The statement comes after the city sent federally mandated letters to thousands of residents about the materials used for water service lines. Many Detroiters were concerned that the letters served as some sort of warning.
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Director Gary Brown held a news conference on Tuesday to let residents know there’s no reason to worry.
“Our water is safe and some of the best water in the world. We’re a leader in the United States in delivering quality water,” he said. “We’re below the actionable level for lead at 12 parts per billion in the most recent testing results.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires municipalities with lead service lines to send out the letters. Brown says the city uses a special coating to prevent old service lines from leeching lead into the water. He says concerned residents can run water for three to five minutes in the morning to flush standing water out of the system.
Detroit has 10 years to replace all of its lead service lines. Brown says the city has spent $100 million this year in its efforts to replace those lines.
Other headlines for Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024:
The city of Detroit broke ground Tuesday on a project that will turn a historic school into affordable housing.
AAA Michigan says you should pack your patience if you’re planning to take a trip over Thanksgiving, as 2.6 million Michiganders will be traveling over the holiday weekend.
Gas prices continue to trend lower in metro Detroit, according to AAA Michigan, with the average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded now at $3.10 — down five cents from a week ago.
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Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced last week that he will not seek reelection in 2025, ending a 12-year run that saw Detroit exit bankruptcy and begin the climb back to stability.
Anika Goss, CEO of Detroit Future City, joins Created Equal along with journalists John Gallagher and Darren Nichols to discuss what has happened over the last decade of Duggan’s leadership and what awaits the city’s next leader.
Goss discussed how Detroit’s rate of Black homeownership has increased to its highest level since the housing crisis and the percentage of vacant land in the city has decreased over Duggan’s mayorship. However, she says there are still large income gaps within Detroit’s middle class, rates of educational attainment continue to decrease, and the city is facing the loss of the Black middle class to the suburbs.
Gallagher pointed out that although Duggan’s leadership has correlated with an improvement in the city’s economy, there were many local grassroots efforts in place to promote economic recovery prior to Duggan’s first term. Gallagher also discussed how the economic improvements were often focused on Detroit’s downtown and Midtown areas rather than Detroit’s neighborhoods.
Nichols discussed how last year’s NFL Draft in Detroit was a culmination of the good press and excitement Duggan had built around the city. Nichols suggested that some of Duggan’s success could be attributed to his skills as a campaigner who spoke directly to city residents and presented himself as a fresh voice for change. He believes that the next mayor will have to similarly humble themselves and address the whole city.
Nichols also said he believes housing and poverty rates will be the most pressing issues for the city’s next leader to address.
“We can build affordable housing, but do those people have the finances to be able to do that? Do they have the credit to be able to do that? We have to keep in mind our realism as to what Detroit’s poverty rate means for affordable housing,” he said.
Use the media player above to listen to the full conversation.
John Gallagher is a journalist, senior business columnist for the Detroit Free Press, and author of the book, “Reimagining Detroit: Opportunities for Redefining an American City.”
Darren Nichols is a journalist and contributing columnist at the Detroit Free Press
Listen to Created Equal with host Stephen Henderson weekdays from 9-10 a.m. ET on 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand.
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Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan will announce whether he will make another run for the city’s top job at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Many observers believe the three-term mayor could launch a bid to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2026, though it’s unclear how much name recognition Duggan has beyond Detroit.
He is making his announcement to a group of city of Detroit employees.
Listen to his announcement below. Check back for more updates to this story.
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Duggan has helped guide the city as it emerged from the largest-ever municipal bankruptcy in U.S history. And this year, Duggan reached one of his long-sought goals — that Detroit’s population had grown after decades of decline.
Many observers believe the three-term mayor could launch a bid to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2026, though it’s unclear how much name recognition Duggan has beyond Detroit.
—Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter, WDET
Other headlines from Monday, Nov. 11, 2024:
President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations is causing concern among Michigan’s immigrant communities.
Hamtramck voters approved a $2.7 million non-homestead millage for the Hamtramck Public Schools District.
