Detroit's bankruptcy is the inevitable result of a city beset by decades of seemingly intransigent problems: declining population, structural unemployment brought about by deindustrialization, over-dependency on a single industry, corrupt and/or inept government, regional discord, etc., etc.
The usually sober-mined folks at The Economist have conjured a simple solution for all of these complex problems. That solution is, of course, Kickstarter.
The Economist: In recent years, civic crowdfunding has developed to allow ordinary citizens to direct their money to local civic projects. Platforms such as Citizinvestor, neighbor.ly and Spacehive were designed specifically for such initiatives, complementing more general crowdfunding sites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo. These have funded civic works around the world, including a community centre in Glyncoch in Wales, a free Wi-Fi network in downtown Mansfield, a former mining town in Nottinghamshire, a pedestrian bridge in Rotterdam and a bike share programme in Kansas City.
So, are they suggesting that Detroit could crowdfund small projects that make a marginal, incremental difference in local quality of life? Because that could be good. No, they are not suggesting that.
"Though there are many hurdles to overcome, what civic crowdfunding represents is potential salvation for even the most-fiscally frail urban areas," explains Economist writer "N.O."
Salvation! Tell us more.
Imagine a crowdfunded downtown training centre helping get youths out of gangs and into employment, a programme to provide laptops to inner city schools, or even a renovation of Michigan Central Station. And part of the attractiveness of the idea is that anyone can donate: new residents, old residents, or people around the world that have simply fallen in love with the city’s story.
Yes, let's imagine. A "downtown training centre"? Like Youthville? Ok, Detroit already has that. But laptops for inner city schools sounds good. Also happening already. And (frankly) while laptops for students sounds nice, it's an idea with questionable educational value.
Kickstarting the renovation of the Michigan Central Station? There's an idea with promise. Sure, who wouldn't want to donate money to a billionaire trucking magnate so he can renovate his property into a profitable enterprise?
Doesn't seem like The Economist really thought this thing through.
