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comment by Mindwolf
Mindwolf  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Mike Ilitch driven to rebuild Detroit
It's still a very prevalent meme that Detroit is a like living in a Mad Max movie. I've worked in Downtown Detroit for many years and I love the city. My wife is still afraid of it though.




thenewgreen  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Does your wife have an experience that made her afraid of it or is it because of the "meme"? Too bad, there are some great restaurants, outdoor concerts, shows, sporting events etc.
Mindwolf  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
I don't think she has a true experience but a belief that has stuck with her from when she was a child.
thenewgreen  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
I completely understand. I grew up in Michigan and always heard of the dangers of Detroit. Mostly from nightly local news.
b_b  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
    My wife is still afraid of it though.

There are so many people in the burbs that are afraid of Detroit only because that is the narrative that they are told for so long. I grew up in Oakland County, and you are told, explicitly and implicitly, not to go downtown. You'll get robbed or murdered as soon as you leave your car. But check this out!

thenewgreen  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Crime mapping is an often under appreciated advancement for society. I once saw Rudy Giuliani speak and he referenced it as the leading reason his administration was able to cut crime in NYC.
b_b  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Yeah, they based this system on NYC's.
Mindwolf  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
There's been a lot of talk lately that crime mapping has been used for racial profiling so it's got a pretty good rap lately
thenewgreen  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Crime mapping is based on where crimes have occurred, no? How could that be profiling of race? I guess it's the old chicken and the egg conundrum.
Mindwolf  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Crime mapping in NY is more of a racial profiling motive under a more friendly name.
thenewgreen  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Huh, I didn't realize that. It seems to have had a positive impact on the entire city though. right? How is it racial profiling? Not saying it isn't, I just haven't heard of it in this context before.
Mindwolf  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
It's tough to say. There are also a lot of measures that area that are causing potential problems. Frisks without warrants, for one.
b_b  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
There's a big law enforcement problem, however, because the overwhelming majority of crime, both violent and non-violent, in Detroit is committed by blacks (disproportionate to the already large majority of citizens blacks constitute). If you're a police officer, how do you separate the idealist notion that everyone is equal from the reality that disparities in crime rates among racial groups are very pronounced?
Mindwolf  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Before the recession started, Detroit was 80% black. Statistically it would not be surprising that 80% of crime is caused by blacks. But that is no reason to assume that someone is up to no good because they are black.
thenewgreen  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
If you're going to "pat someone down" you had better have probable cause beyond "that guy looks suspicious".
Mindwolf  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
It's called the "Stop and Frisk" Program.
thenewgreen  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Thanks, now I know about this. I appreciate it.
Mindwolf  ·  4843 days ago  ·  link  ·  
I saw that. I'm currently in the interview process for a job at Quicken Loans. I'm hoping for the job not only because it's a really good job but also because it gets me back downtown.