Detroit

Last week, AARP hosted an event with POLITICO at the Detroit Auto Show. The topic: Driverless cars and the Future of Mobility. Now, if you’re wondering why AARP sponsored a panel that sounds more like the Jetsons than the Golden Girls . . . the answer is pretty simple. Having safe, affordable transportation options is essential to live independently, whatever your age. And, since driverless cars are coming sooner than you might think, AARP is working to make sure that these cars of the future meet the needs and concerns of older adults.

At 99, Grace Lee Boggs is rather matter-of-fact when you ask her about aging:  "It's like preparing for disability," she deadpans.

Detroit-based Faygo, a fixture in the soft drink industry since 1907, is being sued for age discrimination by the grandson of one of the company's founders.

Last month, we heard the news about the City of Detroit filing for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection in federal court, becoming the largest city to ever do so.  The city's financial crisis threatens the retirement security of more than 30,000 active and retired employees, and almost immediately, lawsuits were filed in state court to protect Detroit's two pension funds during the city's restructuring.

On June 18, Detroit, which has been wallowing in something like $18 billion of debt, became the largest city in U.S. history to seek bankruptcy protection.