While the Detroit Documenters are providing easier access to information on local government, they’re not the only ones. 

Dan Arking is a lawyer for the City of Detroit, but during the pandemic, he created the website Soap Box Detroit. It’s a one-stop shop for so much information about Detroit’s local government. 

In our segments with the Documenters, we frequently unpack the actions of local commissions, committees, and task forces. But in what ways do they all differ? 

Arking sat down with Producer Jack Filbrandt and Detroit Documenter Coordinator Noah Kincade to help us cut through the bureaucracy.

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The Detroit Documenters covered the Detroit Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) for the first time last week.

The committee meets quarterly to discuss issues related to hazardous materials reporting and planning for emergencies. It’s made up of representatives from the Detroit police, fire and health departments as well as from various hazardous material storage facilities and private hospitals in the Detroit area that all work together to plan for emergency situations like industrial fires, explosions or other hazards.

At the meeting last Tuesday, Chris Jodoin, manager of emergency management at Henry Ford Health, warned that proposed cuts by the Trump administration to the Hospital Preparedness Program would negatively affect a variety of local emergency preparedness programs in Detroit.

Metro Producer Jack Filbrandt spoke to Detroit Documenter Larae Baker and Coordinator Noah Kincade to learn more.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

–WDET Digital Editor Jenny Sherman contributed to this report.

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

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At a recent Detroit City Council meeting, a number of people spoke during public comment period about Detroit’s Solar Neighborhood Initiative. 

People are making allegations that blight tickets are being used by the city to take property in the name of solar developments. 

While residents say they’re not opposed to renewable energy, some are questioning the city’s process for constructing solar neighborhood arrays. 

The city’s Legal Department will provide an update at Tuesday’s city council meeting on the solar neighborhood initiative. 

Metro Producer Jack Filbrandt sat down with Detroit Documenter Hannah O’Neal and Coordinator Noah Kincade to learn more about the development. 

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

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