News Flash: We are not out to get you, Detroit!

To all of you who live in the suburbs with me, perhaps we need to be more clear to our friends in Detroit: you matter to us; the city matters to us and yes, we do want to help the city and see it thrive!

I have lived in a suburb of Detroit most of my life and, like Detroit residents, have many fond memories of the city and am proud to call it my own. When in another country or state and asked where I am from, I don’t tell people “Northville” but rather I proudly state “Detroit”. In my mind I link myself with this motor city, the birthplace of Motown, and actually kind of like the blue collar, gritty reputation “we” have.

So, because I wear my “Say Nice Things About Detroit” t-shirt everywhere I go, I get a bit miffed when I read in the newspaper, that the city thinks that we in the suburbs, and don’t even mention the state government, are out to get them. It just isnt’ true. We are zoo members, we love and want to see Belle Isle revive, we enjoy the Riverwalk and are proud of the DIA. We love the Tigers, Red Wings, Lions and Pistons (not in any particular order) and support them as fiercely as they do.

It’s time to be friends. And friends help each other. One friend offers help and the other graciously accepts! While there always seems to be politics involved, Governor Snyder and his folks in Lansing are truly trying to help and not just because they care about Detroit but because they care about Michigan which is the Mitten that we all wear. We are all from the state of Michigan and if one of us fails, it chips away at all of us a little bit.

So, friends in the suburbs, show you care – get down to Detroit this summer and do the Eastern Market and a stroll on the Riverwalk. Spend some money at some of our great restaurants and buy some tickets to our sporting events, our incredible Art Museum (DIA) and our Symphony Orchestra (DSO). We are all Detroiters and it matters to us what happens there.