Detroit has been working this “renaissance”-thing since the 1970’s. According to the Detroit News, Detroit Renaissance has named Bill Ford, Jr. of Ford Motor Company the region’s most recently appointed economic savior.

Oh boy, are we in trouble now. Detroit needs reinvention not renaissance. 

During the 1970’s, the Ford’s also spearheaded the ill-fated Renaissance Center project which was supposed to be a ‘city within a city’ and a  response to white flight. The building languished in the 80’s and was taken on by General Motors in the 90’s…so much for a track record or urban renewal.

If I had hope for Detroit (which I do)…it does not rest in naming Bill Ford, Jr head of Detroit Renaissance. He can’t even get the Lions on track.

Why does Detroit keep asking the same people–many of whom are currently case studies in what NOT to do in business–how to revitalize the region?

I will bet anything that regional revitalizing won’t come from Bill Ford or Ford Motor company. They had a day…and it is past.

When I look at the city (AND feel hopeful) I notice the young entrepreneurs who fight everyday against Detroit’s deadly coporate mentality–the restraunteurs, retail outlets and other small enterprises fighting archaic city beaurcracy and an oppressive tax structure. Not the Bill Ford’s of the world or those weilding this nostaligic-Renaissance crap.

Bill Ford, Jr.  should focus on his cars and the family football team.

 “Road to Renaissance”  Oh, please.

 

This entry was posted on Monday, December 11th, 2006 at 6:53 pm and is filed under Detroit Chocolate City. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.