Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has dropped out of the race to become Michigan’s next governor.
Duggan wrote in a letter posted to his campaign website that unified anger over the war in Iran and rising gas prices made it difficult to continue his pitch for unified and bipartisan leadership. He also said he was unable to build “serious national fundraising support.”
Duggan entered the race as an independent. A recent poll by the Detroit Regional Chamber showed him polling in third place.
Additional headlines for May 21, 2026
Police commissioner criticizes response to teen takeovers
Teen takeovers are taking place across the country, and one in Detroit ended in the shooting of a 14-year-old boy Sunday.
City officials have responded with stricter curfews and community outreach. But one police commissioner says that approach is not working.
District 3 Police Commissioner Darius Morris is criticizing Mayor Mary Sheffield’s approach to the teen takeovers in downtown Detroit.
After the first teen gathering in April, Sheffield held a news conference with organizers, touting a partnership with the teens to find more appropriate recreational activities.
Morris says when he spoke with organizers of more recent takeovers, he discovered Sheffield’s plan had an unexpected result.
“So I contacted him. I said, ‘Hey, what’s up with what are you doing involved in this? I taught you better than that. Why are you engaged in this?’ And he said, ‘Well, we’re doing it because we’re trying to get exposure and we’re trying to meet the mayor and do a TikTok video like the first group of people did,’” Morris said.
Morris says city officials and police are being forced to do the job parents should be doing, and he wants to see parents take more responsibility for the whereabouts of their children.
Federal judge closes Detroit bankruptcy case
A federal judge has closed Detroit’s bankruptcy case, ending almost 13 years of court supervision.
The ruling comes as the city makes final payments to unsecured creditors totaling about $10 million.
Detroit filed for Chapter 9 protection in 2013. The process allowed the city to shed about $7 billion in debt and restructure another $3 billion.
Mayor Mary Sheffield thanked the city’s financial and legal teams, as well as retirees who went about 10 years without pension payments. The city resumed those payments four years ago.
Traffic pattern changes underway at Belle Isle
Visitors to Belle Isle will notice traffic pattern changes underway. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced traffic pattern changes and a new two-way bike lane on the island. The changes were recommended in the 2025 Belle Isle Park multimodal mobility plan.
Central Avenue will transition to two-way traffic from Picnic Way to Portage Way.
Central Avenue’s scenic route through the flatwoods will flip from eastbound to westbound to help ease traffic congestion near the beach area.
A new dedicated two-way bicycle track will loop around the perimeter of the island, allowing cyclists to circle the entire island without crossing vehicle traffic lanes.
Construction on the changes has already started. The project is expected to be completed by the first week of June.
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The Bengali Mental Health Movement launched online as an anonymous online platform in 2018 to address mental health in Bengali and Bangladeshi communities.
Michigan is home to a significantly large population of Bangladeshis.
Tazin Banu and Riya Ahmed work with the New York based nonprofit to expand mental health conversations in communities that struggle with stigma and cultural sensitivities.
Banu is the founder, and Ahmed is the co-founder of BMHM.
“When we started off, we were, you know, just a group of volunteers doing grassroots work, and then we realized we needed more sustainable infrastructure.”
Tazin Banu is the founder of Bengali Mental Health Movement.
The group created transliterated and translated documents during the pandemic.
“We want to take these mental health concepts and information and make it again accessible to our community,” Banu says.
One of their programs is Alaap, a therapeutic peer-led group, to create safe spaces to have discussions about mental health.
“We wanted to give individuals a safe space where they felt comfortable to at least communicate some parts of their journey,” Ahmed says.
Riya Ahmed is the co-founder of the Bengali Mental Health Movement, a nonprofit which aims to provide accessible resources to Bengali and Bangladeshi communities.
Alaap means conversations, referring to the need for more conversations around mental health.
The nonprofit has a wide reach, including a directory which has providers from all across the world.
“It was great to see that there are communities and professionals all over the place that, like, again, just like wanted to be a part of part of BMHM in some way,” Banu shares.
Ahmed says it’s a validating experience to be a part of this large network.
“When you do work like mental health, and in a community that might not be so encouraging to have these conversations or be on in the supporting field, it’s very validating when you see the encouragement from all over. Right, it’s really nice to see how far the reach is, and how much it might be helping individuals that might have not seen this in their own community,” Ahmed says.
The group hopes to expand services, resources and put out a community needs assessment.
They also hope to launch a self-care initiative called Joton: Aided and Embodied Self-Care Workshops soon. It’s a monthly free workshop to remove barriers to self care.
Ahmed says they also hope to expand language services to include younger and older generations.
“Language would help, when it comes to older generation, so that is the expansion. That would be wonderful to have that in Bangla,” she says.
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Sherry Miller is a mental health clinician with the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. She has a dual role in Highland Park as part of the co-response team and the mobile clinic.
“We go out into the community, to schools, to churches, events, wherever we are invited to bring mental health awareness to kind of decrease the stigma. We can do brief therapy right there on the spot, assess individuals’ mood… and get them connected with services,” she says.
In her role with co-response, she works with the police department as a mental health counselor who aids in mental health emergencies.
“So if there’s a mental health call… they’ll dispatch me through the radio. Either I’ll meet them there, [or] I’ll follow them there and kind of assess the situation and what’s going on with that individual,” she explains.
She says Highland Park residents were instrumental in getting a partnership going between DWIHN and crisis intervention.
Miller says since her start in late December, there have been about 70 mental health phone calls. In her role, Miller assesses the situation and tries to de-escalate.
She says there are several police officers within the Highland Park Police Department who are also trained to respond to mental health calls.
“It may go a different route, versus somebody being talked to by somebody that’s trained to de-escalate, to calm them down… I think that makes a difference,” she shares.
Miller says she attends city meetings to connect with community members to understand their needs, bring them resources and show them how to sign up for services.
Autism Awareness comes to Highland Park
Highland Park hosted its first Autism Awareness event last month
Miller says she speaks with parents who are concerned about getting help for their kids. They struggle with things like behavioral issues, receiving special education services at school and understanding autism.
Miller says more needs to be done to support parents. Having more advocacy events could help parents get access to testing and find new ways to improve the lives of their children, she says.
People took part in an advocacy walk during the Autism Awareness event in Highland Park in April.
The event featured an advocacy walk, resource vendors, and presentations. There were also giveaways, music and workshops. Miller noted the importance of the event for connecting with parents and “talking to the educators that kind of know what to do, what to look for.”
Miller has also created a resource book for residents.
