Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Dave Bing, the mayor of Detroit, is offering police and firefighters who live in the suburbs renovated houses in the city for $1,000. The hope is to entice them back into the city as part as an effort to revitalize Detroit where 53% of Detroit police officers live in the suburbs and an even higher percentage of firefighters. Detroit previously had legislation requiring police officers to live in the city, but that requirement was revoked by the state legislature in 1999.Funding for the project will come from neighborhood stabilization funds, HUD and partnerships with local banks and credit unions. No tax dollars will be spent.
Let's hope it works. Detroit could certainly use a break.