Detroit - bankrupt

So, the city of Detroit, once the mecca of the automobile industry, has declared bankruptcy. This happened only a couple of years after its Big 3 auto companies also went insolvent, and were then bailed out by taxpayers, along with the banks.

So, what now?

I hate to see things fail, because people's lives are affected by the job loss and decay of cities. But in this case, Detroit needed to fail, in order to rise again, like the proverbial phoenix from its own ashes.

How do I propose it should happen?

Revitalize the downtown core, much like my designs for compact cities.

The car is the outdated way of thinking, much like a suburbia dependent on fossil fuels. In order for Detroiters and Michiganders to help rebuild, they need to start thinking globally, and acting locally. (Yes, I borrowed that bit from Green Party policy.)

It appears to be already starting, with fresh new investment in start-up companies, so that's something encouraging.But I would like to see more, of course. 

I would like to see crumbling towers either reinforced or brought down so that new ones could be built, to house things like vertical farms. Detroiters growing their own food would not have to pile into their GMC Sierras just to go shopping if this happened. Just take your own cart to the store. What about during a harsh Detroit winter, you say? Well, I added covered sky bridges for a reason – to keep the elements out of our way.

I have a simple pledge for Detroit, and other cities that are struggling. Look inward to your people, and you will find strength.