[rmason]

There haven't been any Klan rallies in Howell for a very long time. However the children of those Klansmen still reside in Howell and cast a long shadow over the town. For reference Howell is a small town of 9,500 people mid-way between Detroit and Lansing.

Detroit's revival owes a big debt to Dan Gilbert's (Quicken Loans/Cleveland Cavaliers) purchase of a big chunk of the downtown and his funding of dozens of startups. But the majority of startups now in Detroit aren't funded by Gilbert though he's still a major influence.

It took forty years for Detroit's destruction. We're only on year eight of the road back. Next time you're in the 'D' checkout Bamboo CoWorking center on Woodward. You will meet lots of early stage startups https://www.bamboodetroit.com/ . Gilbert's startups are in the Madison building on Broadway just off Grand Circus near the Opera and Tiger stadium. That entire neighborhood is full of startups. Before 2010 none of it existed, the buildings had been empty for thirty years or more.

Ann Arbor has a huge startup scene. Anchors are Ann Arbor Spark and the Tech Brewery. Much smaller scene in Lansing, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids but it's progressing.

[Arainach]

It's not just the Klan. Racism is A problem, but far from the only problem. I grew up in the Lansing area and the majority of my extended family still lives in Michigan. When I look back at the state, the entire state government is corrupt and regressive. I see laws passed to restrict voting rights, civil liberties, and environmental protections. I see high school students in towns near where I grew up flaunting signs making fun of slavery for prom. I see no signs of progress, and many of regression. It's not the kind of environment where I'd want to live, much less raise a family. I've had job offers to move back to Michigan, but I have zero interest in it. The cost of living where I am keeps growing, but I'd rather have a lower cost of living here than live like a king in Michigan (not that the tech jobs in Michigan pay "live like a king" wages).

[FullMtlAlcoholc]

After seeing so many past failed attempts at revitalization (New Center Area, People Mover, etc.), it is refreshing to see a sustained turnaround. What was most surprising on my last trip back was the amount of activity in the downtown area on nights and weekends. Foodie joints, micro-breweries, all 4 major sports teams, casinos and all kinds of other places have popped up. I remember the State Theatre and the Shelter were the only things going on dtown.

BTW - Are you involved in the startup scene in the D?

[rmason]

I'm a fifth generation Detroiter but I'm based in East Lansing now where I went to school. But I have a lot of friends working in startups in Detroit and I get back once a month. Also ran a civic hackathon (Code Michigan) with the state in Detroit for a few years that was held at both the Madison and the Grand Circus https://www.grandcircus.co/