[iheartthed]

^Also, I have a theory about why Michigan hasn't been quick to fix its policy issues that give a competitive advantage to sprawl over urban development. First is the obvious, that Michigan is flat and doesn't have constraints from natural features like islands or mountains. The other is that unlike the major cities in the northeast, Detroit sprawl was never really in danger of spilling into another state. New York State, for instance, has a self-interest to keep tax dollars in New York City vs New Jersey or Connecticut. Same for Pennsylvania vs New Jersey. But Detroit is 50 miles from the nearest state border, ignoring Canada, and the sprawl has mostly gone deeper into the state. To Michigan it looks all the same whether it's Detroit or Troy.