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Shame on the city of Detroit.
With all the talk of developing neighborhoods — and of all the talk of attracting more business — city hall has provided little support for Detroit gas station owners, many who risk their lives to operate in the city.
In some distressed neighborhoods, gas stations are the only form of commerce, not only providing gas but some basic groceries like eggs, bread, cereal and milk. Go up a worn street like Grand River and you’ll find a gas station open for business next to blocks and blocks of vacant lots and empty storefronts that were abandoned decades ago.
It’s simply dangerous getting gas in the city. Gas stations have become magnets for murders, muggings, robberies, carjackings and assaults. People congregate outside and harass customers. Drug dealers intimidate some owners, who acquiesce out of fear, and let them peddle their goods outside. Some neighborhood thugs have basically taken over stations, ignoring pleas by the owners to leave. It's one of the more visible reminders of anarchy in the city.
There are plenty folks who won’t stop at a Detroit gas station. Why risk it, they figure. Some owners and clerks are afraid to come out from behind the bulletproof glass.
What has the city done to make these businesses feel welcome? What has it done to make customers safer? Not much, and it certainly hasn’t done anything close to what its done for folks like Mike Illitch to operate in the city.
Half-Hearted Effort
In the latest half-hearted effort, the city council is mandating that gas station have upgraded digital video cameras installed by Aug. 31 so police can better identify criminals. Cameras will have to be placed inside and outside the station, and positioned in a way to capture customers' faces. Presumably, the thought is the improved cameras will also help deter crime.
The owners will have to foot the bill for the cameras, the price of doing business in a city that seems to show little support for businesses operating outside of downtown, midtown and Corktown.
Frankly, the cameras are not enough. Good to know when you get pistol whipped and robbed or shot while filling up your tank, the cops will have a better chance of catching the culprit.
The city has to step it up and show some love for the folks doing business in the neighborhoods. They are the real heroes of the business community.
Here’s what needs to be done: Detroit needs to create a gas-station task force comprised of Detroit and state police and agents from the FBI, ATF, DEA, Secret Service and U.S. Marshals. The federal agencies all have plenty agents based here in Detroit.
The task force needs to crack down, focusing first on the most troubled, high-crime gas stations. The task force would arrest loiterers who won't move on, drugs dealers, stickup men and carjackers and people with outstanding warrants.
The city needs to send a message to gas station owners that their business is welcome in the city and their stations are safe for everyone to come shop, be it suburbanites or Detroiters.
Detroit needs to create a more inviting business environment in the neighborhoods.
Until then, the idea of improving distressed neighborhoods and creating local shopping districts will remain just that: An idea.
