The tax could generate between $42 and $72 million a year, but that is only 5% or less of the city’s budget, the report states.
The 59-page report, “Evaluating a Local-Option Sales Tax Policy for Detroit,” was produced at the request of the Detroit City Council’s Legislative Policy Division, which asked the nonpartisan research group to examine “innovative ways to increase city revenues” without “placing an undue burden on its residents.”
The Citizens Research Council says the revenue from a local tax would be limited, and the barriers to adopt it would be significant.
“While the path to adopting a local sales tax option for Michigan’s local governments is daunting,” the report argues that broader access to local taxes could improve the fiscal health of large cities and counties.
Detroit already has multiple local taxes, including a city income tax, casino wagering taxes, and utility surcharges, in addition to county and state levies.
“Because of the layering of all these taxes, many of which are levied at the highest (or among the highest) rates in the state, Detroit residents are among the highest taxed in the state,” the report states.
Even estimating what Detroit could raise is complicated, the report says, because Michigan does not track sales tax collections by city and because visitor spending is hard to measure.
The Citizens Research Council used two main approaches. One relies on household retail spending estimates. Detroiters spend $16,727 per household on retail goods, which would translate to about $167 per household under a 1% tax. Multiplied across 253,207 households, that comes to $42.4 million annually.
The other approach attempts to capture a wider range of taxable activity beyond retail goods. Under that approach, the Citizens Research Council estimates that a local sales tax of 1% could raise nearly $72 million annually.
Even if Detroit’s leaders decided the money is worth it, the report says a local sales tax would require major state action first.
“Authorizing a local sales tax in Michigan will require amending the state Constitution, adopting state statutes authorizing local sales and use taxes, the local governing body to enact an ordinance, and voter approval of a new tax,” the report states.
Because so many purchases now happen online, the report says a local sales tax would probably need to be collected and managed at the state level.
Madhu Anderson, the report’s author and a senior research associate for local affairs at the Citizens Research Council, said that the path of adopting a local sales tax “is daunting” and that the research suggests it “may be better suited to be levied at the county or regional levels to maximize potential revenue and minimize potential economic disruptions.”
The report says the city is working to raise service levels in the years following bankruptcy, while also planning for major obligations ahead.
“The City of Detroit is reviewing potential local option taxes to raise city revenues to improve city services and address needs it anticipates in the future,” the report states, citing efforts to put services “on par with surrounding communities,” make pension payments that are again “a city responsibility after a 10-year hiatus,” and “capture economic benefits from growth in visitor activity downtown.”
The Citizens Research Council notes that the state’s municipal finance structure relies heavily on property taxes that are limited by state law. The report points out that local governments in Michigan have “few options to levy local taxes,” which can be especially punishing in communities with weaker tax bases.
For now, the report does not urge Detroit to race toward a ballot proposal to raise the sales tax. It leaves city and state leaders to decide whether an additional $42 million to $72 million a year is worth pursuing a constitutional amendment, new statutes, a local ordinance, and a citywide vote, while also trying to avoid pushing residents and shoppers to lower tax areas.
Mary Sheffield, a political phenom whose rise began when she was elected to Detroit City Council at age 26, made history Thursday when she was sworn in as the city’s first woman mayor.
In her first one-on-one interview since taking office, Sheffield spoke with Metro Times about making history as Detroit’s first woman mayor, how she wants residents to judge her success, the balance between downtown development and neighborhood needs, and the priorities she plans to tackle in her first term. She also opened up about her recent marriage and her relationship with God.
Sheffield’s inauguration marks the start of a new era in city government, ending a 324-year stretch in which men led Detroit.
Now 38, Sheffield has become a popular figure in city politics by promoting progressive values, advocating for racial equality, and championing policies aimed at narrowing the economic divide.
Sheffield won the general election with 77% of the vote in November, delivering a decisive mandate for a platform centered on equity, neighborhood investment, and structural reforms designed to improve residents’ quality of life.
She now faces daunting and serious challenges. Nearly half of Detroit’s children live in poverty, many neighborhoods continue to struggle with basic resources and disinvestment, and the city has seen a continued exodus of Black residents even as downtown has flourished.
Sheffield’s rise has been rapid and historic. In November 2013, Sheffield was 26 years old when she became the youngest person ever elected to Detroit City Council. She later became the council’s youngest president.
