Yesterday we ventured into Detroit to catch a “Les Miserables” matinee at The Fisher Theatre. We enjoyed the show; the city, not so much. Maybe it was the contrast between the nice sunny afternoon and the surrounding scenery, but the city looks more and more like a war zone with each trip we take down the inbound freeway. The grass may be greening, but spring does not appear to be coming to Detroit any time soon.

Last week, various news sources reported on the sharp 25% drop in the city’s population from 2000 to 2010. Only New Orleans recorded a greater reduction, but they had Katrina. Poor Detroit was hit by a progressive-socialist hurricane. According to the census, roughly 20% of the homes still standing are vacant.

From Michigan Capitol Confidential: “In 1950, Detroit was the wealthiest city in America on a per capita income basis. Today, the Census Bureau reports that it is the nation’s 2nd poorest major city, just “edging out” Cleveland.”

Note- this article was from ’09. Detroit may have passed Cleveland up by now.

Back to the adventure…

We had just exited the freeway onto Pallister St., only a couple blocks from the theatre. We were stopped at a traffic light when we suddenly saw a hooded, bandana’d thug brandishing what looked like a 4×4 at a middle-aged well-dressed black man. He chased the man and pinned him against a building, waving the chunk of wood back and forth. What?! For a second we thought they must be making a movie (since Michigan began offering tax breaks to the film industry, Motown’s become a popular site for the post-apocalyptic genre) – but this was the real thing. On a Sunday afternoon. In broad daylight. Welcome to Detroit.
As the light changed, my husband drove through the intersection and then stopped in the middle of the street. Rolling down the window, he yelled out “Hey! Leave him alone!” That was enough to distract the punk. His potential victim shoved him in the chest and backed away. At the same time we noticed another driver had pulled to the curb just past the attacker and was starting to get out of his van.  Suddenly, Mr. Thug’s chances weren’t looking so good anymore and he hightailed it down the street.

Although I’ve always lived in the northern suburbs I’m generally in the city a few times a year, and used to go more frequently for business. But this little episode was definitely a first – and maybe last.

Detroit recently received a “Cities of Service Leadership Grant” and subsequently launched a “Believe in Detroit” campaign “designed to engage all who care about Detroit and to create an army of Believers who will be ambassadors and volunteers.” I wish them well.