Detroit Mayor Makes Big Plans in State of City Speech

Among his proposals are the demolition of more than 3,000 derelict and abandoned homes over the next year, and up to 10,000 in the next three years.

"'For too long, our focus has been downtown at the expense of neighborhoods,' Bing said.

But improving neighborhoods also could include a land-use plan that no doubt will be controversial. Bing is preparing plans to downsize the city to reflect a population decline to about 900,000 from a peak of 1.8 million in 1950. His speech included no new details, but called for a dialogue and attempted to put to rest what Bing called 'myths' about his plans."