Stellantis is laying off 400 workers at a logistics facility in Detroit. The Detroit Free Press reports the automaker notified the affected employees last week. The company also announced plans to eliminate a shift at a Jeep factory in Toledo early next year, cutting more than 1,000 union jobs. Stellantis is under pressure to cut costs due to falling sales and profits. The United Auto Workers criticized the layoffs, accusing corporate leaders of mismanagement.
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Owner and pastry chef Jonathan Peregrino is a first-generation Filipino American. He says in the short month he’s been open, he’s already received many thanks from the community for bringing Filipino and Asian cuisine into the city.
“There are no Filipino bakeries,” he said. “I personally was driving to Chicago or Toronto to get the Filipino baked goods that I missed that were plentiful in California and Seattle.”
Peregrino received a $60,000 grant from Motor City Match to expand his bakery.
Filipinos are Michigan’s fourth largest Asian American ethnic group, with over 41,000 residents.
City to accept cryptocurrency
Detroit residents will soon have the option to pay taxes and other city fees using cryptocurrency through the service PayPal. The payment option will become available in mid-2025 along with additional improvements to the city payment services.
The city is also looking for blockchain entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas for innovative blockchain applications that can enhance transparency, improve data security and streamline public services.
Only three US states — Colorado, Utah and Louisianna — accept cryptocurrency for state payments. Detroit would become the largest US city to offer this option.
DTW opens sensory-friendly room
The Wayne County Metro Airport in partnership with Delta Airlines unveiled a new multi-sensory room today. The room is designed to provide a calm, supportive and safe environment for those with sensory sensitivities and cognitive disabilities.
The room features calming colors, sounds and activities, such as a tactile toys for children and a bubbling water sculpture. The room is located in the McNamara Terminal across from Gate 36.
Detroit’s Christmas tree arrives
Crews placed Detroit’s Christmas tree in the heart of Campus Martius this week. The 66-foot-tall tree comes from Manton, a small town in northern Michigan’s Wexford County.
The tree will be adorned with 25,000 LED lights and sparkling bulbs on Nov. 22 during the city’s lighting ceremony from 4–9 p.m. The ceremony will feature hot chocolate, giveaways, food trucks, shopping and a visit from Santa.
Thursday, Nov. 14: Nature Photography Walk.Participants are asked to bring their own cameras and accessories. Photos taken on the walk may be featured in a photography showcase in April.
Tuesday, Nov. 19: Nature Walk for Mental Health. Includes brief guided meditations and a raffle.
Friday, Nov. 22: An Evening Owl Prowl with the Naturalists. Participants will listen for owls on the walk, followed by a short presentation.
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The special counsel in the election subversion case against former President Donald Trump released a report weeks ago that held extra significance for officials in Detroit.
It concerned a contentious time for Detroit poll workers who counted the 2020 presidential election results in what was then the TCF Center.
A crowd of Republican observers at the center grew increasingly angry as false rumors of voting fraud spread across social media. And, according to Special Counsel Jack Smith, a Trump campaign employee told operatives on the scene of the unrest to “make them riot.”
Now, four years later, Detroit election officials say they’re determined to avoid a repeat of the chaos that engulfed poll workers.
Fraud claims lit a chaotic fuse
The tinderbox at the former TCF Center came back into focus during a recent rally for the Harris campaign in downtown Detroit.
In the center now known as Huntington Place, former President Barack Obama told the crowd to vote early — in part because of what happened inside that building four years ago.
“The day after the 2020 election, thousands of mail ballots were being counted right here in this convention center,” Obama reminded the crowd. “And protestors came down, banged on the windows shouting, ‘Let us in! Stop the count!’ Poll workers inside were being intimidated.”
The scene became one of the centerpieces of Trump’s false narrative that the 2020 election was rigged against him.
“In Detroit there were hours of unexplained delay in delivering many of the votes for counting. The final batch did not arrive until four in the morning. And nobody knew where they came from,” Trump said.
But officials in charge of tabulating those election results counter that no one asked at the time why those ballots arrived so late.
Detroit Elections Department COO Daniel Baxter says he could have supplied the answer.
He supervised poll workers who had to wade through more than 170,000 absentee ballots, about two-thirds of all the votes cast in the city.
“You gotta remember we were in the middle of the pandemic. Nobody wanted to go to the polls on election day, so they opted to vote by absentee,” Baxter said. “And some of them were a little slower than others in terms of getting them delivered. And that is exactly what you experienced at three o’clock, four o’clock in the morning.”
