DETROIT HAS SEEN ITS UPS AND DOWNS
by Dave Ponke

Detroit has certainly suffered its financial woes, due in part to money mishandling and the general exodus of taxpaying citizens, it seems. As a whole, the city has kept its head above the rising waters and continues to strive, and thrive, in hopes of a better future.

There has been an incredible amount of greed and selfishness within the leadership in the city of Detroit over the past several years. It is sad and actually disheartening to sit back and watch a once-proud metropolitan city of over 1 million dwindle and shrink not only in population but in its heritage and pride.

There was a time when the city was full of passion and had its share of fine, trusting leadership. These eras are now a slice of a lost and somewhat forgotten past to some, and that in itself is nothing short of tragedy.

The current leaders, as they call themselves, are stricken with monumental tasks of attempting to repair broken lives and budgets, and help keep the current population afloat in the sense they are safe and receive required city services. This is virtually impossible for a city that has amassed multi-million dollars in debt due partly to dishonesty by past leaderships that has taken away the funding that the city people paid taxes for.

We see the news stories almost daily on television and read about them in newspapers and online. School administrator embezzles millions; schools in disrepair due to lack of funding; former mayor steals from his city coffers and submits false tax returns; the list of stories, unfortunately, goes on and on.

Nearly three decades have passed since I resided in a small two-story wooden frame on Detroit’s lower east side. My parents eventually had three more children, and the six of us enjoyed the offerings of the city.

The visits to Belle Isle on a Sunday afternoon were fantastic. Our family piled into the 1967 Pontiac Ventura (barely!) and made the trek across Jefferson to East Grand Boulevard. The zoo and aquarium on the island were always a favorite stop, as was the look at the mounted division of the Detroit Police Department’s horses! And do not forget a stop to the concession stand for a hot dog and ice cream sundae. I can recall the young deer that were seen scattered in the wooded areas, too, that would often allow us a quick view as they scampered across the roads.

Tiger Stadium as a child was a stunning trip, and now an equally stunning memory. The fresh, green grass that welcomed me as I walked out of the dark, dank corridor, and the sunny expanse of a sea of green wooden seats caught my eye; as batting practice took place, the crack of baseball on wood echoed through the ballpark. I can still remember the names on the back of the player’s jerseys: Kaline, Lolich, Freehan, Brown, Stanley, Northrop, Cash, and on and on.

Today the city has its struggles, yet there are still favorable signs of recovery. Despite lowered population, Detroit is still a proud town, with its backbone intact despite recent downfalls. Its skin may be tainted, but its heart remains alive and beating.