Assignment: Intro/Chapter
One Posting Deadline: Thursday, May 21
Reading: Intro
& Chapter One: Why Lovable Cities Matter
Questions:
In what city do you
reside? In relation to your city, do you feel you are unattached, neutral or
attached? Why would you term your relationship to your city in that way?
Assignment - Deadline:
Thursday, May 21
A. Post your response
to this week’s question.
B. Post two
separate comments to one or more of your colleagues reacting to their posts for
this week.
I live in Lathrup Village and would identify myself as someone who moves between a state of neutrality and attachment to my community. I definitely vote in all the local elections and take the time to read the city bulletin board when I go to city hall for my Zumba class on a weekly basis. I also read the city’s semi-annual newsletter from cover to cover and “speak” to my neighbors and those passing by when in the front yard or going to my car. However, my community involvement is generally passive and I feel I could do more to support my neighborhood if I could take the time to do so.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this as well. I vote, talk to people in my neighborhood, etc. but feel I don't have the time to be more involved with community activities.
DeleteI currently live on the east side in Eastpointe. I'd consider myself unattached. While I've lived in Michigan for a majority of my life, I've never really stayed in one city. I am still cordial when it comes to neighborhood politics and neighbor etiquette, but it is just that. I classify myself as unattached because I have never been interested in my area. As long as I have family, friends and entertainment it doesn't really matter where I am.
ReplyDeleteJoshua - I can understand your circumstances. Where I now live, we do have neighborhood gatherings from time to time. And, I've gotten to know other people in my community via our city's Zumba classes. However, when we previously lived in an apartment, I never said more than "Hello" to my neighbors. That living arrangement had such a transitory feel to it, that you did not sense the need to take the time to get to know other renters - even the ones that lived right next door to us.
DeleteJoshua, if you were to move again and enjoyed living their would you consider building your roots in that city?
DeleteProbably not where I am right now. I'm not too fond of the neighborhood. If I were to move though, I might be more inclined to make a connection. There's just nothing in my area of interest.
DeleteProbably not where I am right now. I'm not too fond of the neighborhood. If I were to move though, I might be more inclined to make a connection. There's just nothing in my area of interest.
DeleteI live in Wyandotte. I identify myself as being somewhat attached. I am an active member in my city's democratic club and attend various functions to help increase voter turnout. I am happy with my municipal services and live in a pretty safe neighborhood; but I don't really know my neighbors. I avoid my taking my children to my neighborhood park and belive that old ways of thinking sometimes make me feel less "at home."
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about those "old ways of thinking." Even though you may share similar values held by your neighbors, they still may see you in a different light. I had the same issue with some of the residents in my neighborhood and I learned that even after 10 years of living side-by-side, some people will not let go of their biases.
DeleteI currently live in Harper Woods. I find myself to be neutral to the area due to the fact that while I am currently there and I am respectful to its residents and interact with residents of the area, I do not plan on being there for that long. I do however still find myself attached to my home city of Detroit, and I still keep in communication with people of Detroit.
ReplyDeleteYes - it makes a difference if you think you won't be in a particular neighborhood very long. You are usually hesitant about making an emotional or physical investment in a place where your "roots" will not have a chance to take hold.
DeleteI'm curious Gerrard. When you move, are you headed back to Detroit?
DeleteI honestly don't know. While I would love to be back in Detroit and near the downtown area, I have enjoyed living outside the city because of the tranquility, which is something I didn't get while I had an apartment in Detroit
DeleteAs a current resident of Dearborn, I would say I am attached to the city. I grew up in Dearborn, moved away for a few years, and returned about six years ago. While I have expressed my displeasure regarding development and services of the city in recent years (and plan to move eventually), I have no doubt that I will always have an attachment to the city, whether I live there or not. From a professional, educational and personal aspect, Dearborn has played a significant role in serving as a "home base" for many years, however, the attachment won't prevent me from moving forward in my life.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about Romulus - the city where I spent my formative years. For the most part, I have fond memories of my hometown and - due to my love of Star Trek - I enjoy referring to myself as a former Romulan. However, the town is too slow paced for me and has few of the amenities I like in a city.
DeleteWhat you said about attachment and moving forward is something I wondered about the book so far - it talks about people doing extraordinary things for their cities because they love them. And that's fine to an extent, but I think love for *people* in one's life would always be stronger. As evidenced by people moving to different communities to keep their children safe or well-educated, or to open career opportunities for their spouse. Seems to me that people > places.
DeleteCarolyn, I agree with you - depending on the circumstances, people seem to be more attached to people and opportunities, rather than a geographic place.
DeleteCurrently, I live in Ypsilanti. I really like Ypsi - it has a different vibe than Ann Arbor, which I am enjoying, but I guess I would say that I'm half-attached to this place. Before moving up here from Atlanta, I still lived with my parents, so Ypsi is where I first lived by myself, paid my own rent, and became an adult. It was also my introduction to this part of Michigan: where I was introduced to life as a graduate student, the greatness of Michigan beer, and the bitter (almost unbearable) winter and driving on icy roads. Ypsi is cheaper than Ann Arbor, places tend to be more welcoming to my two big dogs, and it's close to the university, but far enough away so that I have at least some separation between my personal and student life. However, I keep moving every year, and can't help but feel that Ypsi is just where I HAVE to be rather than where I WANT to be. It still feels like I'm searching for a place I can put down roots.
