Taxes, trucks and teen spaces top Gabriela Santiago-Romero’s priority list

May 4, 2026

Detroit City Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero is advocating for tax reform to diversify the city's revenue sources, particularly through implementing taxes on sports stadiums and entertainment venues or a local sales tax. Studies suggest these measures could generate between $14-71 million annually, reducing Detroit's reliance on property taxes while drawing income from visitors rather than just residents. Santiago-Romero is also working on several district-specific initiatives including enforcing truck traffic restrictions, improving language access services for residents with limited English proficiency, and creating better public spaces for youth.

Who is affected

Detroit residents, particularly those struggling with property tax burdens
Workers at sports stadiums and entertainment venues who work multiple jobs
Southwest Detroit District 6 residents
Approximately 7,655 Detroit households with limited English proficiency
Detroit youth seeking safe recreational spaces
Immigrants and those concerned about ICE operations
Residents in Districts 3, 4, 6, and 7 affected by commercial truck traffic
Visitors to Detroit sports and entertainment venues who would pay new taxes

What action is being taken

Santiago-Romero is promoting tax reform concepts at the Mackinac Policy Conference this month
A $550,000 pilot truck traffic enforcement unit is starting July 1 in District 6
The city's Civil Rights Inclusion and Opportunity Department (CRIO) is working to implement language access services
Conversations are taking place about the capacity and structure of CRIO and the immigrant affairs office
Detroit Police Department is following procedures regarding ICE detainer requests signed by judges
Mayor Sheffield's administration is studying tax reform options

Why it matters

Detroit is a rare outlier among major cities in not collecting revenue from its numerous sports and entertainment venues, potentially missing out on tens of millions of dollars annually that could reduce the property tax burden on struggling residents. The city's heavy reliance on property taxes and state revenue sharing limits its fiscal flexibility and places disproportionate financial strain on residents rather than capturing revenue from visitors and tourists. Diversifying revenue sources through stadium taxes or local sales taxes could provide funding for essential services, youth programs, language access, and infrastructure improvements while making Detroit's tax structure more equitable. The current political climate appears favorable toward Detroit, creating a potential window of opportunity for constitutional amendments that would normally be difficult to achieve.

What's next

Santiago-Romero will attend the Mackinac Policy Conference this month to advocate for tax reform
The truck traffic enforcement pilot unit will begin operations on July 1
Santiago-Romero plans to push for budget allocations next year specifically for youth spaces and environments, not just programming
The city will conduct "significant community engagement" to get resident feedback on potential tax options before pursuing any specific proposal
Conversations will continue about where language access responsibilities should be housed between CRIO and the immigrant affairs office

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com