detroit news

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has acknowledged the Trump administration's contribution to reducing crime in Detroit through established partnerships with federal law enforcement agencies. In a CNN interview, Duggan specifically credited Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon for increasing federal prosecutors and enhancing support for gun violence initiatives. These comments sparked criticism after being summarized by media as Duggan crediting the Trump administration for Detroit's historic crime drop. Detroit has been recognized as a national leader in utilizing federal investments for police work, including $4.2 million in ARP funding for helicopter acquisition and upgrades.

A proposed constitutional amendment by 482 Forward aims to increase school funding by implementing an additional 5% tax on high-income earners - specifically on annual taxable income over $1 million for joint filers and $500,000 for single filers. The initiative faces opposition from business groups like the Detroit Regional Chamber, which argues the tax would harm economic competitiveness and small businesses. Though the Board of State Canvassers initially approved the petition language, they later rescinded approval, resulting in a deadlock at a subsequent meeting over concerns about fund allocation. Despite legal challenges claiming their signatures are invalid, 482 Forward continues gathering signatures and remains confident their petition language will ultimately be approved.

Detroit recently launched the Emerald Alert system to address gaps in existing missing persons notification systems, successfully finding four missing individuals on its first day of operation. The new system works through the city's existing 365 Alerts network to send notifications for high-risk missing persons cases that don't qualify for Amber Alerts, including vulnerable children, those with special needs, and suspected non-domestic kidnappings. Created following the tragic disappearance of 13-year-old Na'Ziyah Harris in 2024, the system represents Detroit's response to longstanding concerns that missing Black residents didn't receive adequate attention. The Emerald Alert system sends text notifications and push alerts with descriptions of missing individuals and a dedicated tipline number to help mobilize community assistance.

Detroit recently implemented the Emerald Alert system to help locate vulnerable missing persons, which was successfully used for the first time to find 74-year-old Marjorie Louise Brown Kilpatrick and three teenage girls. Introduced by Council President Mary Sheffield and Police Chief Todd Bettison, the system addresses cases that don't meet Amber Alert criteria, including missing children under 10, persons with special needs, non-domestic kidnappings, and suspected foul play situations. The City Council allocated $80,000 in surplus funding to enhance the Detroit Police Department's 2025-26 budget specifically for a personal alert program focused on disabled residents prone to going missing. The Emerald Alert system sends notifications to subscribers of Detroit's existing 365 Alerts system, providing a critical resource for locating vulnerable missing people quickly.

Detroit City FC is pursuing a $192 million development in Corktown that includes a new soccer stadium, parking garage, and housing units. The project is unusual because it would be privately owned and pay property taxes, unlike other professional sports venues in Detroit. As part of Detroit's community benefits process, a neighborhood advisory council of residents will negotiate local investments in exchange for tax breaks that require City Council approval. Some residents have already expressed concerns about the impact area boundaries and potential neighborhood disruptions, while project developers emphasize community connections and economic benefits for Southwest Detroit.

The Gilbert Family Foundation is investing $4 million to strengthen Black-led businesses and community developers in Detroit, with funds split between Black Leaders Detroit ($2.1 million) and the Michigan Black Business Alliance ($2 million). This investment, announced during National Black Business Month, aims to create economic opportunities for historically underserved communities and is part of a larger $500 million commitment over ten years that began in 2021. BLD will expand their Building Fund which provides no-interest loans to Black developers working on residential projects, while MBBA will enhance programs like their Global Growth Accelerator to help second-stage businesses scale operations. These initiatives reflect the foundation's commitment to creating a more inclusive economic environment where Black entrepreneurs can thrive and contribute to Detroit's revitalization.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer marks August as Black Business Month in Michigan, highlighting her administration's ongoing efforts to support Black entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state. Her administration has implemented various initiatives including the Small Business Venture Capital program, which awarded over $40 million to connect tech startups with capital, and the MI Economic Opportunity Fund, a $10 million microloan program targeting women and entrepreneurs of color. The governor emphasizes efforts to reduce regulatory burdens for small businesses, including recent legislation benefiting small distillers and mixed spirit manufacturers. Michigan's business-friendly environment has earned it recognition as a top 10 state for business by CNBC for three consecutive years, though Governor Whitmer acknowledges more work remains to be done.

