Detroit Neighborhoods Hope For Federal Help
DETROIT (WWJ) - We should learn more in the coming weeks about Detroit Mayor Dave Bing's plans to reshape the city, and which neighborhoods will be chosen to receive help from Washington, D.C..
At Church of the Messiah, WWJ CityBeat Reporter Vickie Thomas spoke with Reverend Barry Randolph who said residents are waiting to hear which Detroit neighborhoods will be targeted for investment, and what will happen to those not selected.
"I don't think that people need to be afraid or necessarily alarmed, but I think, for the most part, they just need to be looking out for what the future of Detroit is going to be," said Randolph.
"It's not gonna be what it was. It's never gonna be what it was. But, hopefully, it will be better than what it is," he said.
Mayor Bing says he will reveal the four to ten neighborhoods chosen by the end of July.
Detroit is one of six cities across the nation chosen to take part in Obama's "Strong Cities Initiative", meaning a team of high level federal workers will come into Detroit and work with the mayor for about two years to help the city take advantage of available federal programs and funding.
Speaking, Monday, in Detroit, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan said the initiative will cut through the red tape to improve the way the federal government does business in Detroit.
