Detroit or Tampa Bay? The fortunes of these cities can be seen through the wildly opposite standings of their sports franchises. Very quietly, seemingly from nowhere, Tampa Bay has become the most dominant city in sports. In the past year, all of its teams have either won championships or appeared in the championship of every sport that has a franchise in the city. Meanwhile Detroit, once venerable, has put its fans through the ringer, inhabiting the nadir of professional sports.
Is it coincidence that Tampa is a growing city while Detroit has plummeted?
I write this neither to praise or disrespect. I have no particular connection to either city — nor any of their sports franchises.
But it came to mind as I was reflecting on Denver’s growing pains.
When I moved back here close to eight years ago it was immediately clear how much the city had changed. What I noticed first was how few people in the city were natives. Denver, for excellent reasons, had become a destination. The explosive growth, while positive overall, has created challenges, ranging from increased cost of living to a horrific rise in crime. As a cyclist, I face the challenges daily, whether from increased traffic or, more disturbingly, the crime-ridden needle-park tent cities that have mushroomed across Capitol Hill.
It is so easy to become depressed and angry over this, and I often do. Then I remind myself: Would I rather live in a growing city or one on the decline — in Tampa Bay or Detroit?
The concern is that Denver’s leadership either doesn’t seem to understand these challenges or have the right tools to address them. Case in point: The whack-a-mole approach to tent cities instead of permanently shutting them down and ensuring the residents enter detox and/or mental health facilities.
Despite these very troublesome trends, I’m grateful to live in a Tampa, not a Detroit, though to give the latter its due it has made strides in rehabilitating its downtown area. Denver has the economic opportunities, cultural diversity and beautiful, well-maintained neighborhoods that any vibrant, growing city should.
Incidentally, we also have two championship caliber sports teams — and two struggling ones. I’d say that puts us somewhere between Detroit and Tampa, but definitely trending in the right direction.
Shana Goldberg may be reached at shana@ijn.com
