[hudkina]

While it likely won't happen anytime soon, I don't think it is impossible and that's especially true with the recent reforms by Snyder. Besides, I think it would be much easier to convince the people to create a single layer of government for the region than it would be to merge one or two suburbs with the city. I think most people would be okay if A. the school districts were left untouched (for now), B. data showed such a merger would save most of the communities in expenditures, and C. data showed less regional red tape/in-fighting would help attract and retain businesses.

Besides, I think the city would need a lot more convincing than the suburbs. The suburbs would control about 80% of the regional vote and the politics would be much closer to the center.