A young automotive writer dares to point out a paradox behind a mantra voiced by some of his Gen Y peers.
Aaron Foley, who covers Chrysler for Ward's Auto, riffs at Jalopnik Detroit about "the millennials-hate-driving headlines."
"The Millennial Paradox," as he dubs it, is this: As more young professionals in the auto industry and related fields move into Detroit, is all the buzz about walkability, public transit, bike commuting, etc. a worrisome sign?
As more people buy cars, the industry can hire more people to make them. Here's where we start thinking about Detroit, and where I'm fearful there will be a future conflict. . . .
Consider one of the main arguments against widening I-94: People are buying fewer cars, so why do we need to make the freeway bigger anyway? . . .
Here lies our paradox: If the auto industry is booming and providing jobs, which in turn makes for new residents, is it sacrilege to support that industry when trends favor not owning a car at all? It's possible that only in Detroit, where the auto industry is our lifeblood, can this question be asked.
Foley, a longtime Detroiter with an auto industry family heritage, isn't a disinterested observer. "As it stands, my career depends on its long-term survival," he says at the blog, which isn't affiliated with Ward's. His bio at that full-time job's website says: "I've had relatives work in every aspect of the industry, from assembly line to dealerships to management."
His stimulating questions -- the post has seven question marks -- are tossed as discussion starters with a disclaimer:
I'm not rah-rah cheering for the auto industry. I just wonder if we're going to have a some friction down the line as the way we commute across the region changes. I don't have a crystal ball, so I don't know which side will have to give the greatest compromise. But something will have to give.
And oh yes, he says it's way past time to shake that "lazy and pejorative" millennial tag.