The article explores the critical importance of African-centered education for Black students in Detroit through the personal journey of Tiffany Brockington, who attended Nataki Talibah Schoolhouse. This school, founded by Carmen N'Namdi in 1978, was designed to counter Eurocentric curricula by intentionally weaving African history, cultural pride, and community responsibility into all subject areas. Data shows fewer than 20% of Michigan public schools offer structured African American history courses before high school, creating an educational environment where Black heritage is treated as optional rather than foundational. Brockington's experience demonstrates how culturally affirming education empowered her with confidence and purpose, ultimately leading her to become an educator and doctoral candidate focused on developing community-based educational programs.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has received endorsements from over 200 current and former elected officials from across Michigan for his independent gubernatorial campaign. This diverse coalition, which Duggan's campaign claims is the largest for any gubernatorial candidate in the race, includes Republicans, Democrats, and Independents from communities throughout the state. Duggan, who left the Democratic Party last year, states he's running as an independent to end "toxic partisanship" in Lansing and fix Michigan's education system. His campaign has also attracted support from eight unions representing more than 25,000 members, over 150 faith leaders, and the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The 2025 Game Changer Classic, a fundraising event benefiting First Tee - Greater Detroit (FTGD), will be held on August 25, 2025, at Wabeek Country Club in Oakland County. FTGD is a nonprofit organization that utilizes golf to teach essential life skills to young people, including leadership, communication, and resilience. The event will feature a full day of activities beginning with check-in at 8 a.m., followed by golf, an awards ceremony, and a dinner reception. Wabeek Country Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye, represents a strategic new venue for the fundraiser which serves as one of FTGD's primary fundraising events.

The Detroit City Council race in District 6 pits State Rep. Tyrone Carter, a former law enforcement official with decades of legislative experience, against incumbent Gabriela Santiago-Romero, a Democratic Socialist and the council's only Hispanic member. The contest highlights Democratic Party divisions, with Carter drawing support from older, moderate Black residents while Santiago-Romero appeals to Hispanic voters and is backed by grassroots and labor groups. Their most significant policy difference involves campaign financing, with Santiago-Romero refusing corporate PAC money while Carter has accepted funds from corporations like DTE Energy and Marathon Petroleum. Southwest Detroit's District 6 has a majority Latino population (57.2%), followed by African Americans (23.6%) and whites (16.9%).

Marshalls Good Stuff Social Club hosted a day-long event at BasBlue in Detroit on August 9th, curated by Amber Lewis of Social N The City, with Black women as the central focus. The event featured various educational sessions including financial guidance from Vivian Tu ("Your Rich BFF"), who explained debt management strategies like the snowball and avalanche methods, as well as a business panel featuring artists like Destinee Rose. Additional activities included a DJ-backed speed networking session led by BasBlue's Liza Gordon and a creative self-portrait workshop called "A Portrait of Confidence" facilitated by Lauren Hom and Rachael Renae. The comprehensive experience included personalized color analysis, food from women-led culinary teams, and Marshalls gift bags, creating what the author describes as "a love letter to self-worth."

The $75 million Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park is set to open in Detroit on October 25-26, 2023, after three and a half years of construction, creating a 22-acre riverfront destination. The park opening coincides with the completion of a new boardwalk section that will allow uninterrupted travel along nearly five miles of the Detroit River. Designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates with architectural elements by Sir David Adjaye, the park features four major attractions: the William Davidson Sport House, Delta Dental Play Garden, Huron-Clinton Metroparks Water Garden, and the DTE Foundation Summit. Despite financial challenges following an embezzlement scandal, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation provided critical funding to keep construction on schedule, with the park now approximately 90% complete.

Focus: Hope, a Detroit nonprofit founded in 1968, is facing a major crisis after losing $6 million in federal Head Start funding with no explanation from the federal government. This unexpected cut will terminate early childhood education programs serving four Detroit ZIP codes (48202, 48206, 48211, and 48238), eliminate at least 90 jobs, and leave hundreds of children and families without crucial services. The organization has already furloughed 45 staff members and laid off an additional 50 employees as a result of this funding loss. CEO Portia Roberson suggests the cuts may be related to broader Trump administration efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, though no official reason has been provided.

Council Member Angela Whitfield-Calloway is facing potential consequences after her taxpayer-funded newsletter included campaign solicitations from Police Commissioner Linda Bernard, who is seeking re-election as a write-in candidate. Reverend Lucious Conway, a competing candidate, has filed multiple complaints and a lawsuit alleging improper use of public resources for campaign purposes. The Michigan Bureau of Elections determined Whitfield-Calloway violated rules by using the government communication platform GovDelivery to distribute campaign messages, though she claims it was an unintentional oversight. The Board of Ethics will hear Conway's complaint at their August 20 meeting while the Bureau of Elections continues its investigation.

