We got here yesterday afternoon and had dinner at The Commensal, a wonderful veggie buffet we remember from years ago in Montreal. Toronto appears to be a creative cit, we'll be here until Saturday and will send reports. We are staying in a lively multicultural neoighborhood, which appears so far to be home to folks from India, the Carribean, Central America, and Canada. Very cool, more to come.
You've probably heard horror stories about Detroit. Parts of it are, indeed rough. Kate's old pal Carolyn drove us around, and we passed through one very rundown neighborhood. There is a building that is crumbling, there's rubble on the sidewalk that apparently hit people. Carolyn says there are people in this neighborhood who set fires to express anger. They live close to very wealthy neighborhoods and are angry about the loss of manufacturing jobs, among other things. Desperation is real.
Other neighborhoods are doing well, and I don't just mean rich ones. We passed through middle and working class communities that seem quite healthy. There is also a very nice waterfront, and we visited an excellent science musem. Things seem mixed... as they do in many cities. People are coping well.
I forgot to mention... when we drove through the beautiful lakeside town of Pentwater, Michigan, we saw a demonstration of teachers who are opposing cuts to public education.
The governor of Michigan can appoint an emergency manager to a town or school district, this
person's rule will be law. S/he might get rid of collective bargaining rights, pensions, etc.
This has happened to a poor black community in Michigan. This is talked about in other states around the Great Lakes, and I think they mentioned Pennsylvania... any comments, Pennsylvania crew? We chatted with them for a while and said we'd spread the word. Be vigilant, folks, times are very frightening.
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