Michigan Needs Detroit to Succeed

(Courtesy of Lansing State Journal)
by Tom Watkins

No one coming to our rescue. What we once had in Detroit and the state of Michigan is gone. This is our new reality. What we make of it is up to us.

While we may wish a superhero would arrive to solve our woes; we know that is make believe. We are the rescue team.



Giving the people of Detroit and Michigan something to believe in again is an important task of the next mayor of Detroit, Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr and Gov. Rick Snyder.

Many people across the city and state have lost their jobs, homes and savings. Now, some may even lose their hard earned pensions in bankruptcy. They are angry and are losing hope.
In spite of the challenges, there are hints of rejuvenation across Detroit and throughout Michigan.

Detroit and Michigan have been at the eye of the storm losing jobs and the state has only recently begun to replace them.

We have witnessed nearly a million jobs evaporate and our property values competed with our 401(k) plans to see which could fall faster. To say it has been years of loss and anger for far too many would be an understatement. We should get a state discount on grief counseling.

Now, we are beginning to crawl back.

The nation was near euphoric with the election of President Obama in 2008. With the historic election of the first black president, it seemed like all things were possible once again.

Yet, as the economy continued to implode, hope gave way to fear and later anger. Anger at the bankers and Wall Street investors who got bailed out while average people were left feeling like their American Dream was sold out.

Snyder and Orr did not create Michigan’s or Detroit’s mess — but they, along with a new mayor and City Council will be responsible for cleaning it up.

My mom had an old pressure cooker that allowed just enough steam to escape that the entire pot did not explode. Let’s hope the up coming election and city bankruptcy proceedings will provide the release of enough steam so that Detroit’s new mayor can channel our collective energy to putting the once proud city back to work — on multiple levels.

Emergency Manager Orr and new mayor have a tightrope to walk over the next several months balancing rhetoric and actions between necessary, painful changes in how the city operates and lifting the spirits by inspiring a belief that our best days lie ahead.

Orr possesses a mandate to restructure, reform and reinvent this great city. Yet mandates have a way of only lasting until the pain of change and sacrifice materialize.

Given the lack of action on necessary reform going back decades, the changes will not come without pain.
Snyder, Kevyn Orr and the current (or next) mayor did not create Detroit’s mess — but collectively, they will be responsible for cleaning it up.

No, none are “Superman.” They cannot reinvent Detroit alone. Everyone in Detroit, the region and across Michigan should be called upon, like JFK’s famous “Ask not ...” inauguration address, to help restore the hope and pride in our ability to prosper once again. If mobilized, together, we have the power to restore hope, and get the city of Detroit — and Michigan working again.

Tom Watkins is a U.S./China business and educational consultant. He formerly was state superintendent of schools mental health director. He can be reached at tdwatkins88@gmail.com or on Twitter @tdwatkins88.

Reference Link: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20130818/COLUMNISTS13/308180075/Tom-Watkins-Michigan-needs-Detroit-succeed