Page 25 - ARUBA TODAY

BUSINESS Monday 16 July 2018
A25

5 years after declaring bankruptcy, Detroit reborn at a cost

By COREY WILLIAMS moving into Midtown and
Associated Press that means more busi-
DETROIT (AP) — It's been ness to be had. There also
five years since Detroit bot- weren't fancy restaurants
tomed out after decades five years ago. There's defi-
of decline, admitting in the nitely a lot of money com-
largest U.S. municipal bank- ing into the area and peo-
ruptcy filing ever that the ple coming in from New
country's one-time indus- York and L.A."
trial engine could no longer So far, such opportunities
pay its bills. have eluded former De-
The turnaround since then troit business owner Steve
has been remarkable, with Brown.
major investments that Brown, 58, said he once
have brought new jobs, the had 15 employees and
rebirth of neighborhoods contracted with Detroit to
whose best days were half help repair streets. Now he
a century ago and the res- works for his father's truck-
toration of street cleaning ing company.
and lighting — services so The contract and the bulk
basic yet important to a of his work ended after the
sense of community. It also city entered bankruptcy.
cost some people more Brown said he considered
than others. switching over to demoli-
Jean Estell, 65, worked tion work, but had trouble
about three decades in De- getting a loan to buy the
troit's recreation and public equipment.
works departments before "I didn't have enough funds
retiring in 2004. Like other to get started like I wanted
retirees, she lost part of her to," he said.
pension and all of her retir- Some parts of the city, like
ee health coverage in the downtown and the Mid-
bankruptcy settlement with town cultural district, had
creditors, and she's worried been on the upswing be-
about being left behind in fore the bankruptcy filing
this new Detroit. but many broken neighbor-
"I'm glad we're doing bet- hoods still suffered. Savings
ter. I want us to do better," from the bankruptcy has
Estell said of the city. "But allowed Detroit to spend
it looks like somewhere or more to improve quality
other they can find some of life. Street sweeping re-
money and give us our In this July 11, 2018 photo, James Murphy, left, and Bryan Knoche work the counter at Fred's Key sumed last year, and De-
money back. At least some Shop in Midtown Detroit. troit has thousands of new
of it." Associated Press street lights. Police and
Before the bankruptcy paramedics show up more
settlement, she received Detroit. ple that began in the 1950s. "Since Detroit came out quickly when 911 is called.
about $2,300 per month. "Before Detroit sought the With its tax base decimat- of bankruptcy, there have Investors are building hun-
Estell said she gets about protection of the courts to ed, Detroit's faced $14 bil- been billions of dollars dreds of apartments, con-
$63 less per month from resolve its financial prob- lion in long-term debt and spent in Detroit," McTevia dominiums and homes in
her pension and now has lems, the citizens — who a $327 million budget defi- said. "People that were and around the downtown
to pay for her own health are the real people that cit in 2013. City workers, once fearful in investing in area. The city, along with
care. Prescription co-pays count — were in a lot worse including police and fire- the city just fell over them- philanthropies and non-
that once were $3 now are shape than they are now," fighters, had their pay cut. selves to invest in Detroit. If profits, is fixing up older
$25 for some of the rough- he said. "Before the bank- Employees were forced to you go to Detroit now, it's homes.
ly eight medications she ruptcy, the citizens were take unpaid days off. a different city than it was There's still room for im-
takes, and her doctor visits not getting the services Detroit emerged from five years ago. It has a dif- provement.
cost more, too. they deserved. They were bankruptcy in December ferent image and it is a vi- Alice Holland, who lives in
"I don't go as often as I having trouble with water, 2014, having restructured or brant city." Brightmoor, said crews cut
should. You get sick and sewer, garbage, feeling se- wiped out $7 billion in debt. At Fred's Key Shop, a family- the high grass in vacant lots
you suffer through it," she cure." The city was forced to fol- owned Midtown locksmith but don't clear enough of
said. Indeed, when state-ap- low a strict spending plan that has been in business for the illegally dumped trash
Given where Detroit stood pointed emergency man- and has been able to build more than 50 years, work- from the neighborhood,
five years ago, things could ager Kevyn Orr filed for cash surpluses while post- ers have seen the change. which clogs drains and
be worse for the city's Chapter 9 protection for ing three consecutive years Fred's is a few blocks from a causes streets to flood dur-
roughly 670,000 residents, Detroit on July 18, 2013, of balanced budgets. year-old professional hock- ing strong storms.
including current and for- residential streets hadn't Weeks after Detroit was ey and basketball arena "You'll see me ... taking my
mer city workers affected been swept in about three released from active state and a planned commer- stick and cleaning out the
by the settlement, said years and the city was well oversight, Moody's Inves- cial, residential and enter- drains," she said. "I like the
James McTevia, a turn- on its way to tearing down tors Service upgraded the tainment district. city and what's going on.
around expert and man- thousands of homes aban- city's credit rating this spring "We're busier than ever," You can fix up downtown,
aging member of McTevia doned during the exodus — the third upgrade in less said office manager Bryan but fix up the neighbor-
& Associates in suburban of more than a million peo- than three years. Knoche. "More people are hoods, too."q