ReplyDeleteHaley, my husband and I want to Atlanta a few years back and I thought to myself, "I could live here...if they had decent Mexican food..." I really like the city, but have always been in the suburbs and like the slower pace. I can't see myself living here forever-the bitter cold has EVERYTHING to do with that. When I finally do move, I think it'll be a move west.
DeleteHaley - there are a number of faculty member who also "choose" Ypsi due to the cost of living in Ann Arbor. I've gotten to know Ypsi much better after marriage, since it is my husband's hometown and my mother-in-law still makes her home there. Still, when taking her out to dinner, we find ourselves going to Ann Arbor for a better choice in restaurants.
DeleteI think it can be easier to feel the love for Ypsilanti than for Ann Arbor, because in Ypsi I felt like people wanted me there - welcomed me to get involved in local politics and participate in local events, cared about my input, etc. In Ann Arbor, partially because it's doing so strong economically, I'm just another twenty-something trying to get involved.
DeleteHaving just relocated from Ypsi to Detroit, and spent the rest of my life mostly in Redford and Ann Arbor, I'd say I feel attachment on more of a regional level - very typical of an urban planner. All the tiny little municipalities scattered through southeast Michigan reflect a distinct angle of our region's character. I've always felt some attachment with Detroit and have known that I wanted to live here eventually, because it's where my family's roots are. But I know not everyone in the region feels that. When we were interviewing Darrious the other day, he spoke about the identification that suburban Chicago residents feel with the central city, as evidenced by the term "Chicagoland." I know "Detroitland" doesn't have quite the same ring, but I think some sort of overhaul in our identity as a region will be necessary to make progress. And that's something I'm interested to see if the book touches on further in future chapters, the city-suburb love/hate relationship.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, to be honest, I have never truly understood the city-suburb love/hate relationship due to the fact that if people from both areas care and are integrated in the city, then it shouldn't be an issue.
DeleteI appreciate your comments about how you feel an attachment on a regional level. I definitely feel an attachment to the city of Detroit, even though I do not own a home within the city limits. However, I spend more time in the city with a variety of activities - working, worshipping, attending cultural events and volunteering - than I do in the city where I live.
ReplyDeleteI have good and bad feelings about suburbs, but I definitely think that it works when people living in the suburbs see themselves as part of the city and share that identity. It works in Chicago, and it works in Atlanta. I actually grew up in the Atlanta suburbs, but I will always say I'm from Atlanta. There was a feeling there that we were in it together. Atlanta was the center: what happened there also affected us, and we knew that, which is why we were all invested in making Atlanta a great city. The suburbs and the city have a give and take relationship, which has its challenges, but also has its benefits.
ReplyDeleteI am a resident of Birmingham. I would say I'm neutral. If there's an issue and it doesn't solely affect me, I let it blow over my head. However, when I was a bus rider, all things related to public transportation, road construction including how it affected my travel, etc. I was all in (city meetings, etc.). I am an avid support of Detroit (volunteering, arts, revitalization, etc.)! The changes, good or bad, in Detroit affect me more than they do in Birmingham. In certain points in my life, I've been a 'co-creator' for the city of the Detroit and if needed, I'd do it again. There are champions, far and wide (read about them in the paper all the time), who support in a way I wished those who had a far reach, would for Detroit. I applaud and welcome the changes for Detroit, but it's a real GUT PUNCH that many weren't interested before the demographics changed.
ReplyDeleteI am a resident of Birmingham. I would say I'm neutral. If there's an issue and it doesn't solely affect me, I let it blow over my head. However, when I was a bus rider, all things related to public transportation, road construction including how it affected my travel, etc. I was all in (city meetings, etc.). I am an avid support of Detroit (volunteering, arts, revitalization, etc.)! The changes, good or bad, in Detroit affect me more than they do in Birmingham. In certain points in my life, I've been a 'co-creator' for the city of the Detroit and if needed, I'd do it again. There are champions, far and wide (read about them in the paper all the time), who support in a way I wished those who had a far reach, would for Detroit. I applaud and welcome the changes for Detroit, but it's a real GUT PUNCH that many weren't interested before the demographics changed.
ReplyDeleteI am a resident of Birmingham. I would say I'm neutral. If there's an issue and it doesn't solely affect me, I let it blow over my head. However, when I was a bus rider, all things related to public transportation, road construction including how it affected my travel, etc. I was all in (city meetings, etc.). I am an avid support of Detroit (volunteering, arts, revitalization, etc.)! The changes, good or bad, in Detroit affect me more than they do in Birmingham. In certain points in my life, I've been a 'co-creator' for the city of the Detroit and if needed, I'd do it again. There are champions, far and wide (read about them in the paper all the time), who support in a way I wished those who had a far reach, would for Detroit. I applaud and welcome the changes for Detroit, but it's a real GUT PUNCH that many weren't interested before the demographics changed.
ReplyDeleteI live in Ypsilanti Township. I think that I am presently unattached to my community. This feeling is driven by a strong desire to move away out of my community. I would like to be in an area that has more to offer in terms of the cultural exchange of the residents and that has more offerings overall.
ReplyDelete