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Get some unique thrifty items at vintage pop-ups or travel back in time at the tracks with Greenfield Village. Plus, Detroit’s cinematic and musical skill is on display at a screening of “Sons of Detroit” and more.
On Friday, May 15, KeyBank is hosting Zoo Brew at the Detroit Zoo. There will be naturalistic habitats, over 100 beverage selections, and live music. Admission ranges from $35-$95, and the event will be held from 6:30 pm to 10 pm. For more information, visit the Detroit Zoo website.
On May 15, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra will host ten-time GRAMMY Award-winning musician Arturo Sandoval. In addition to his performance, the DSO will open its Paradise Lounge for food and cocktails. Admission starts at $21. For more information, visit the Detroit Symphony Orchestra website.
Little Mama’s Vintage, Retro Image, Overtime Print Shop
May 16
Free
Little Mama’s Vintage celebrates Vintage Store Day with a pop up! The event will highlight three independent vintage stores, as well as a new Dearborn refillery, a local matcha brewer, and a DJ. Admission is free, and the event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the Little Mama’s Vintage Instagram page.
$37 admission, with discounts for seniors and children
Greenfield Village is offering a train-lovers dream day, with hands on activities and demonstrations centered around the railroad tracks. Guests will be able to sit in a train from the late 1800s, watch a crane at work, push a discovery railcar and help maneuver the grand turntable outside the roundhouse to shift the tracks onto a new path. In addition to the mechanical, the Village green will have timeless lawn games and entertainment. This event is for all ages, and is free with the cost of admission. Arrive early to catch your train!
From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., the Salvation Army store in Rochester Hills is offering shoppers vintage sports wear, collectibles and more— oh, and there will be a chance to meet Detroit Lions Defensive End Myles Adams from 9-11 a.m.! The first 100 shoppers will recieve an autographed photo from him. There will also be a raffle for thrift store credit. Proceeds will fund substance abuse rehabilitation and other services at the ARC Detroit.
The City Institute hosts a Detroit In Context: Downtown Walking Tour. The 2 mile tour will cover Campus Martius Park and Spirit Plaza, as well as the Guardian Building and Spirit of Detroit. There will be discussions of the city’s history and the impact of innovative residents. The event will be held from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
On Sunday, May 17, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is showing “Sons of Detroit.” Described as a “part love letter, part detective story,” the film follows the reunion of two cousins through memoirs, performances, and journalism. And we can’t forget, music by Detroit legend Waajeed. General admission tickets are $11.50 and $9.50 for seniors, students, and DIA members. The screening starts at 7 p.m. For more information, visit the DIA website.
Outlier Media and the historic Senate Theater are teaming up for a trivia night all about Michigan movies. Outlier’s Briana Rice and BridgeDetroit’s Bryce Hoffman will be hosting the event, which will run from 6:30-9 p.m. on Tuesday. Tickets sales support the Senate Theater and Outlier Media. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity to show off your knowledge of local film history and learn something new. Plus, there’s a prize for the winning teams.
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The schools Cheryl Sanford attended growing up in Highland Park are closed now—as are all of the schools children in the city attended at that time.
Shrinking population left schools empty and in disrepair. Now, the Highland Park School District authorizes one of the two charter schools in the city. Barber Preparatory Academy teaches kindergarten through eighth grade. There is no option for Highland Park students to attend high school in the city.
Sandford is the current president of the school board. She spoke with WDET’s Sascha Raiyn as part of our Crossing the Lines—Highland Park series. She says her vision for the kind of education the city can offer in the future comes from her experiences of what used to be.
Listen: Highland Park looks to past while planning future for schools
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Highland Parkers have been telling WDET what they want people to know about their city as part of our Crossing the Lines series. Reporters have been listening to residents as well as people who no longer live there but still have deep connections to the city.
That includes Marsha Battle Philpot. She’s a writer, musician, and historian. And she was a Kresge Artist Fellow in Literary Arts in 2012. Her father, Joe Von Battle, owned Joe’s Records on Hastings Street in Detroit’s Paradise Valley before the thriving Black neighborhood was demolished.
Battle recorded all of Reverend C. L. Franklin’s sermons and was the first person to record Aretha Franklin’s voice. Battle bought a home in Highland Park when his daughter was about 2 years old.
“Marsha Music,” as many call her, tells WDET’s Pat Batcheller what growing up in that house was like.
Listen: Marsha Music maintains ties to Highland Park
The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Marsha Battle Philpot: It was a home with oak walls in some of the rooms, and pocket doors, and beveled glass, and a huge mantle that ran the length of the room. And it was a magnificent home, one amongst many magnificent homes in the city that were on akin to the homes of [Detroit’s] Boston Edison, but on a smaller footprint, making them, many of them more achievable for working class people. But it was a very, very affluent place to live.
Schools were jewels
MBP: “People were desperate to try to get their children into Highland Park schools. During those days of the 1950s and 60s, they were some of the best schools in the United States. I remember the schools that I went to were voted or deemed to be the best schools in state of Michigan. It was really an extraordinary place to live. Even our elementary schools had swimming pools. All Highland Park kids could swim. All of us who deigned to do so went to musical classes and band and all kind of extracurricular activities. There were two or three bands in Highland Park. It was just an extraordinarily prosperous place.
The City of Trees
MBP: And if you put that prosperousness on top of the physical lushness of the city, it was such a lush, verdant green atmosphere in Highland Park. The trees would create archways over the streets. So, I would come home from school, and if it was raining, I wouldn’t get wet, because the trees oftentimes bowed over the over the skyline, and they would protect you from some of the rain. It was just an extraordinary place to grow up.
Pat Batcheller: Where we’re talking right now is in your dining room, which is technically in Detroit. It’s just on the south edge of Palmer Park. Where were you before?
MBP: I had been married and lived in a couple of other areas of the city, and so I was very glad to be able to come back to Highland Park when my mom decided that she was not going to be able to keep the house.
PB: The house that your dad bought her?
MBP: “Yes, our family home. Because she was ill, and she went to live with her sister, who was helping care for her. And she finally made a decision, “would you like to take the house?” And so, I did. But in about 2007 is when I had an electrical fire, and it was caused—I learned later from the fire investigators— by a dehumidifier. It was in August of 2007 it was probably 90 degrees. It was hot, and air conditioning those big houses is very challenging. And our basement was always soaking wet, and I ended up with a dehumidifier there that apparently had been running. And the fire people later told me that that that scenario is the cause of many fires. It’s still standing, but it destroyed the house.
PB: You said you were happy to come back to Highland Park. What made you happy?
