Annexation
Landin believes by annexing 28 "distressed" communities in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counites, Detroit will once again have the clout that can go a long way in solving many of the city's woes, such as lack of affordable housing, declining public education and inadequate mass transit, he said.
"There is one word that encapsulates of what everyone wants to do. And that word is: More,'" Landin said. "How do we get more? My answer to all of that is annexation. It's how Detroit was built."
Detroit's population is currently a little over 633,000, according to the U.S. Census. The last time the city had more than 1 million residents was around 1990.
"If we were to take all those communities that are distressed, and help them find a way out of that distress, and put them together without losing their identities, we can change the image of this state and city" Landin said.
A distressed city or community refers to an economic index based on the employment rate, poverty level, education level of its residents along with business growth.
The advantages of a city with over 1 million people combines resources and "human capital," and traditionally be eligible for much more federal revenue, Landin said.
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