On march 23rd Detroiters packed into a grand auditorium in the city's mid-town. Charles Pugh was there, the leader of the city council. Carol Goss was there, head of the Skillman Foundation, a busy local charity. Firemen, reporters and throngs of ordinary Detroiters jammed into the seats. Dave Bing, the mayor, was due to give his first state-of-the-city speech. Detroit was eager to hear his vision.rnThe city has had a dismal stretch, even by its standards. But harsh realities have produced radical thinking. For the first time, dramatic steps are being discussed seriously, including plans to close dozens of schools, cut services and transform the landscape. The speech was a chance for Mr Bing to chart the way forward.
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