During her tenure on the council, Sheffield has become a leading advocate for affordable housing, tenants’ rights, neighborhood development, property tax reform, and environmental justice, often pushing back against large tax incentives for wealthy developers and calling for investment strategies that more directly benefit longtime Detroiters.
Sheffield succeeds Mike Duggan, who did not seek reelection after three terms and is now running for governor as an independent.
Metro Times: Yesterday, you became Detroit’s first woman mayor. What does that milestone mean to you personally, and what do you hope it means to women and girls growing up in the city?
Mayor Mary Sheffield: I think it means leadership has no gender, no age limit, and no ceiling. And for women, especially Black women, it affirms that our voices, our experiences, and our ideas belong at the highest levels of decision-making. I’ve watched so many young girls follow me throughout this campaign who feel inspired and empowered, and that’s what I’ve always wanted my leadership to reflect. It’s an indication to dream big, to work hard, and to know that we can all achieve what we put our minds to.
I also think it’s a powerful moment as it relates to attracting and retaining youth in Detroit. Hopefully this is an inspiration and motivation to want to be in Detroit. There are so many young professionals who I believe are encouraged and inspired to stay and come back to the city as well.
Metro Times: You became the youngest person ever elected to City Council at 26 and later the youngest council president. What has driven you, at such a young age, to serve?
Mayor Sheffield: It all goes back to my childhood. My life was really molded by service. It’s all I know. My father [Rev. Horace Sheffield III] was a civil rights activist and preacher, and my mother [Yvonne Lovett] was an educator at Wayne County Community College District and a professor of nursing. Both of them showed me that life is really all about serving.
Detroit is a city that shaped me and molded me into who I am. When I got into office at 26, I didn’t know I would have the impact I had in terms of legislative accomplishments, but it motivated me to understand how important these positions are in directly changing quality of life. Detroit has made tremendous progress, but there are still needs. That inspired me to continue serving now as mayor, to elevate the issues that matter to Detroiters and ensure that Detroit’s resurgence goes deeper into our neighborhoods.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield succeeds Mike Duggan, who led the city since 2014.
Metro Times: When Mike Duggan was first elected in 2013, he said residents could judge his success by whether Detroit’s population increased. Is there a similar benchmark you want Detroiters to use to judge your administration?
Mayor Sheffield: For me, it’s really about overall quality of life. Whether that’s directing more money into our neighborhoods, making Detroit the best place to grow and start a business, creating more jobs, increasing incomes. I don’t think it’s one singular thing.
I want Detroiters to be able to say their quality of life is better because of this administration. That their neighborhood has investment. That their street lights are on. That they were able to access a home repair grant. If incomes are increased, mental health is better, and poverty is reduced, those are the things I want to be judged on.
Metro Times: Are there one or two priorities you want residents to see tangible action on in your first year?
Mayor Sheffield: First and foremost, we have to take bold steps around housing. I want to see more development of affordable housing, particularly access to homeownership. Increasing the number of residents who can become homeowners is very important to me.
Neighborhood reforms are also critical — basic infrastructure like sidewalk repairs, dangerous trees, alley cleaning, and overall neighborhood investment. We want to activate additional commercial corridors to support small businesses and bring vibrancy back to neighborhoods. And property tax reform is extremely important. It may take time, but providing relief from Detroit’s high millage rate is a priority.
Metro Times: Is there a neighborhood issue you think City Hall has underestimated or misunderstood for too long?
Mayor Sheffield: For me, it’s about creating a government that directly works for people and is easily accessible. We want to bring government back into the neighborhoods, whether that’s activating rec centers where residents can access city services or creating more community hubs.
There’s always room to improve customer service — how we respond when residents call about sidewalks or vacant buildings. Creating opportunity hubs throughout neighborhoods so people can easily access resources is something we’re committed to improving.
Then-Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield at a charity basketball game in 2023. Credit: City of Detroit
Metro Times: Former Mayor Duggan emphasized art and culture through murals and public projects. How important is it for your administration to continue elevating art and culture?
Mayor Sheffield: It’s extremely important. Arts and culture came up significantly throughout the campaign. We had a committee focused on it and met with many stakeholders. It’s an untapped economic engine that we haven’t fully utilized.
