| Author | Message | ||
     Anonymous |
As an old lifetime resident of Macomb County, I have fond memories of Belle Isle. As a child I would visit my grandmother in Detroit and it was a great thrill when one of my aunts would take me to Belle Isle. At first we had to ride a boat to get there. We would visit the aquarium, the conservatory, or just watch the freighters pass. Later the Dossin Museum was part of the attraction. When Coleman Young was mayor, the Huron Clinton Metropolitan Authority, funded by .25 mill tax in perpetuity, wanted to "take over" the island. Young then made his famous statement refusing. Do the people of the City of Detroit care about the island? Why is it we, the suburbanites, are the ones fighting to keep the island's treasures? Because we do care and had the Huron Clinton Metro been allowed to "adopt" Belle Isle, it would not be close to becoming extinct now. | ||
| Detroiter |
Don't pat yourself on the back too hard, burbie. Detroiters DO CARE!! It's easy to scream about how the city should do something when you only drive in once a year, and don't pay city taxes, and don't face other pending problems like bus service, trash collection, etc. Give us a break! Detroit houses half the population the city was originally built for, and now half the resources to maintain it. Why don't you ask our "cool" governor why SHE doesn't care about Belle Isle. | ||
| Jennifer Boardman |
Dear Detroiter - our "cool" governor did release an important letter of support specifically to the Belle Isle Aquarium.. (See our home page for the complete letter) It's the mayor we need to fall in step with the people he represents, and get Mr. Kagan's grandiose dream in check. Today at the aquarium we had 2005 patrons. I am from the burbs, but chose to work in the City for many years (in the Ford Building) and although I lived in the burbs and I paid City taxes. I love Detroit, and want to help it. Who cares where we live. I know Detroiters care. I spent 7 hours at the aquarium today talking with them. I know they are outraged at the idea of losing the aquarium. They donated generously, they offered their assistance, they gave us ideas and they signed up to volunteer. I will be contacting each of them. Detroiters want to preserve what's left on Belle Isle for THEMSELVES, and for US Burbies, and for everyone. Mayors come and go, and will go. We will find private funding, we are raising money, we are willing to step up to the plate. Are you willing to help? If so, please contact me personally, Jennifer@belleisleaquarium.com. I would love to talk with you and have you get involved. | ||
| Dawn |
Dear Detroiter - Don't strain yourself patting yourself on the back either. Detroit is in the sorry state it's in primarily because people are leaving by the thousands - and they're going to the burbs. What's left is an astounding illiteracy rate and residents who time and again vote criminals into public office. Truly the only way Detroit will come back is for the people to come back. And the poisionous attitude of Detroiters to sit on their brains, point across Woodward and boldly say "you're not one of us" and "you're not welcome" and "it's all your fault" is ridiculous and suicide. Coleman Young must be looking up and smiling. I was born in Detroit, and my parents were part of the "white flight". But as an adult I moved back to the city. I love this city. But until we address all the reasons its failing, we can never improve. People have to come back, which means they have to come back from somewhere. That somewhere is the burbs. No one will come back (unless you're nuts like me) when you are made out to be the enemy. We are one place, one metropolitan area. Chicago doesn't battle between the city and suburbs. New Yorkers don't either, they are all bourrougs of NYC. Lets grow up and join the rest of the world. If we do, everybody wins. |
