EDITOR'S LETTER
The City That Still Drives The World
ou can't have a Detroit-based pub-
lication and not devote an issue
to the automobile — I'm pretty
sure it's in the rulebook somewhere,
I think. That said, we elected to make
January our version of an "auto" issue,
anchored by an interview with Car
and Driver magazine's (relatively) new
editor in chief, Eddie Alterman.
A"Made in Michigan product"who is second to
none, Alterman — at the ripe old age of 39 — helms
the industry's most venerated consumer publication,
commanding the attention of more than 1 million rabid
gearheads each month.
Self-effacing and devoid of affectation, Alterman, an
alum of Hillel Day School and member of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek, is a true mentsh who is at the top of his
profession — and deservedly so.
The headline up top is one of my favorite mottos for
the city. You may notice an italicized adverb we inserted
to denote current relevance. While the media has seen
fit to add the qualification "domestic"when referring
to "The Big Three," Detroit is still home to more of the
world's automotive innovators than any other like-
minded manufacturing center.
As important, no matter how much we diversify our
economy — and goodness knows we need to continue
stepping up our game — as a city, region and state, we
are inextricably tied to the industry that created one of
this country's great metropolises.
Fortunately, it seems more and more likely this tie
that binds won't be an anchor around our necks, says
Stephanie Brinley, a senior consultant at Troy-based
EMC Strategic Communications, an automotive
analytics firm.
Brinley is refreshingly optimistic about the industry,
foreign and domestic nameplates alike, saying that the
12-, 24- and 36-month outlooks show increased sales,
year over year, stretching through at least the next five
years.
T
"With an improving
economy, loosening credit
and a ton of demand
finally meeting the current
inventory of vehicles out
there, it's getting to a point
where people are needing to
replace their cars," she says."The average age of a car is
currently 9.5 years, and this demand will only increase
as the economy continues to gain strength."
Brinley continues, saying that residual benefits
have already begun to register here, at home, through
increased hiring of engineers by the OEMs (that's
car-speak for auto companies —"original equipment
manufacturers") as well as the addition of shifts at local
manufacturing plants.
Interestingly, when asked whether the upcoming
North American International Auto Show — perhaps
this city's most glamorous and recognizable annual
event — was still relevant, her immediate reaction
mirrored nearly all the respondents of this month's
Man on the Street questionnaire.
"Absolutely — unequivocally — yes!" she exclaims.
"The Detroit show is based in a center with design,
engineering and technical expertise for the automo-
tive industry; the heart of American [manufacturing]
knowledge is still alive in Detroit."
Can we get a witness?!
NEWLY OBSERVANT JEWS:
ENTHUSIASM OR EXTREMISM?
Also this month, we present a topic that should
resonate with readers across the religious spectrum:
What happens when adult children become signifi-
cantly more religious than their parents? It's an issue
that is more common than presumably discussed in
polite conversation.
Known in Orthodox circles as a baal teshuvah, or
one who has "returned to God," practically speaking it
means someone who chooses to lead life according to
Jewish law (Halachah); it should be a good thing — or
at least not a bad one.
Unfortunately, as you'll read, it is often fraught with
tension, fear and recrimination — from both ends. The
issue deserves to be discussed, sensitively, in an open
forum.
RED THREAD — EVERYWHERE
YOU WANT (US) TO BE
Finally, we would never presume to be as important
to you as your credit card but couldn't say it better than
Visa when describing our enthusiasm for Red Thread's
new website. Our bifurcated launch strategy, introduc-
ing you to the print version while building its digital
counterpart, comes to fruition at the end of this month.
A clean layout with dynamic search features — and
"Web-extra" items that we just don't have the real
estate for in print — redthreadmagazine.com will
allow readers to more effectively communicate with
us. And, equally important, give those beyond print's
reach more access to what's happening in our Jewish
community; now they can really see what they're
missing.
51( 3.1.4..
0140 0114
■■••■
Bryan S. Gottlieb
bgottlieb@redthreadmagazine.com
www.sitertartdoahec.net
For more information call Rhonda Foumia at (248) 454-1933 or rfoumia@shenandoahcc.net
www.redthreadmagazine.com
RED TilltrilD j January 2011 5