But as the vote-counting wore on, the situation deteriorated.
Hundreds of people had converged on the convention center.
Some poll challengers demanded election workers’ political and religious affiliations. One poll watcher even threatened violence.
It escalated when the hall reached full capacity and certain challengers were ordered to leave, and Baxter was in the middle of it all.
“I heard banging on the windows. I heard chanting, ‘Stop the count! Stop the count! It was a hairy moment,” he said.
Baxter said it was hard for those counting votes to keep from being distracted. And then things got worse.
“Someone made the bad call of putting cardboard up on the windows. When I discovered that, I made sure it was removed,” Baxter said. “I got on the microphone and explained to our staff, all of our poll workers, that we were not going to stop counting until the last ballot was delivered here.”
Shrinking a site and increasing security
After the near riot, those who game planned for the next presidential contest hardened their resolve to protect poll workers, says the official who oversees all of Detroit’s elections, City Clerk Janice Winfrey.
“We got through 2020 when all of that happened, the threats and the hurling insults at election workers. And it wasn’t expected. So now we know that may happen and we are ready if it should happen,” Winfrey said.
That includes the implementation of new security procedures designed to block any Election Day upheavals at Huntington Place.
Officials moved the central polling location to the enclosed, cavernous Hall A, on the opposite end of the center from where votes were tallied in 2020.
Baxter says there won’t be any banging on windows at Hall A.
Detroit Elections Department COO Daniel Baxter in Hall A, the new site for vote counting at Huntington Place in Detroit.
“There’s no windows. And if you do not have credentials you cannot be inside in any area. Those folk who decide to be present for protests or whatever, the Detroit Police Department has designated an area where they can be.”
Baxter says the new location is also a smaller and more secure space than its 2020 counterpart. He says it’s usable because Michigan now allows Detroit to tabulate absentee ballots more than a week ahead of Election Day.
That means fewer workers are needed for each shift because the vote-counting is spread across numerous days.
“We only have 50 tables for processing. In 2020 we had 134 tables. That made for more people, more challengers, more poll workers,” Baxter said. “Now at the table you have 300 ballots that you have to process, versus 3,000 ballots in 2020.”
There are also magnetometers guarding the doorways.
Media, poll workers and challengers must swipe a drivers’ card, a state ID or some other form of identification to get credentials.
And Baxter says officials will keep track of how many people get in.
“A digitized check-in system will contain a maximum number for each group and organization. Once we max out on that number no one will be allowed entry, whether it’s the Democrat Party, the Republican Party, the NAACP, the League of Women Voters or whoever they are,” he said.
The need to harden infrastructure as well as resolve became glaringly apparent in 2022.
Winfrey notes there was an incident at a building roughly four miles away from Huntington Place, where a GOP challenger confronted a deputy clerk in an alley behind the Elections Department.
“All of our windows on the first floor of our building has been replaced with bulletproof glass,” she said. “We have uniformed and plain-clothed officers. And the alleyway is now blocked off.”
Winfrey and Baxter estimate with early voting this year, workers will tabulate about 90% of Detroit’s ballots by early evening on Election Day.
That means poll workers should be able to leave the convention center much earlier than in 2020, shielding them, officials hope, from any disruptions by angry poll challengers.
The general election is taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. For the latest election information, visit WDET’s Voter Guide at wdet.org/voterguide.
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Detroit and federal officials are highlighting the use of American Rescue Plan Act funding in decreasing crime in the city.Mayor Mike Duggan said that investing the money into things like helicopters and freeway cameras have helped reduce drag racing and highway shootings.
White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden received a tour of Detroit helicopters, scout cars and the Real Time Crime Center on Tuesday. She says she was excited to see Detroit use the ARPA funds in strategic ways.
“We were really encouraging states and localities and cities to use those dollars for investments to keep people safe,” Tanden said. “And many communities did that, but Detroit has really led the way in effectively using those dollars.”
A group of Michigan’s top maternal health doctors asked themselves a big question: what’s the best way to reduce the state’s maternal and infant mortality rates?Their answer is a new program that will be open to all pregnant women in Michigan. It’s called SOS Maternity.