MBP: Because it’s my home. And even though it had experienced so many challenges over the years since I had been gone, it was the home of my heart. And I always loved Highland Park because of its separation, even from Detroit. We’re in our own world in Highland Park.
And there were so many of the elders that were still there since I was a child and had done their best to try to hold on to this city. It’s the essence of the Black experience of perseverance in Highland Park. These people had been holding on despite all manner of reversals and in their big homes, these big, beautiful homes that they’re trying to take care of as best they can. Even in a situation in which the actual light poles were repossessed. Come on, now! You take the light poles out? Oh, my goodness!
PB: You’re only about a block away from Highland Park, so you’re not far away. Do you go into Highland Park?
MBP: Every time I go anywhere, I have to basically go through Highland Park. And I call Highland Park my happy place. You know, I love Highland Park. Even when I’m up on Woodward Avenue and I’m just up there shopping, because I’m not going to get in my car and go to the suburbs and shop. I’m going to shop where I live.
And when I’m up there on Woodward, I literally can feel my mother. And she’s been gone for many years. But I think of her walking up to the stores in Highland Park or driving to the stores and shopping in the days in which we had Sears and Winkelman’s and the various national chains. I think of my people in Highland Park, because we’re very much embedded there.
Imams Hussein Karoub and Khalil Bazzi led the construction of Highland Park’s Moslem Mosque. They selected a location near the Ford assembly line plant in Highland Park and opened the mosque in 1921.
The mechanical contractor John E Green Company now owns the building.
Sally Howell is a professor of history at the University of Michigan – Dearborn. She says Syrian immigrants, “mostly from what is today, Lebanon,” built the mosque.
She says immigrants were attracted to the Ford plant’s wages of $5 per day, which was around twice the average industrial wage at the time.
She says Arab Americans had organizations and political associations leading up to mosque opening. Howell says people from the Middle East, South Asia, and Eastern Europe worshipped there. It only stayed open for about a year.
“Part of the congregation, by 1921 had already started moving to Dearborn, because Henry Ford was already building and starting to open the Ford Rouge assembly,” she says.
However, Highland Park had a growing African American Muslim population.
Imam Hamidullah Daniel Mujahid was born in Highland Park in 1953.
He says many Muslims practiced their faith in private during the 1950s and 1960s. About 50 Muslim families—people from the Middle Eastern, followers of the Ahmadiyya movement from South Asia, and people from the Nation of Islam—lived in the city.
“At this given point in time, the only outward practicing group was the group that was called the Nation of Islam, that was the Black African American community,” he says.
Mujahid says people wanted to fit in with the majority of the Christian population. They also didn’t want to get targeted.
Researcher Akil Fahd says another predominantly African American mosque, Masjid As-Salaam, opened around 1971. It was an incubator for other mosques.
“A lot of the other communities that were Sunni Muslim, that did not come out of the Nation of Islam, they kind of spread out from Masjid As-Salam,” he shares.
A lasting community
Masjidun-Nur opened in 1977 on Pilgrim Street. It has an extension building, the Markaz Al-Tabligh, on Hamilton Avenue for larger gatherings and special occasions such as Eid prayers.
Fahd says it’s part of the Tablighi community, a global Islamic missionary movement focused on spiritual renewal, prayer and following the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Fatimah Rashad is a labor and delivery nurse and mom of four. Her parents moved from New Jersey to Highland Park in 1991.
“My father actually wanted to move here because it’s a bigger Muslim community, and they heard about the Islamic schools,” she says.
Rashad says the community was warm and welcoming. About 20 families lived there.
Masjidun Nur is one of the last mosques in Highland Park. Congregants use this space for daily prayers.
Khalil MuMinun is an assistant imam at Masjid Wali Muhammad. He says the Muslim community in Highland Park offered an alternative lifestyle.
“They played a significant role in you know keeping the drug epidemic from taking over the entire neighborhood by creating a space where the standard was virtue and having good manners with your neighbors,” he explains.
While today just a few Muslim families remain in Highland Park, Muslim communities played a vital role in developing the city since the early 1900s.
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The Howard Family Bookstore is a dream realized for Detroit native Jerjuan Howard. He created the non-profit aimed at supporting students with literacy and interpersonal communication skills as a part of his mission to better his community with the next generation at the center.
Howard is also the founder of the Umoja Debate League. In 2025, Jerjuan joined The Metro to talk about 7-2 Day, a yearly celebration his Puritan Ave. neighborhood. While chatting about the celebratory day, Jerjuan talked about his future plans for a bookstore.
Fast forward a year, Howard Family Bookstore is open.
Howard Family Book Store
Howard currently acts as the city of Detroit’s director of Youth Affairs. Due to the position, he took a step back from the day to day operations. The management of the bookstore is handled by Jerjuan’s aunt, Jamie Howard.
In this conversation, we listen in on a past conversation, learning about his goals. In the latter half, we hear from Jamie and learn more about the importance the shop holds in the community. Jamie says watching her nephew grow into the man he is today is no surprise.
Jamie Howard; Manager of Howard Family Bookstore
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Detroiters are celebrating another Pistons playoff victory. The team defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-97 Thursday night in Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals. Detroit All-Star Cade Cunningham scored 25 points in the victory. The Pistons have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 3 is tomorrow afternoon at 3 in Cleveland.
Additional headlines for May 8, 2026
Students deal with Canvas hack
A hack of the Canvas academic system has affected students across the country, including many in Michigan. Students at Wayne State tried to access the system Thursday as they prepared for tests and worked to finish papers. But they were denied access. The system was hacked by ransomware, which demanded payment to keep from publishing students’ sensitive information. Canvas says the system is up and running again today.
Senior Olympics return to Detroit
Detroit’s Senior Olympics are returning June 8. The program was started in 1984 to empower seniors ages 50 and older and support healthy living. Seniors will compete in various activities such as swimming, track, golf, and even baking and arts and crafts. Registration as a participant is open through May 15. Athlete registration is $25. For more information or to register, visit the city’s website at detroitmi.gov and search for Detroit Senior Olympics.
Detroit District 1 to hold job fair
Detroit’s Department of Neighborhood Resource Managers is putting on a job fair in District 1 next month. City employers and others will be on-site actively hiring new employees. Project Clean Slate will also be there to help with expungement opportunities. The job fair will be held June 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Crowell Recreation Center. That’s 16630 Lahser at Verne.
