Wells Hall Off Topic Board

Magic Johnson 2012?

wow, you are one ignorant motherfucker

OK Einstein, explain yourself.

Detroit has gone from being a national punchline, to being a national lightening rod for all the money that gets dumped into it every year...the city, literally, gets worse every year. That's the reality of Detroit.

But hey, if corporations and the government think it sucks ass (note the take over of schools, and near take over of all city activities), you feel free to tell me how EVERYONE other than you is wrong. Or, just call me names, because you hate the fact that I'm right (and keep in mind, it's not just me that's right; so is the Detroit mayors office, the Detroit city council, the executives at EVERY major AND minor grocery chain, the people at Forbes, CNBC, Bloomberg and everywhere else).

You've got some explaining to do. LIke the clown before you who knew better to remain engaged in a losing argument, you are losing...please, feel free and make Detroit a self-sufficient, free market metropolis...the only obstacle you have are the residents. I dare you to convince them of anything that doesn't have "FREE" attached to it. Most (actually ALL companies) decided that EBT payments weren't worth their time when you factor in the "loss prevention" and "security" needs that Detroit commands.

But hey, feel free to prove me and every executive and local politician wrong. I hope you have something more compelling than "Hey dude, stop being mean...", because that's all you've done so far. But then, you're absolutely wrong, you CAN'T make an argument.

When was the last time you stepped foot in Detroit, troll. You are talking to people who live there. Please sight evidence how it's worse every year. And no, you can't just use buzz words like "corruption" and "city council". Detroit is clearly on the rise, and if you're too ignorant to see that, we don't want you.

One more thing, if you ever feel like pulling your head out of your ass and educating yourself so you don't spew ignorant bullshit all over the board again, check this site out.

He's joining Detroit Venture Partners, which is the Venture Capital firm owned by Dan Gilbert and Josh Linkner (ePrize). Kinda cool.

Go Detroit!

what's good for DEEtroit is good for Michigan!

The way people talk about Philly and those who actually live in the cities limits don't have these type of arguments like those posters in this thread. Why are so many posters in this thread attacking each other over the "perception" and "potential economic growth" of Detroit? People need to chill out and relax. What is said here on this board and in this thread is not going to change anything in Detroit.

Check out the Detroit Venture site.

http://www.detroitventurepartners.com/

Having some very limited involvement with Magic's company, he is very astute and careful where he invests his money. His general rule is nothing less than $10m for him to be interested. This should be a very interesting announcement; and it shows that the private sector will be the driving force in improving Detroit - as it should be. Gilbert, Johnson and the other minority venture partners will be a driving force.

This is not about grocery stores and Starbucks.

The reason I get so worked up when people bash the city is that I'm sick of it. Most of it comes from ignorance of what it is actually like down there. I don't think that by posting here anyone is going to make a difference. What will make a difference is when people realize what it has to offer and begin spending their time and money there. I hang out in Detroit, spend my money down there, regularly volunteer, and plan on living there by year's end (I own a house in Redford that I have to get rented out first). Every chance I get I try to show people around down there, and every time they are impressed by what they see. Perception is reality, and you won't get widespread growth until people give the city a chance instead of ignorantly bashing it.

People who bash Detroit are the reason it won't grow faster or improve beyond what strives are being made currently. There needs to be a collective buy-in of the revitalization of the city. No more of this "it's a lost cause so F it" attitude.

I spent all afternoon/evening downtown a couple of weekends ago for the Perfect Circle show at the Fox and saw none of the problems you mentioned. Guess I should have looked harder.

Detroit needs retail outlets in the portions of the city that have enough population to support them. Its true that Detroit can be a black hole for retail if you choose the wrong location. Unemployment in the city is still some of the highest in the state because of the economic flight to the suburbs.

I have relatives who live in various neighborhoods in the city and while you need to be careful like a lot of cities not every neighborhood is the Wild West either. The worst is where my elderly cousin lives but their are stuck. Retired, home values are very depressed and we all know older folks really don't want to give up their homes. They have neighbors looking out for them and every neighbor has at least 2-3 of their 5 kids cell numbers in case of an "event".

I have been in places like Little Italy, The Bronx, Harlem and Brooklyn. Those neighborhoods are a lot like the Detroit neighborhoods where my extended family lives.