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Yesterday — 1 April 2025Main stream

Windsorites annoyed, disappointed with Trump’s treatment of Canada

27 March 2025 at 19:38

The relationship between Detroit and Windsor is a microcosm of what’s been happening in recent weeks between the U.S. and Canada. President Donald Trump’s constant threat of tariffs and annexation have brought heated rhetoric and international tension.

It’s affecting the lives — and vibes — of Windsorites.

“It is getting tense, and it is getting very stressful on this side of the border, and you can actually feel it,” said Rino Bortolin, a former Windsor City Councilor. He owns Petrella’s, a sandwich shop in the Ford City neighborhood.

Bortolin isn’t alone. WDET approached more than a dozen Windsorites to ask them how they were taking the recent stress in Canada-U.S. relations. People had thoughts — but were often hesitant to have them recorded. But off the record, they expressed a mixture of disbelief and disappointment.

Bortolin says the whole ordeal has been difficult.

“We’ve got season tickets to Detroit City FC soccer [and we are] over there, quite a bit with friends family,” Bortolin said. “So I’m trying to separate the people versus what’s happening at the government level. But it is very difficult.”

DCFC’s home opener was Saturday. But Bortolin says the bad vibes are keeping folks from crossing the border.

“I’ve got four tickets. Kids probably can’t come. It’s been hard to find three people to fill those seats,” Bortolin said. “So people that go regularly for concerts, cultural events, dining, other events where they even know people over in Detroit, even they’re putting a hard stop on on going over and crossing at all.”

Canadian flag flying in Windsor.
Canadian flag flying in Windsor.

And that’s not just anecdotal. Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection show crossings dropped last month by 470,000 when compared to February 2024.

The last time crossings were this low was 2020, during the early days of COVID.

That sounds about right to Sarah Dewar, the owner and sommelier at Maiden Lane, a Windsor wine and cocktail bar.  

“I feel after the pandemic, it’s finally been rebounding,” said Dewar. “We’re getting the American tourism again, and it’s really disappointing to think that these positive gains we’ve made will be reversed.”

Dewar knows it can be tough to get people to make the trip.

“I think as Windsorites, living on a border city, we pay attention to what’s going on in Detroit, whereas Detroit doesn’t necessarily pay attention to what’s going on over here,” Dewar said. “U.S., Canada, you could say the same thing.”

In response to American tariffs, some Canadians have focused on using goods made in their country, and calling for a boycott of ones made in the U.S. For a bar owner, that means an embargo on products like American whiskey.  

However, Dewar says it’s difficult given the close ties between countries, industries, and people.

“You know, I can’t get on board with a full-on boycott of all things American,” Dewar said.

She’s worried it might get worse.

“I hate the division that it has the potential to cause between just the average person. You know, we have friends. We’ve created relationships with people over there in the same industry, and we love going to visit them,” Dewar said.

“We love it when they come over here. And I hope, I hope that we can repair it. I don’t think it’s too far gone.”

Still, the situation is seen as disrespectful to an ally and neighbor who has dealt with a lot.  

Member of Parliament Brian Masse is with the New Democratic Party.  He’s represented the Windsor West riding for more than two decades and is running in next month’s federal elections.

“We were the ones going over to Detroit to support the businesses in Greektown and the sports culture and so forth, when people said it was not even safe to visit,” Masse said. “So right now, there’s a sense of fatigue from our citizens because of the insults going on with regards to Trump.”

Windsor West MP Brian Masse in his office on Ouelette Ave.
Windsor West MP Brian Masse

Masse knows the importance of a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem and has been working on getting the Ojibway Prairie Complex—a stretch of Windsor along the river across from Zug Island—designated a National Urban Park.

“Those things are at risk, and so we’re going to need to see people step up and figure out that it just can’t be taken for granted, the [U.S. / Canada] relationship anymore, because the constant elements coming out of the White House and the confusion is going to cost real jobs, cost real friendships, and it’s going to take away from our quality of life,” Masse says.

A bowl of tiny Canadian Flag pins in the office of MP Brian Masse
A bowl of tiny Canadian Flag pins in the office of MP Brian Masse

Because of that, Masse doesn’t blame Canadians for expressing their frustration with the U.S. via their wallets.  

