Changes For Second Detroit Community Meeting
Organizers of community meetings focused on Detroit's future hope Thursday night's meeting is a little more organized.
There was yelling and fingerpointing as nearly 1,000 people attended the first meeting at Greater Grace Temple Tuesday.
Detroiter Christianne Sims, who attended the first public forum, tells WWJ's Vickie Thomas she found it frustrating.
"It was, a little bit. Some of my peers where there with me as well, and they were laughing at me as I commented and tried to put the respect back in the conversations that were there and help people see the vision going forward," Sims said.
Sims said many Detroiters are concerned that the City will use eminent domain to try to take their property.
"I think that the biggest obstacle is just getting those misconceptions and assumptions out of the minds of our citizens and just easing the fears," she said.
Mayor Dave Bing is expected to address the crowd around 7:15 p.m. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Instead of break out sessions, Thursday's gathering at the American Serbian Memorial Hall on Van Dyke will be a town hall-style meeting with a question and answer session. Overflow seating will be available and more city staffers are expected to attend.
Mayor Bing has scheduled the Detroit Works Project meetings to seek ideas from residents and develop a blueprint for the future of the city.
Topics to be discussed include: Innovating our Neighborhoods for the 21st Century, Creating a City That Works, Connecting Detroit & the Great Lakes Region, and Growing a Thriving Economy for the 21st Century.
There are three more meetings planned:
Sept. 18, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Whittier Manor, 415 Burns Drive
Sept. 21, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., El Kiosko Banquet Hall, 7271 Dix St.
Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, 315 E. Warren Ave. (Doors open at 6 p.m.)
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