The State of My State

Although the overall economic situation in the U.S. is bleak, in Michigan it is among the worst. Our unemployment rate continues to be the highest in the nation, even though it dropped slightly in April. This was partly due to the availability of seasonal jobs, but we continue to lose jobs at an astounding rate, especially in manufacturing and the auto industry. Today Ford Motor Company announced that it may cut as many as 2,000 workers from its white collar division. This type of headline has become the norm. The state’s housing market has declined significantly, with the rate of foreclosures among the highest in the country. Add to that the sad reality that 1 in 8 households receive food stamps. The situation has escalated beyond crisis mode and something must be done to change it. The above photo shows a very common scene. Numerous buildings stand empty, where businesses once thrived. I shot this during a recent walk in an industrial area close to my neighborhood. Within a radius of just a few blocks, I counted at least half a dozen office buildings like these with “For Sale” signs out front. In other areas, it is much worse.