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An Open Letter to Johnny Damon’s Wife about the Importance of Quality of Place
Earlier this year Michelle Damon reportedly stated that Detroit wasn't cosmopolitan enough for its new left fielder, Johnny Damon. Model D Media was kind enough to publish our open letter to Mrs. Damon, thanking her for reminding us about the importance of quality of place to Michigan's economic future.
An excerpt:
Your husband just signed a one-year $8 million contact, which according to reports was a couple million more than any other teams offered. Now think about it, if a company like the Tigers can't get someone to come to Detroit or Michigan without millions of extra dollars on the table, how are companies doing business in our state going to be able to recruit the kind of talent they need to run their businesses? How are we as a state going to recruit new companies that will bring more jobs if they will not be able to recruit top-talented employees?
A few years ago we got a lesson about the importance of place and talent attraction that I'm afraid we've forgotten too quickly. In 2007, Comerica Bank, formerly the Detroit bank, moved its headquarters to Dallas. Justifying the move, the CEO of Comerica said nothing of tax rates, but stressed a need to "continue attracting and retaining talented employees" to stay globally competitive.
More from the letter:
So as you can see, we need to develop a greater appreciation of the importance of quality of place here in Michigan. It's essential to our future that we develop the types of communities and urban centers that will attract the talented work force of the 21st century. The types of communities that even in tough times like these support and offer effective mass transit, walkability, arts and culture, an entrepreneurial spirit, density, and a certain diversity of experiences and people. Or as you might describe, a more cosmopolitan flair.
For the full letter visit Model D Media.
All Photographs © Marvin Shaouni Photography
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