Police Union Says ‘War-Like’ Detroit Is Unsafe For Visitors

reply to post by xuenchen


Well if they sent the National Guard they would need to be careful about it so as to prevent creating a riot.

gee wiz, the police afraid to make war against it citizens who are mostly degenerate losers bent on crime because the rich have abandoned detroit? Hows the job market, or is the job market good while people are just fighting about stupid crap? Criminals all going crazy out there? Well ive learned a thing or two, and people make bad paradoxes by building inner city environments or housing without much green space. Screw the human race.

Funny you should ask....


Now that came as a bit of a shock. as high as 28% by the look of it at one point. In a Major City! I'd say I can't imagine...but I guess we don't have to. The Great Depression was around 25% as I recall off the top of my head. It was also interesting to see Detroit's had serious problems on and off for a couple decades. Yikes..

*I give up... Google's link absolutely will NOT work in this interface for this and their chart is enough to fill a high res monitor completely.

Just run Detroit Unemployment in Google and a chart comes up as part of the returns, It's very interesting.

I'm voting for the cops on this one and saying they're in a bad bad place and need just a bit more support than most, IMO. There are still decent people in that city that need their services.

Yes, but the city is dead broke. Corruption in our political sphere here for the last several decades has taken its toll - The city is bankrupt. Politicians and their cronies have sucked the city dry of any real future. Their idea of economic development is building more casinos.

Even the charitable and religious organizations in Detroit that are supposed to help the downtrodden are corrupt. The local Archdiocese of Detroit is the worst offender. The last archbishop siphoned $50 million dollars from the charitable donations of metro-Detroit Roman Catholics to build a huge John Paul II tourist attraction in Washington, D.C., using a foreign bank loan from an Irish bank to build the monstrosity. The building sat vacant in Washington D.C. for years, and was only recently sold for a huge loss to the brotherhood of the K of C. Heck, they didn't even build the tourist attraction in Detroit!

A single archbishop - no committees involved - was able to pull this wool over the local Catholic population's eyes. No criminal investigation was ever completed. (Kickbacks, anyone?) Now this same archbishop lives in the Cayman Islands, retired. How cozy. This same $50 million could have been used for feeding the poor, soup kitchens, and the like!! What a sick joke.

The economy is shambles, and there has been a mass exodus out of the city so there are fewer and fewer taxpayers to pay for city services. The city is knocking down houses, and large swathes of land are opening up.

The fact is, the city cannot support pay hikes to policemen, or anyone else for that matter. Detroit is a wasteland - These police officers should be happy they have gainful employment, or seek work in another city.

In reality, if you still live in this area - and I do - it's only family that keeps you here. Otherwise, you would pack up and move elsewhere. It's a cesspit unlike any other.

The only positive news is that the current sitting mayor is not corrupt, and the governor is a straight shooter. This is a move in the right direction. We still have a long way to go.

On a related note.....

How bout dem Tigers?

Originally posted by Juggernog

Originally posted by WhatAreThey
Detroit is nearly 83% black.

I knew someone would say that.

And wtf is this "Hunky" ive never heard that term or "White Bread"... thats hilarious

edit on 7-10-2012 by Juggernog because: (no reason given)

You will not find the term "White Bread" hilarious if your are out numbered in the area of 400 to 4 and in a foreign Country at night.

And that is just the restaurant situation, outside of Cobo hall on my last visit I felt overwhelmed by the hostility.

Regards, Iwinder

Originally posted by Iwinder

Originally posted by Juggernog

Originally posted by WhatAreThey
Detroit is nearly 83% black.

I knew someone would say that.

And wtf is this "Hunky" ive never heard that term or "White Bread"... thats hilarious

edit on 7-10-2012 by Juggernog because: (no reason given)

You will not find the term "White Bread" hilarious if your are out numbered in the area of 400 to 4 and in a foreign Country at night.

And that is just the restaurant situation, outside of Cobo hall on my last visit I felt overwhelmed by the hostility.

