Content area
Full Text
I visited Cleveland a few years ago. As I was heading toward downtown I noticed a sign that showed pictures of blighted structures. There was a quote at the bottom of the sign which read, "Cheer up - we are not Detroit!" I guess all major U.S. cities can say the same thing. Nowhere in this nation is a city so ravaged with blight, poverty, drugs, violence, crime and hopelessness than Detroit, Mich. It didn't happen overnight but the disaster is just about complete.
I lived five years in Detroit. It was the city where I met the love of my life, beautiful Kay DeBow, a native of Indianapolis. Gone are the days of great night clubs such as My Fair Lady, Lafayette Orleans, etc. There were so many pretty girls and before Kay, I tried to love each and every one of them. The city had many challenges during the late 1970s and early 1980s but the people were tough and proud. Just like today, they ignored the ills. But now the ills are too big to ignore.
In 1950, the census reported Detroit had a population of 2 million. Today, there are less than 700,000 residents and that number is dropping as you...