The $300 million in federal and private aid announced Friday for Detroit is just a drop in the bucket compared to the city's $18 billion debt. While the aid is far short of a bailout, it represents a down payment on the city's recovery.
"Top Obama administration officials and local leaders unveiled a strategy to bring $300 million in federal and private-sector help to Detroit today to fight blight, improve the city’s struggling bus system, boost public safety and encourage business growth in a city fighting for survival in bankruptcy court," report Matt Helms and Todd Spangler.
"The money will include $150 million for blight removal and redevelopment. Of that, a $65 million block grant and $25 million in public and private funding will be used to demolish vacant commercial buildings," they note. "The $300 millions will also include $14 million for transit and $25 million to hire as many as 140 firefighters."
“This is critical,” said emergency manager Kevyn Orr. “We still are in a bankruptcy. We’re still going to have to go through that process, we’re still going to have to work our way through the debt, but this is aimed at neighborhood revitalization.”
Read the full story: $300M federal, private boost for Detroit: 'We are going to do everything we are capable of'
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