Posted on 12/20/2008 9:24:22 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
DETROIT -- One measure of how tough times are in the Motor City: Some of the offenders in jail don't want to be released; some who do get out promptly re-offend to head back where there's heat, health care and three meals a day.
"For the first time, I'm seeing guys make a conscious decision they'll be better off in prison than in the community, homeless and hungry," said Joseph Williams of New Creations Community Outreach, which assists ex-offenders. "In prison they've got three hots and a cot, so they commit a crime to go back in and come out when times are better."
For now, better times seem distant. Even with no hurricane or other natural disaster to blame, Detroit has -- by many measures -- replaced New Orleans as America's most beleaguered city.
The jobless rate has climbed past 21 percent, the embattled school district just fired its superintendent, tens of thousands of homes and stores are derelict and abandoned, the ex-mayor is in jail for a text-messaging sex scandal. Even the pro football team is a pathetic joke, within two losses of an unprecedented 0-16 season.
And overarching these and many other woes is the near-collapse of the U.S. auto industry, Detroit's vital source of jobs and status for more than a century.
"We're the Motor City," said Scott Alan Davis, who oversees community development projects in one of the worst-hit neighborhoods. "When the basis for that name collapses, that's started to scare people."
Among the worried is 81-year-old Warlena McDuell, a retired surgical technician who shares a home with her cancer-stricken daughter. On a recent weekday, she was among hundreds of Detroiters, most of them elderly, filling orange-plastic grocery carts at a food bank run by Focus:HOPE, a local nonprofit.
(Excerpt) Read more at myfoxatlanta.com ...
Yeah... won’t be seeing that here in Texas.
Of course, it may be partially attributed to the fact that Democrat-area prisons are actually not half-bad places to live, if you can get over the mandatory scheduling.
It’s not the Democrats fault. It is most certainly the republicans that prey upon the poor. The Democrats just happen to be there to help.
/Sarc
That’s easy.
Turn down the heat and only serve 2 meals a day.
If that doesn’t work, reduce it further.
This is focused on “Motor City”, but it isn’t JUST “Motor City” this is occuring, but throughout the country, and it isn’t something new as the article might lead one to believe.
I’ve heard/read of recently released convicts committing crimes to return to the warmth, the three meals, the security of prison since I was quite young. (And that wasn’t last week)
I don’t know where you live,but I am from Detroit, and it is significantly worse than any other major American city, due to the incompetent mismanagement of the Dems for the last 36 years.
Thank You Democrats,UAW,MEA, AFL-CIO,Etc.
Oh yeah, so how many times did you visit?
:-)
Heh.
I’m going by the various documentaries and such that I’ve seen on TV.
Texas jails are very unpleasant places to be. They make northern prisons look like luxury resorts. Then again, that’s the point - prisons are not supposed to be warm welcoming places.
bump
There is a very easy solution to this problem: Stop coddling criminals. Make their prison experience what its supposed to be, punishment.
You have my sympathy. In fact, no one should have to live like that. In 1976 I attended the Republican National Convention in Detroit. It was held in and around the Rennaisance Center, and even then it wasn’t safe, even downtown. In fact, I chose to stay in Windsor.
My next visit to Detroit occurred in the early 90s, and it was just driving through while returning from Traverse City. A friend of mine was driving and he got lost and drove us right through the most bombed out and scary looking place I have ever seen. We were about to run out of gas to make it even worse. We had to stop for gas, and the attendant sat behind bullet proof glass while we were exposed to hostile looks until we finally drove away and breathed sighs of relief.
Just because you haven’t heard about it doesn’t mean it hasn’t been occurring every winter for 100 years. You’ve forgotten that the media can shape perceptions whenever they want.
I’m from Detroit, still have some family in MI. The downfall of the former arsenal of democracy breaks my heart.
Detroit is civilization in reverse. It is what the democrat party will attempt to do to the rest of our country.
The democrat party can destroy a city more effectively than a nuclear weapon.
Didn't they just lose again yesterday?
You guys need Sheriff Joe Arpaio there!
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