While a bit depressing, some of this photos remind me of the series "Life Without Us" (or something similarly titled). And so cool! And I agree, some wonderful architecture. It would probably cost a mint to restore some of those buildings.

Camden, NJ is giving it a try.

The best solution for these crime infested cities is to send in the National Guard. People shouldn't be afraid to walk to the store, or to school, or anywhere in the United States. If it takes a guy in fatigues with a machine gun standing on the corner to make people feel safe, then so be it.

Same with Chicago Il. Spent some time there this year and it is getting as bad as Cleveland.

So you are advocating for Marshall Law?
It hasn't happened as much in our history as movies and TV would lead you to believe.

If Wiki is to be believed here is a list of times it's been invoked in the US:

1.16.1.1 The American Revolution
1.16.1.2 New Orleans, Louisiana in the War of 1812
1.16.1.3 Ex parte Milligan
1.16.1.4 The Great Chicago Fire
1.16.1.5 Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, 1892
1.16.1.6 San Francisco earthquake of 1906
1.16.1.7 Colorado Coalfield War
1.16.1.8 West Virginia Coal Wars
1.16.1.9 Tulsa Race Riot
1.16.1.10 San Francisco, California, 1934
1.16.1.11 The Territory of Hawaii
1.16.1.12 Freedom Riders
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_law

Maybe the police need to work with the populace to patrol neighborhoods? Also, state govt should be giving businesses incentives for coming there and setting up shop. Nothing crushes poverty like jobs and opportunity.

^^ this ^^

And nothing promotes poverty like more handouts.

Yesterday, the City of St Louis tore down 26 abandoned houses in one neighborhood. There a some city blocks with only 4 or 5 houses still standing. But a technical school is planning to build dozens of houses in the neighborhood around the school, using the construction as a way of training future carpenters, electricians etc. I just wonder if there are any jobs for the people moving into the houses.

There are neighborhoods in Chicago that have done this to ensure kids got to school safely. Residents stood on nearly every corner of designated walking routes to escort the schoolchildren. Sad that we needed it, but it was interesting to see communities come together for the safety of the kids.

There may not be enough money left for additional policing. Too many political issues going on to discuss here.

Exactly right EdAudit!

Detroit can't afford to flood the streets and crime ridden neighborhoods with policemen, much like New York did many years ago. That's why I suggested the national guard. I know it's extreme, but until people feel safe to live in these areas, no businesses are coming, government incentives or not.

What you are asking for requires an act of congress, to my knowledge (Posse Comitatus Act). Although it may not anymore - see Section 1031 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.

NOTE - I am not getting into a discussion on the politics of the thing, simply of the laws surrounding it.

No businesses will be coming there whether people feel safe or not.

For what it is worth NY is also hurting financially.

http://www.cbcny.org/cbc-blogs/blogs/new-york-city-debt-outstanding

One good thing about all those photos.....
I already liked where I live, but now I REALLY like it!

I had to use IE

So is Youngstown, Ohio.

I can show you some ugly places too in Ohio and WV where industry is being run out by Enviromental Wackos. Steel, Plastics, Coal, Electric plants gone or closing cause of enviromental laws. Towns that once thrived are dead.

Much smaller than Detroit, but just as ugly.

Fortunately, we are gettign oil back, and it is starting to help some of these small places.

This sounds so much easier than it is, but town and state leadership in many areas of the country have fallen into the trap of thinking "it will last forever" as far as whatever their biggest cash cow is and never worry about industrial diversification until its way too late. Doesnt matter if its cows or cars, you cant depend on a single source of jobs for a community.

My area the politicians are under the impression that supermarkets are the answer.

Yes, you can sustain an economy by simply moving the same money around. Really???

It's less about politics than it is about morals and a work ethic. The political classes (both political parties) only manipulate our nation's declining morals and fractured work ethic.

I sit on the local housing authority board which is an eye-opening experience for the observant person. Hate to be cold about it but I've gone off the American poor. For them it's a life style choice rather than a hand up; a choice promoted by endless entitlements and "safety nets" promoted where safety nets have no business being extended.

What is needed is a people desiring to improve their lives through being upright, educated, and productive; the initiative for which might be properly propelled by a certain fear of failure, that is the failure to eat and to obtain the basic essentials of life. We don't have that at present in this nation but rather a burgeoning class of mooching lay-abouts who consider themselves entirely too special to work like the rest of us. Slothfulness is as much a vice as the more obvious vices for sloth breeds the other vices. There needs to be consequences and retribution for both idleness and lawlessness.

This is only one view but the poor in this nation need to be shamed and those who would prop them up through government programs need to be shamed as well! We're not building a better nation with our programs but rather draining away financial resources to no end, just as a dead short drains a battery, and we're creating a monstrous present and future social problem while we're at it.

We're supporting a large class of people who should have the free goodies taken away rather than providing ever more of the nation's largesse for them to use up with no show of improvement in their lives and no contribution back to society obtained from them. These people no longer represent a good "investment" if they ever did.

They represent votes to those that continue to feed them.

PLEASE NOTE-not intended to be political-just a comment.

But spot on.

The whole state of Michigan will remain a shadow of its greatness. Tourism and leisure is the only industry it has going for it. And that is only good for a couple of weeks in July and August when it is warm enough. Shoot, there are still iceburges floating around the Lakes today and it is the middle of June!