“The problem that we have here, though, is for people to actually think about getting in their car or going on a trip into the US and potentially face some of this stuff is exhausting, and they have other options.”

Those options are fully on display at Valente Travel next door to Masse’s office on Ouelette Avenue.

Travel agent Melanie Harding says many Canadians are rerouting their big trips.

“We have had some cancelations,” Harding says. “Some people feel strongly about it, where others are still willing to travel.”

But don’t count Harding among those who are discouraged from going to the U.S.

“I’m going to New Orleans,” Harding says. “It’s our anniversary, so I’m not putting that on hold for anyone.”

Windsorite Edward Semenski isn’t phased either. When asked by WDET if he wants Canada to become the 51st U.S. state: “Sure, why not?”

Semenski, who was reading a Bible when approached by WDET, says he appreciates Trump’s Christian values. Still, he doesn’t plan to cross the border anytime soon.

“I don’t think I’m going to be able to go to the U.S.,” Semenski says. “I have a criminal record, even though I used to live in Detroit.”

However, Semenski says he’s holding out hope.

“I’m gonna get a try to get a pardon first before I try going over there.”

For as tight as the two countries have been historically, something feels off. Call it a vibe shift.

Bortolin says the honeymoon is definitely over.

“I think this will be something that causes generational harm and a shift from the relationship,” Bortolin says.

“It’s like your partner cheats on you the one time, and…it can’t go back after that. And it’s like, there’s always something in the back of your mind. And this is one of those things that will always be in the back of our minds.”

A recent pro-Canada demonstration drew hundreds to Detroit’s Hart Plaza and to the base of the giant Canadian flag along the Windsor riverfront. It was a show of support on both sides of the border – and a reminder that Americans and Canadians can still be good neighbors… even when the U.S government isn’t.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

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The post Windsorites annoyed, disappointed with Trump’s treatment of Canada appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Before yesterdayMain stream

New Michigan GOP Chair hopes to unify party

28 February 2025 at 17:28

The two major political parties held their conventions last weekend. On the Democratic side, former state Senator Curtis Hertel will lead the Michigan Democratic Party. He ran unopposed.

The Republican side was a bit more contentious. Former Michigan GOP Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock had gotten the coveted Donald Trump endorsement, but after a couple rounds of voting, it was current state Senator Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) that got the nod for chair.

Runestad has been in the Michigan Legislature since 2015. Before that, the White Lake resident was on the Oakland County Commission.

He tells WDET there’s still some work to be done building bridges between the various factions of the GOP.

“This internal fighting is not helpful to the ultimate goal that we’re all here, and that is winning elections for Republicans,” Runestad says.

2024 started with Kristina Karamo the MIGOP chair, but her abrasive style saw donors bail. An insurrection within the party followed and former Congressman Peter Hoekstra took over. Last year’s elections saw Republicans win back the state House, pick up a Congressional seat and Donald Trump win Michigan.

For that, Hoesktra was rewarded with an Ambassadorship to Canada by Trump.

With 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods set to go into effect on Tuesday, relations between the two countries are at a low point. Trump has complained that Canada isn’t doing enough to stop Fentanyl from coming into the U.S.

Runestad believes the potential economic havoc on the state’s economy is worth it.

“What we’re asking [Canadian Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau is simply stop bringing over Fentanyl, stop bringing over criminal cartels, stop bringing over people that should not be here to obey our laws,” Runestad says. “Why would you not do that?”

Last year, U.S. Customs agents seized 43 pounds of Fentanyl at the Canadian border. Most drugs are brought across the border by Americans at lawful ports of entry.

2026 is going to be a wide open election cycle — with Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State and the state Legislature all up for grabs. That’s on top of a federal midterm election and an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan.

Typically, the party in power in Washington D.C. loses control of the U.S. House during midterms.

In Michigan, Runestad is hoping to buck that trend by following a different pattern.

“It is almost completely consistent that after eight years of one party, they want a different party in the Governor’s Mansion,” Runestad says. “I mean, it almost every time goes eight years Democrat, eight years Republican.”

Like Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Sen. Runestad is term limited. Big wins for Republicans in 2026 means Runestad likely won’t have to worry about leading his side gig of leading the MIGOP.

Hear the full conversation with Sen. Runestad using the audio player above.

