Detroit bankruptcy

[hybridbear]

So sad what's happened in the Detroit metro area. A large city going bankrupt like that is historic. I feel for the ppl who live in Detroit or the metro area and have seen its demise.

[neod192]

Yup ... it's all over the news. The mayor went to jail, the city went bankrupt ...

[MaineFusion]

There's no guidebook on how to shrink the size of a city and Detroit is just covers way too big of an area and has way too much infrastructure for its population base. If they could just magically condense the population to a more manageable size they could plow under large swaths of the city and allow nature to reclaim the land. The problem is how to you convince those people who remain to give up their homes to move to a more populated area of the city? Also, how do you decide which sections of the city to "abandon" and which to save? Those are some pretty tough issues to address.

[rjent]

I really hate to sound like a doomsdayer, but I think we will see many more in the same boat over the next couple of years. The country is a changing .... :(

[acdii]

Looks like cities and states that are in the red are mostly Democratic run, so the only way this could end is to kick them out, however, the other side is getting just as bad. We need fresh blood all around to clean this mess up, and fewer of them too. Between the unions, the retirement plans, and the wasteful spending it doesnt take much imagination to see where it all went.

[kuzzi]

Detroit better prepare to become the new North Houston, this place is expanding like crazy. Just started construction on our 3rd loop (Grand Parkway) in my area, it's already finished in the west and east.

[rjent]

Detroit better prepare to become the new North Houston, this place is expanding like crazy. Just started construction on our 3rd loop (Grand Parkway) in my area, it's already finished in the west and east.

How is it being funded? Bankruptcy is Bankruptcy, and also, you guys have gone from 2 million people to 700,000 in the last decade, what is driving the growth?

[kuzzi]

I'm in Houston, I meant Houston is expanding like crazy, sorry. I also meant to include MaineFusion's comment about supporting infrastructure being a nightmare. Grand Pkwy is going to be a toll road and bond funded (and I'm pretty sure theres some pot sweetening somewhere as always). Harris County Toll Road Authority has said that once these toll roads are paid off, they will become free and transfer ownership to govt. entities, but supporting this kind of infrastructure (especially with how well maintained the tolls roads are here) I know they will never make enough money to cover the building and operating costs of any of these roads. So as long as the economy here is doing well, people will make enough money to live in the surrounding area and use the everlasting toll roads.

[corncobs]

Harris County Toll Road Authority has said that once these toll roads are paid off, they will become free and transfer ownership to govt. entities, but supporting this kind of infrastructure (especially with how well maintained the tolls roads are here) I know they will never make enough money to cover the building and operating costs of any of these roads.

They said the same thing when toll roads around Chicago were installed and they are still here and here to stay.

[hermans]

They said the same thing when toll roads around Chicago were installed and they are still here and here to stay.

Every time someone runs for Governor in New Jersey they campaign on removing the tools from the Garden State Parkway. They have never fulfilled that campaign promise....it's a laugh and a half.

[acdii]

Every time someone runs for Governor in New Jersey they campaign on removing the tools from the Garden State Parkway. They have never fulfilled that campaign promise....it's a laugh and a half.

Well now THERES the problem, too many tools in office! :)

 

In a way I dont mind paying the tolls around here, the roads are always in pretty good shape and are not paid for by taxes( I think). They are also expanding I90 between Elgin and Rockford and adding in an interchange were it is really needed. Other than certain times of the day when too many stupid people are on the road all trying to be in one place at the same time, the travel on the toll roads is rather quick and smooth.

[djminfll]

I-95 is famous as being one of the worst highways - irregular paving, constantly under construction but never looking or riding like new, lane diversions and blockages, and people who drive like there are no rules whatsoever. Whenever possible, I am more than willing to pay the toll to take the turnpike instead of I-95! In addition to the turnpike being in better condition, there is also less traffic since people prefer not to pay the toll.

[TX NRG]

They said the same thing when toll roads around Chicago were installed and they are still here and here to stay.

The Chicago and Cook County politicians made many promises they can't keep. They negotiate their own salaries, bloated pensions and hire their unemployable friends and relatives for hand-out IDOT and city jobs then run out of other people's money and can't meet those promises. That's what happens when the checks and balances are replaced with rubber stamps (same in Detroit). Sold off the parking meters and now looking to sell Midway airport to raise funds!

 

I was on 355 today which was in great shape (it's still new) but 294 was in pretty poor condition. They will never be able to remove those tolls because the state is effectively fiscally bankrupt and can't support the cost of bonds with a junk bond interest rate to rebuild/repair it and can't pay it's current bills for maintenance. Quite sad how they robbed and ran these two once great cities into the ground.

[mokee]

The Chicago and Cook County politicians made many promises they can't keep. They negotiate their own salaries, bloated pensions and hire their unemployable friends and relatives for hand-out IDOT and city jobs then run out of other people's money and can't meet those promises. That's what happens when the checks and balances are replaced with rubber stamps (same in Detroit). Sold off the parking meters and now looking to sell Midway airport to raise funds!

 

 

That's the "Chicago Way". Hmmmm! The current resident of the White House made his political bones in Chicago and Crook county politics.

[acdii]

 

 

That's the "Chicago Way". Hmmmm! The current resident of the White House made his political bones in Chicago and Crook county politics.

And it shows.