Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover decreasing crime in the city of Detroit, Michigan doctors reducing maternal mortality rates and more.

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Crime is down in Detroit

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.” 

Since 2021, Detroit has seen a 30 percent reduction in homicides. 

New program to improve maternal health

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.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Mayor Mike Duggan named Melia Howard as his new deputy on Wednesday, replacing Todd Bettison — who becomes Detroit’s interim police chief on Nov. 11. 

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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.”

Other headlines for Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024:

• A new poll from the Detroit News and WDIV-TV shows just how close the presidential race is in Michigan.
• 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.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.