The ongoing challenge to shrink the city of Detroit continues to move forward as highlighted in today’s Free Press interview with Mayor Bing.

Bing said he’s been working to encourage residents to relocate to more densely populated areas but made a point to clarify that no one will be forced to move. Though one would have to ask why anyone wouldn’t leap at the opportunity to move themselves or their family to a better, safer, more aptly served neighborhood if given the chance. The good news though is that so far it appears that a majority of Detroiters are ready to jump at the opportunity and get on board with the plan.

“We’re going to be encouraging them to move and put themselves in a better situation. … They are much better off moving into a more dense area so that we can provide them with the services they need: that would be water, sewer, lighting, public safety — all of that,” Bing said. “We think that getting our city to be more dense with its population is the right route.”

The interview also delves into Bing’s reign so far as mayor and how the outcome, or at least development, of the right-sizing plan could be the ultimate defining factor of Dave Bing’s term.

The plan could become a political lightning rod for Bing, who also said Tuesday he will seek a second term.

“I can’t fix the problems that the city has in one term,” he said. “I’ve been here in this office almost 18 months, and we’ve fixed and improved a lot of areas, but there’s so much more work to do. …

Read the complete article here.

Pictures courtesy of Detroit Free Press