Former Detroiter, now living in New York, comes back for the auto show
and sympathizes with his former city's plight. Says Detroit has to
think toward the future, a future without cars.
Excerpt:
Michiganders look at the general plan to rescue Detroit, the
industry, and see that it runs counter, at least in part, to the needs
of Detroit, the city. Congress hasn’t asked the Big Three to crank up new factories in Michigan.
In
1927, The New York Times called Detroiters “the most prosperous slice
of average humanity that now exists or has ever existed.” If Detroit
ever again deserves such lofty accolades, it won’t be for screwing cars
together. Whether the Big Three survive or not, Detroiters must know
it’s time to punch out. Fewer of the next generation will walk through
factory doors to take their place alongside fathers, brothers and
friends.
Now this sounds like heresy. But the sooner the city
gets used to the idea, the brighter its prospects. For Detroit to have
a future, it has to imagine what the future might look like without
cars.
Read the entire article
here.
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