A couple Sundays ago I worked a booth at Campus Martius (Downtown Detroit) for D: Hive, which is leading an effort to get community input on how to fix up downtown public spaces.  The morning got off to an inauspicious start.  It was raining, it was cold, and I was cranky that I had to get up on a Sunday morning.  To make matters worse, the stapler gun, which I needed to put up maps and posters, was busted!  As the rain cleared, however, my mood improved and people started coming out in large quantities (Quicken Loans had a big event for its employees so lots of people were around).  Many attendees were apprehensive, even peeved about my asking them for their input.  Others appreciated that someone cared enough to hear their opinions.  Others still – mainly children – were thrilled to put shiny stickers on the walls. (People voted for their top park activities and amenities by sticking stickers next to their favorite park activities.)  I was amazed with the hundreds of people that contributed.  Their opinions and ideas were as diverse as the zip codes they represented (over 30!)  Some wanted a downtown McDonald’s, while others wanted more farmers’ markets.  Some wanted a beer garden, while others a dog park.  If there was one common thread, however, it was that people were tired of ideas and proposals that are never implemented.  Detroiters, and people that work and play here, have a sense of urgency; they are tired of waiting for things to improve.