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.

Donate today »

The post New Michigan GOP Chair hopes to unify party appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro: Recapping Governor Whitmer’s 7th State of the State Speech

27 February 2025 at 23:05

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple PodcastsSpotifyNPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer held her seventh State of the State Speech last night. The speech detailed the policies Whitmer hopes to pass and set the tone for her leadership style. 

In her second-to-last speech, the governor focused on funding the roads, spending on education and limiting cell phone use in schools. 

To discuss what Democrats and Republicans made of the speech, Russ McNamara, host of WDET’s All Things Considered, joined the show. 

Use the media player above to hear the conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

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.

Donate today »

The post The Metro: Recapping Governor Whitmer’s 7th State of the State Speech appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Detroit Evening Report: Almost 200 families still displaced after water main break

25 February 2025 at 23:24

About 190 families displaced by last week’s water main break in Southwest Detroit are still in hotels as repairs and cleanup continues.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

City officials say repairs to the most-damaged homes should be completed within the next six weeks.

Jose Poprawa, a Southwest Detroit resident who lives down the street from the break, says he’s been impressed by the city’s response so far.

“From what I seen and me having them being ground zero of it, it’s gone as planned. Said Monday, they would be here to clean up. Everything is clean. Now it’s just cleaning the outside, and now the next phase is for them to come in to replace the appliances,” he said.

Crews continue to work on the water main break in Southwest Detroit.
Crews continue to work on the water main break in Southwest Detroit.

Todd King, chief resiliency officer at the Great Lakes Water Authority, said they’re hoping to have the water main back in operation within the next two weeks, but noted that there’s no way to inspect all 300,000 miles of water mains in the city.

“I mean, there are tools that are available, but they’re…they’re on the innovative side of things,” he said. “There’s no standard practice for inspecting this type of pipe.”

For those looking to support those affected by the water main break, Detroit Deputy Mayor Melia Howard said residents could use some every day items.

“Hygiene kits, feminine products, diapers in all sizes going up to size seven, toilet paper, paper towel, new underwear, new socks,” she said.

Howard said Spanish-speaking volunteers would also be appreciated. The American Red Cross is set up at the corner of Lisbon and Green streets in Southwest.

Reporting by Russ McNamara, WDET News

More headlines for Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025:

  • The nonprofit Michigan Immigrant Rights Center is applauding the Trump administration’s decision to rescind a freeze on funding that pays for attorneys to represent unaccompanied migrant children.
  • Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan spoke to students at Central Michigan University on Monday, hoping to win over young voters who don’t like Republicans or Democrats. 
  • Nominations for the Detroit Office of Neighborhoods 313 Community Day Awards close on Saturday, March 1. The city wants to acknowledge residents who exemplify the Spirit of Detroit through work in or with neighborhoods, nonprofits, schools, faith-based organizations, community groups or other work. 
  • Detroit’s Parks and Recreation Department is looking for young golfers ages 11-14 to take part in Youth Golf in the D, a four-week course each Tuesday in March, teaching the fundamentals of the game.  The cost is $20. For more information visit dprdathletics.com. 

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.

Donate today »

The post Detroit Evening Report: Almost 200 families still displaced after water main break appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Saunteel Jenkins: Nonprofit experience will inform efforts as mayor if elected

19 February 2025 at 17:16

One year from now, Mike Duggan won’t be Detroit’s mayor and there is no shortage of folks vying for the job.

Whoever gets elected will see the city in its next phase of recovery post-bankruptcy. The city’s population is growing and home values are rising, but what’s next?

City Councilman Fred Durhal and current City Council President Mary Sheffield are in the running. Former City Council President — and longtime CEO of The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW) — Saunteel Jenkins is also in the mix.

She sat down with WDET to discuss her vision for the city.