Juneteenth art contest seeks entries
The City of Hamtramck’s Park Conservancy is now accepting applications for the TSF Juneteenth Multidisciplinary Art Contest for high school seniors. Any senior attending school or residing in Wayne or Oakland counties can apply. The contest is looking for an original activity that honors the legacy of National Baseball Hall of Famer and Negro League Detroit Stars legend Norman “Turkey” Stearnes. The submission must also portray the Juneteenth holiday. For more information about the contest and how to apply, visit hamtramck-stadium.org/juneteenth-contest. The application window closes May 29.
Metro Detroit gas prices remain steady in past week
Gas prices headed into the weekend haven’t changed much in the past few days. AAA Michigan says the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular in metro Detroit is $4.78 today. That’s the same price as Thursday, and just a couple of cents cheaper than last week at this time. Crude oil prices remain near $100 per barrel as the U.S. and Iran reportedly traded fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. Oil tanker traffic in that waterway has not returned to normal, impacting supplies in many parts of the world.
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We like to say that metro Detroit has it all, but you only have so much time to experience it! Every week is a choose-your-own-adventure, and we have some fun options to raise if you don’t know were to start.
This weekend, prepare to laugh with shows like “Shucked” and “Jurassic Park: The Musical”. Celebrate local efforts and learn about food sovereignty with the Detroit Food Commons Fest. You can also take a nice walk through downtown Royal Oak on Mother’s Day looking at everything you could ever need to make your yard a mini-paradise.
Back by popular demand, “Jurassic Park: The Musical” is a retelling of the classic high-stakes dinosaur film—this time, as a prehistoric parody for your amusement with original songs. This show contains mature humor, and isn’t recommended for audiences under 16 years of age. Both showings start at 8 p.m., and this is the last weekend to experience it, so don’t wait!
Join the award-winning Detroit People’s Food Co-op for their second anniversary celebration! They’ll have vendors, food, political education and activities for guests to enjoy. Plus, a bouncy house and fun games for kids! This event is in the North End and will be going from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On May 9 and 10, the Midland Center for the Arts will show the Tony Award-winning musical, “Shucked.” Saturday performances will be held at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday performances will be held at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Admission starts at $49.50. For more information, visit the Midland Center for the Arts’ website.
A long-held Mother’s Day tradition in downtown Royal Oak. Step out and start beautifying your outdoor space with offerings of flowers and plants, statues, decorations, furniture and more. You can add another lawn gnome to your collection, get starter plants for your garden, or make a backyard perfect for attracting birds and butterflies. Food vendors will be there to make sure you don’t go hungry or thirsty either. Stop by anytime from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Arab American National Museum is bringing a world of film to metro Detroit with a curated set of global short films, documentaries, and full length feature. All are subtitled, making a tremendously rich selection of cinematic art accessible for all. Many showings also include discussion and activities to experience film to the fullest. View the showings and buy tickets in advance for this final weekend of films, themed “Remember. (Re)imagine.”
Stroll along the beautiful Detroit Riverfront with local herbalists. As you walk, you’ll learn how to identify and best handle different plants, and be able to take home your own herbal creation. Bring a water bottle and dress for the weather. This event runs from 5:30-7 p.m.
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This past weekend, Spirit Airlines shut down and ceased all operations after decades in business.
When Spirit travelers entered the Evans Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, or DTW, for their scheduled flights, they were met with an operational update from the airline. Screens on ticket and check-in kiosks read:
“We regret to inform you that Spirit Airlines has ceased global operations. All Spirit flights have been canceled and customer service is no longer available.”
The airline carried more than 1.7 million passengers in 2025 alone. The full impact of the Spirit Airlines shutdown is not yet clear.
Additional headlines for May 4, 2026
Detroit pitch competition
6 Mile Soup is hosting a pitch competition for business owners.
The Community Choice competition takes place this evening and features businesses on West McNichols Road.
Attendees will get free samples from restaurants and cast their votes for their favorite businesses. Three businesses will win cash prizes: $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place.
The event takes place today, May 4, at Sips on Six, located at 7512 W. McNichols Road in Detroit. Doors open at 5 p.m. Winners will be announced at 8 p.m. The event is free.
Detroit Friendship House gardening event
The Hamtramck-based food pantry Detroit Friendship House is hosting a gardening event.
It is part of an effort to upcycle and recycle goods to create a sustainable garden for the food pantry.
Keep Growing Detroit will lead a Gardening 101 workshop as part of the event and provide free seed packets for households receiving SNAP benefits.
People will also be able to paint planters with Solstice Art. Participants can bring seeds and seedlings to swap with neighbors. They can also take home herbs for their own gardens.
There will also be a native edible plants exhibit by Detroit Friendship House’s Women’s Empowerment Group.
The Community Garden Event takes place May 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Detroit Friendship House, 9540 Conant in Hamtramck.
The City of Detroit and the Board of Police Commissioners are hosting a mental health panel.
The Men’s Mental Health Awareness Panel is being hosted by District 2 Police Commissioner Lavish T. Williams.
Guests include several prominent African American speakers. There will also be a special guest appearance by the Mumford High School marching band.
The Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network will provide information, resources and suicide prevention training on-site.
The panel will take place May 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Road in Detroit.
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The Detroit Transportation Corporation, the agency that operates the Detroit People Mover, is selecting a design team for a new transportation hub near Michigan Central.
Officials hope the new hub will expand transportation options in metro Detroit, potentially connecting the region to Chicago and Canada through expanded public transit service.
Michigan Central is located near an existing railroad, which could allow the facility to operate as an Amtrak station.
The project is expected to begin in summer 2026.
Additional headlines for May, 1, 2026
Leland House auction draws single bid
A three-day online auction for the Leland House ended with only one bid.
Mudhish Development Co. LLC submitted the sole bid of $3 million.
A judge still must approve the sale, which could take place next month.
Metro Detroit sees one of its warmest Aprils on record
Last month was one of the warmest Aprils on record in metro Detroit.
Preliminary data from the National Weather Service shows the average daily temperature was more than 4 degrees above normal, making it the seventh-warmest April since recordkeeping began in 1874.
Four of the 10 warmest Aprils have occurred since 2010.
Michigan unemployment rate holds steady
Michigan’s unemployment rate remained at 5% for the fifth straight month.
The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget says about 30,000 people have left the workforce since December.
Trade, transportation and utility jobs declined in March, while professional and leisure sectors added jobs.
The event focuses on celebrating Black joy, bodily autonomy and economic freedom.
The program will feature a panel discussion with SisterSong Executive Director Monica Simpson, Global Black Economic Forum President and CEO Alphonso David, and others.
Detroit singer-songwriter Teedra Moss also will perform live.
The event takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, or MOCAD, 4454 Woodward Ave.
