Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

[Sapiens]

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/inde...n_offthec.html

Off-the-cuff suggestion prompts discussion on what to do with abandoned neighborhoods in Flint


...

FLINT, Michigan -- Look in any direction from Bianca Bates' north Flint home, and you'll see graffiti-covered siding, boarded-up windows and overgrown lots.

About half of the homes on her block are burned out or vacant magnets for drug dealers and squatters. It isn't where she thought she'd end up, but it's all she can afford to rent.

"It's a dangerous place to live," said Bates, 21, who lives on East Russell Avenue. "Everywhere you look, these houses are empty around here."

Property abandonment is getting so bad in Flint that some in government are talking about an extreme measure that was once unthinkable -- shutting down portions of the city, officially abandoning them and cutting off police and fire service.

Temporary Mayor Michael Brown made the off-the-cuff suggestion Friday in response to a question at a Rotary Club of Flint luncheon about the thousands of empty houses in Flint.

Brown said that as more people abandon homes, eating away at the city's tax base and creating more blight, the city might need to examine "shutting down quadrants of the city where we (wouldn't) provide services."

He did not define what that could mean -- bulldozing abandoned areas, simply leaving the vacant homes to rot or some other idea entirely.

...

[cjppjc]

Re: Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

You can't cut off police, fire, and emergency rescue. My God I don't think they did that in Beruit.

[Sapiens]

Re: Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

You can't cut off police, fire, and emergency rescue. My God I don't think they did that in Beruit.

See, that is the problem with the Lebanese, they fail to understand that Capitalism is all about profit…:rolleyes:

[GRG55]

Re: Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/inde...n_offthec.html

Interesting new interpretation of "downsizing".

Maybe Obama can solve several problems at once...help out the Mayor of Flint by providing the 'dozers. He could buy them from that CAT factory in France, and secure the release of the hostages at the same time. What's not to like?

[Jay]

Re: Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

See, that is the problem with the Lebanese, they fail to understand that Capitalism is all about profit…:rolleyes:

It's a step away from "Escape from New York!" They just need a big fence.

[Sapiens]

Re: Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

Interesting new interpretation of "downsizing".

Maybe Obama can solve several problems at once...help out the Mayor of Flint by providing the 'dozers. He could buy them from that CAT factory in France, and secure the release of the hostages at the same time. What's not to like?

Slow down GRG55, you may work yourself out of a job, and as its stands the dole is already busted.

[GRG55]

Re: Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

Slow down GRG55, you may work yourself out of a job, and as its stands the dole is already busted.

Just tryin' to find creative solutions. Those boyz and girlz in London seem locked into some pretty conventional thinking.

[Sharky]

Re: Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

The solution to Flint's problems is easy:

1. The state officially takes possession of all property with unpaid property taxes.

2. An announcement is made the area will not receive public support, including police, fire or emergency services, within specific geographic areas. Call it a "special economic zone."

3. The state officially puts its support behind modern-day homesteading. If you occupy a deserted property for 5 years, then you own it, free and clear.

Then just step back. You'd be amazed how much differently people will act if they know they are truly on their own. The whole area will either clean itself up or go up in a ball of smoke.

Odds of this being acceptable to politicians: zero.

[Thailandnotes]

Re: Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

In the mid 1600’s Dutch settlers built a 12-foot high wall along a dirt road in Manhattan. The wall was to keep Indians, Brits, and other riff-raff out. Everyone threw their trash over the wall creating a huge mess. Out of sight, out of mind except for the stench. The street became known as Wall Street. The wall was finally dismantled in the 1690's.

[flintlock]

Re: Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

In the mid 1600’s Dutch settlers built a 12-foot high wall along a dirt road in Manhattan. The wall was to keep Indians, Brits, and other riff-raff out. Everyone threw their trash over the wall creating a huge mess. Out of sight, out of mind except for the stench. The street became known as Wall Street. The wall was finally dismantled in the 1690's.

But the garbage is still there!

[don]

Re: Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

The solution to Flint's problems is easy:

1. The state officially takes possession of all property with unpaid property taxes.

2. An announcement is made the area will not receive public support, including police, fire or emergency services, within specific geographic areas. Call it a "special economic zone."

3. The state officially puts its support behind modern-day homesteading. If you occupy a deserted property for 5 years, then you own it, free and clear.

Then just step back. You'd be amazed how much differently people will act if they know they are truly on their own. The whole area will either clean itself up or go up in a ball of smoke.

Odds of this being acceptable to politicians: zero.

Most local politicians make their dough in backroom real estate deals. You're right, this is a no go... big time

[staci_vay]

Re: Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

Don't worry eveyone, things are looking much brighter. Heck, we just created $100 trillion of notional value for banks balance sheets. With the stoke of a pen, our new FASB mark to magic rule has been enacted. I am sure all that new "value" will allow banks to start lending again as thier CDS will now be valuable and balance sheets have been shored up.

I can't beleive this is the America I live in. Everyone states how the eastern bloc countries had corrupt governments, but they are no match for the good ole USA. Is this the last money grab the bankers will make before the system implodes?

When will this country wake up? Where is the outrage? Why are people from Flint not picketing everyday? I call/write to my legislators weekly. Of course I get the usual "canned" responses.

[gwynedd1]

Re: Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

The solution to Flint's problems is easy:

1. The state officially takes possession of all property with unpaid property taxes.

2. An announcement is made the area will not receive public support, including police, fire or emergency services, within specific geographic areas. Call it a "special economic zone."

3. The state officially puts its support behind modern-day homesteading. If you occupy a deserted property for 5 years, then you own it, free and clear.

Then just step back. You'd be amazed how much differently people will act if they know they are truly on their own. The whole area will either clean itself up or go up in a ball of smoke.

Odds of this being acceptable to politicians: zero.

Hi Sharky;

You are of course absolutely correct. Slaves gravitate towards subsistence. Make it an "enterprise zone".

[blazespinnaker]

Re: Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/inde...n_offthec.html

This is hardly new. They've done this in other towns. Bulldozing is a big part of it. They provide incentives for people to vacate.

State police will take over.

[rj1]

Re: Flint MI Considers Officially Abandoning Parts of City

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/inde...n_offthec.html

I've been thinking about this, looking at some of the derelict areas in some cities. Why not just bulldoze it, clear the land, and it's just grass instead of having to worry about a house being there.