DPS enrollment shrinks to World War I levels

The Detroit News:

The preliminary tally showed enrollment dropped to about 88,000 this fall -- far below the 104,501 students counted last fall. It could constitute the largest one-year enrollment drop in the district's history.

If true, the News says "the drop could cost it about $52.6 million in state aid" and DPS will surely lose its first-class district status unless the state rewrites the rules.

Boston Edison, new lofts

The Wall Street Journal has a page one article on the Boston Edison neighborhood and its very active and laudable effort to fight foreclosures.

Also in today's news, Made in Detroit Inc. announced plans to build super-luxury lofts at the former Detroit Creamery building near Motor City Casino.

On second thought

My initial reaction was sheer relief, but given the damage done to the city and the region (not to mention Kilpatrick and his family), there's little to celebrate yet besides the simple act of moving on. The truth is, Kilpatrick should have resigned months and months ago, and no one -- not the city, not Kilpatrick -- received any benefit from this long-drawn-out drama. But Detroit, as its motto testifies, is a city destined to rise from its ashes, and I hope the end of the scandal leads directly to reform.

Our long local nightmare is over

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's tenure as mayor of Detroit is over. Commence dancing in the streets.

According to the Free Press, "The deal calls for Kilpatrick to plead guilty to two felony counts of obstruction of justice by committing perjury, agreeing to serve four months in jail, pay up to $1 million in restitution, and serve five years' probation. He also agreed not to run for office during that five-year span."

Hallelujah

The Free Press reports: Kwame Kilpatrick expected to plead guilty at 9 a.m. Thursday.

Good riddance. Now we can wonder, as Daniel Howes does, who the next mayor might be. We may also take hope that "75 percent say the city charter should be amended to elect council members by district." Long needed reform may finally be on its way.

If not Dublin, then Denver?

Recent articles have looked to Pittsburgh and Dublin to show how Detroit can revitalize itself. Now Model D points to a new comparison with Denver. Its most useful lesson: the need for regionalism. I hope L. Brooks Patterson gets the message.

No more quoting Crain's

As of this week, Crain's Detroit will be charging for online access. Do they know this is a failed business model? The only paper to have had any success charging for online subscriptions is the Wall Street Journal, but even they've changed their minds, gradually switching to an ad-based model. I'm betting Crain's, too, will come around eventually. They don't really have a choice.