Michigan transportation officials have paused the I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project, a $500+ million plan to replace a Detroit freeway with a surface boulevard that was intended to reconnect neighborhoods divided by the original 1964 construction. The Michigan Department of Transportation cited rising costs, durability concerns, and public opposition as reasons for delaying the project that had been scheduled to begin construction this year. The original freeway destroyed the historically Black neighborhoods of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley, displacing over 100,000 residents and erasing hundreds of Black-owned businesses and cultural landmarks. Critics, including Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, argue the current plan lacks genuine commitments to affordable housing, opportunities for descendants of displaced families, and protections for Black-owned businesses that would make the project truly reparative.

The MI Black Student Project's Pipeline 2 Prosperity Initiative (MiBSP) is a comprehensive effort launched by educators, parents, students, and advocates to eliminate barriers to Black student success in Michigan. This initiative encompasses multiple programs including Commission REI, which teaches financial literacy and real estate education, and LIT Summer under Hip Hop 4 Change, both designed to empower Black students academically and economically. MiBSP combines educational interventions with academic research led by scholars like Dr. Erica Edwards and Dr. Rema Vassar from Wayne State University, while also supporting youth-led work through programs such as Students Leading Well. The initiative takes a holistic approach that extends beyond improving test scores to address economic justice and social healing, with research components analyzing literacy proficiency data from 120 Michigan districts to determine effective instructional strategies.

Detroit faces significant economic challenges with high unemployment rates and income disparities, with households earning $31,000 less than the regional average and $45,000 below what a family of four needs to survive. The Detroit Economic Justice Coalition (DEJC) is advocating for policy changes in their 2025 platform to address workforce barriers, including blanket exclusion policies that prevent people with prior convictions from accessing jobs. According to estimates, persistent inequities are costing the Detroit region approximately $28 billion in lost economic activity annually. The author, Margrit Allen, Director of Workforce Innovation at a multi-state healthcare system, argues that economic justice initiatives are not just moral imperatives but practical solutions for business growth and talent retention.

Detroit's primary election on Tuesday saw a smooth voting process with a 16.9% turnout (85,971 voters), an improvement from 14% four years ago. City Council President Mary Sheffield emerged as the frontrunner in the mayoral race, securing 50.82% of votes, while Pastor Solomon Kinloch finished second with 17%. The election will reshape the City Council with new representatives coming to Districts 5 and 7, where candidates including Denzel McCampbell, State Rep. Karen Whitsett, Willie Burton, and Renata Miller advanced to the November general election. Despite Sheffield's strong showing, the 42,399 voters who chose other candidates represent potential support that Kinloch will need to target before the general election.

Tiffany J. Gunter has been appointed as the new General Manager of the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) following Dwight A. Ferrell's departure on August 1 after four years of service. Gunter, who previously served as SMART's Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, brings over 20 years of expertise in transportation, urban planning, and public policy to the role. The SMART board unanimously selected her for her collaborative leadership style, strategic insight, and deep community connections in Southeast Michigan. Under Ferrell's leadership, SMART expanded service routes, modernized infrastructure, and improved rider satisfaction, with Gunter now positioned to build on this progress while addressing broader issues of racial equity, climate resilience, and economic access.

Detroit's mayoral primary election has narrowed the field to Council President Mary Sheffield, who led with 51% of the vote (43,572 ballots), and Pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr., who secured second place with 17% (14,893 votes). Sheffield's campaign successfully combined digital communication with grassroots organizing and substantial labor support, raising approximately $1.3 million—more than double any other candidate. Kinloch leveraged his leadership at Triumph Church and crucial endorsement from the United Auto Workers (UAW), focusing on movement-building and values-based messaging rather than large-scale media campaigns. The two candidates will now advance to the general election, representing contrasting leadership approaches—Sheffield's legislative experience versus Kinloch's community and faith-based organizing.

Detroit's August 5, 2025 primary election saw alarmingly low voter participation, with only about 15% of the city's 518,000 registered voters casting ballots. This continues a troubling trend of declining civic engagement, dropping even below the already low 22% turnout recorded in 2021. Despite having multiple candidates in the mayoral race, including established politicians like Mary Sheffield and Fred Durhal III alongside newcomers such as Pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. and Todd Perkins, most eligible voters chose not to participate. The dismal turnout reflects deeper issues of voter disillusionment, with many Detroiters feeling their votes make little difference as persistent problems like crime, housing instability, and economic inequality remain unresolved.