We’re looking at forming an office dedicated to the creative economy and taking mural arts and cultural investment to another level. Arts and culture are part of Detroit’s identity. They beautify neighborhoods, tell our story, and create opportunities for local artists. We want to make sure this work is valued and funded appropriately.
Metro Times: What part of being mayor do you think will be the hardest for you personally?
Mayor Sheffield: I really want to understand and listen to everyone’s perspective. I believe in leading with collaboration and making sure people feel seen, valued, and empowered. In a big city, there are many voices and ideas, and balancing that can be challenging.
Politically, the climate has changed, and we have to do more with less. And as a woman leader, there are different expectations and standards I’ll be judged by. That can be difficult. But I believe I was put here for a reason, and that God will equip me with what I need to serve Detroiters.
Metro Times: What keeps you optimistic about Detroit right now?
Mary Sheffield: The people. I’ve been inspired by the support from corporate leaders, grassroots organizers, faith communities — every sector of the city. There’s a shared belief that Detroit’s best days are ahead.
During the transition alone, we had 18 committees and more than 150 residents and business leaders give their time and expertise. That tells me people are deeply invested in Detroit’s future. No one wants to see this city go backward.
Metro Times: You’re known for progressive leadership and taking positions that weren’t always popular. What do you think people don’t know about you?
Mayor Sheffield: I’m very purpose-driven. I focus a lot on personal development and always trying to be better as a person and a leader. I’m very family-driven, and my relationship with God is central to who I am. I’m always working on improving myself.
Metro Times: You recently got married. Has your relationship with your husband Ricky Jackson Jr. shaped or grounded you as you take on the role of mayor?
Mayor Sheffield: Without a doubt. He brings a lot of stability and peace in the midst of what can be turbulent and chaotic times. He’s an anchor that keeps me grounded. I’m blessed to have someone by my side who shares a deep commitment to the betterment of Detroit. He’s from Detroit, went to Cass Tech, and has a passion for youth and sports. He’s been a true blessing throughout this process.
Metro Times: When things get overwhelming, how do you reset or ground yourself?
Mayor Sheffield: Stillness. Prayer. Being quiet and listening to my intuition. Finding ways to center myself and really listen.
The Detroit City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Living Wage for Musicians Act, a federal proposal introduced by U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Detroit Democrat, to overhaul the way artists are paid for digital streams.
Today, streaming accounts for roughly 84% of all recorded music revenue in the U.S., but artists often earn just fractions of a cent per play, sometimes as little as $0.003 per stream. At that rate, a musician needs more than 800,000 monthly streams to earn the equivalent of a full-time, $15-an-hour job, according to Detroit’s resolution.
Supporters urged the council to join the push for higher streaming royalties, pointing to Detroit’s major influence on music.
Marcus Miller, co-founder of the Creative Union, a group that supports artists, innovators, and entrepreneurs, told council members that the legislation could help Detroit’s creative workforce stay in the city.
“With bills like this, we have the opportunity to keep our talent here for the future and actually make a change, so I’m just inspired,” Miller said. “We honestly can do anything. It’s the most important thing in the world that with every step forward, we make every step together because that’s the only way we’re going to make a difference — through our voice, our shared efforts, through knowing that the only real change comes from the people, for the people, and by the people. And we will see this through.”
Adrian Tonon, co-founder of the Creative Union and Detroit’s former 24-hour economy ambassador, says artists and organizers plan to travel to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the bill.
Tlaib reintroduced the legislation in September with support from working musicians and the United Musicians and Allied Workers union. The bill would create a new royalty stream paid directly to artists, separate from the industry’s existing pro-rata system that often funnels most streaming revenue to the biggest acts and major labels.
Under the proposal, a small surcharge would be added to streaming subscriptions — capped between $4 and $10 — and platforms would contribute a share of their advertising revenue. The money would go into a nonprofit Artist Compensation Royalty Fund, which would distribute payments directly to recording musicians. The fund would also include a monthly cap per track so that artists with massive hits don’t absorb a disproportionate share of the payouts.
Tlaib has said the goal is to ensure that musicians who drive the streaming economy can afford to build sustainable careers.
“It’s only right that the people who create the music we love are paid a living wage, so that they can thrive, not just survive,” she said when announcing the bill’s reintroduction last year.