Doctor Sonia Hassan of Wayne State’s maternal-fetal medicine department helped lead the effort.She says the program will provide standardized maternal health interventions across many of Michigan’s top health care providers.But she says it will also tackle other frequent barriers to care like the lack of transportation.
“(Transportation) is the leading cause of women not able to come to the hospital or to the clinic for their visits. It’s a real struggle for a lot of people. So we will offer that to everyone.”
Dr. Hassan says each SOS Maternity participant will also get a “patient navigator” to help manage all aspects of their care.
Rides to the polls
A group of nonpartisan groups are offering discounted and free rides to the polls for residents. This comes after a ban on hiring transportation to polling locations was lifted in October last year.
Ride share company Lyft is offering 50 percent off one ride to or from the polls with the code VOTE24.
The Detroit Bus Company is offering free rides on its buses, and with volunteers in their own cars in Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck.
The SMART bus system will offer free rides all day on Nov. 5.
The Detroit Almunae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is also offering free transportation services during the early voting period and on Election Day.
For a complete list of organizations offering rides, visit MichiganVoting.org.
Detroit poet releases new book
A new book takes traditional nursery rhymes and reinterprets them to address issues affecting black communities. Poems like “One, two buckle my shoe” are reimagined as “One, Two, No Sudden Moves.”
The poems tackle themes of racial violence, activism and social justice. The book, titled “One, Two, No Sudden Moves,” was written by Detroiter Rhonda Greene. A free book launch and exhibition will be held Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Northwest Gallery of Arts in Detroit. The event will feature a live reading, and a chance to meet the artists who provided illustrations for the book.
Diwali in Detroit
Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, begins today! The annual festival symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. There are a number of events happening across metro Detroit to celebrate, including a fireworks show in West Bloomfield at the Sri Balaji Temple at 3325 Middlebelt Road at 6:00 pm.
WDET’s Nargis Rahman contributed to this report.
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Howard — the second woman to serve as deputy mayor in Detroit’s history — has served as the mayor’s director of community engagement for the past two years. Before that, she worked as a director of special projects and the department of neighborhoods manager for District 5.
“Melia has been a fierce advocate for residents and absolutely critical in making sure Detroiters have a strong voice at City Hall and in developments proposed in their neighborhoods,” said Duggan in a statement. “Projects like the renovation of Michigan Central and Fisher Body 21, as well as the $3 billion Future of Health development, might not have happened if not for the trust Melia has built in the community and among developers.”
Howard also spearheaded the Saturdays in the D program, which provides Detroit youths and adults on-campus educational activities at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.
According to the city, Howard will continue the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) work that has been led by Bettison.
“As a little girl from the east side, I never thought this was possible and I am truly humbled and honored that Mayor Duggan has trusted me with this enormous opportunity,” she said. “My residents mean so much to me and I will continue to work hard for them.”
A soft opening is taking place from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday for the Old Redford Arts Alley in northwest Detroit. It is the first of nine “Arts Alleys” being transformed by the city of Detroit as part of Mayor Duggan’s Blight to Beauty initiative.
Detroit police are investigating an incident involving Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams related to a weapons violation during a traffic stop, WXYZ reports.
Gas prices are falling across metro Detroit, with the average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded iat $3.19 — five cents lower than a week ago.
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Bettison spent 27 years with the police department and had been second in command to White — overseeing police-community relations and administrative functions — before moving to City Hall.
“I hate to lose him as deputy mayor, but this job is so critical that I’m just so pleased we had somebody ready to step in,” Mayor Mike Duggan said of the police chief’s position.
Duggan appointed Bettison deputy mayor.
A national search will be held to fill the chief’s job permanently.
“I expect interim Chief Bettison to compete in a process against the best in the country and we will see what comes out of that process,” Duggan said.
Bettison said that’s his plan.
“I’m definitely here to compete,” he told reporters during Friday’s announcement. “I truly believe that I am the best individual for the role of permanent chief with having been here.”
White earlier announced he was stepping down to take over as chief executive of Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. White has been an advocate for programs addressing mental health.