Listen: Saunteel Jenkins shares priorities for addressing poverty, promoting neighborhood growth

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Saunteel Jenkins: Our next mayor has to be someone who will invest in Detroiters from cradle to career and beyond. They need experience in nonprofit, for profit, government and executive experience. The mayor is the CEO of the city of Detroit. I’ve been a CEO for the last 10 years, I know how to deliver, and I’ve been delivering for Detroiters my entire adult life. I want to invest in Detroiters from cradle to career and beyond, and what that means is a Detroit where our children have high-quality early childhood education and daycare centers. We’re making sure that our neighborhoods are safe places and spaces for kids, for families, for seniors. We’re creating businesses and business opportunities and jobs for Detroiters throughout the city, not just downtown. I think we need to have a master plan for each of our seven districts. And the reason that’s important is because it gives Detroiters an opportunity to participate in what the future of their neighborhood should look like. So if the master plan says this district, one needs another movie theater or another grocery store, and you’re opening a grocery store, we’re providing you with incentives to do so, and it provides transparency.

Russ McNamara, WDET News: Where is the next main area for growth in the city?

SJ: I think the next main area of growth has to be in the neighborhoods, not a neighborhood. I think we can walk and chew gum at the same time. It doesn’t have to be that we pick winners and losers. And that’s part of why that master planning process is so important. Because we can do a little bit everywhere, and if we continue to do a little bit everywhere each year, we will start to see the progress spread throughout the city.

RM: The city was still in turmoil when you left city council for THAW. Do you regret that decision at all?

SJ: No, I do not. So I would say the city was still in the process of completing the bankruptcy. I would say the city was in turmoil when I started as city council and we were trying to figure out how not to go into bankruptcy. You know, we were working with the state on a consent agreement and trying to figure out how to actually pay city employees and not miss a payday or not lay off police officers. When I left city council, we were exiting the bankruptcy, the plan of adjustment, the 10 year plan of adjustment, by the way, was in place. So we were actually coming out of the turmoil and setting the stage for, you know, the growth that we’re now seeing.

RM: So why come back now?

SJ: Because the next mayor is going to determine the trajectory of this city for generations to come. And having been there, having done the hard work to set the stage for the successes that we’re all celebrating, I want to make sure that we don’t go back, and that’s why it’s so important that our next mayor is somebody who was here during the tough times, who knows how we got out of it, and understands how to make sure we don’t go back there.

Use the media player above to listen to the full conversation.

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. Donate today »

The post Saunteel Jenkins: Nonprofit experience will inform efforts as mayor if elected appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Mary Sheffield on Detroit’s mayoral race, priorities for the city

12 February 2025 at 21:25

Detroit’s next mayor will not be Mike Duggan. He seeks greener pastures in Lansing. So folks are lining up to make a run for the office.

That group includes City Councilman Fred Durhal, former City Council President Saunteel Jenkins, and current City Council President Mary Sheffield.

In 2013, Sheffield was the youngest person ever elected to City Council.

She sat down with WDET to discuss her vision for the city.

Listen: City Council President Mary Sheffield on her priorities for Detroit

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length. Listen to the full conversation above.

Detroit Council President Mary Sheffield: I believe that we are all seeing the growth in prosperity of Detroit, in our city. For me, it’s important that the next five to 10 years we have someone who is not only bold, but compassionate about some of the social issues and ensuring that the growth that we all are seeing in Detroit benefits everyone. That it reaches deeper, that it goes into our neighborhoods, our communities, that our small businesses feel that growth as well too. And so I am excited about the opportunity to really create a Detroit that works for everyone, to ensure that the marginalized, those who oftentimes are left out of the conversation, feel empowered and that we’re addressing those social issues like poverty, making sure that Detroiters are getting a living wage and investing in those that have been here in Detroit.

Russ McNamara, WDET News: Where specifically isn’t it working? What are you hearing from your constituents that they want?

MS: People want more of the growth and development spread into our communities. We are all seeing a tremendous amount of development happening in Detroit. But I think if you talk to everyday Detroiters, a lot of them say,What about us? What about our neighborhoods, our communities?’ And then also generational Detroiters, those who have been here through the good and the bad, also want to know what resources and support is there for me?

I would like to see us invest and pour back into our middle class families, creating more programs, more incentives and support to make sure that we’re stabilizing and growing our middle class. I also think we have to continue to address affordable housing. Oftentimes people say we’re not in a housing crisis, it’s a state of emergency. And we just recently saw what happened with a family of five, Miss Williams, who lost two of her children because she was sleeping in a car for three months. And so while we’re having the influx of development and economic activity that is happening, we still have to be compassionate about these very, very important social issues, like quality housing in Detroit and making sure that the most vulnerable in our community is protected, uplifted and supported.

