Has it really come down to this? The City of Detroit, which
is on a downward spiral toward uncontrollable violence, is contemplating
turning off 40,000 lights inside of its borders. I guess it doesn’t matter that
about half of the more than 80,000 street lights in the city are not working
anyway!
Other cities in the country have tried this lights out
business in order to save money. The difference is, these other cities, such as
Colorado Springs, Santa Monica, and Rockford, IL, doesn’t have nearly the economic
problems that the City of Detroit is now facing.
Detroit’s leaders are thinking that if basic services are
cut altogether in distressed neighborhoods, then those residents will move into
areas that are more populated. The city in turn will focus their resources on
those populated neighborhoods, including making sure the lights are working at
night.
In theory, it sounds like a good idea. However, I don’t
think these leaders have thought about the areas that will become pitch black.
These areas will become nothing but a dumping ground to anything from excess
trash to dead bodies. Criminals are much more comfortable at night. And with
the lights being out, it will be an invitation to do what they do best, and
that is terrorize this depressed city even more.
Let me just cut to the chase here. Detroit right now is a
complete mess. There are incompetent leaders from Dave Bing down to City
Council. Whether the residents want it or not, an Emergency Manager is in the
wings ready to take over the city. Severe cuts will be made affecting city
employment and city services. With the hot summer approaching, Detroit is a
powder keg waiting to explode.
At this point all we can do is pray that this city will
eventually turn around. It will unfortunately take years, and it will certainly
get worse before it gets better.
S.Ray Harris
Live From Detroit
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