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Metro Detroit’s cultural veins are thrumming this week with jazz, spring greenery, and so much more. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Southwest Detroit with local vendors and a sweeping parade, find some new music at the Detroit Vinyl Fest or enrich your mind with a free trip to the Cranbrook Science museum.
There’s a lot to do this weekend for little to no cost… and if you’re thinking you’d like to lighten your wallet, there’s plenty of opportunity to do so while supporting important causes and local business.
Enter a world of discovery at the Cranbrook Science Museum! There are so many exhibits to explore and many hands-on learning opportunities for the whole family to enjoy. Take advantage of free admission and engage your curiosity. Stars, fossils, mammoths and more await you.
The Midtown Jazz Crawl kicks off this weekend with performances by the Xavier Davis New York Quartet, a group of seasoned jazz musicians that bring both city-sophistication and warm inviting tones into a medley of classics and original compositions. Experience a stirring performance that channels the soul of jazz Friday at the Detroit Institute of Arts or Saturday at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Both shows start at 7 p.m.
Join Bailey Park in celebrating the Earth and the arrival of spring. Further your sustainability-skills and knowledge with various demonstrations and resources on site. There will be limited free food, crafts, local vendors, plus the opportunity to plant in the community garden. Revel for the planet! The event goes from 1-5 p.m, with a live performance by the Detroit Urban Orchestra from 3-4 p.m.
The Mexican Patriotic Committee of Metro Detroit invites you to watch a colorful parade down West Vernor Hwy, including Mariachis, schools, local businesses, and the Miss Mexico Pageant Queen and her court among the procession of floats and dancers. Local vendors and entertainers will be around for the Original Cinco de Mayo Fiesta both days from noon to 8 p.m. The parade is on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.
Free Comic Book Day
Various
May 2
Free
Various local shops and libraries are taking part in Free Comic Book Day this Saturday, May 2. Green Brain in Dearborn, Vault of Midnight in Detroit and many more are all offering a variety of experiences, including food, activities and—of course—free comic books to guests. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Calling all music-lovers! Expand your physical media music library at the second annual Detroit Vinyl Fest. Browse vinyl records, cassettes, CDs, music memorabilia and more while DJs set a soundtrack for the day, and keep an eye out for artists offering autographs. The festival is up and running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Arab American National Museum is bringing a world of film to metro Detroit. A curated set of global short films, documentaries, and full length features are available for viewing. All are subtitled, making a tremendously rich selection of cinematic art accessible for all. View the showings and buy tickets in advance.
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The city of Detroit celebrated 10 years of Project Clean Slate with the program’s 20,000th expunged conviction.
Project Clean Slate is a program that removes barriers that limit the economic, social, physical and mental well-being of residents with criminal records. There are multiple benefits that come from expungement. Studies from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce show that companies that give second chances to returning citizens see reduced employee turnover and an overall higher quality of work.
During a press conference this week celebrating the decade-long program, Mayor Mary Sheffield announced her administration will offer a new opportunity for justice-impacted individuals.
“We just recently opened a new Office of Community and Neighborhood Safety. A part of that work will be working with justice-impacted residents through our new Office of Returning Citizens. When we invest in people and when we choose compassion, we don’t just change the lives of individuals, but the entire community,” Sheffield said.
Project Clean Slate currently has 4,000 open and eligible convictions in process and/or ready to be expunged.
Additional headlines for Thursday, April 30, 2026
Michigan gas prices continue climbing across the state
Michigan gas prices are going up again, with some areas seeing prices around $5 a gallon.
The average cost in the state is about $4.58, up about 33 cents from the day before and 71 cents higher than last week. A year ago, the average price was $3.23.
These surges are connected to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran and disruptions involving the Strait of Hormuz, halting multiple shipments of oil.
Some experts say prices should stabilize after today.
Detroit teams face pivotal weekend across basketball, baseball and soccer
Pistons force Game 6
The Detroit Pistons avoided elimination Wednesday night, beating the Orlando Magic 116-109.
Now the hometown heroes travel to Orlando for a must-win Game 6 if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The showdown is set for Friday, May 1. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
Tigers look to climb AL Central standings
The Detroit Tigers face off against the Texas Rangers this weekend.
As the second-place team in the American League Central, they could find themselves in the top spot in the division with a successful weekend.
All three games will be played at Comerica Park.
Detroit City FC returns to Keyworth
Detroit City FC faces Louisville City FC at Keyworth Stadium.
The match is set for May 2 at 6 p.m.
Detroit Vinylfest returns for second year
The second annual Detroit Vinylfest returns this weekend, featuring records, CDs, tapes and more.
The event, presented by the Detroit Bookfest team, will feature more than 70 vendors selling vinyl records, cassette tapes and other music collectibles.
Vendors will also offer music-related posters, T-shirts and other memorabilia for collectors and music fans.
Some musicians will host autograph signings, and DJs will be spinning vinyl throughout the event.
Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Highland Park is a small city that once had a relatively large population for its size. At the height of Detroit’s automotive boom, more than 50,000 people lived within Highland Park’s 2.9 square miles. Today, the population is less than 9,000.
WDET’s Crossing the Lines series features conversations with and stories about Highland Park’s people, culture, and history.
Detroit Public Radio’s Citizen Vox project gives residents a chance to express how they feel about their communities and the issues that matter to them.
WDET’s Pat Batcheller spoke with Highland Park resident Ken Bates at a coffee shop on Woodward Ave. on April 10, 2026.
Listen: Highland Park resident says smart planning can reduce poverty
Bates was born in Detroit but moved to Highland Park with his wife more than 25 years ago. They bought a Craftsman-style bungalow in a historic district of the city. Voters elected Bates to the city council in 2018, where he served until 2022. He chairs the board of an energy nonprofit called Soulardarity. Its mission includes installing solar-powered streetlights in Highland Park’s neighborhoods.
Bates shares his thoughts on housing, poverty, community pride, and development.
Ken Bates: We know that there’s a housing crisis, a housing shortage nationally, affordable housing. Highland Park has an abundance of land that is underutilized, that really could be put forth in terms of development. So, we could look at land trusts. We could look at affordable housing, low-income housing, market rate housing, duplexes to grow the population because that’s what we have in abundance.
Manufacturing? I doubt that will ever come back to the extent that Henry Ford and Chrysler and some of the other manufacturers had here. That’s a bygone era.
And so, we have to look into the future as to what will help Highland Park become sustainable. What kind of industries should we count on?
You have to get education on board. You have to get private development. You have to get your government funding all in order, and you have to have a plan and a vision and the expertise in order to do it.
