Flashpoint: Looking back at 2014, ahead to new year in Detroit

Detroit moves forward after bankruptcy

DETROIT – The final Flashpoint of 2014 began with a look back at some of the top storylines from the year, like Detroit's bankruptcy battle, Kevyn Orr stepping in as emergency manager and the struggle for the DIA to protect its art.

But now, Detroiters can look forward to some positive headlines in the months to come, like the completion of the M1 rail and the continued development of Mike Ilitch's sports and entertainment district downtown.

Portia Roberson of the Detroit Division of Ethics and Civil Rights says that 2015 will undoubtedly be a better year for the city of Detroit thanks to the emergence from bankruptcy and resulting financial flexibility. She thinks the mood in the city is more enthusiastic than it has been in a long time.

On the other hand, Sheila Cockrel, former Detroit City Council member, cautions city officials that hard work is on the horizon as the return from bankruptcy continues. She is, however, optimistic about the direction of Detroit.

Political consultant Adolph Mongo talked about how Detroit can avoid making the same mistakes with money, while Nolan Finley of the Detroit News says it's critical to get revenue flowing in.

You can watch the first segment in the video posted above.

After the break, the panel returned to further discuss the obstacles facing Detroit and what to expect heading into 2015.

Finley started the conversation by talking about a column he wrote about the city that surprised many of his readers.

The rest of the panel continued the conversation and expanded on Finley's thoughts.

Click on the video below to watch the second segment.

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Finally, the panel talked about the people of Detroit and whether or not they feel like they're being pushed out of the city. Mongo says that some of the pushing is intentional.

The discussion went on to examine racial discomfort in Detroit and why that exists in the city.

The show ends with the panel talking about predictions for the next year in Detroit and what we will see in the future. Among the topics brought up were Detroit's emergence from bankruptcy and the next steps for Gov. Rick Snyder.

Check out the final segment in the video below.

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