The mayor named White chief in 2021, replacing James Craig who retired after seven years. White had been chair of Michigan’s Civil Rights Commission. He joined the police department in 1996 and left in 2020 to take the Civil Rights Commission post.
Bettison was hired by the police department in 1994. He rose from patrol officer to sergeant and then lieutenant in a few short years. He later was promoted to inspector, captain, commander and, in 2017, deputy chief.
Reporting by Corey Williams, Associated Press
Other headlines for Friday, Oct. 25, 2024:
The “Rolling to the Polls” early voting festival is coming to Detroit from noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at Heilmann Recreation Center. Attendees of the event, hosted by Action Network, will have opportunities to learn more about what’s on the ballot, learn more about the importance of voting, cast their vote early.
The home of civil rights leader Malcolm X will be opened as a museum and a vocational technical center next year. The house, located on 4336 Williams St. in Inkster, was built in the 1950s and has sat vacant and dilapidated in more recent years.
The Shadow Gallery Detroit will host Halloween Freaknik starting at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, featuring spooky entertainment, a costume contest with a $1,000 grand prize and more.
Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.
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DWSD is using an artificial intelligence learning tool from BlueConduit that predicts the location of lead service lines in the city.
The department was in Pingree Park this week — a neighborhood the tool predicts has at least 70 lead lines.
Director Gary Brown says the software helps them choose which areas they should hit first to make the most impact.
“This is a neighborhood with a lot of kids. It’s a a disadvantaged community,” Brown said. “Economically, it has been ignored for a long time. So this is why we’re here and not in Rosedale Park or Palmer Woods or Sherwood Forest.”
The department is on track to replace 10,000 lines by the end of 2024.
Other headlines for Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024:
Dearborn’s Public Health Department is working with the University of Michigan’s Environmental Law and Sustainability Clinic to review the city’s environmental policies.
Detroit Homeowners have until Nov. 1 to apply for property tax assistance to avoid risk of foreclosure. The 2024 HOPE application deadline was moved from early December to November to give the city of Detroit Property Assessment Board time to reach applicants with incomplete submissions so they can ensure they have a fair chance at receiving the benefit. The last Healthy Home Resource Fair where residents can receive on-site HOPE application assistance is 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Perfecting Church on Detroit’s east side.
Daybreaker and Civic Responsibility Project are hosting a dance party in New Center Park this Saturday to “get out the vote” this election season. Called the “Purple Tour,” the event will feature special guests Wanda Sykes, NFL star Tyrann Mathieu, Anthony Ramos, Dancing with the Stars Julianna Hough and more.
Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.
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When 36th District Court Judge Kenneth King made headlines recently for having a teen on a field trip handcuffed for sleeping in his courtroom, it was a reminder to pay close attention to the people we elect to wear those black robes.
Judges don’t just decide how many years someone will spend in prison; they also rule on important matters like traffic violations and who gets custody of children in a divorce.
“Judges have a significant influence over the cases that directly affect Detroiters’ everyday life,” said Ceclia Zavala, co-executive director for Nation Outside, a Michigan advocacy organization led by people affected by the criminal legal system. “Voting for judges can help ensure that Detroiters have a say in who holds this crucial power.”
Even though voting for local judges is important, it can be harder to find information about judicial candidates than other races. Some candidates’ survey responses are posted on websites like Vote 411 or Ballotpedia. The Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee of the Detroit Bar Association also rates candidates.
Tracy Cooley, executive director of the Detroit Bar Association, recommends voters check out candidates’ websites, look them up on LinkedIn, search for their written work, and check the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission site for complaints and disciplinary action rulings.
For the 2024 general election, Detroiters will see several judicial races on the ballot, including for state Supreme Court. Only three local judicial contests are competitive. We’ve included details about each one below.
Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court candidates
The 3rd Circuit Court, the largest circuit court in the state, handles felony criminal cases and civil lawsuits with claims over $25,000. Its family division deals with matters such as divorce, child abuse and juvenile offenses.
Two non-incumbents are running for one open seat: Attorney John Larkin has more than 30 years of legal experience in Wayne County, handling cases in personal injury, criminal defense, landlord-tenant cases, bankruptcy and more. He advocates for tracking judges’ arrival and departure times and their average time to resolve a case. He also supports making Zoom available in every courtroom. The Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee of the Detroit Bar Association rated him “well qualified.” Read more about Larkin here.