If not, you’re just maintaining the status quo. And year after year, you’re just one disaster away from some financial calamity, whether it be a natural disaster or something like the Great Lakes Water Authority suing us for $19 million and threatening to put it on our tax rolls.
Pat Batcheller: What do you like about being in Highland Park?
KB: Highland Park is centrally located. It’s convenient. There’s a sense of—like with my block, I never expected it to be so diverse. And yet you’ve got immigrants, you’ve got people of different faiths. You’ve got people who are ascribed to different lifestyles. I mean, it just it goes on and on, different political beliefs, and we all live together in the same community, and we’re able to communicate and talk and look out after each other.”
PB: From the conversations I’ve had with you and some of the other folks I’ve talked to, it isn’t really the borders that define Highland Park, it’s the people. Would you agree with that?
KB: Well, yeah, I would say the people do define Highland Park because, because again, they’ve been here. Most have been here quite a long time. And even if you travel outside of Highland Park and talk to people that formerly lived here, many people will tell you, ‘Yeah, my grandparents lived here.’ They remember it as a great city. They’ve had fond memories.
The historical district is obviously something that has gained attention. People are looking at those homes and, if they have the means to renovate them, are coming in and deciding, “well, let’s renovate this home.” Because you can’t rebuild those anywhere for anything that I would consider reasonable.
Highland Park has just had its own identity for a long, long time. And so, I can’t see that changing because it would be so difficult to incorporate us into the Detroit culture. We’re not Detroit. We’re not Hamtramck. We’re Highland Park.
PB: What’s the most pressing issue facing Highland Park right now?
KB: It’s poverty. You’ve got to figure out how to raise people’s incomes up, so to speak, their standard of living. So, whether it be through employment, homeownership, because poverty impacts everything around us. For example, ALDI is usually out of shopping carts because people abscond with them. If you’re running a business, that’s not helpful. We were fortunate in that Foot Locker moved into the old CVS building because CVS, Rite-Aid, and another drugstore left.
Convincing businesses to come here is a real challenge because the landscape has changed. Brick and mortar stores aren’t necessarily how people are going about retail experiences. You would think that we would have a thrift shop or something of that nature in a community like that. We don’t.
So, trying to look at trends that will allow people to be gainfully employed, increase home ownership, educate their children are things that should be made priority.
The appearance of the city has to change because we have a lot of blight. We had a press conference celebrating the announcement of Highland Towers on Woodward being torn down. We’ve got to have news that is uplifting, that is showing progress now. Yes, the building should be torn down because it’s caught on fire sixteen years ago. But we need to be announcing opportunities for growth projects that will bring about change.
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WDET is examining the highlights and history of Highland Park as part of our Crossing the Lines series.
The roughly three-square mile enclave, completely surrounded by Detroit, has many of the same issues as the Motor City. Some Highland Parkers say it’s often hard for visitors to know when they have left one city and traveled into the other.
Those residents include Pastor Leon Morehead, who leads the New Grace Missionary Baptist Church in Highland Park.
He’s a native of Detroit who has lived in Highland Park for about four years.
Morehead says the enclave is taking steps to reverse decades of decline.
Listen: Highland Park pastor says he serves in an ‘enclave of love’
The following interview was edited for length and clarity
Leon Morehead: It is becoming more of a walkable community. Many things are within walking distance right now. I love the tradition. I love the family atmosphere of Highland Park. I can talk to any of my local politicians and it’s just like we’re family. Even if I disagree with what they’re saying, they make themselves easily accessible.
Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: Do you get the same sense from your parishioners? Does they seem pretty happy with the area?
LM: Yes, we love Highland Park. We even discussed one time about moving and everybody said, “Absolutely not, we will not move from Highland Park.” It’s centrally-located. And there’s so many things that Highland Park is on the brink of doing. There’s some great developments that are on the way. There’s some housing developments, there’s more jobs that are coming online and more community partnerships, which are helping us a lot.
QK: As a native Detroiter, when you come to Highland Park, did you notice much difference between the two?
LM: With Highland Park being inside of Detroit, it’s almost like you’re just riding through one city. Highland Park was built to be a suburb, I was told. I actually grew up in the north end area of Detroit. As a child, we would ride through and we would see the Chrysler plant and the Ford workers that were working in Highland Park. So it’s not really much of a difference for me because I’ve already experienced it.
My children grow up now in an area where everybody knows them. It’s like the old school days. They don’t want my children to get in trouble. They’ll say, “Hey, he came in at eight o’clock at night instead of six o’clock.” Things like that. I love that part of the Highland Park community. It is an enclave. But it’s an enclave of love.
QK: If you suddenly were granted the power to change things to whatever you would like, is there anything you see around Highland Park that you would like to address?
LM: Just like many other places, I wish we could have the roads together. Our roads are not bad. But there are some street roads that I just wish were a little bit better. Especially with the hot and cold temperatures, we all deal with the potholes. We have a good [Department of Public Works] that fixes them. But I just wish we had a way to have self-sustaining roads.
QK: For people who maybe have not been through Highland Park, what would you tell them? What would you like people to know about the area if they haven’t been here before?
LM: Stop at some of our local shops. One of the greatest things we have is our recreation department. We got a really nice park. They have concerts every Wednesday in the summertime. And when you go there, everything is safe. Everybody’s having a good time. Everybody’s just looking at each other enjoying the family atmosphere. So it’s a great thing.
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While camping outdoors requires some equipment and knowledge, those resources are within reach, and the new campground is more accessible than ever, says Amy McMillan, CEO of Huron-Clinton Metroparks.
“One of the great things about these improvements is we have barrier-free camping now, if you have mobility issues or have a stroller you need to push around, it’s absolutely perfect for that.”
A number of education and community events are available for camp-curious metro Detroiters, including a Family Campout Night on July 24-25, and weekend programs for first-time campers to try out equipment for the first time.
“You kind of get that up north feeling being right here next to Belleville,” says McMillan.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
Support local journalism.
WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
We’ve got everything from orchestral renditions of Journey’s greatest hits to parties that won’t stop until the sun rises this week in Metro Detroit. The lights may come down in every other city, but here in Detroit, they’re always going up.
Put on your most elegant pair of painter’s jeans and get ready to take a dive into the world of artistic vandalism. From April to August, the Elaine L. Jacob Gallery at Wayne State University will be hosting an exhibition composed of 25 subway drawings created by Keith Harring between 1980 and 1985. “Art is for everyone,” so be sure to take this opportunity to see one of America’s most prolific artists. The gallery is open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while the hours shift to 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays.
