Why Is Detroit So (2024)

UbuTheDog said:

I'm a native of Detroit and agree with what you're describing. It's a very toxic region in general.

It's a combination of factors. The slow/gradual decline of the auto industry has put everyone on edge, as those dollars aren't flowing like they were in year's past with fewer jobs & businesses. It's also uber-segregated due to bad blood from years past with Coleman Young, L. Brooks Patterson, the 1967 riots, etc.

I also think everyone is sort of bitter over the region's slide into irrelevancy as the city's population has collapsed from nearly 2 million to under 700K ans the metro area has gone from 5th largest in 1980 to barely 14th largest in 2020. To put things in perspective, Atlanta, Phoenix, Miami, Houston and Dallas were all small country-ass backwater towns in 1980 and folks in Detroit would have laughed if you talked about moving to any of them.

There's also the weather too. Not so much the snow, but the constant overcast/gloomy skies from November to April because of Lake Effect Clouds. You just feel emotionally drained when it's always dark. Us black folks in particular are already Vitamin D deficient and going several months without much sun only adds insult to injury. At least in places like Seatlle, you can make up for the constant overcast/gloomy skies with the beautiful scenery, plentiful job opportunities and a vibrant city. All you get in Detroit is flatness with everything being run down and blighted

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Thank you please send flyer to the delusional people in the back. We’re moving in two months. Can’t wait to leave this sh*t hole.