Adrienne G. Scruggs has been an attorney for nearly 20 years, working in criminal, civil, family, and probate law. She works as a family law referee for the Friend of the Court at the 22nd Circuit Court in Washtenaw County and has previously worked for the Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court – Friend of the Court. She believes judicial temperament matters, and said she tries to follow a former mentor’s advice to “always be calm.” The Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee of the Detroit Bar Association rated her “well qualified.” Read more about Scruggs here.
Wayne County Probate Court candidates
The Probate Court handles wills, trusts, estates, involuntary mental health treatment matters and more.
“Judges have a significant influence over the cases that directly affect Detroiters’ everyday life.”
– Ceclia Zavala, co-executive director for Nation Outside
Four non-incumbents are competing for two open seats.
Attorney Todd E. Briggs has practiced law for more than 35 years. He is passionate about public policy involving estate planning and inheritance, and says he advocates for guardianship and conservatorship. He wants to create a supportive courtroom environment for families. He did not participate in the Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee of the Detroit Bar Association ratings process.
Macie Gaines has been a lawyer for a decade. She works in private practice for clients navigating Wayne County Probate Court. She says she would treat everyone who enters her courtroom with dignity. She is chair of the Probate Litigation Section of the Detroit Bar Association. The Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee of the Detroit Bar Association rated her “outstanding.”
Ron L. Haywood has been a lawyer for 25 years and is an administrative hearing officer for Detroit’s Department of Appeals and Hearings, also known as blight court. He has also worked as a Wayne County assistant prosecutor. He says he was inspired by Black judges while watching the Detroit Recorder’s Court as a teen. He did not participate in the Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee of the Detroit Bar Association ratings process.
Daniel L. Mercier is a member in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan but had his license suspended in 2013 for misconduct. The hearing panel found that he had “engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or violation of the criminal law, where such conduct reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer.” Mercier’s license was reinstated in 2018. He did not participate in the Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee of the Detroit Bar Association ratings process.
36th District Court candidates
District court is sometimes called “the people’s court” because it’s the court most members of the public interact with. In Detroit, the 36th District Court handles criminal and civil cases, traffic violations and probation. The criminal division handles misdemeanor cases and certain aspects of felony cases. The civil division handles claims up to $25,000.
Three non-incumbents running for two open seats:
Andrea Bradley-Baskin is general counsel for the 36th District Court. She says she previously worked as an administrative law judge for the State of Michigan and a hearing officer for the City of Detroit. She says she’s committed to due process for everyone and unbiased decision-making that is based on the law. The Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee of the Detroit Bar Association rated her “outstanding.”
William Burton, Jr. has worked as a 36th District Court magistrate since 2023. Magistrates are lawyers appointed by district judges who may hear small claims cases and perform other duties. He also served as a Wayne County assistant prosecutor for nearly two decades. Burton says he sought truth rather than convictions as an assistant prosecutor. The Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee of the Detroit Bar Association rated him “qualified.”
Malaika Ramsey-Heath has been a 36th District Court magistrate since 2020. She previously worked as an appellate defender and as a private practice attorney. Ramsey-Heath acknowledges that judicial decisions can be difficult and unpopular but said she is committed to doing what’s right. The Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee of the Detroit Bar Association rated her “well qualified.”
Laura Herberg is a civic life reporter for Outlier Media. Sarah Hulett is the enterprise editor for Outlier Media.
The Detroit Fire Department is hosting three community events this month in honor of National Fire Prevention Week.
The theme of this year’s National Fire Prevention Week — which runs Oct. 6-12 — is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!”
Smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a house fire by more than 50%, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Roughly three out of five fire deaths nationwide happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or non-working smoke alarms.
While the Detroit Fire Department has installed smoke alarms for residents at no charge for years, the department is taking fire prevention a step further this year by launching a large-scale smoke alarm initiative. Detroiters attending the Fire Prevention Week events will be able to sign up to have DFD come to their home and install three to five smoke alarms, depending on size and need. The first 30 residents who sign up for installation at each event will also receive a free fire extinguisher, according to the city.
The goal is to equip between 1,000-1,600 homes in the city of Detroit with working smoke alarms.
