What it takes to Have a Good City: A new commitment to Transportation and a New Cobo Hall

Since the days of Dave Bing, Bob Lanier, and Dave DeBusschere, the Cobo Hall arena is now a non functional use of space. We the friends feel that in the design of the new Cobo Hall Convention Center, the area that is now the arena should be removed and replaced. The new facility would encompass Joe Louis Arena, be 3 times larger and, %50 taller than the current facility. The area will be large enough to have Joe Louis Arena accessible from inside of the new facility without patrons having to go outside.

Additional routes and the expansion of the Detroit People Mover will allow more people to park farther away and have rapid transportation to the North American International Auto Show and Detroit Red Wings games and other events. Expansion of rail service from Downtown Detroit to Lansing, Grand Rapids, Flint, Chicago, Cleveland, and places beyond is an attainable goal. With a commitment from Amtrak and the Detroit People Mover, this new project will give Detroit and Michigan the Stimulus it needs by creating jobs for its residents.

We remember all of those people walking around the neighborhood who used to work in concrete for a living. Fathers like Mr. Hall and Mr. Clement Sr. would have a few friends over and put in sidewalks and driveways for customers, neighbors, and friends. Young people were always willing to learn and do something for compensation if you taught them how to do it. Some of them liked it so well that they went out on their own. With all of this empty housing that need to be repaired or re-built, opportunities for City Residents will increase.


The way to have a good City is to fix the roads in a timely and fair manner. And Rep. Cushingberry is in Lansing making sure that this is a priority. New revenues in fuel will fund the repair of the roads. Cellulosic Ethanol and Industrial Hemp all grown in Michigan, by Michigan farmers in every county will create jobs and new revenue for the exclusive maintenance of State and Local highways. Contract opportunities for disadvantaged and small businesses will increase by %50 over 2 years. In laypersons terms if you are building a road in my city, then you better be committed to hire city residents or don’t bother signing up for the job.

Empty lots in Detroit will be prime candidates for conversion into growing fields producing food, fuel, and medicine for City residents. Lots can be leased by owners by the yard with a tax stamp from the State of Michigan, similar to the labeling currently on tobacco and liquor. This would include the revenue from Duty Free approved business selling Michigan grown food and medicine. International visitors would be allowed to purchase these home grown products on their way home.


Mayor Bing and Rep. Cushingberry are very interested in the future of the City and will pledge to get local residents hired for this massive project. It is time to come into the 21 Century and have a facility that will be superior to McCormack Place in Chicago and any other comparable facility worldwide.


The opportunity to design the facility will be given to students in Detroit Public Schools and the Tri-County area using the latest technology from leading edge technology based companies. The winning design will be chosen by a team of designers and civic leaders. The result of this effort would be a true gift of the people to themselves and others to come afterwards.


Can anybody say legacy to the people?