10 Best Cities: What Detroit could learn!

What is awesome about this city at the number one slot is that it-unlike the other cities has a population well over a million residents and tipping towards two-million. This is an excellent case study on What Detroit needs:

"Austin is arguably the the country's best crucible for small business, offering a dozen community programs that form a neural network of business brainpower to help entrepreneurs. Now overlay that net with a dozen venture-capital funds and 20 or so business associations, plus incubators, educational opportunities and networking events. Mix all these elements in what many call a classless society, where hippie communalism coexists with no-nonsense capitalism, and you've got a breeding ground for start-ups.Don't discount the fun factor: In the self-proclaimed live-music capital of the world, music and business creativity riff off one another. The city's famous South by Southwest festival, where concerts, independent film screenings and emerging technology overlap, is a prime example."realestate.yahoo.com

President Obama Seeks More Oversight of the Auto Industry

The POTUS is correct in his analysis. Part of what cause the economic crisis was predatory lending-subprime mortgages is predatory in its spirit. I don't see why the President does not scare the bejesus out of these lawmakers by saying he will use his Executive Order authority to ensure that automakers comply by heaving a severe penalty, but why the automaker would want to make more unstable financial conditions on the American public does not sit well with me it would clearly demonstrate that they have no honor amongst thieves: LOL, simply do what is right credit wise...and above all stop using credit scores in employment decisions should be a Presidenital posture!See MoreObama urges oversight of auto lending

Two Democratic senators and the wife of Gen. David Petraeus urged Congress to reject efforts to exempt auto dealers from oversight from a new consumer watchdog agency.

www.detnews.com

Judge Dismisses Pulte Suit Against Union

I cannot believe Pulte who merged recently with Centex homes took this stance instead of personally squashing the case, re-hire the employee, and make amends and start to build and market affordable first time home buying opportunities??? SMH?Judge dismisses Pulte suit against union

Romulus -- A federal judge today dismissed a lawsuit brought by Pulte Homes Inc. against the Laborers' International Union of North America as union officials planned demonstrations outside the homebuilder's annual meeting.

www.detnews.com

Kilpatrick says he failed as Mayor!

I can appreciate the former city executive's candor, but he's wrong the city needs to heal in regards to what has happened-it needs to start acting like it understands what is neccesary in government to spearhead change instead of acting aloof from direct responsibility, a propos the Mayor's office-currently, and the c...urrent City Council. See my other posts in re: Bing and his budget.See MoreKilpatrick says he failed while mayor in magazine interview.

Kwame Kilpatrick gave an hour-long interview for a Jet magazine story that just hit newsstands in which he admits he failed while serving as Detroit's mayor but said he shouldn't go to jail.

www.detnews.com

Senate Lets Fed Retain Oversight of Smaller Banks

If this is so, then I would ask that the Feds move with its oversight of Flagstar Bank a Michigan based Depository and help to right that ship. Flagstar holds too many accounts to go belly up. I think their current management team may be able to get things going in the right direction, but the Michigan Senate and House... Finance arms ought to work to get that Bank on the right side of a balance sheet-that would be all we need to lose the auto industry to a near catastrophe and then lose a bank on top of the Bank bailouts!See MoreSenate lets Fed retain oversight of smaller banks.

Washington -- The Senate has overwhelmingly voted to let the Federal Reserve retain its supervision of smaller banks. The measure changes a financial regulation bill that would have given the central bank oversight only over large financial institutions.

www.detnews.com

Wayne County to Raze 450 Detroit Structures

At the 14th Congressional Democratic Meeting this past Saturday it was mentioned how the Prencinct Delegates could play a more integral role in neighborhood revitalization as "Captains" in a Community Organizing Sense. I then offered the idea that I would write both Home Depot and Lowes to ask for free plywood and materials to Board up 1,000 homes in 100 days using competitors in political races as motivators to have other groups, e.g., cultures and races and neighborhoods to work today by coalescing into a vibrant network of concerned citizens over this summer using Block Clubs as the catalyst to change.See MoreWayne County to raze 450 Detroit structures in 45 days.

Detroit -- Wayne County leaders joined the city's fight against blight, unveiling an aggressive initiative that partners with faith leaders to tear down 450 structures in 45 days.

detnews.com

A Michigan Success Story

I like the story for two reasons: it takes place in Michigan and it is Michigan's third largest city-although, Warren may be bigger by population.A Michigan success story: A small city has reinvented itself for the 21st century. Can Detroit learn anything from Grand Rapids?

money.cnn.com