The first event will take place from noon-3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere, followed by events later in the week on Detroit’s west and east sides, respectively.
Detroit residents unable to attend the Fire Prevention Week events can request smoke alarm installation at their home by calling DFD’s Community Relations Division at 313-596-2900 or sending an email to communityrelations@detroitmi.gov.
Other headlines for Friday, Oct. 4, 2024:
The general election is about a month away and early in-person voting in Michigan begins this month. Visit wdet.org/voterguide for the most up-to-date voting and election information.
Detroit’s Mexican Irish Festival is coming back after years on hiatus. The free event will be held Oct. 13 at El Mercado, 2826 Bagley St.
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On this episode of the Detroit Evening Report, we discuss recent honors given to the city of Detroit for two “blight to beauty” projects in the city; a new tentative deal between UAW and Ford for Tool and Dye workers at the automaker’s River Rouge complex and more.
The city of Detroit has received multiple awards for excellence in design for two “blight to beauty” projects — the new Jason Hargrove Transit Center and the redesign of Roosevelt Park in front of the Michigan Central Station. Roosevelt Park received the 2024 President’s award from Keep Michigan Beautiful. And the Hargrove Transit Center received the Best Regional Project from the Engineering News Record.
UAW, Ford make tentative deal
UAW Local 600’s Tool and Die unit at Ford Motor Company’s River Rouge plant has reached a tentative agreement with the automaker. The union announced Thursday that it secured a deal that will strengthen job security by protecting against the impacts of advancements in 3D printing. The deal also eliminates a wage disparity for skilled trades. Roughly 500 UAW members still need to vote to ratify the deal, which if approved, could set a new standard for skilled trades at Ford, the union said.
“The members at the Rouge Complex understand the power of strength in numbers,” said UAW Vice President Chuck Browning in a statement. “They stuck together and showed Ford that they were willing to stand up if necessary to win what they deserve.”
17 Fire Departments and Departments of Public Safety were represented at the 2024 Fire Leadership Roundtable, led by the Detroit Fire Department.
Detroit Fire hosts leadership roundtable
The Detroit Fire Department held a Fire Leadership Roundtable for departments across metro Detroit and Windsor. The event was designed to build partnerships, discuss best practices and encourage training collaborations and resource sharing between departments. Detroit Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms says the event opened up lines of communication between fire and emergency response departments and helped build strong relationships.
Detroit/Metro Black Tech Talent Survey results
The Detroit Regional Chamber and Mich Auto are hosting a virtual event at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, to unveil the findings from the Detroit/Metro Black Tech Talent survey conducted this fall. The survey assessed the recruitment and retention of Black tech talent in the city. The chamber will share the results of the survey and moderate a panel of industry leaders and innovators to discuss strategies for building a more inclusive tech ecosystem. Visit the Detroit Regional Chamber website for more information and to register.
‘Girls in the Graveyard’ at Elmwood Cemetery
The Outlier Collective is hosting “Girls in the Graveyard” a celebration of Detroit women at Elmwood Cemetery, on Saturday, Oct. 19. Guests will experience a guided tour of the women buried at the cemetery with Elmwood’s Director of Education Amy Elliot Bragg, followed by treats provided by Sister Pie. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased in advance at Eventbrite.
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The event honored those killed in the terrorist attacks in New York City, Arlington, Virginia and Shanksville, Pennsylvania on Sep. 11, 2001.
Detroit Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison says ceremonies like the one this morning are important, because not everyone knows what happened 23 years ago.
“Last night, my son — he’s in the eighth grade — he asked: “Dad I need some help with my homework assignment for history.” I had no clue about what I was about to help him with, but it was a 9/11 assignment,” Bettison said. “He had really no clue, no memory.”
Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Two hijacked jets flew into New York’s World Trade Center. Another jet crashed into the Pentagon. A fourth hijacked jet crashed into a Pennsylvania field when passengers struggled with the terrorists to prevent the jet from hitting a major target in Washington D.C.
Other headlines for Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024:
A new report finds Detroit is one of the hardest cities in the nation to live in for people who suffer from asthma.
