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One of the big problems with Detroit is that it's missing people to pay taxes into the system. That means the remaining people have to pay higher share of taxes

One of the big problems with Detroit is that it's missing people to pay taxes into the system. That means the remaining people have to pay higher share of taxes for infrastructure that's supposed to support far more people. A solution could be asking immigrants to live there and giving them an accelerated citizenship schedule. If they live in Detroit for X years, they qualify to become citizens. That'll bring an influx of new people who will pay taxes, start new businesses and work at all levels of the economy.

bilbo0s 12y ago
I think this is the same as the idea of the Governor and the President. There are a lot of issues with it, but the main one I see is the jobs issue. Typically, immigrants move to places where jobs are plentiful. With a program like this, you are moving immigrants to a place, and then ASSUMING that jobs will follow. I'm not sure it works like this. I think places like San Fran, Chicago and Boston for instance, all draw a lot of immigrants because there are a large number of open jobs in these places. Historically speaking... setting up immigrant neighborhoods in the absence of jobs has proven to be a bad idea. If you have to use governmental incentives, and I'm not saying you do, but if you are going to use governmental incentives... I think a BETTER approach would be to give the incentives to companies and startups. If companies and startups come to Detroit, then people will follow to fill any jobs these enterprises create. I don't think you need to put forth more governmental incentives to INDIVIDUALS to live in Detroit. (In fact, I think that's been a big problem in Detroit in recent history). If you want healthy growth... it really does need to be predicated on a diverse and vibrant private sector. Now if you are absolutely bent on providing incentives to individuals, then Detroit should provide the incentives to recent college grads, or other young people to come to Detroit to try to make a go of a startup. Everything from free healthcare to nearly-free office space in some of the many available buildings just outside the development zones, (or even inside of the zones???), could be offered to them on a first come first served basis. Such an offer would, I think, be well received by today's young people given the troubles they are experiencing in the job market.
- MichaelApproved 12y ago
  Great reply, thanks. With regards to "setting up immigrant neighborhoods in the absence of jobs has proven to be a bad idea." what's an example of this? I'm curious about what's been tried in the past.

bilbo0s 12y ago

I think this is the same as the idea of the Governor and the President. There are a lot of issues with it, but the main one I see is the jobs issue. Typically, immigrants move to places where jobs are plentiful. With a program like this, you are moving immigrants to a place, and then ASSUMING that jobs will follow. I'm not sure it works like this. I think places like San Fran, Chicago and Boston for instance, all draw a lot of immigrants because there are a large number of open jobs in these places. Historically speaking... setting up immigrant neighborhoods in the absence of jobs has proven to be a bad idea. If you have to use governmental incentives, and I'm not saying you do, but if you are going to use governmental incentives... I think a BETTER approach would be to give the incentives to companies and startups. If companies and startups come to Detroit, then people will follow to fill any jobs these enterprises create. I don't think you need to put forth more governmental incentives to INDIVIDUALS to live in Detroit. (In fact, I think that's been a big problem in Detroit in recent history). If you want healthy growth... it really does need to be predicated on a diverse and vibrant private sector. Now if you are absolutely bent on providing incentives to individuals, then Detroit should provide the incentives to recent college grads, or other young people to come to Detroit to try to make a go of a startup. Everything from free healthcare to nearly-free office space in some of the many available buildings just outside the development zones, (or even inside of the zones???), could be offered to them on a first come first served basis. Such an offer would, I think, be well received by today's young people given the troubles they are experiencing in the job market.

MichaelApproved 12y ago
Great reply, thanks. With regards to "setting up immigrant neighborhoods in the absence of jobs has proven to be a bad idea." what's an example of this? I'm curious about what's been tried in the past.