in GOP hands. One reason is the simple economics of it being the second busiest freight crossing in North America.

[shove_it]

Here’s hoping Mr. Orr has a first rate security detail, especially when he starts rooting out the political grafters.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Ever seen the show Extreme Pawn based in Detroit? That'll wake you right up about the natives.

[cripplecreek]

[hondact200]

Decay? What decay? many parts of detroit are just dead? when a deer is just bones is it in decay or just plain gone?

What part of dead do not they understand? the suburbs of detroit is where life is at? Just like many large cities the city itself is dead.

How much money is going to be dumped into saving detroit?

In the little city I live in the UP of MI - $1.5 million dollars is being spent in just one building that has been empty for over 34 years. The rest of the city has problems but the infinite wisdom of the city administration spend on 1 building. Dumb Dumb.

[LADY J]

Wow!! Sounds like what America is going to look like when Obama gets done with us!!!

So - who will WE call when & if he's ever out of office?

[cripplecreek]

Yeah there is big private money flowing into the downtown area. If the GOP can spare a couple of brain cells, they might consider talking about the possibility of a Detroit convention again. (Its where Reagan gave his nomination acceptance speech)

Where others are typically retreating, I see a great opportunity for conservatives and the GOP.