Not surprising since the city has long ago lost its economic luster, went through crazy ass white flight, suffers from urban decay, and is visually not far off in select areas from some third world countries. That city has been on the decline for years.
Cleveland narrowly avoided filing for bankruptcy in 1978. Since 1980, there have been approximately 40 bankruptcy filings by cities, villages, or counties, and only another 150 or so by other municipal entities, like utility or hospital districts.
Take Cleveland in 1978. The city's problems were partly because of a population decline—it lost 24 percent of its citizens in the 1970s—as well as the recession and auto industry layoffs. But other factors were more avoidable. Some budget-balancing moves had been dubious, including selling assets and using the proceeds from bond sales to pay for daily operating expenses, as well as simply postponing paying bills. And the city council turned down a last-ditch proposal to raise the local income tax from 1 percent—one of the country's lowest rates—to 1.5 percent.
Cleveland narrowly avoided filing for bankruptcy in 1978. Since 1980, there have been approximately 40 bankruptcy filings by cities, villages, or counties, and only another 150 or so by other municipal entities, like utility or hospital districts.
Take Cleveland in 1978. The city's problems were partly because of a population decline—it lost 24 percent of its citizens in the 1970s—as well as the recession and auto industry layoffs. But other factors were more avoidable. Some budget-balancing moves had been dubious, including selling assets and using the proceeds from bond sales to pay for daily operating expenses, as well as simply postponing paying bills. And the city council turned down a last-ditch proposal to raise the local income tax from 1 percent—one of the country's lowest rates—to 1.5 percent.
I've never been to Detroit, but I have always imagined it to be a larger version of Edmonton placed in a region that looks like Hamilton, Ontario, but with more crime and worse weather. Does it sound about right?
Over half of Detroit's 305,000 property owners failed to pay their 2011 tax bills. So much for schools, emergency services, street lights, garbage pickup etc. Can't imagine roads, bridges and utilities being in good shape.
It's so sparsely populated in some areas that there were 77 blocks with only one owner who paid taxes in 2011.
In 1950 it had 1.8 million people.
In 2010 had 700,000.
It's a pretty interesting place, in a Mad Max sort of way. I have half my family in Windsor so I've been to Detroit quite a few times. When you walk downtown you don't realize unless you look closely the majority of the high rises have no windows ect. There's some amazing architecture that's sadly rotting away.
It's a pretty interesting place, in a Mad Max sort of way. I have half my family in Windsor so I've been to Detroit quite a few times. When you walk downtown you don't realize unless you look closely the majority of the high rises have no windows ect. There's some amazing architecture that's sadly rotting away.
Yipe, between Detroit,Buffalo and Cincinnati I'm not sure what is the biggest crap hole.
OK Detroit is the biggest but it's beyond me how a large city with tax payers can't keep it looking decent.
I've never been to Detroit, but I have always imagined it to be a larger version of Edmonton placed in a region that looks like Hamilton, Ontario, but with more crime and worse weather. Does it sound about right?
Partially. Detroit proper is pretty bad, but the funny thing is because it was once an extremely wealthy and important city there are some gorgeous buildings and a ton of history, unfortunately many of the buildings are abandoned. A lot of the suburban area is pretty nice, not all that different than any other suburban area in the US. A few suburbs are quite wealthy and filled with massive homes and high end stores.
I don't know the crime rates by neighborhood, but nobody I know in the area seems to be surrounded by crime, but that's the suburbs. Detroit proper is definitely plagued by crime.
Hamilton is nearby, so I guess the region is like Hamilton, but Detroit is on the river so it's a bit different.
I think it's a cool city and it definitely has a great energy around it. I wouldn't live right in Detroit, but if I was offered a job that matched my salary in Detroit I'd seriously consider it. The low cost of living would be a real draw.
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I only went through Buffalo on a greyhound but holy crap was that city ugly. It made Edmonton look like Tokyo.
Not sure what part you went through, but Buffalo is actually home to "some of the greatest American architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries".
I'll give you Detroit and Buffalo, but have you been to Cincinnati? It's actually a fairly nice city.
Yes I have, like most large American citys it has it bad areas but Cincinnati's are very large, Westwood, Pricehill and even Avondale are dirty scumbag areas that give the city a bad name.
i went 2 years ago for the first time and was stunned. 95% of businesses were lihhts off and boarddd up. Houses walls were caved in. Only a couple bars were open and joe louis.
I saw the stars and wings play in an amazing hockey atmosphere, cheap seats, good view, good neighbors. The people were getting bussed in frok subburbs