Regards, Iwinder

Ahh bro, you have no idea... I grew up in South Dallas. I am very familiar with black on white hate.. to make it worse, my dad was a Dallas cop, so not only was I a "cracker" I was also a "snitch" pfft

reply to post by CookieMonster09


In addition, there are vast areas of urban prairie. Maybe one house per block.
And the utilities still need to be there and maintained....in some way....

Streetlights are a disaster in the city ...or so I am told...haven't been there at night lately.....and I've heard it's not jsut residential streets in partial darkness.

Originally posted by Juggernog

Originally posted by Iwinder

Originally posted by Juggernog

Originally posted by WhatAreThey
Detroit is nearly 83% black.

I knew someone would say that.

And wtf is this "Hunky" ive never heard that term or "White Bread"... thats hilarious

edit on 7-10-2012 by Juggernog because: (no reason given)

You will not find the term "White Bread" hilarious if your are out numbered in the area of 400 to 4 and in a foreign Country at night.

And that is just the restaurant situation, outside of Cobo hall on my last visit I felt overwhelmed by the hostility.

Regards, Iwinder

Ahh bro, you have no idea... I grew up in South Dallas. I am very familiar with black on white hate.. to make it worse, my dad was a Dallas cop, so not only was I a "cracker" I was also a "snitch" pfft

I hear you, I am not claiming racism here what my first post was, was just a rundown of exactly what happened to me in my 3 visits to Detroit and why I will never ever go back.

Just my story that is 100% true and I can't change it or it would be a tall tale.
Regards, Iwinder

Originally posted by DontTreadOnMe
reply to post by CookieMonster09

 

In addition, there are vast areas of urban prairie. Maybe one house per block.
And the utilities still need to be there and maintained....in some way....

Streetlights are a disaster in the city ...or so I am told...haven't been there at night lately.....and I've heard it's not jsut residential streets in partial darkness.

I remember that from my second visit there at night, all the streets are very dark it was very unnerving to drive and think that if my headlights go out I am blind...

This was almost right by Cobo hall too.

Regards, Iwinder

reply to post by CookieMonster09

Well, you make some interesting points..and I mean that. I went to looking up just what a Detroit cop does make, based on what you said and I was rather surprised given the Rock Bottom cost of living within the city.

Basic training is 19 weeks at the Police Academy plus on the job training once graduated.

If successful at the academy, recruits get a $1,000 raise.

After one year it increases to $33,949.

After two years it increases to $37,761.

After three years it increases to $41,573 After four years it increases to $45,385.

After five years it reaches $53,237.

Detroit Police Pay Information

Now there were some downright nice looking houses in the city in the 50k range. With that reality for housing, what is the problem I wonder?

Another article mentioned the force of a previous number around 2,000 has shrunk by a lot..but then my earlier research shows population dropped by 25% in the same years. So...is it really a matter of quantity and pay or is it perhaps...more a matter of quality? Have so many cops given up on the job? I'm sure wondering.....

* Oh...and it sounds like that NDAA measure could be useful for one tiny little rendition of a certain scumbag from the Cayman Islands, eh? Why should being a member of the Church cover him for fraud and theft?

I'm asking simply because you say you live in the area and so would bring perspective few if any of the rest of us have for this. ?

I checked on zillow (app for homes on the market) and I ran into homes for $1 that's insane
But you got to figure closing costs and title transfer, and building permits if you
Decide to fix it up.
As some said politics up there are corrupt, so if u did buy a house,
They might fine you every month till you get it up to code!

I just found this thread and I find it easier to respond in one post. I hope you take the time to read what I have to say.

reply to post by Chickensalad


I hope you don't mean the Michigan Militia when you say "State Militia." A lot of the Michigan Militia folks are connected to white power groups and other ill-mannered and radical groups. They aren't a real police force, and I doubt they could be held to the same accountability. That is just a terrible idea.

reply to post by r2d246


Actually, Detroit has a bit of that already. All of the abandoned structures have become a draw for people who are into urban exploring. A lot of people do just that, bringing supplies and camping out in old buildings and trying to avoid others. I've met people from all over the world who come to the city for this purpose, though it seems to be pretty popular with Eastern Europeans for some reason. Maybe they just go to the bars I frequent more than people from other regions of the world.

