Detroit "Too Broke" to Bury Dead

Detroit "Too Broke" to Bury Dead

www.mlive.com

You can smell the plight of Detroit at the Wayne County Morgue, according to CNN's Poppy Harlow. Apparently, it smells like death.

Harlow reports that 67 unclaimed corpses are piled up at the Wayne County Morgue. Many of them haven't been identified, but others remain because families cannot afford to bury them.

(visit the link for the full news article)


Related News Links:
money.cnn.com
www.huffingtonpost.com

I grew up about 45 miles north of Detroit. I used to drive around the heart of the city during the day and just explore. There are parts of that city that would make you think it's the end of the world. I know people say there are bad areas to any city, but I don't think there are many other places in the U.S. quite like the slums of Detroit.

I don't know what to think about the bodies piling up in Detroit's morgues. It makes me lose more and more faith in humanity when we can't even properly put our brothers and sisters to rest.




www.mlive.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 1-10-2009 by nick112]

Pretty pathetic that they are letting the bodies pile up. I think they should have got the state and fed involved before it ever got to this point.


With so much property depreciation this year, you would think the price of a burial plot would go down.

Maybe it's time for funeralcare for every American.

reply to post by nick112


Makes me sick that this is happening. I live on the other side of the state, but make it to Detroit about once a year. As if Detroit didn't look like a war zone as it is, now they've got bodies piling up in the morgue.

Shovel - $10
Min. wage in Detroit - $5.15

Since when did holes get so expensive?

Originally posted by ZombieOctopus
Shovel - $10
Min. wage in Detroit - $5.15

Since when did holes get so expensive?

States minimum wage is $7.40. And its not just about digging holes. Detrois unemployment rate is 28%, Michigans total unempleyment rate is 15%.

[edit on 10/1/2009 by TheAntiHero420]

Sadly, Detroit is near, or at, the top of the list of future American Ghost- Towns.

When your entire economy is built on the manufacturing of cars, you must stay competitive with the markets.

While the Japanese were building cars that were more efficient in Gas consumption AND maintenance requirements, Detroit was rolling out the Ford Expedition and selling them to the stupid Americans as a status-symbol.

Their greed + American ignorance = Detroit has dead people piling up in the morgues because nobody can afford to bury them.

This is really looking like the begining of the end.

Jesus H. Christ! You can't bury your dead?!

Cavemen did better than this.

Originally posted by JayinAR
Sadly, Detroit is near, or at, the top of the list of future American Ghost- Towns.

When your entire economy is built on the manufacturing of cars, you must stay competitive with the markets.

While the Japanese were building cars that were more efficient in Gas consumption AND maintenance requirements, Detroit was rolling out the Ford Expedition and selling them to the stupid Americans as a status-symbol.

Their greed + American ignorance = Detroit has dead people piling up in the morgues because nobody can afford to bury them.

This is really looking like the begining of the end.

Jesus H. Christ! You can't bury your dead?!

Cavemen did better than this.

It's scary to think of a "New Detroit" and an "Old Detroit." Makes me think of Robocop. But with the corrupt city council, it's starting to look more and more likely.

I think part of the problem, in all honesty, might be historical preservation groups. Granted, a lot of the old pre-riot buildings are beautiful, but they just end up breeding poverty and crime in the end. The city needs to tear them down and redevelop.

Originally posted by TheAntiHero420
reply to post by nick112

 

Makes me sick that this is happening. I live on the other side of the state, but make it to Detroit about once a year. As if Detroit didn't look like a war zone as it is, now they've got bodies piling up in the morgue.

Where about are you from AntiHero? I'm a student at CMU.

Hole digging is actually pretty expensive, as is the whole process. I can't remember specifically but its around $300 for digging a hole, but probably varies a lot. Not the first choice for some people/families but cremation is always an option.

I took a guided bus tour of Detroit last month with 75 other family
members, because our re-union was held there this year.

What totally shocked me was how deserted the downtown was on
a beautiful September weekend. We went to a museum and it was
closing 5 hours early due to lack of attendance. Even the two casinos
in town looked starved for business. Sort of creepy actually.

But on the bright side, the highways and the major boulevards
were in great condition because the Super Bowl was there a few
years ago and the infrastructure was spruced up for that event.
The new basketball and baseball stadiums looked great too. Just
no people around to use and/or enjoy anything.

