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By Tom Watkins

I am traveling in China and seeing two

futures for Michigan and America: one where we rush to play catch-up and the other where we fall even further behind.

China has a public transportation

system that works – with trains, 4,000 miles of high speed rail, bus and even public bikes. America seems to be using training wheels and Michigan’s transpor- tation system has never gotten on track!

China is on a mission to continue re-

shaping its rice paddies, stepps and the mountains around a rail service that will do for the country what President Eisen- hower’s Interstate highway system did for America in the 1950’s. There are plans to construct a 16,000 mile high-speed net- work by 2020. China’s efforts are now driving the country forward, facilitating mobility and creating economic and tech- nology development.

From Mao To Wow!

Rail service in China has advanced a

great deal since my first experience here in 1989 when I shared a jam-packed, non- air conditioned train car along with what felt like the entire population of China on a hard seat bench, if you could find space to sit at all. When I walked through the railcars 20 years ago, I dodged bodies crouched on the floor, sharing the same space with chickens, pigs, sunflower seed shells and big puddles of phlegm.

Today, China, with the world’s lon-

gest high speed rail network, is report- edly planning to spend in excess of $1 trillion dollars (U.S.) on expanding its railway system. This is juxtaposed to the U.S. hope to build our first high-speed rail line by 2014, less than 85 miles linking Tampa and Orlando, Florida. Our efforts are “Mickey Mouse” effort in compari- son.

The Beijing-Tianjin inter-city Express

railway can catapult you 73 miles in 30 minutes, reaching speeds approaching 210 mph. The rail line between Wuhan and Guangzhou covers 600 miles in 3 hours, traveling at 220 mph. The journey on the old train took 11 hours.

The Chinese are notorious for travel-

ing the world and studying best practices then returning to China to put these ideas to work -- we would do well to emulate this practice.

4th Annual Awards Gala

Tom Watkins

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Dateline: Beijing, China

Michi -

gan and Amer- ica need a massive public works

strat-

egy, backed up with extensive investment, to ride the rails to increasing prosperity.

ing China on the

Beijing-Lhasa (Tibet)

speed rail

Cross- 48-hour high

in 2007, I had a

front seat to the extensive infrastructure investments China is making in rail, tun- nels, bridges, roads and train stations that seem to dot the landscape.

I recall a 2008 trip to meet a friend at

the Shanghai Railway Station for a day trip to Suzhou. I was feeling rather proud of my mediocre Chinese language skills when I hailed a dadi (taxi) and told the driver to (“qing dai wo qu huo che zhan”) or take me to the train station. He turned to me and responded in perfect English, “Which one?” Thinking of the 25-year- old, now abandoned hulk of the Michigan Central Train Station near downtown De- troit, I took a guess and chose one of the two train stations the dadi driver offered.

There are two modern train stations in

Shanghai. And the high-speed Shanghai Maglev Train shoots you from the airport to the congested central city, a distance of 19 miles, in slightly more than sev- en minutes at speeds that top 268 mph.

Most people in Michigan have never

heard of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, Mianyang, Xian, Chongqing, or Changsha. Yet a rail system exists, con- necting these once-isolated provinces and Chinese cities.

Training In Michigan

Detroit is one of the only major metro-

politan areas in the U.S. and indeed, the world, without a mass transit system. It is not only an embarrassment but it is hold- ing our region and state back economical- ly. Michigan needs to join the 21st centu- ry and develop a sensible, affordable and effective mass transportation system.

The lack of a mass transit system is an On Thursday, April 7, the National Asso-

ciation of Securities Professionals (NASP) Detroit Chapter will host Encore IV, its 4th annual Awards/Scholarship dinner at the at the Detroit Athletic Club, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

In addition to a festive event and awards

presentation, the non-profit association is also using this as a time to stake claim to its goal to give away more scholarships this year than ever before.

NASP is a non-profit association of pro-

anchor, pulling down our ability to climb out of the economic pit in which we find ourselves.

From New York, Washington D.C., to

the Beijing-Lhasa (Tibet) train, intra-city mass transit and express railways not only move people, but also accelerate the movement of ideas and economies.

I Think We Can

If words were rails, we would be com-

peting with China for the most com- prehensive intra-country train system. There’s a “whole lotta talk” going on – just not much action here in the “Motor City.

April 19-21 The High Speed Rail World

USA, will hold its conference in Washing- ton, D.C. To bring together high speed train operators, innovators, engineers and government leaders to discuss ways to tap the $8 billion in federal dollars ear- marked for bringing highspeed rail the U.S.

