Detroit, Michigan. The automobile capital of America has slowly degraded into empty commercial spaces and broken neighborhoods. It started the boom of automobiles and it was influential in the acceptance of national infrastructure. However, today, Detroit (along with the rest of the country) struggles to catch up with the modern infrastructure and technology that have passed it by.
That’s where SPFS’s first movie this season, “Beyond the Motor City,” picks up. There are many grassroots efforts that are springing up in Detroit to begin repairing the damage. The film follows a few of those advocates as they bus their neighbors from one forgotten neighborhood to the next. A major turning point in the film is the comparison between the United States and Spain, who has built a light rail system between Alicante, Barcelona and Valencia with great success.
Speakers will include Russ Beaton, who, according to the series organizers, specializes in environmental and energy economics and has done several studies focusing on urban growth boundary policies. He’s also the author of two books on sustainable development and is currently working on a third book. Beaton will be joined by Allan Pollock of Cherriots in Salem and Gerald Fox, an engineer and former light rail corridor manager for Portland’s TriMet system.
The film will kick off a number of transit debates that are scheduled in September. The Rail Now! Conference will take place Monday, September 20 at the Salem Convention Center, while Salem City Council will debate the relocation of Salem-Keizer Transit’s transit mall.
Salem Progressive Film Series takes place the first Thursday of each month at The Grand Theater. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and the film starts 7 p.m. Speakers follow each film. The next two movies will be “Soldiers of Peace” and “Tapped.” For more information, visit their website at salemprogressivefilms.net.
