Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan delivered his final State of the City address Tuesday night, speaking to an invitation-only crowd at the new Hudson’s development in downtown Detroit.

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Duggan spent much of the speech reviewing the city’s successes over the past decade, and focused on some highlights of the past year — such as the lowest homicide rate since 1965 and growth in Detroit’s population for the first time since 1957.   

One of the big challenges for the Duggan administration was the need to eliminate abandoned homes.  There were 47,000 at the start of his tenure.  Last night, he predicted that by the end of the year there would only be 1,000 abandoned homes left in Detroit. 

“Detroit’s biggest battle for the last 12 years has been the neighborhoods, and the 47,000 abandoned houses. I thought we could bring every neighborhood back, and we started by demolishing at rates faster than anybody in the country. But to me the real test wasn’t how many we could knock down…but how many we could save,” he said.

Duggan credited much of the city’s turnaround to the ability of city leaders to work together, instead of fighting and blaming each other for existing problems. Duggan announced late last year that he would not seek a fourth term as mayor of Detroit.

In January, he declared his intentions to run for governor of Michigan – not as a democrat or a Republican – but as an independent. He’s been making stops in different corners of the state since then. 

Other headlines for Wednesday, March 26, 2025: 

• Detroit attorney Todd Perkins has sent out information saying he’ll formally announce the beginning of his campaign for mayor next week.
• Gas prices remain steady in metro Detroit, with AAA Michigan reporting the average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded is $3.10 — the same as it was a week ago. Prices did jump over the past couple of weeks.  Industry analysts say that price increase was due to higher gasoline demand as Americans travel for spring break.
• March Madness continues to capture the attention of metro Detroiters — especially with the state’s two largest universities — University of Michigan and Michigan State — still in contention for a national championship.

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

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan will give his final State of the City address on Tuesday from inside the new development at Hudson’s Detroit.

Duggan will not be seeking reelection as mayor of Detroit in 2025. Instead, the longtime Democrat is making a bid for Michigan’s next governor in 2026, running as an independent.

The State of the City address will begin at 7 p.m. Watch the livestream below or tune in to 101.9 FM WDET.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is set to give his final State of the City address on Tuesday.

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

Duggan announced in November of last year that he would not seek reelection as mayor of Detroit in 2025. A month later, the longtime Democrat made an announcement that he’s making a bid for Michigan’s next governor as an independent.

Duggan says much has changed since he delivered his first State of the City speech in 2014, as Detroit fought to exit bankruptcy.

“I asked Detroiters ‘Please stay.’ Our families were moving out at the rate of a thousand a month and they had been for years,” he said. “The homeowners have gained $4.6 billion, and it was the people who stayed who benefited the most.”

Duggan argues the rise in home values counters criticism that investment in the city has left Detroit’s neighborhoods behind.

But he’ll address residents from inside the Hudson’s Detroit skyscraper — one in a series of new developments dotting the city’s downtown.

The Michigan gubernatorial election is in November 2026.

The State of the City address will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Visit wdet.org to watch a live stream of Duggan’s speech.

Other headlines for Monday, March 24, 2025:

• Michigan libraries are preparing for cuts as the Trump Administration slashes federal funding for agencies. In a recent executive order, President Trump has called for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Money from the institute supports Michigan’s library databases, media collections, programming, local technology, and other community services. 
  
• If you are looking for a new casual neighborhood bar, look no further than Dirty Shake. The establishment has opened in Detroit’s Midtown at Forest and Second avenues. The bar was opened by the award-winning team behind Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails, Freya, Dragonfly and the Oakland.
• We are still in the madness of March and the Wolverines and Spartans are headed to the sweet 16. The University of Michigan came back against Texas A& M in a 91-79 win. Their next game is against No. 1 seeded Auburn on March 28 at 9:30 p.m. And Michigan State’s defense led them to a 71-63 win over New Mexico. They’re next game is against Ole Miss on March 28 as well. Tip off is at 7:30 p.m.

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