Eastside Detroit, a Third World Entity in itself?

Been driving around on the lower east side of Detroit recently. I have been teaching a class there and the construction work on East Jefferson Avenue can be hard on the traffic. Currently I am not too crazy about the asphalt resurfacing of the street, and hate that our county government will not do concrete repaving instead like they seem do every five to ten years on West Eleven Mile Road between Coolidge and Greenfield in Oakland County. After seeing that asphalt resurfacing owner sell his company and share some of the profits with his employees some years ago, I know that asphalt is the cheaper (and very guaranteed job security!) route. While this is going on, at times I had to sit there until someone lets me out. When I got lucky this time, I had to take the picture!!! I got my repaired camera back recently and is taking pictures for fun and just to document things. There are times I feel our city looks like the poor section of a Third World nation (like Lagos) or an area reeling from a war.

I will be glad when this political drama with Mayor Kilpatrick is over. I pray that the U.S, the State of Michigan, and our city will recover from this low social, economical and political tailspin that we are in now. At times I am reminded of the high and lows in the Bible story of Joseph.

I see so many that seem not to care or that lost hope a long time ago. I try to keep hope alive because I have no choice. It is part of survival for me. It is important to me that I do it for my children and my mother. Yes, it would be easy to flee, as the option has been suggested to me so many times, but it is also beneficial to hang in there. Yes, Virginia, times do get better.............

Closed long ago, this place which has potential, just sits.

I wish that I could buy, renovate it, and open it back to the public.

Like many others, a guy is selling his stuff on the corner.........

I remember when this place was occupied. Although someone is trying to renovate it, they are struggling with vandals and the metal strippers.