It can't happen to us, we're Oakland County

This blog is a continuous conversation (one-sided at this point) about the hardships that even a perpetually wealthy county like Oakland County has had to go through. Seeing as how the city of Detroit functions as a metro area and many prominent elements are found in Oakland County I find it unnecessary to go through a list of cities or comparisons for arguments sake. What makes this blog work is that everyone knows about Oakland County, most probably live in or work in it, and the prestige that is often bestowed on it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_County,_Michigan

For almost three years I worked at Somerset Mall in Troy. For those that have never been to the mall I will give a brief explanation. The mall is, or was, marketed and built to be Oakland County's mall. Many of the retail stores are very pricey. As an employee and manager at a shoe store at the mall, I had a first hand look at how the economy treats people from a little different perspective than most.

While employed at the store, I went from being able to sell thousands of dollars of merchandise on a Saturday two or three years ago to struggling to sell that same amount in a full week. My store lost over $150,000 during the 2008 fiscal year alone. That means that we actually sold $150,000 less in athletic shoes and apparel. Saying that is a significant loss does not quantify the amount.

People who shop at Somerset largely come from Oakland County because of the location and prestige. The fact that that much money was lost signifies to the amount of buying power that was lost from the people in the county.

http://www.thesomersetcollection.com/section.asp?categoryID=1§ionID=1

Lucas Tondera, a former employee at the store and freshman at Michigan State University, agrees and added that he had a personal experience of the down economy hit close to home.

"My aunt lost her job", Tondera said. "She lives in Troy and had to cut back on a lot of things, she just had a kid."

Troy is an interesting city. Long known for its great schools, safe neighborhoods and superb city services, the "City of tomorrow, today" has recorded a loss in funds for the first time in its history. Tondera shared his feelings on the situation.

"Troy (where he is from) is losing money all over the place", Tondera said. "The library might close, Police are getting cut".

The Troy library closing might not actually be a bad idea considering they haven't re-furnished it in ten years (opinion).

Oakland County is home to a lot of white-collar residents, and if this economic downturn can be characterized by anything, it seems like the diversity of people being affected is the largest it has ever been. When people like Tondera's aunt lose their job, they do not go on welfare. They do however, stop shopping at overpriced malls like Somerset and chain is formed. Stores at Somerset record substantial losses and are forced to lay-off their workers. These workers, some of whom do collect welfare, cannot afford basic needs.

Dwight Ragland, a junior Nursing major at Oakland University, feels that this recession has affected a different kind of person. Dwight has a friend, who he calls "Nikko". According to Dwight, Nikko used to go on vacation every winter and summer to some sort of exotic location, be it the Caribbean Islands or Europe. Nikko and his family did not go on their summer trip this year and this winter are only going to Florida. The point is, these people are still spending money, but not in the way that they used to, and the effect is felt-country wide.

For next week, read as Troy's financial manager John Lamerato talks about the unique quandary his city is in.

Blog 1- Pontiac

Once a busting blue-collar city full of tough and proud residents, the city of Pontiac has been transformed into what is now referred by many as Oakland County's "Detroit". Indeed, the two cities share many attributes, from crappy school systems to inefficient city governments. Gangs that used to be limited to the South Side of Los Angeles have now made their presence felt in Pontiac.

The purpose of this blog is to explore the effect that the economic downturn has had on one of the wealthiest counties in America. Oakland County, whose affluent neighborhoods stack up with the richest countrywide, is no different than the rest of the country when it comes to being prone to an economic depression.

Now Pontiac may not have ever been one of the Bloomfields or Birminghams, but if one wanted to see the real effects of what "we don't have any money" means when a city says it, then look no further than one of the states oldest cities.

The city seemed to take a step in the right direction on Nov. 4, when Leon B. Jukowski was voted into office over Sandy-Michael McDonald.

Jukowski will probably not turn the city around in four years, but as a former attorney and business man he has a better shot than his opponent, whose slogan was "change is going to come, are you"? (say that out loud)

Only took a shot at McDonald in his closing statement, vowing that he would "not have any ties to friends in office".

The good news for the city was short lived however, as the no-limit auction for the Pontiac Silverdome recently drew to a close. According to Jukowski, the city is going to get chump change for the historic venue from an auction. He believes the city should sell the property to a private investor based on tax-value.

“If we own it and run it, then we have to pay for it,” Jukowski said. “If we sell it to someone, then they have to pay to run it.”

No one knows how much the Silverdome ended up going for and if the city feels like the amount is not adequate then they can opt out of the sale.

As of right now though, Pontiac is a dying city more than $100 million in debt located in an affluent county whose problems keep multiplying.

Don't tell that to McDonald though, who is still serving for the city and thinks that, "Pontiac's best days are ahead".