Break out the strolling shoes, practice your hand-behind-the-back smolder and embrace your inner art critic. Over the course of the next three weeks, Wayne State University will be holding its 2026 undergraduate exhibition showcasing fine arts, art history and design. This collection is an emphasis on the student’s ability to go beyond the confines of what we see as contemporary art. The opening reception will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the gallery being open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
But if that’s just not enough art for you, if you’re a real division 1 yearnerand you’re looking for something more to sink your creative canines into, this Friday, the Wayne State University Graduate Artist Coalition is hosting an open studio and gallery event coinciding with the opening reception of the undergraduate exhibition. In addition to the ceramics, industrial design and paintings, there will also be live music as well as refreshments. The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Caffeine and ample water consumption are going to become your most trusted compatriots this weekend as you fight the urge to pass out with your tenacity to groove. This Friday, Marble Bar is teaming up with Lincoln Factory to bring you a 12-hour set consisting of 4 different stages across both venues. Stages will be both indoors and outdoors, with performances from DOME SURVEY, Ayesha, Matthew Dear, Bruno Schmidt and more. The event is set to begin at 9 p.m. and end at 9 a.m. And don’t forget the five-hour energy.
Normally, I’d say something along the lines of, “house and acid are commencing a takeover this weekend,” but take over where? The location hasn’t even been disclosed yet… I suppose this week’s motto should be “eh, take a chance.” At least you know which horses you’ll be betting on. This Saturday, Chicago native Specter is headlining the Sleep Olympics booth with Sugar, Shigeto, Meftah and 2000 Avalon on deck. The event will begin at 10 p.m. and it will go until 7 a.m. Boy, we are just screwing with your sleep schedule, aren’t we?
The neon beacons and the beckons of R&B are calling you home this weekend, to your true home, with all of us wonderful degenerates in tow. Pull through to Big Pink this Saturday to immerse yourself in 2000s throwbacks and bumping dance rhythms. DJ Selfie, Completd and Chuck Inglish are spinning tracks to get you making questionable decisions until the wee hours of the night, butyou know what Austin Butler’s mother always used to say, “embarrassment is an underexplored emotion, get out there and make a fool of yourself.” This event is set to begin at 10 p.m. and goes until 2 a.m.
But, if stationary art and house shows dont pique your interest, perhaps you’ll feel better suited supporting local filmmakers at Oakland University’s 2026 film showcase. The English, creative writing and film departments have united to bring you a night filled with narrative, experimental and documentary short films. So,make the trek out to Rochester and don’t forget the popcorn. And don’t worry, this event starts at 3 p.m. and goes until 6 p.m. for you “normal sleep pattern” people.
If it wasn’t the music itself and it was simply that it didn’t have enough elegance whilst also reminding you of your father who grew up in the 80s, you’re in for a treat pal. This weekend the Detroit Symphony Orchestra is hosting an orchestral tribute to one of rock’s most notorious bands: Journey. The beauty of this performance is set to make sure you’re the one who’s crying now. The event begins at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with a 3 p.m. Sunday performance as well.
Or, if you just felt there wasn’t enough grit in your meal this week, New Orleans native Jay Electronica is slated to perform alongside Detroit heavy hitter Boldy James this Saturday in Pontiacand you’re not going to want to miss this.These two emcees are making history this weekend, and I don’t need to give you Exhibit A through C to show you that it’d be pitiful of you to skip out. The concert is set to begin at 7 p.m.
Support local journalism.
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WDET reporters have been visiting the city since March, getting to know Highland Park, its history, and its people. These conversations are part of our Crossing the Lines series, which explores what unites and divides metro Detroit as a region.
Highland Park is a city within a city, an enclave of Detroit. At its peak, more than 45,000 people lived in Highland Park, mostly auto workers. Ford and Chrysler called the city home for years. When they moved out, people left in droves. Today, the population is less than 9,000.
One person who stayed is Glenda McDonald. She came to Highland Park as a child in the 1970s and still lives in the city. Voters elected her mayor in 2022.
WDET’s Pat Batcheller spoke with the mayor about her life in Highland Park and her efforts to make the city better.
Listen: A conversation with Highland Park’s mayor
People, not borders, define the city.
Pat Batcheller: How has Highland Park managed to survive as a city despite enormous financial challenges?
Mayor Glenda McDonald: It’s a place where you come and you’re in a neighborhood, but it’s also a city, so everybody in the city rallies around each other, supports each other. We get our support from our partners, Wayne County, the state of Michigan, and others. And they continue to believe in the city, just like I know that right now, I’m believing in this city, and we’re going to move forward, and it’s going to continue to grow.
PB: What makes you believe in it?
GM: I believe because I’ve been here, I saw what the possibilities are, and I know the endless possibilities for Highland Park. You don’t find a place like this, like the housing stock is 100 years old and it’s still standing and they are beautiful. You don’t find neighbors and community the way you do here. This is one community, and that’s what I use as one of my models, is we are one community, even though it’s 2.9 square miles. I know a person on every single street here. You can’t find it in Detroit because it’s so large.
PB: So, it’s not just the borders that define the city, that make it unique?
GM: It’s the people. The people make it unique. It’s hard to explain that we love each other. We take care of each other when it when it’s necessary, and then also we can disagree with each other and move forward and continue to move forward.
Grow the tax base
PB: No city can survive long without a stable tax base at a stable population. As mayor, what are you doing to keep businesses and residents that you already have here and then attract new ones?
GM: One is to make sure that everybody knows that they’re loved and needed here. That’s one thing we have to do is to make sure that people in those businesses and in this community understand we are a people of unity. And you know, we have to make sure that they all already know, that they’re doing a service for folks that some other people are not willing to do.
And a lot of people stay here because they just love the space, they love the area. They love the fact that Highland Park is just a small community.
Yes, our budget is low right now, but it’s not going to always be that way, and that’s the hope for the future. And people that stay here know that there’s a future.
Fix the infrastructure
PB: Tell me about some of the work that’s going on in Highland Park.
GM: We’re replacing every lead line in this city. We were blessed to get some appropriations from the State of Michigan, and they are having us replace every single lead line in the city. Some of them were over 100 years old. Some were wood. There was, at one time, a lead problem, but there’s not anymore. We have our testing, and our testing show that there’s not lead in the water so. But it’s inevitable that [the lead lines] need to come up, because there’s popping going on.
You know, we have water main breaks, like every other city. And so, at this moment, it’s a great thing to be able to change. And that will help businesses come here, because they didn’t want to come to a failing infrastructure that they would have to replace on their own. Right now, it’s being replaced.