Recently, a group of people started an initiative through Kickstarter to create a zombie themed park in Detroit, utilizing many of the abandoned buildings. Unfortunately, it failed to get enough funding, but I'm still hoping it comes back with a better plan next time.

reply to post by generik


I couldn't agree more. Detroit is actually a pretty great place during the day. The Riverwalk, Greektown, the casinos, the city's few theaters and stadiums are all relatively safe to be, even at night. They are regularly policed because that's where the most people are. It's when you get out of those areas that you can run into trouble.

reply to post by milkyway12


While sending in the National Guard is an option, it would hardly be the best one. The troops would essentially be fighting an insurgency group. We haven't had too good of a track record with that the last few years. It would also set a terrible precedent for the government to intervene with force as soon as anything turns south, which could lead to martial law being declared in other parts of the country.

reply to post by Socrato


Due to the decline of the education system in the city I doubt most of the people who are involved in gang activities could even form the idea of forming their own government. Even if they could, there is almost no cooperation between the gangs and it would just lead to more infighting as one group struggled to maintain power. It would essentially become America's version of Mogadishu.


reply to post by wantsome


I grew up in Detroit. Not a suburb. Detroit itself. While there is a large portion of corrupt and immoral people, there are quite a few trying to do good. Not everyone who lives in in the city , including my parents and three younger brothers, are up to no good. What you suggest is no less barbaric than what's already going on within the city.

reply to post by GogoVicMorrow


One of my more favorite Simpsons quotes. Thanks for bringing some humor to this thread! It's right up there with "Oh! Detroit style!" in the Season 16 episode "Mommy Beerest."

Another good one comes from stand up comedian JB Smoove. He says, "Detroit doesn't have obituaries, they have a threat page." You can watch the video of it all here. It's pretty great.

reply to post by BrokenCar


I'm glad there is at least one other person who hasn't given into the hype and negative stigma associated with the city!

reply to post by Jason88


Here is an unbiased write up on it. It's the only way I can think of telling you about it without placing my own opinions on it within the response.

reply to post by Siberbat


I think they get most of their training from movies, video games, and music videos. Most of the gang members out there barely know how to load a gun, much less aim one properly. Their tactics rarely go beyond spray and pray or get close and pull the trigger as many times as possible.

I ran out of room to type in the last post.

reply to post by RoScoLaz


Good ol' Kentucky Fried Movie!

reply to post by amrith777


I've been there once or twice. I grew up right near there. Yes, some of the people are characters, but a lot of what you see is edited together for television. They choose the most outrageous bits and pieces and air that because that's what gets the ratings.

reply to post by DontTreadOnMe


You're correct. A lot of major thoroughfare has no lighting. You can see it all along Michigan Ave, Woodward near Wayne State, and all along Grand River. I rarely make it to the east side of the city, but I would be terribly surprised if Jefferson, Gratiot and Mound weren't the same way.

To everyone saying to buy the cheap housing blocks at a time...

Good luck!

It's a great idea in concept, but the houses aren't even worth that much! A lot of the houses that are still standing are nothing but outer shells. Everything has been gutted, not just the wiring and pipes. I mean the walls, floors, wood, and even the brick has been taken from most of these buildings. And that isn't including all the ones that are burnt out. Chances are the buildings will have to be torn down, and good luck getting the permits to build something new on the land once those structures are gone. On top of that, you'll have to deal with the ridiculously high property taxes, the city income tax (even if you work outside the city), and terribly high insurance rates.

Though, from the last estimate I heard, Detroit has in abandoned properties an area roughly the size of Buffalo, New York. So you should have plenty of places to choose from! I wish I could find a source for that, but I haven't had any luck.

It just would be an easy way to lose a few hundred to a several thousand dollars in a short amount of time. But if you have that kind of money to lose, good for you. I'm envious!

May come off as racisist but perhaps we should rename detroit little somolia. Atleast then charities would flock there and i could see starving americans instead of africans. Not jokeing btw ive been there on a layover on a flight not a pleasent experince

Here's an older thread about Detroit street lights and other possible corruption....