Detroit’s three casinos are reporting $112.5 million in revenue for last month — up nearly 6% from August 2023.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board has won an Emmy Award for its series of commercials touting responsible gambling.
The state’s first Klezmer music festival will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15, in Detroit’s Cultural Center at the International Institute. Klezmer is a type of traditional Yiddish folk music originally created centuries ago.
Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.
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The Detroit Home Accessibility Program — a joint project of the city of Detroit, CHN Housing Partners and Detroit Disability Power — dedicates more than $6 million in ARPA funds to home modifications for eligible residents to add ramps or lifts, widen entrances, modify handrails, or add alarms to the entries and exits of their home.
“Detroit has more than 129,000 disabled residents. Members of this large, diverse and important constituency deserve the ability to fully engage in all that our City has to offer,” said Ani Grigorian, disability access consulting manager at Detroit Disability Power, in a news release. “This program is an important step towards greater accessibility, and therefore increased well-being.”
Homeowners who live in single-family homes who receive social security disability benefits, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Children’s Healthcare Services benefits or Veterans Administration disability benefits can still apply.
The program is expected to provide accessibility upgrades to at least 250 homes.
Applicants must also have homeowner’s insurance and be current on property taxes or in a payment plan. There are income requirements for participation. For more information, visit chnhousingpartners.org/Detroit/dhap or call 866-313-2520.
Other headlines for Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024:
Mason K-8 Academy opened its newly renovated and stocked school library today. The Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) chose Mason to receive 18,000 new books from the Council of Great City Schools and Scholastic.
Cass Tech students who live in Hamtramck and “Banglatown” – an area close to Hamtramck – are asking DPSCD to provide bus transportation to the school. Education nonprofit 482Forward organized student and adult members to take their appeal to tonight’s school board meeting.
The Detroit Food Commons will host a concert series this fall. The Freedom Sounds fall concert series kicks off Sunday, Sept. 22 with jazz percussionist and Jazz at Lincoln Center alum Ali Jackson. Bassist and composer Marion Hayden will perform Oct. 27; and on Nov. 24, multi-genre percussionist and food justice advocate Aisha Ellis will perform. The series is curated by violinist and flutist Michelle May. The events, held in the Mama Imani Humphrey Banquet Hall on the second floor of Detroit Commons, cost $25 to attend with funds going towards Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network’s community programs.
The Hamtramck Parks Conservancy has a new director of programming and communications. Alicia Chiaravalli has a background in environmental science, play design and sustainability. She will be responsible for developing recreation programs, coordinating volunteers and community partnerships for the conservancy.
Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.
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WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
The card is designed for people who might have trouble gaining a valid photo ID. It’s available for residents, no matter what their citizenship status or criminal background is, or if they are homeless.
They can use it as acceptable identification for everything from opening a checking or savings account to becoming a utility customer with DTE Energy. It also provides access to health care services, city buildings and libraries.
“Simply put, Detroit IDs remove barriers to access and create opportunities for participation; rather than exclude and deny, they include and accept,” said Detroit City Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero in a statement. “Longtime Detroiters and new arrivals alike should be proud of this program, and I encourage everyone to get one.”
Officials halted the identification program in 2022 over concerns that federal immigration officials could potentially discover applicant’s personal data from a third-party company used in the program, and target undocumented people. Now Detroit officials say they have a new vendor that will keep applicant’s information secure.
The program will officially relaunch this Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Health Department’s 3rd Annual Block Party — which will take place rain or shine from noon to 4 p.m. on John R Road between Mack Avenue and Erskine Street, adjacent to the Health Department.
-Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News.
Other headlines for Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024:
Detroit officials celebrated the opening of 14 new affordable housing units designed for people living with disabilities this week.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan will name the city’s first Composer Laureate at an exhibit honoring Detroit composers of Jazz and opera music at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, at the Metropolitain Museum of Design Detroit.
Community Development group ProsperUS Detroit is hosting its annual Family Block Party from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at Eastern Market in Shed 5.
The neighborhood group People for Palmer Park is looking for volunteers for this year’s Harvest Fest on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Detroit Public Library’s Sherwood Forest branch is hosting a Digital Comic Book Club in-person and via Zoom at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3. The book club meets monthly for adult lovers of comics and graphic novels.
Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.
Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.
WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
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