But People don't want to go downtown

"People don't want to go downtown" is what I hear all the time, "I'm afraid I'll be attacked or worse". The violence is not downtown, it's the areas surrounding downtown. My wife and I go to Spirit games all the time, we feel safe, even walking to our car after staying in the Blue Line club for a while and the crowds have dispersed. Well, I have a solution to "they don't feel safe", more police! What? we can't afford more police? Maybe the citizens who complain about their town going to hell should vote that tax cap away so that Saginaw could collect the proper taxes to run the city in the 21st century. Yes, it's hard to run a city on 1972 tax rates especially when the population has decreased significantly.

So what does a few more cops riding in cars around downtown do? Ahh, well that's the problem, they will do nothing in the cars, but put them on horseback and they'll be visible to all. Yes, I said horseback! Why not? New York does it, they can ride year round unlike bicycles, and boy would they be visible! 5 officers on horseback(plus a cleaning crew to follow them around) would make people much more at ease about making the trip downtown.

I don't believe we should give up on things the the Dow Event Center and the Temple theater just because of a received vision of crime on the streets of downtown. We, the people of this community (mind you I live in Bay county and am willing to rally around this) need to take back Saginaw, it needs to be done with a forceful voice and harsh words, words that people may not want to hear, but we have to do something and we need to do it soon!

I have a wonderful vision for downtown, as an architect, I have found numerous uses for the buildings there. Buildings such as the former International center. We'll take a look at that building at a later date. For now, think about what you can do to save a city!

I'm Back

Well, after a 2 year hiatus, I've returned to discuss how to save a city - Saginaw Edition. So many cities around the country are failing, so many states now are failing too. Heck, even our country is failing! It seems that we are spending ourselves right out of being. Saginaw faces many problems however, not just fiscal. Society is a huge problem. I don't see it as much of a racial problem as simply societal. Gangs and drugs, followed by unemployment are the trouble spots of the city. Black or white, no matter, gangs and drugs are alive and well in both races. I think this city needs some prayer. I recently joined a face book group “we need to pray for Saginaw Michigan” and all I really see are a few very devout Christians citing verse from the bible. In the words of Pastor Mark Karls of the Urban Ames United Methodist Church, (paraphrased) 'Saginaw needs to heal spiritually before it can heal racially and economically.' Spiritually means to come together as one spiritual body, under Christ our Lord, and then in masse, pray for our leaders, pray for our citizens, and pray for those who are lost. Then, pray for us, the spiritual ones who have come together to make change. Do not hide behind the words of the bible, the devil can quote the verses of the bible, believe in your heart that you can change this city and then pray for God’s guidance to do so. It’s time to take back this City and the only way is for God’s chosen few to lead the way. Only though God can we start saving a city!