Business & Professionals

Bob Goldsmith on
the go in down-
town Detroit,
where he lives
eivi works.

NV/.

I

He's Up On Downtown

Attorney/walking-tour guide helps you
connect with the Detroit he loves.

Bill Carroll
Special to the Jewish News

I

n the city of Detroit's dismal sea
of troubles, Jewish attorney Bob
Goldsmith is like a beacon of hope.
The Southfield native is one of Detroit's
biggest boosters, especially the down-
town area. He loves downtown so much
he moved his law practice there from
Southfield in 2002 — and a year later
moved there to live. A year after that, he
formed a company called Detroit Tour
Connections and now gives guided walk-
ing tours of downtown and special bus
tours of other parts of the city.

"Despite everything, Detroit is a fasci-
nating city," Goldsmith said from his twin-
office suite in the old, but remarkably
pristine Ford Building at the corner of
Griswold and Congress (that's Ford from
the Libbey-Owens-Ford glass business,
not the car company). One office in the
suite is tagged Robert S. Goldsmith, attor-
ney — general practice, and he's the sole
employee; the other is called just plain
Bob Goldsmith, Detroit Tour Connections.
Even the phone numbers are different.
"Remember, for all the troubled people
who may be involved in Detroit's politics,
there are a lot more decent people to coun-
teract them," Goldsmith said. "It really

bothers me to hear about all the residents
of Detroit's suburbs who ignore the city
and are afraid to come downtown because
it's supposedly too dangerous; or, if they
do come down for a ball game or to go to
the Opera House or someplace, they rush
right home with their car doors locked.
"There's so much to do and see down
here; historic buildings with beautiful
architecture, superb sculptures, newly
renovated hotels, an entire entertain-
ment district, the new River Walk behind
Renaissance Center, the Campus ivlartius
activities, some great new restaurants and
after-theater spots, the casinos and a lot
more. Detroit has many resources that

shouldn't be ignored or abandoned; it's
one of America's most important cities.
"And people don't have to worry about
coming down here," he said. "I've been
walking around downtown with groups
of people for many years and nothing has
ever happened to us. The downtown area
is well patrolled by police. Once in a while,
you get bothered by a panhandler, but
that's about it:'

Sharing Love Of History
Goldsmith, 46 and single, attended
Southfield High School (Class of

Downtown on page 22

August 6 • 200•' 21