Sarah Hulett

Can Detroit Be Saved?

Sarah Hulett — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 14:29:45 +0000

Detroit is broke. On Friday, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder announced the state will take over the city's finances.

"It is time to say, we need to start moving upward with the city of Detroit," he said.

But the question on many people's minds is whether state intervention will be enough — and whether the more ominous and painful scenario of municipal bankruptcy can be avoided.

Adding Up The Debt

Just how far gone is Detroit?

Racial, Regional Divide Still Haunt Detroit's Progress

Sarah Hulett — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 23:01:00 +0000

For many years — perhaps even decades — Detroit has been the poster child for economic malaise.

Students Say They've Been Denied The Right To Read

Sarah Hulett — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 23:18:00 +0000

Eight Detroit-area public school students returning to classes this week are plaintiffs against a school system they say has failed them.

Their families and the American Civil Liberties Union say that the Highland Park school system has denied the students the right to learn to read, and that the state has a responsibility to fix that.

Michelle Johnson has five children in Highland Park schools.

Michigan Town Grapples With Shrinking Public Sector

Sarah Hulett — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:47:00 +0000

Tammi Warren has lived on the same winding street in the Detroit suburb of Inkster, Mich., all her life. But as she drives down the block in her Ford pickup, Warren points to several houses on her street that stand vacant, casualties of the housing market collapse.

Vacant houses mean less tax revenue for the city, and less revenue makes it harder for Inkster to provide basic city services.

"[The] city of Inkster has eliminated 38 positions," says City Treasurer Mark Stuhldreher.

As GM Hires, Michigan City's Outlook Brightens

Sarah Hulett — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:14:00 +0000

Hamtramck, Mich., has seen its fortunes rise and fall with the auto industry. In recent years, they've been falling. But now there's reason for some optimism. General Motors says it will add 2,500 jobs at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant, and bring production of the next-generation Chevy Impala to the facility.

The plant, which straddles the border dividing the two cities, has not exactly been humming with activity in recent years.