Over the past few decades, Grand Rapids has seen an exciting boom of sorts. While the magnitude of a Detroit turnaround will require much more, I believe the Motor City can learn a thing or two from our neighbor city in West Michigan as it continues to capitalize on recent successes.

Investing in transportation infrastructure goes beyond mere road improvements and short-term benefits. It also generates significant economic returns to other industries and ultimately increases tax revenues too.

As Detroiters, we embrace our city's non-residential stakeholders. We embrace the fact that many are rooting for us; understanding that we will never have a thriving state of Michigan, or southeast region without a vibrant city of Detroit.

"Taxation without representation." It's an idea our nation was founded to oppose. Yet, right here in Detroit in 2012, it's a threat that's all too real.

Instead of working for a progress we can only access in the cinema of our imaginations, "a fantasy of more," we should embrace our station as a struggling city and exert ourselves towards making it better.

This experiment in micro-funding was already interesting before they served the soup. Then we all lined up and before too long, my wooden-crafted bowl was filled with a spicy vegan squash stew.

I love Detroit, I hate Detroit. It continues to inspire me, yet also continues to bum me out. I feel one of the greatest issues facing this city is that the people who live here deny that there is any problem and that Detroit is on the rebound.

There is certainly a revival in the Motor City and we should all be excited about the possibilities. But I want to caution Toby Barlow and anyone who believes that to be part of the renaissance one has to relocate to Downtown Detroit.

Transforming Detroit is not a short-term process. It will not be easy. It will take significant effort from those who care enough to invest our best in the city's revitalization.

For too long, we have seen our manufacturing jobs shipped overseas with little investment to retrain workers. We have seen high local taxes stifle entrepreneurship. It's time that we -- the people of Detroit -- take charge of our city's future.

We recognize that Occupy Detroit has attracted the participation of people from across Michigan. This is a good thing, if people take the time to understand the current work of Detroit's social movements.