Detroit Needs to Focus on Public Behavior

Fox 2 Viewer Commentary - What was great about Detroit?

Mayor Young / Motown / Cars / Driving under Jefferson Ave going to Belle Isle blowing the horn and yelling loud as you can to hear the echo / Belle Isle had horse back, picnicking, canoes, good fishing all over, aquarium, I could go on and on but last...Ms Budweiser speed boat:) / Christmas display at Hudsons Dept store, A Tigers game, especially bat day or BBQing in the back yard listening to Ernie Harwell on the radio coming from about 5 different backyards, man that was summer. / As a kid actually seeing Motown stars in the neighborhoods. / All the little corner stores with 5 for a penny candy, nestled in the middle of neighborhoods. / Olympia Stadium, concerts Chicago, Grand Funk whole lot more. / Vernors and Sanders on Woodward. / Fisher Body Plant / Air Shows at city airport / State Fair / I will stop now, I feel a tear.

What is great about Detroit?

The base people who live, work and play here and are retired here. The majority of the people in Detroit are nice people, friendly, courteous these are the people who come out during special events and occasions which leads to rave reviews from out of towners. All of the events , fireworks, campus martius, river walk African and Science Museums, DIA, I go to all. The River, Belle Isle to name a few. Detroit is making moves forward in small steps, we have the base to be great again.

What is your idea to make Detroit great?

We need people to flock to Detroit the way they do and myself to Royal Oak and other places to spend our money. Why? At River Walk having a very nice time with the family, here comes a group of young men with the worse language you can imagine. This around kids, seniors, couples and it is loud and it is repeated over and over. You don't say anything in fear of getting into a fight or worse shot.

Royal Oak is not heaven but in all of the years I've spent time with the family and the fellas there, I have never experienced anything remotely close to what I got at River Walk. I still attend the festivals and everything else about Detroit, I just attend early and go home early. I know it's wishful thinking but I wish areas like River Walk could have a more constant police presence in the area. Our waters looking into Canada is a beautiful sight at night but not when you're scared to be there. Thats what happened to the State Fair where I saw the Jackson-5 live as a kid, people got tired of hoodlums cussing and showing ahead in line and daring anyone to tell.

The Gangs flashing signs to each other on rides while they shout profanity, I had to stop going myself. We need a heavy police presence to deter criminal activity not only downtown but in our neighborhoods, then people will come outside again.

As an ex-teacher most are scared to death in their classrooms because of the same thing. Class clowns and disruptions prevent student from learning what they should. We don't hear about it because teachers are afraid of retaliation if the tell. Start schools for students to attend that are very strict in their policies. This weeds out the class clowns and others who cause disruptions, giving those students who are there to learn a chance to do so.

I have so much more to say about the city I was born and raised in and that I love. No matter what they say, I'm proud to BE from the "D"