“The Fine Print”, by Michael Schrader

Emphasize Strengths, Not Weaknesses

Written 03 May 2014 (never published)

I do not understand the self-loathing native Port Huronites have about their own home. I have lived in seven states, and trust me, there are much worse places than Port Huron. However, if an outsider thinking about relocating a family or business here were to base that decision solely on the opinions of the local population, that outsider would go somewhere else. In the eighteen months I have been here, I have been told that Port Huron is: crime ridden; a little Detroit; a drug haven; dying; has no jobs; has little potential; is backwards; the list goes on and on. Many of the opinion pieces that I have read in the newspaper are very negative. Ultimately, the negativity and self-loathing become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Since I chose to work in Detroit and live in Port Huron, I have been queried as why I chose Port Huron? Let me explain that when I lived in the southern plains, a one hour commute was commonplace, so driving an hour from Port Huron to Wayne State is not a big deal. So of all the places within an hour of Wayne State, why did I choose Port Huron? Port Huron has three great assets not found anywhere else within an hour of Detroit - Lake Huron, Canada, and educational access.

I have visited all five of the Great Lakes, and while I like them all, I like Huron the best. It is the most swimmable of the five- not as polluted as Michigan, Erie, and Ontario, and not as cold as Superior. It is a wonderful asset that the local population seems to take for granted. When my children, who have spent their entire lives on the central plains, saw Huron they were mesmerized, especially since they couldn’t see the other side!

I have heard locals complain about the Canadians, and having to pay a bit more for gas and the like because of them. Other than Lansing and Ann Arbor, where else in the state do you have a built in revenue stream from non-residents? Ask local merchants, restaurants, and hotels whether or not they think being a border city is a good or bad thing, and I can tell you what the answer will be. It is a wonderful asset, not only economically, but culturally as well. Businesses value diversity, and our status as a border crossing makes us diverse.

In the center of our city, on the north bank of the Black River, is a forgotten gem of Port Huron – SC4. You’d be hard-pressed to find many other places where a good quality college is both affordable and convenient. Three classes will cost you around $15 a day, which is the price of a typical lunch if you eat out. Yet I have heard that the local education system is terrible and there are no opportunities to go to college.

Let’s be proud of our community. Quit dwelling on the negative, and emphasize the positive.

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