Artists, including Detroit producer and WDET host Shigeto, have backed the plan, calling it a long-overdue correction to a system that has left many musicians struggling as streaming platforms report record profits.
Advocates say the bill would allow more artists to record, tour, and make themselves available to fans, while helping musicians make a living in cities like Detroit.
Detroit City Councilwoman Mary Waters fired her government affairs director, Reggie Davis, on Wednesday after investigators discovered he and former council president and convicted sex offender Charles Pugh posed as incoming Ombudsman staff while Davis sought a $197,000-a-year job.
Waters said she acted after reviewing an Oct. 27 report from the Detroit Office of Inspector General that concluded Davis “abused his position” on her staff to obtain information from a private contractor that supplies software to the Ombudsman’s Office. The report found Davis and Pugh contacted WingSwept, the vendor behind the office’s case-tracking system, and represented themselves as part of the team preparing to take over the department.
The Ombudsman’s Office is an independent office that investigates complaints about Detroit city services and employee conduct.
“My review of that OIG report coupled with my independent assessment has resulted in my decision that your position on my staff is immediately terminated due to your conduct that has impugned the integrity of the Detroit City Council and is detrimental to those of us that hold the public trust as elected officials of Detroit including staff,” Waters wrote in a letter to Davis.
According to the OIG, Davis identified himself as a City Council employee and told WingSwept he was part of the incoming Ombudsman team during two phone calls and a video meeting. Pugh, who resigned from the council in 2013 and later served more than five years in prison on child sex-crime convictions, joined at least one call and was introduced by Davis as his “chief of staff.” WingSwept provided the OIG with recordings of the meetings.
The contractor later alerted the actual Ombudsman’s office, saying it had “a couple of phone calls with” Davis and Pugh and initially believed they were “part of the incoming staff for the City of Detroit Office of the Ombudsman.” When the Ombudsman’s office instructed WingSwept to cease communications, the company said it did so immediately.
The investigation began after then-Ombudsman Bruce Simpson learned of the contacts. Simpson’s 10-year term expired in October, and Davis was one of 10 finalists for the position, which requires approval from two-thirds of the nine-member City Council.
In a written response to the OIG, Davis’s attorney, Marcus Baldori, said Davis was using the information to prepare for his potential role in the Ombudsman Office. According to Baldori, Davis had sought only “publicly available or standard pricing information, not internal City data,” and his client’s description of himself as part of the incoming team “was imprecise.”
Baldori wrote that Davis’s communications reflected “over-enthusiastic preparation for an anticipated role,” not misuse of authority, and urged the city not to characterize the actions as an “abuse of authority.”
The OIG disagreed, finding Davis “falsely presented himself as part of the incoming Ombudsman team and abused his position by using his title to improperly access information.” The office recommended “appropriate disciplinary action.”
Davis, a former Wayne County commissioner, has been accused in the past of harassing two women who later secured personal protection orders against him. One woman alleged the mother of Davis’s unborn child threatened to “rip the baby” out of her stomach.
It’s unclear why Davis was working with Pugh, who was sentenced to 5½ to 15 years in 2016 after pleading guilty to two felony counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
As Detroiters prepare to cast their votes in the 2025 Detroit municipal election, one City Council candidate’s record raises serious questions about her ability to represent the people of Detroit.
State Representative Karen Whitsett currently holds public office, and her actions during her time in Lansing demonstrate a disregard for the needs and values of her district. Detroit deserves a leader who understands the importance of policy and community priorities, qualities that Whitsett has consistently failed to demonstrate.
By Whitsett’s own admission, she does not engage in policy work. In November 2024, Whitsett said, “I don’t do a whole lot of policy. That’s not really my thing.” In a city like Detroit, where residents face complex challenges in areas like economic recovery, affordable housing, and public safety, this statement reveals a lack of preparedness to tackle the difficult issues that City Council members must address. A representative who openly disavows the core responsibility of policy-making should not be trusted with the future of one of Michigan’s most dynamic cities.
Not only does Whitsett opt out of policy work, she opts out of showing up to work. According to The Detroit News, Whitsett has missed 77 percent of session days in Lansing this year — including a recent all-night session for the passage of the annual budget. Out of the 66 House session days this year where attendance was taken, Whitsett showed up to 15.
