Sunday in the City

Every time I see a program about Detroit they are showing the worst areas of the city.  In fairness, there are a lot of bad and rundown areas.  I would love to visit the home where I was born, but it is in the worst zip code for crime in the city.  OTOH, there are some beautiful areas and I visited one on Sunday.

Palmer Woods began in the late 1800's.  It consists of mostly English Tudor homes.  Next door is Sherwood Forest, where my former boss from my hospital days lived, and I still remember that great holiday party in her beautiful home.  Palmer Woods also happens to have the only Frank Lloyd Wright home in Detroit.  Here are just a few pictures of the area.

 Turkel House by Frank Lloyd Wright

 1923 English Tudor Manor Home

 1928 Tudor Revival Country Villa

 Built in 1924 for the Catholic Bishop in Detroit, (cause doesn't one man need a mansion) it was sold in 1989.

Just a house I happened to like when walking around the neighborhood.

There were several other homes on the tour and do not ask me how I happened not to take photos.  Too busy gawking, I guess.

B: 'Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee' , Belle Isle in Detroit and Beaver Island in Lake Michigan

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is an Indian history of the American West, specifically that of the Sioux Indians after the Battle at Little Big Horn and the U.S. Army's defeat.  It is a very compelling story and it is also one of those books I always wanted to read again, but never did.  (There is always a new book to read.  More recently I read Empire of the Summer Moon about the Comanche Indians.)

I still remember looking at the dust jacket on this book years ago and deciding I needed to throw it away.  It was torn and worn.  It took me a long time to read the book as I would get so upset at what was happening to these people in our country that I would have to stop reading, which is probably why the jacket was so worn.  I find it embarrassing to read and hear what Americans did to people in their own country.  (I know someone who always brags that her ancestors came over on the Mayflower, but I don't think I would brag about it.)

I wish now that I hadn't relegated the dust cover to the trash, but who knew that after 45 years this book would still be on my shelf?

If you have any interest at all in the American Indians and the losses they suffered, I highly recommend either of these narratives.  If you prefer to watch instead of read, HBO did a docudrama several years ago of the book.  Here is the trailer, though I must admit even this clip is hard for me to watch.

Belle Isle Park, Detroit.  How cool was it when I worked downtown and could run over to Belle Isle on my lunch hour?  The conservatory was gorgeous, especially when they had their Easter displays of flowers.  Now it is run as a State Park in the aftermath of the Detroit bankruptcy.  The aquarium has been recently renovated and one of these days I may have to make another visit there.

Here is a photo from one such lunch hour back in the 70's with the mums in bloom and my friend Theresa.  That's the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon Clock in the background.

Here are a few of the books on Detroit gracing the bookcases:


Beaver Island:  When I was growing up, we had neighbors who had a home on Beaver Island in Lake Michigan.  Every summer they would head up north for a visit.  I have never visited and it is still on my 'to go to' list.  Maybe someday for me, but if you are up north it is much closer than Belle Isle.

A Detroit Treasure

When Detroit was going through their bankruptcy, there were many folks who just wanted them to sell off the art works held by the Detroit Institute of Arts to bail the City out of debt.  While that may have solved the immediate money problem, their structural issues and bad management for fifty years could not be solved by paying some bills.

Fortunately, thanks to a 'Grand Bargain', the art was saved.  Among the many treasures at the museum is a mural created in 1932 by Mexican artist Diego Rivera.  I have seen this mural many times on trips to the DIA.  Yesterday, I made another trip to view it and visit the members-only preview of the exhibit 'Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit'.

It was fascinating.  I had seen the movie 'Frida' some years ago and had some knowledge of their lives.  But to actually see Frida's paintings was a real pleasure.

Of course, like a complete idiot, I left my camera sitting on the entry table when I departed my home.  I also left my phone in my car in the parking garage.  Alas, no pictures of the mural (pictures in the exhibit are not allowed).  So, here is this link to a site devoted to Diego Rivera.

There was no shortage of members yesterday viewing the exhibit.  Long lines even with our timed tickets.  Parking was a disaster with some folks having to park many blocks away.  Freeways were completely closed for repairs and/or construction.  The entrance ramp I needed was closed on my return necessitating a rather detailed and round about way through Wayne State's campus to re-enter the freeway.  All and all - a great day.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Catching up with the News

This morning my local newspaper printed the wrong puzzle grid for the New York Times crossword puzzle.  I put in the first across answer (well, one that fit), but then realized that there were way too many spaces for the down responses.  I thought it might be some kind of rebus. Moving to the next across clue I saw that the numbers of the entire puzzle did not match the numbers of the clues.  Ugh.  Email sent to paper.

