NO sexy "justs" for fixing Detroit: Justice isn't simple & nothing less will do

A few months ago, I posted an article about master plans to revitalize Detroit and concerns about some of them (particularly ones that assume that all homeowners will leave certain neighborhoods - or be pushed out of them). I don't think I could find it now, but the article surprised me less than one of the comments:

"Detroit just needs more community gardens. Then they'll be okay." (Emphasis mine)

See this face? It means sass is coming.

No. 

Detroit doesn't just need one thing. Community gardens aren't just a thing that can be placed throughout the city as a savior. They are wonderful, and I love them and the people I know who organize them, but they are not enough and they are not simple. No one I know who runs one would argue that. And other than maybe John Hantz, none of them have achieved the mythical financial prosperity promised from them. Not to mention the number of areas of the city where the soil is toxic and remediation would be very resource intensive, the fact that the city has yet to do rezoning to allow even small-scale animal farming (and by the time you get to rezoning, it's definitely not a "just" with the state of city council), or the fact that most people want to pay the same price for sustainably, locally, ethically farmed food as they pay at Walmart --->

community gardens as the monolithic/unitary/simple savior of the city are a non-starter. 

That's been evident to people involved in the city for years, but those recently joining the party/conversation often don't know the complexities - and don't want to be bothered with solutions that would involve giving up their own privilege. Don't mistake me. We should support community gardens as much as possible. I do. I've already purchased my community-supported agriculture share for next summer from a family-run farm in the city. But they alone cannot rescue the city, and we shouldn't ask them to. It is not a just.

Let me repeat: Detroit doesn't just need one thing. They don't just need more downtown development. They don't just need more hipsters or gay people or artists or whatever (read: affluent White people) to gentrify the neighborhoods. The don't just need a Whole Foods, or new stadium, or light rail. I'm not saying these things won't help at all, but these are sexy, cosmetic fixes, none of which individually, and even all of which collectively, will not save the city.

What the city needs is justice. Justice to compensate residents for the redlining, racism, real estate speculation and exploitation, corruption, and other abominations. Justice so that all children in the city receive a quality education and have an empowered local school board that acts in their best interests. Justice such that municipal employees, including police, fire, and teachers, receive living wages, justice so that all neighborhoods are well-covered by these services, justice such that corporate real estate holders pay their share of taxes and utility bills, justice in ending "pay to play" corruption in city contracts. This isn't an exhaustive list, but I hope you see my point.

Justice will work, not because it is a sexy, cosmetic, quick-fix just, but because it is hard and it is the reset that city residents both need and deserve.

And the city can do it, because Detroit hustles harder.