It’s a good opportunity for everyone to come now and start the developments that they would like to see, to start the growth of Highland Park again, get in on the ground floor and be the beacon of light for Highland Park.
A sign breaks down the city of Highland Parks water main replacement project.
PB: This was something that you’d been going back and forth with the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) for years. You were looking, as I recall, at the prospect of maybe having to go through bankruptcy if you couldn’t work all that out.
You did make a deal. As you mentioned, the state came in with $100 million to help pay off not only the debt [to GLWA], but to fix the root cause of the problems. If you had not been able to secure that money, would Highland Park still exist?
GM: I think it would. I mean, we’re resilient. If we couldn’t go in directions that we needed to go, we could always find another direction. We have been surviving now with this water situation for 20 years. It’s been ongoing and ongoing, and I decided, and along with my team, we’re going to put an end to it right here in some kind of way. And so we got that tentative agreement taken care of.
We’re working with the state. We’re working with GLWA, and hopefully we’ll continue that moving forward. I would say that I would have used whatever was necessary for us to do, to survive in Highland Park, to stay alive.
The state took over in 2001
PB: Going back the beginning of the century, the state appointed an emergency manager for the city that lasted about eight years and then state returned control. That fixed some of the immediate problems, but it didn’t really fix all of the financial difficulties. What did the state get wrong?
GM: Emergency management! I mean, I think the biggest issue we had was that eliminating the things that brought people to the city or kept people here caused a flight. And that would be a reason for the decline of revenues.
So, I think if it should have been a different plan of, how do we keep people in the city? What do we do to make sure that the children, the working-class people, the seniors, and everyone else benefit from what we’re about to do? And I didn’t see a benefit in that. I think that especially closing our library, that has been a devastating point for the city of Highland Park.
PB: What kind of shape is the [McGregor Library] in after being closed this long?
GM: Well, we did have an evaluation done, and there are some things that need to be done to it, to get it back in place. And it will take some doing. But it’s not impossible to do.
Attract business
PB: Do you have any businesses coming in in the near future?
GM: Yes, we have, I think, three that’s going to be opening up by the summer. One, there’s a coffee shop coming. Two, there’s going to be a restaurant, and three, there’s going to be a juicing bar, all coming in the same building. One of our developers has a building that has a mixed use at the bottom, and he’s starting to rent it out. So there will be spaces there for them and other businesses that are in the queue.
Here to stay
PB: You say you’ve been here since you were 11. Why did you stay when so many other people left?
GM: Why should I leave? That’s the question. I mean, I own my home. I raised my children here. They were born here in Highland Park. Well, they were born in hospitals, but they grew up here, and it’s beautiful place to me.
It’s the people. You can’t match the people here that stay in Highland Park. They’re resilient, they’re loving, they’re kind, and we take care of each other. Like I said, we have our issues sometimes, but all in all, we love Highland Park, and I love Highland Park.
My children have started to convince me to leave for years, and I will not. I don’t want to go to Atlanta. I don’t want to go to North Carolina. I don’t want to go to where they are. I want to stay right here in the city that raised me and bring it back to where it should be so future generations can feel the same way I feel when they’ve been here 54 years.
Highland Park City Hall sits on Woodward Ave.
PB: What gives you pride in Highland Park?
GM: Everything. The people, the places, the possibility. I have a connection to every aspect of the city, the industry, the auto industry, everything like that, is something that has been a part of my life since I’ve been here. The schools, bringing back the school system, Highland Park Public School System, and we’re still working with the charter system that we have.
We are people who believe in in good things. We are people who believe that things are possible. And I’m one of those people that believes that things are possible if you just put your mind to it. It’s a challenge, but it’s a good challenge. As long as I live here, I’m going to do whatever I have to do to try to make sure that the city survives.
What happens in Detroit affects Highland Park
PB: Even though Highland Park and Detroit are different cities, their fates seem to be intertwined. The things that happen in Detroit have an effect here. We do now see some things, some progress in Detroit. Do you hope that Highland Park will benefit from that?
GM: I know it will. We’re the next leg of the development chain they have developed from Woodward downtown all the way up to the north end in Detroit. And when you’re the nucleus of a large city—and we call ourselves the capital of Detroit because we sit right in the middle—everything affects us. Because you can’t go to Pontiac without coming through Highland Park, leaving from downtown. Even coming through a freeway, you’re going to enter Highland Park off of Chrysler. You’re going to enter Highland Park off the Lodge. You’re going to be connected to the Davidson, which was the first freeway.
We have a connection that is like a bond. What affects them affect us, and that’s why we need to be working together to make sure that every aspect of this is healed, and Highland Park needs to be healed, and that’s what I see for it. I see a healing coming.
PB: Why wouldn’t being physically part of Detroit foster that healing.
GM: Blasphemy! I had to clutch my pearls. I’m sorry [laughs]. Because then it wouldn’t be Highland Park. Most people in Highland Park do not claim Detroit.
I love Detroit. Don’t get me wrong, I go to visit there. But if it’s just looking at Detroit, then you’re missing out on the opportunity to see what Highland Park has to offer, what Hamtramck has to offer. And I’m not advocate. You know, I love Hamtramck too, but my city has a lot to offer, and you miss out on that.
Everywhere I travel, the first thing they say is, “where are you from?” I said, “Highland Park.” “Oh, you’re from Detroit?” “No, I’m from Highland Park. And you need to look that up.”
PB: So, sell me. If I’m looking for a place, either to open a business or perhaps buy a home, what does Highland Park have to offer?
GM: Highland Park has a lot to offer. We have two corridors that are ripe for the picking right now to run a business. You have Woodward Avenue. There’s over 100,000 people who travel up and down Woodward Avenue every single day. And then you have Hamilton Avenue, which is what we used to call the antique row. We had all of these small businesses, and we’re building back that. We have a lot of people ready to build up on Hamilton.
Our housing stock here is one of the best in the country. We have had people travel from across the country to come buy houses. When we’re selling in the auction, we get people from California, from everywhere, who has done the research about Highland Park and the stock here, and why you can’t beat this. For the price of a house that you get here, you’re going to take that house and pick it up and put it in California, and it’s going to be $500,000 to almost $1 million.
So yes, you have to come here. You have to check out what we have. As far as housing stock, it’s amazing. It’s beautiful. We have Craftsmen houses. I live in a Craftsman bungalow. Those houses are very unique. We have Tudors, we have Colonials, we have a variety of housing here. We even have ranches and smaller ones, but they are here. So that’s the uniqueness of Highland Park. There’s every type of house that you imagine.
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May 15
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