So now I have an extra five or so minutes and thought I would sit here and catch up on the news.

First up:  Detroit.  I must say I was really surprised that the jury in the Kilpatrick trial came back with guilty verdicts.  After the mistrial earlier of Bobby Ferguson, I was sure they would be dead-locked again despite the piles of evidence.  But oh ye of little faith, this jury got it right.

Unfortunately, the City is so far down I am not sure how it can rise from the ashes.  And I doubt that the appointment of a 'dictator' is going to make much of a difference.

Speaking of which:  What a slap in the face to every finance person in the entire state that the Governor found it necessary to go Maryland to find an emergency manager to run the City.  Why did Michigan State University waste everyone's time and money training people in the duties of an EM, even if it was under the old public act?

And to compound this folly, the Detroit News discovers that this 'financial genius' who was appointed has tax liens on his home in Maryland for unpaid taxes that he claims he knew nothing about.  The Governor's office says they vetted the candidate and did not discover this.  As I recall they also said they vetted their appointee to the Detroit Financial Advisory Panel who just happened to have ties to the Kilpatrick Civic Fund, which was cited during the Kilpatrick trial as a sort of slush fund for the former Mayor.  You call that vetting?

My suggestion to the Governor's office:  GOOGLE.

In other news, today is the first day of Spring.  It is 21 degrees outside.  Some guy on the radio says this is due to global warming.  I thought that meant it would be warmer?

And closer to home a 75-year old grandmother was found guilty of murdering her 17-year old grandson.  She shot him six times, in self-defense, even while he was on the phone with 911 bleeding and asking for help.  All the excuses aside, including the drug use of the grandson, and blame being placed on the parents who were in Arizona caring for a daughter with cancer, murder is still Murder.  There doesn't seem to be any 'good' excuse for it.  Another jury seems to get it.

Now, I will get my act together and go off to yoga class.  Yesterday my instructor had me demonstrate Warrior III, telling my fellow students that I go to classes four times a week and it takes lots of practice to do it correctly.  I was so pleased with myself that I was doing it in my kitchen last night while waiting for my coffee to brew.

Hope you have a serene and peaceful first day of Spring.

And Now, A Word about my Birthplace

I was born in Saratoga Hospital in the City of Detroit many, many moons ago.  Since we lived at the corner of Fairmount and Regent (though a house was eventually built on the empty corner lot), you could walk there if so inclined.  Alas, with that now being the most dangerous Zip code in the City, you might not want to.

Anyway, I digress from what I really intended to say in this post.

I have not said much about the consent agreement between the State and the City, the subsequent lawsuit and withdrawal, the appointment of the Advisory Board, etc.  So here it is, all in one fell swoop.

The Consent Agreement:  Well, I guess it is better than the Emergency Manager legislation known as Public Act 4.  I'll try to be brief.

The prior legislation, P.A. 72 was quite useless.  My professional organization, the MGFOA, tried to get the law changed in 2004.  The idea was to set up a list of criteria to allow the state to monitor local financial conditions and go in before disaster was ready to strike.  We were told that the State did not have the resources to do that. 

So, in their infinite wisdom, they decided it was better to have a community on the verge of bankruptcy and then step-in and wipe out all vestiges of democracy.  Well, maybe I exaggerate, but you get the point.  Kinda like the parent who waits till his child is already in jail to give any guidance on proper behavior.

Now, there are public petitions to put the P.A. 4 question on the ballot.  The 'powers that be' have declared that the type-face on the petitions was 1/32nd of an inch too small and therefore are invalid.  Stay tuned.  What is even crazier is that the State says if the voters are allowed to vote and the act is thrown-out that we revert to the old P.A. 72 which was repealed.  HUH? 

So, we have a consent agreement.  But, the City's Corporation Counsel sued saying that the State owes Detroit money and therefore, the agreement is not valid.  This got tossed out, but let's face it, the State has not paid any community their Statutory revenue sharing for years, using the excuse that they did not appropriate it, therefore, it is not due.  Gee, can I use that excuse with my bills?

The Advisory Board:  What can I say?  Nine members, none of whom have any local government experience, one with State experience.  Only two live in the City.  One really lives in New York and summers here.  One has ties to the Kilpatrick Civic Fund.  One has degrees in medical technology (so do I) and psychology. 

