tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post2120209385485640056..comments2024-03-20T06:29:27.167-04:00Comments on The Rabbi with a Blog (Rabbi Jason Miller): I'm From Detroit Too: A Response to Toby BarlowRabbi Jason Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-83632512298407793422011-11-23T21:21:39.212-05:002011-11-23T21:21:39.212-05:00I was also curious if Toby Barlow was originally f...I was also curious if Toby Barlow was originally from Detroit. Here's his response : "No, not originally from here. Lived (eight years each) in D.C., Philly, San Francisco and New York before moving here five years ago."Rabbi Jason Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-46052424066634934642011-11-23T18:16:08.072-05:002011-11-23T18:16:08.072-05:00Rabbi Miller I enjoyed your response to Toby Barlo...Rabbi Miller I enjoyed your response to Toby Barlow's post. Not hard to find plenty of opinions on this one. Much of Barlow's post initially rubbed me the wrong way while I read it as a native "Detroiter" myself. I grew up in Farmington Hills and was born in Detroit at Sinai Hospital. My family moved here from New York in 1967 three years before I was born so I don't have personal family connections to the old Detroit before the flight to the suburbs happened and in some ways I feel like my roots are as a New Yorker as much as a Detroiter. So even as someone who has lived here all my life I still don't have the perspective of someone whose parents fled from the city to the suburbs. So it makes me wonder - Did Toby Barlow grow up here? He has the right to his opinion but I'd like to know how much of his actual background has shaped it. I'm just curious. He made reference to "since I moved here" so apparently he's not from the area? That is unless "here" means downtown. Maybe he grew up in the Metro Detroit area and maybe he didn't, but either way I found myself offended at the notion that I must be part of Detroit's problem because I live in the suburbs. I found myself saying "right on" to much of your response... <br /><br />On the other hand..... I will say in Mr. Barlow's defense that I do feel like I know a lot of the people he references who actually deserve to hear this viewpoint because of their irreparably crappy attitude about our very troubled city. There are clearly enough people like that to warrant a commentary like Mr. Barlow's. Maybe he painted suburbanites with too broad a brush, but sometimes that happens when trying to make a point that unfortunately does need to be made. His post certainly has people talking and I think after the initial emotional reaction fades for some, the spotlight he has put on the good things happening in Detroit will have some positive effect. You need to slap people upside the head sometimes to get their attention and that's exactly what he's done.<br /><br />I guess in the final analysis I see both sides of the argument... Good stuff. :-)Doug Cohenhttp://www.frameablefaces.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-18565455681174207242011-11-22T14:38:55.358-05:002011-11-22T14:38:55.358-05:00AMEN. Great comment. The good news is that this is...AMEN. Great comment. The good news is that this is happening. I'll be in the City on Thursday for the Lions game. Think about all the money that used to pour into the suburban city of Pontiac for Detroit Lions football games (from the parking to the concessions to the cost of the tickets and souvenirs). Now all that money goes Downtown.<br /><br />Dan Gilbert and Peter Karmanos have brought A LOT of workers Downtown. If they stay late at work and grab dinner Downtown instead of in Southfield, that's more money in the city. If they join a fitness club in the City instead of a suburban club close to home, that's more money in the city. <br /><br />It will happen. It will take time. It's important for people like Toby Barlow to understand that we don't all have to move to Downtown for a renaissance to occur. And if he is condescending to those who live in the suburbs but still love to come to Downtown, it will have a negative effect (and I know that's not his intention).Rabbi Jason Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-648534620271879982011-11-22T14:38:39.336-05:002011-11-22T14:38:39.336-05:00This article proves 8 mile is a huge socioeconomi...This article proves 8 mile is a huge socioeconomic gap. Put your money where your mouth is and lead the effort to get old money into the city. As you mentioned numerous times in the article, the city's "bruises" won't be fixed by young people with low incomes. Detroit has money, unfortunately it is not within its borders. Detroit needs to do a better job at reinvesting in itself and stop the population from spreading farther and farther out.goodsimonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-3953454587947410122011-11-22T14:30:19.835-05:002011-11-22T14:30:19.835-05:00Hi Reginald,
Thanks for reading and for your comm...Hi Reginald,<br /><br />Thanks for reading and for your comment.<br /><br />I actually wasn't inferring that African-Americans and other minorities receive the bulk of city contracts. I should have been clearer. I was referring to the difficulty for business owners who don't live in the City to get contracts. My friend worked for Mayor Ken Cockrell, Jr. and tells many stories that back this up. The positive way of saying this is that Detroit takes good care of its own. The problem is that the best company or person for a job might be coming from outside of the City, but it is very difficult for them to get a city contract. In fact, my friend who worked for Mayor Cockrell had to be a mayoral appointee rather than a contractor because he lives in Oak Park and would never be confirmed. I've heard a story about an aerobics instructor from the suburbs who was going to be hired at a Detroit community center, but the City Council refused her on the grounds that there must be an aerobics instructor who lived in the City who could fill this position. You can look into this yourself by researching the towing companies that have city contracts in Detroit and see if there are any towing companies owned by non-city residents.Rabbi Jason Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-21090524372042331182011-11-22T14:22:13.899-05:002011-11-22T14:22:13.899-05:00Hi Rabbi,
I read your response to the Huffington ...Hi Rabbi,<br /><br />I read your response to the Huffington Post article and I found it well written and factual. That is, until the part where you wrote " just ask business leaders how hard it is to get city contracts". You are inferring that African-Americans and other minorities receive the bulk of city contracts. I am a General Contractor who bids on City of Detroit,as well as Detroit Public Schools contracts. My first hand experience has shown that over eighty five per cent of all major contracts and dollars go to majority firms. <br /><br />One may argue "why" the majority of contracts go to majority firms, but the facts are that a majority firm has a better chance of getting a contract than a majority firm. To say anything otherwise is misleading.<br /><br />I will continue to read your blogs. I find them to be interesting and educational. Best to you and your family this Thanksgiving.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Reginald RoquemoreReginald Roquemorenoreply@blogger.com