In December 2024, Whitsett made headlines for walking out of the Michigan House of Representatives during the lame-duck session, preventing Democrats from passing important legislation during their final days in office. Among the critical bills that were left to die due to her walkout were measures that would have raised the minimum wage and expanded paid sick leave. Whitsett’s disregard of her duty was a direct insult to her constituents, many of whom rely on such policies to support their families and improve their quality of life.
When Whitsett does cast a vote, she far too often votes against her community’s interests. This August she helped House Republicans pass their omnibus budget spending bill, House Bill 4706, which cuts $4.8 billion for Medicaid funding, defunds SNAP by over $333 million, slashes over $26 million from environmental programs that keep keep Detroit’s air safe and our water clean and affordable, and cuts the Michigan Department of Civil Rights budget in half.
Whitsett’s troubling record doesn’t end there. Earlier this year, Whitsett voted in favor of the anti-worker House Bill 4001 despite the fact that Detroit voted for the One Fair Wage ballot initiative to uphold minimum wage for all. This bill would slow the planned increases to the state minimum wage, and reduce the wage rate for employees under 18. For the working-class families of Detroit, this vote represented a failure to advocate for fair wages and economic justice, placing the needs of low-income workers and young employees at risk. Another alarming example of Whitsett’s failure to represent her district occurred in 2023, when she voted against a bill package designed to protect women’s rights and healthcare access. Despite the strong support for reproductive rights in Detroit and deep concern about maternal mortality rates among Black women, Whitsett voted against legislation that would have safeguarded the very healthcare that is vital to women in her district.
Detroit deserves a City Council that is active, engaged, and committed to making decisions that will improve the lives of its residents. Whitsett’s record shows that she is not that leader. From her refusal to show up to session, to her betrayal of workers, to her votes against reproductive justice, to her walkout during key legislative moments, Whitsett has proven time and again that she has no interest in not representing her district.
If Karen Whitsett couldn’t effectively serve her district in Lansing, why would she be any more effective on the Detroit City Council? The challenges facing the city require leaders who are knowledgeable, accountable, and ready to take on difficult issues and fight for the people who live here. Whitsett’s failure to do so in the state legislature makes her an unfit candidate for the Detroit City Council.
It’s time for a change in District 7. This community deserves a councilmember who actively works to improve the lives of all its residents. We need our representatives to stand with the everyday people who built our cities’ prosperity and beauty. It’s time for our elected officials to be true partners — collaborative leaders who will champion working people, protect our health care, make sure our neighborhoods are truly affordable, defend immigrant communities, and put resources towards the root causes of public safety. Voters want someone who understands the responsibility of their office, the power of policy, and the impact their leadership has on the daily lives of working people.
Karen Whitsett has shown she is not up to the task.
Maria Ibarra-Frayre is the co-executive director of We The People Michigan.
A coalition of Detroit activists is denouncing a proposed city ordinance that would require some police footage to be made public, saying the measure would still protect officers who engage in misconduct.
A divided Detroit Public Health and Safety Committee held a public hearing Monday on an ordinance that would set rules for how the Detroit Police Department releases video involving serious use of force, including when officers fire their weapons or cause “great bodily harm.” If approved by the full Detroit City Council, police would have up to 30 days to release video on a publicly accessible website.
But activists said the ordinance is riddled with exemptions that would give police plenty of opportunities to deny a video’s release. For example, the footage can be withheld if it involves a joint task force, violates the police union contract, or if city lawyers decide it could hurt Detroit in a civil lawsuit. The proposal also excludes any video shielded under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act and permits redactions, giving city officials broad discretion to decide what the public gets to see, activists argued at the meeting.
Jacob Smith, a member of the Detroit Alliance Against Racial and Political Repression, urged council members to strengthen the ordinance.
“It’s not even a good ordinance,” Smith said. “It has more holes than a fishing net.”
He added, “Let me be clear: We do not trust you [the police] so you need to send this ordinance back to the drawing board and come up with something that allows for less loopholes.”
Other critics said the ordinance should include alleged incidents of stop-and-frisk, racism, and sexual harassment or assault that causes less than “great bodily harm.”
Councilwoman Angela Whitfield Calloway, who drafted the video requirement, said she’s satisfied with the measure but acknowledged it may need to be amended.