All the newspapers kept talking about how you had to have ten years of municipal finance experience to be appointed.  Not true based on who was seated. 

Then we have a Program Management Director who tells a local paper that it is now time for him to perform his 'public service'.  What?  He is being paid $220,000 a year in taxpayer funds.  Detroit police and firefighters get paid one-fourth of that to risk their lives every day.  THAT's Public Service! 

I wish this group luck.  They need to focus on public safety and neighborhood stabilization.  Take care of the crime issues.  Negotiate with a utility company to take over the street lighting, or lack thereof.  Privatize the transportation system. 

I keep waiting for the community to re-emerge from the ashes of the 1967 riots.  Maybe they should send a delegation to Berlin, Germany to see how to rebuild.  I've about given up hope.

Detroit - The Comeback City?

I do not subscribe to a lot of magazines.  I get several because I contribute to organizations that publish one.  I am a faithful reader of Bon Appetit, but am liking the app on my Kindle more and more.  I also get the National Geographic Traveler so I can dream.

Imagine my surprise this month when I started reading the latest issue and saw pictures of Detroit.  I looked back at the cover and saw the headline 'Cuba', but there in the corner is America's Surprise Comeback City:

Detroit.  Really?  In National Geographic?  Wow.

Turns out it is a very good article.  Having spent thirteen years of my life working in downtown Detroit, I enjoy reading about places I know well. 

And how did I not know that Mies van der Rohe had designed the Lafayette Towers that I passed every day?  I always thought that when I retired I would move back to the city and these were certainly worth considering.

While I still remember watching my cousin's honeymoon videos of Cuba (circa 1955) and was looking forward to reading about travel there, that feature article definitely placed second to the one about Detroit.  Pick up the magazine and see for yourself.

Interior of the Guardian Building

Lost Detroit - in words and pictures

I am reading a book titled 'Lost Detroit'.  It is a depressing picture of the city I was born in and worked in for many years.  While looking up links for this blog I found a website with even more depressing architectural ruins in our city, though some of the buildings have been restored. 

I was actually in some of these buildings when I went to school in the city and then worked there from 1964-1977.  The sad part is that I never really paid much attention to the architecture.  This from someone whose first career choice had been to study architecture, until one of my drafting teachers told me that women have a hard time getting jobs in the field.  But I was too busy running errands on my lunch hour  back then to take in all that was around me at the time.

I have always been amazed at how we tear stuff down or let our old buildings deteriorate.  We travel off to Europe to see ruins and preserved structures from hundreds of years ago.  And great cities destroyed during the World Wars in Europe are in better shape than Detroit.

No wars in the city.  No damaging weather patterns.  Must be the people.  An attitude of 'newer is better'?  I don't discount the flight to the suburbs.  And changing life styles and traffic patterns.  If no one in Detroit wants to travel by train, you hardly need a depot.

Of course, we can't discount the people who strip these building of copper and other metals once they are empty.  Not that Detroit is alone in its problems.  I know of at least two homes in my subdivision that have had the copper pipes stolen from them.  One just this week.

Everyone likes to blame governments for the problem and they certainly have their fair share of the blame.  Money is not always spent in an appropriate manner.  We have no money to fix our roads but spend millions on roundabouts.  And check out today's Detroit News about wheelchair ramps in vacant neighborhoods. 

But sometimes we need to 'look in the mirror' and see if we have encouraged or condoned behavior that has turned our once great city into a wasteland of abandoned buildings.

It's Over

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra Board has made it official.  The 2011 season is over.  I received two emails this morning announcing the decision and got out my remaining tickets for the year.  I went online and filled out a form for each of my tickets. 

When I was done, an old song popped into my head.  It is an old Eydie Gorme rendition of the Irving Berlin song, 'How About Me'.  It appears on an album from 1966.  So long ago that my vinyl copy is in mono, not stereo.  The first line of the song is 'It's over'.  The last line is 'But how about me?'

And that is just what I was thinking. 

Frankly, I have found I have not missed the symphony, as such.  Especially not not the driving downtown.  I've watched classical performances on TV, listened to my CDs and enjoyed Sirius XM classical in the car.  But there is something exciting about being there in person.  I have been fortunate to have seen many, many artists over the years.  And I have missed that experience this year.

I hope that the musicians have made what they think is the best decision for them.  But in this economic environment, I am not so sure.  Maybe they should have spent less time thinking about 'how about me?' and thought more about the big picture.  I hope that each of them fare well in this decision.