RM: What’s the best way to do that? Mike Duggan got rid of a lot of blight in the city, but there hasn’t been this huge influx of affordable housing to fill in those gaps. So how does the city take the mantle there and start building houses?

MS:couple of things. One, you have to be very intentional about it. You have to have a leader that is constantly advocating for housing in every conversation in every room. It has to be a priority. The second thing is, we do have to do better at cultivating an environment that makes it more easier for development to happen in Detroit. There’s so many barriers to entry. There’s so many issues around zoning and permitting. It’s just not an easy business-friendly environment for a lot of people to do business in Detroit. So I think we tackle it from both perspectives. And I also think you incentivize it. You have to incentivize development to come to Detroit that prioritizes the needs of Detroiters, and that is affordable housing in Detroit. I’ve seen it happen in our city. I created the ordinance called the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, which is now a mandate throughout the entire city of Detroit. If you are coming to build housing in Detroit and you’re acquiring some type of assistance, 20% of your units have to be affordable, and we’ve done it now for 11 years, and have done a great job in making sure that we’re incentivizing the need for affordable housing in Detroit.

RM: You mentioned the two little kids that froze to death in the city. Where did the city go wrong in addressing the needs of the people who need it the most?

MS: I know that the incident is under investigation, and it has been documented that this family reached out three times to the housing services hotline, and there was no follow through. So I think the system itself failed her. I think we have to all look at what our outreach is from the housing services department. I think there also needs to be a 24-hour hotline that people can call all throughout the day and night. Right now, we do not have that system in place. And then also, we invest a lot in a call center, but people can call all day — if there’s no housing available, we’re going to keep having this system that is failed. And so I have been very vocal about it, and not just now, that we can’t just keep investing in the Coordinated Assessment Model (CAM) system, which is our No. 1 intake for homelessness in Detroit, but we also have to equally invest in more housing in Detroit.

RM: Some communities have invested in their own public housing, where the city takes on the ownership and some of the construction. Can that model be successful in Detroit?

MS: I think it’s a possibility that we should explore, especially in light of the amount of vacant buildings — commercial and schoolsthat we have throughout Detroit. We had tons of land bank homes that are in a state of disrepair that could be used to put people in as well. So I think we have to be innovative in our approach, but to have as much vacant land and vacant structural commercial properties in Detroit, I think we have to be innovative in our approach to how we address housing in Detroit.

RM: Mike Duggan has been around a long time. You’ve been on city council a very long time. Where do you diverge from him, either in policy or philosophically?

MS: We have been partners, we have worked well to grow and redevelop our city, but I will probably say my attention and compassion for the social issues is there a little bit more. Not saying that he didn’t care, I think that he was very operational. Let’s get the street lights going, trash picked up, and that that was needed at a point in Detroit. But now that we are 12 years post-bankruptcy and we are now investing and growing Detroit, we cannot turn an eye on the fact that we still have one of the highest poverty rates in the country. Forty-nine percent of Detroiters who are working full time are still working and living, getting paid below living wages. We still have a high childhood poverty rate in Detroit, and we just experienced this situation with the issue of people who are unhoused. So those are the issues, to me that when you’re building a world class city, you cannot ignore, you must address. And so I would just say the compassion for those social issues, but not just the compassion, but someone who’s pragmatic in addressing those issues, I think also is important.

RM: Are you endorsing Mike Duggan for governor?

MS: I cannot get into that race, but I’ll tell you I am eager and I cannot wait to work with our next governor. We know whoever sits in that seat plays such an important role to the quality of life for Detroit, we cannot do it alone with our budget. We need the support of the state, and we need the support of Washington, our federal government as well. So I’m going to work with whomever is in office.

RM: Can you get that funding? Because the Biden administration put a lot of money into the city of Detroit, and it’s unclear how much money will be available during the Trump administration.

MS: It’s unclear. And we’ve lived through a Trump presidency before in Detroit, and we made it through. And I know we will again. It’s all about finding common ground. There has to be something that Detroit can benefit from, and I am going to work with whomever to make sure that Detroit benefits.

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.

Donate today »

The post Mary Sheffield on Detroit’s mayoral race, priorities for the city appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

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