Someone has a clue

The front page of the Saginaw News from Wednesday October 17, 2007 reads "A million visitors, but impact on city's downtown takes time." This article, written by Jean Spenner, has some very valid points. Development does radiate and the Temple Theatre and The Dow Event center are definitely the hub of activity and the anchor of the future of downtown. Investment in downtown however, is going to take more than the Shaheen family and the County. Smaller businesses like the Spicer Group, AKT Peerless and architects WTM and TSSF surely help, but many more are needed. Small companies that rely on local businesses will attract those support businesses as well as restaurants and lounges that will serve the employees that travel to downtown daily. As a former employee of two of the companies listed above, I spent a lot of money in downtown Saginaw. At places like Wally's sandwich shop, Rally's, Michigan Photo, Jacobson's (when it was open) Savoy bar and grill, Ramone's Taco Hut (best Mexican food I've ever had by the way) and many other places. That's just me. There are hundreds if not thousands of people working downtown every day. What boggles my mind is why lawyers, doctors and accountants pay the high prices for land and buildings in the suburbs when inexpensive office space exists downtown? Some say it's a "safety" issue, others say it's simply the "perception" of an unsafe area. I think that both are entirely possible, but I do not believe them.

But why do people say it's unsafe downtown? This is a tough question that can't be answered simply. The answer may invoke hard discussions on race and culture. It's obvious that there is crime in Saginaw, and a lot of it. But why downtown? The police headquarters are right there. To answer that we'll have to travel to a whole new forum of why do we have crime? And what does crime feed on? That will lead to discussions on morals and values; which will lead to parenting and lack there of; and that will lead to race and even religion. Personally I believe that while the statistics may point to an issue of race, it's really an issue of values and morals, not black or white. So is this where we start to save a city?