Have you ever seen an ambulance zooming through stop lights, forcing
cars over to the side of the road and then whiz into a Burger King drive
through, then kill it's lights/siren so the Medics could order lunch? Go to
Detroit and you might, just as I did last month. It was a combination
hilarious and un-real experience. Detroit certainly has its own personality
totally unlike any other U.S. city. That's 4 sure.
-cwm

reply to post by ghaleon12


Maybe they should throw the bodies in the ocean... Or in Lake Michigan.

There are lots of options when it comes to disposing of a body.
I for sure wouldn't allow them to pile up in the morgue.

If my loved one had said that their dying wish was to be buried in the ground, I'd dig the damned hole myself.

That three hundred bucks would be saved completely. Just a little elbow grease.

Originally posted by nick112

Originally posted by TheAntiHero420
reply to post by nick112

 

Makes me sick that this is happening. I live on the other side of the state, but make it to Detroit about once a year. As if Detroit didn't look like a war zone as it is, now they've got bodies piling up in the morgue.

Where about are you from AntiHero? I'm a student at CMU.

Nice my dad went to CMU, kalamazoo area.

Maybe they should throw the bodies in the ocean... Or in Lake Michigan.

Nice but wrong side of the state.

[edit on 10/1/2009 by TheAntiHero420]

Originally posted by carewemust
Have you ever seen an ambulance zooming through stop lights, forcing
cars over to the side of the road and then whiz into a Burger King drive
through, then kill it's lights/siren so the Medics could order lunch? Go to
Detroit and you might, just as I did last month. It was a combination
hilarious and un-real experience. Detroit certainly has its own personality
totally unlike any other U.S. city. That's 4 sure.

No way. That is twisted.

Next time you're there check out the old train station. Make sure you go with some people and in the middle of the day, but it's definitely worth checking out.

reply to post by TheAntiHero420


How many bodies?
60?
Pile them all in one vehicle and make one trip.

Pretty cheap, if you ask me.

reply to post by JayinAR


Not saying it wouldn't work, but Detroit is by either Erie or Huron can't remember. Would be cheaper and the bodies might actually make it to the ocean then. Lake Michigan would make it Chicagos problem, and might screw up the olympics for them. Not that I care but chicago sucks.

Originally posted by JayinAR
reply to post by TheAntiHero420

 

How many bodies?
60?
Pile them all in one vehicle and make one trip.

Pretty cheap, if you ask me.

Nah. Just throw them in Lake Huron.

Then, we'll just make our grand kids worry about it when California drains all of the water out of the great lakes.

Originally posted by nick112

No way. That is twisted.

Next time you're there check out the old train station. Make sure you go with some people and in the middle of the day, but it's definitely worth checking out.

Yes..twisted it was. But the native Detroiters seemed not to mind. From
my experiences there, Detroit reminds me of what the old west must have
been like. I bet everyone has a gun in their pocket too. All the police
cars were parked at the station and dusty...liked they'd been on the lot
for a long time. Must have been a big layoff due to the budget.

Are you referring to the Amtrak station, Nick112? For one reason or
another, I seem to be in Detroit every couple of years. Will ask my
relatives there for a tour of the "Old Train Station" during my next visit.
Thanks for the tourist tip!
-cwm

reply to post by carewemust


Next time your in Detroit make sure you drive into the ghettos. It's a sickening site, houses and buildings with holes in them, never been so scared in my life. You'd think there had been a war there. Detroit has too many problems to deal with to actually care about what happens to the bodies, or even the people that live there it seems.

[edit on 10/1/2009 by TheAntiHero420]

I live in Royal Oak, just North of Detroit, not buying it, downtown is doing just fine, Tigers, Red Wing Hockey, Detroit Lions all play their games downtown, Greek Town is one of the best in the U.S. bar none, there are many cool clubs in downtown Detroit that the twenties and thirties age group from the burbs go to all the time, my daughter was married downtown at the Rattlesnake on the Detroit River, trust me most people cannot afford a wedding there. There are some bad area's like any large city, ever been to Filmore St. in San Francisco, better carry a gun. Unless you live in the area all your life and born in Detroit like I was you should take these stories with a grain of salt. I do know San Francisco very well also, lived in Berkeley for 12 years and spent most weekends in S.F. with a friend a who was lucky enough to live there.