(quote from OP - May-24-2012) Half of Detroit’s Streetlights May Go Out as City Shrinks

Originally posted by xuenchen
Bloomberg
By Chris Christoff - May 24, 2012 9:06 AM PT
Half of Detroit’s Streetlights May Go Out as City Shrinks

 

Detroit has 88,000 street lights. 40% are broken.

The Mayor has a plan to borrow $160 Million and reduce the total number of street lights to 46,000.

I wonder how this will affect crime ?

Detroit, whose 139 square miles contain 60 percent fewer residents than in 1950, will try to nudge them into a smaller living space by eliminating almost half its streetlights.

As it is, 40 percent of the 88,000 streetlights are broken and the city, whose finances are to be overseen by an appointed board, can’t afford to fix them. Mayor Dave Bing’s plan would create an authority to borrow $160 million to upgrade and reduce the number of streetlights to 46,000. Maintenance would be contracted out, saving the city $10 million a year.

Other U.S. cities have gone partially dark to save money, among them Colorado Springs; Santa Rosa, California; and Rockford, Illinois. Detroit’s plan goes further: It would leave sparsely populated swaths unlit in a community of 713,000 that covers more area than Boston, Buffalo and San Francisco combined. Vacant property and parks account for 37 square miles (96 square kilometers), according to city planners.

What does This sound like ??

“You have to identify those neighborhoods where you want to concentrate your population,” said Chris Brown, Detroit’s chief operating officer. “We’re not going to light distressed areas like we light other areas.”

:shk:



Related Detroit Threads:

Facing bankruptcy, Detroit to spend $330K on Washington lobbyists


Self Defense Killings in Detroit Spike to 2200% Above National Average; Justifiable Homicide up 79%

How 'bout those solar powered lights ??

Where is Obama on this problem ?

reply to post by MrWendal



Detroit is in a world of hurt.... it's going down the drain, it's leaders are clueless and I seriously doubt the trend can be reversed.

One of my clients has a couple of rental houses in Detroit. Twice he had tried to renovate and repair them to livable condition so he can rent them out. Each time he does a repair, when he comes back the next day or two, the new copper tubing he put in is ripped out or the supplies he has in the house for the next repair are stolen. They have even ripped out the wiring in the walls and ceilings of the house to get the copper. TWICE he has tried to repair them only to get them ransacked by the local idiots. That in a nutshell is the story of Detroit, even if you try to help out, you end up getting screwed.

Any smart citizens of the City of Detroit have left it this past decade..... most areas are just not a place to live or raise a family. Google Map Go to Street View to open your eyes used to be the neighborhood where I grew up. There were houses in every open spot you see currently. It's a veritable wasteland now.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


On top of that pay, there's way too high o % of Detroit cops doing desk jobs......not patrolling the city.
My husband heard this in passing on the news lately...I have been unable to verify online...so far.

Why do they need cops doing paperwork? Surely that can be done by civilians.....???

Another ting....many surrounding suburbs have police forces making considerably more money per year...plus benefits...still. They want more...
And, of course, the Detroit force sees what the suburbs are getting and think their pay should also rise.
Doesn't anyone care that the taxpayers....the people who pay their salaries.....not only make far, far less...but also have living expenses and cannot afford higher taxes.!!!!!!!!!!!!

reply to post by rival
You can't open carry in car.
You have to have apermit to carry

Originally posted by poet1b
Detroit, like the rest of the US has been going through a drop on crime rates since the early 90 ties.

Detroit isn't the city with the highest crime rate, it is 5th on the list.


City Crime Risk Index
1. St. Louis 530
2. Atlanta 484
3. Birmingham Alabama (tie) 380
3. Orlando (tie) 380
5. Detroit 369
6. Memphis 361
7. Miami 346
8. Baltimore 339
9. Kansas City, Missouri 337
10. Minneapolis (tie) 331
10. Cleveland (tie) 331

New Orleans and Richmond, Virginia had the highest murder rates in the country in 2009, according to the FBI. Likewise, Anchorage, Alaska, and Abilene, Texas, which are not among the cities with the most overall crime, still had the second- and third-highest rates of forcible rapes in 2009, behind No. 1 Minneapolis.

Looks like the police are pulling a scam.

Where is Chicago??? Didn't make the top 10? Ummm...ok?