It is ironic that for the past three de-

cades Michigan’s powerful political and business leaders drive to the land of “No motorized vehicles” – Mackinac Island – to discuss the need for a modern mass transit system only to produce zip, nada – nothing?

Hope Springs Eternal

In June the Detroit Regional Chamber

(http://mpc.detroitchamber.com/ <http:// mpc.detroitchamber.com/> ) will once again host its annual Mackinac Policy Conference, ironically marketed as “30 years of Moving Michigan Forward,” even as outgoing Chamber President Dick Blouse laments that his greatest disap- pointment in his 16 years in Detroit with a one word answer: “Transit.”

We could build the rails and the trains

right here in Michigan, indeed helping to ‘move us forward’ on two fronts. The question remains- will we? Or should we be adopting the Detroit Lions mantra, “There is always next year”?

As China keeps chugging along ….

Tom Watkins is a business and educa-

tdwatkins@aol.com.

fessionals in the securities industry, fo- cusing on bringing together the nation’s minorities and women who have achieved recognition in the industry as brokers, asset managers, public finance consul- tants and other finance professionals.

The Encore Awards Dinner, will honor

individuals who have made a difference or a significant contribution to the finan- cial services industry in an effort to raise money for scholarships.

Tickets to the event are $125 with tables

March 31-April 6, 2010

By V. Lonnie Peek, Jr.

Recently a lot of discus-

sions have centered on the necessity of seriously consid- ering closing off geographic parcels of land within the city of Detroit. The rationale being that sparse populations scat- tered throughout the city put an unnecessary demand on services and up keep. Mayor Dave Bing, even in his State of the City, spoke to this point that something is going to be done in this area.

In order to arrive at the pro-

cess for this action the city is using internal and external data to decide which neighbor- hoods stay and which ones go. The city plans to save some neighborhoods. But in others, residents will be asked to re- locate. The mayor has even stated that he will be involved in helping some move. The theory being that in those desolate areas, if residents can have hope to be placed in better stable neighborhoods, they would be willing to go.

A block-by-block study

of the 139 square mile city showed that roughly one in three parcels are vacant or have abandoned homes. Such ideas have been floated that once neighborhoods are chosen; residents will have a certain time to move. City ser- vices such as, transportation, fire, police and garbage pick up will be curtailed. Gas lines would be shut off. Electricity would be turned off.

So the question is what be-

comes of these parcels? Do you just let vegetation grow and take over? Will we have little jungles inside of the city? Will they be fenced off? What type of illegal activity could then migrate to these jungles?

I’m reminded of that movie

“Escape From New York,” where the city was shut down and fenced off. Inside you had nothing but gangs and all

ranging from $1,500 to $2,500. Guests will enjoy a gourmet dinner, dancing and a formal awards presentation.

This year’s honorees include Susan

Glaser, trustee, City of Detroit General Re- tirement System; Robert Bobb, emergency financial manager, Detroit Public Schools; Brian Jeffries, president/CEO, Ambassador Capital; and Benny N. Napoleon, Wayne County Sheriff.

The lives of numerous Metro Detroiters have been enhanced as a direct result of

V. Lonnie Peek Jr.

types of decadent living. There was no law and order. Drugs, corruption, killings, gang wars where the norm of the day. Could sections of our city be headed for this type of unde- sirable destiny?

Then there is another

school of thinking. Maybe these parcels of land could be turned into “urban farms.” Use the land for production. Grow food and then sell the food. Create a farming indus- try inside of the city.

Some feel that this is a

sinister plot by the Mayor to sell parcels of land to corpora- tions. The Mayor was emphat- ic in his State of the City, that he is not nor never will sell off land that belongs to the City.

Bottom line is something

has to be done. Detroit during its population heyday had close to 2 million folks, now is around 900, 000, too much land, too little people.

One lady interviewed ,

stated, “ I have seen this neigh- borhood go down to the dogs, yes I would be willing to move to a better location and let them so something else here, cause this isn’t working no more.” That’s the point; if it is not working it has to be fixed. We, Detroiters, need to start thinking differently about our City. New innovated approach- es have to be tried to create a new Detroit, because the old way is not working anymore.

the generous contributions made by NASP. These often touching testimonials inspire the association to continue its good work.

The awards dinner is expected to be the

biggest and best yet. For more information about NASP and

the Encore Awards dinner, please contact Cris Pierson at (586) 202-4090.

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