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield led the mayoral primary with 51.2% of the vote, while Senior Pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. secured second place with 17.6%, advancing both candidates to the November 4 general election. Sheffield holds a significant fundraising advantage, having raised $1.3 million compared to Kinloch's $408,000. The election represents a choice between Sheffield's legislative experience and policy background versus Kinloch's faith-based community leadership approach. This election is particularly significant as it will determine who succeeds Mayor Mike Duggan and could potentially result in Detroit's first Black woman mayor.

As Detroit approaches local elections with candidates vying for the city's top seat, the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 2025, holds special significance. The Detroit Public Library is commemorating this milestone with a presentation by Amber Mitchell, Curator of Black History at The Henry Ford, about the historic Jackson Home from Selma, Alabama, which was relocated to The Henry Ford campus in 2024. This historic home, where civil rights leaders like Dr. King strategized before the Selma to Montgomery marches, will open to the public at Greenfield Village in June 2026. The anniversary serves as both a celebration of progress and a reminder of ongoing challenges to voting rights, particularly as Detroit residents prepare to elect new leadership in a city with deep ties to the Civil Rights Movement.

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield has emerged as the leading candidate in the mayoral primary election, securing 52% of votes with 72% of precincts reporting. She will advance to the November 4 general election alongside senior pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr., who received 17.3% of votes. The winner will become Detroit's first new mayor since Mike Duggan took office in 2014, with Sheffield potentially becoming the city's first Black woman mayor in its 324-year history. The election comes during a major transition for Detroit government, with every City Council seat also up for grabs following redistricting.

The inaugural Lomas Brown Jr. Golf Classic at the Country Club of Detroit raised $268,700 for The Children's Foundation and the Lomas Brown Jr. Foundation, attracting NFL legends and community supporters. The sold-out event, presented by WJR AM 760 and sponsored by Ford Motor Company, continues the fundraising legacy of the Paul W. Smith Golf Classic that supported Detroit-area youth programs for over two decades. Notable attendees included NFL Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, alongside numerous Detroit Lions alumni, participating in golf, a reception, and a fundraising auction featuring custom golf carts. The funds will support children's health, education, and enrichment programs throughout Southeast Michigan, with a second annual event already scheduled for July 13, 2026.

Detroit faces a significant political transition in 2025 with its first mayoral election in over a decade, alongside every City Council seat, city clerk, and Board of Police Commissioners position being contested. The election comes at a critical time as remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds—less than $100 million of Detroit's original $826 million allocation—must be allocated before they expire next year. Despite the importance of these races, voter turnout has been concerningly low in recent elections, with just 24% participation in 2021's mayoral race and only 18% in 2023's citywide races. Detroiters have multiple voting options available, including early voting from July 26 to August 4 for the primary and October 25 to November 3 for the general election, with the primary scheduled for August 5 and the general election for November 4.

Detroit faces a pivotal election year in 2025 with every major city leadership position on the ballot, including a new mayor for the first time in over a decade, all City Council seats, city clerk, and seven Board of Police Commissioners positions. The election coincides with the final allocation of Detroit's remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, with less than $100 million left of the original $826 million received. Despite the significance of these elections that directly impact housing, public safety, education, and infrastructure, Detroit has struggled with low voter turnout—just 24% in the 2021 mayoral election and 18% in 2023 citywide races. Multiple voting options are available to residents including early voting from July 26 to August 4 for the primary and October 25 to November 3 for the general election, along with absentee voting and same-day registration.

The race for Michigan's governorship in 2026 is shaping up to be highly competitive as term-limited Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer cannot seek reelection. The Democratic primary features Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and others, while the Republican field includes Representative John James and several former state officials. Adding complexity to the race, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is running as an independent candidate in what is expected to be one of the closest gubernatorial contests in 2026. Michigan remains a crucial swing state with a history of alternating between Democratic and Republican governors, having supported different parties in recent elections with very narrow margins.

This sponsored article by JPMorganChase offers comprehensive advice for affordable summer travel during what is typically the most expensive travel season. The guidance includes starting a vacation fund by cutting unnecessary expenses and leveraging credit card travel rewards to offset costs. The article recommends strategic timing approaches such as traveling during shoulder seasons and booking flights approximately two months in advance, while also suggesting money-saving alternatives like exploring lesser-known destinations, using public transportation, and taking advantage of free or discounted attractions. For those with tighter budgets, the article proposes staycations, day trips, and visits to state or national parks as enriching yet economical alternatives.