“Everyone is not going to be happy with all of the ordinances we pass in the city of Detroit,” Calloway said. “I get it. But we have to start somewhere. It’s not a perfect document. Our Constitution was written in 1787 and has been amended 27 times. This is one of those documents that I do believe is ripe for amendment.”
Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero said she doesn’t support the ordinance as it’s written and believes more public input is needed.
In a letter to Calloway, the Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability said Calloway’s version is written to protect police and city officials, not the public’s right to know. The coalition points to the numerous exemptions in the ordinance.
“These stipulations make the release of imagery pointless,” the coalition wrote. “We further object to the exclusion of CPTA from any discussions in crafting this ordinance. We shared with you a well-researched, comprehensive ordinance that would have provided greater transparency in policing. Nothing of the ordinance we provided is reflected in your version.”
Calloway, who has often cast herself as a reform-minded councilmember critical of police secrecy, claimed some of the critics aren’t happy with any changes.
“We just have regular, habitual complainers,” Calloway said. “I’m used to it.”
During the public hearing, former Detroit Police Commissioner William Davis said the ordinance “can and should be stronger,” noting that police released body-cam footage of a shooting to commissioners “in less than six hours” about five years ago. Davis also worries about the editing process before the video is released.
“When they do these edits, someone impartial needs to be in the room,” Davis said. “This still makes it easier for them to cover up and hide stuff. We could do a better job.”
Victoria Camille, who is running for a seat on the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners, said Detroit residents are entitled to unedited footage.
“Police video footage belongs to Detroiters as taxpayers, and the police department should not get a privileged seat to shape a narrative in advance of the public getting a full view of the unedited video,” Camille said. “It’s one thing to blur the faces of witnesses, but chopping up timelines and/or reducing the frame that it shows is unacceptable.”
She added, “We’ve had three people shot by DPD in the last month. This is extremely important.”
On Sunday, Detroit police shot a woman who refused to comply after a traffic stop. It was the third police-involved shooting in five weeks.
Deputy Police Chief Michael Parish responded to critics, saying the videos would only be edited to redact the faces of victims or witnesses.
Community activist Tahira Ahmad said 30 days is too long for the release of a video. She is also worried that more Black residents will be targeted as the police department hires more white suburban officers.
“We’ve seen the police department get whiter and whiter,” Ahmad said. “The people who are white are having a racial problem with Black people. If our police departments are getting more and more undiverse, then we are going to have problems, and we want you to release it faster than 30 days.”
The CPTA’s version of the ordinance would require the city to publicly release all unedited video, audio, and police reports related to any use of force or pursuit that causes or could cause injury within seven days. The city also could delay for up to 30 days, but only if prosecutors or investigators give a written public explanation citing specific legal reasons. The footage would remain permanently accessible on a website managed by the Board of Police Commissioners, not the police department.
In addition, the coalition’s proposal would require notifying families and allowing them to view the footage before it’s released to the public.
“The people of the City have an undeniable, and in some cases paramount, interest in being informed, in a timely fashion based on the most accurate information possible, about how their police department conducts its business, especially where the use of force by the police results in death of, or bodily harm to, a civilian,” the coalition wrote.
Detroit on the break, taking it down the wing, cutting inside the defender, lining it up, he shoots, GOAAAL — DETROIT CITY FC SCORES!
The roar of soccer fans from across Detroit and the region will soon echo through Corktown and Southwest Detroit. The new Detroit City FC stadium, set to open in 2027, promises to bring people together, breathe life into a long-vacant site, and create fresh opportunities in the heart of our community.
As the Detroit City Council Member for District 6, I have a responsibility to ensure the new stadium delivers for the working people of Detroit – not just for the developers and outside investors. The stadium will be one of many local attractions that will bring people from various races, backgrounds, and ZIP codes together. However, this development must create lasting value in our neighborhoods, our families, and, importantly, for the workers in our community who will clean it, secure it, and keep it functioning for future generations.
The foundation of Detroit is rooted in the power of good union jobs, from the autoworkers to the janitors in commercial office buildings. A union job means fair pay, protection from discrimination, and strong benefits – but its impacts reach even further into the lives of our families and communities. Unions stabilize neighborhoods, empower families, and invigorates communities so everyone can thrive, not just survive.
Building a renowned sports venue like this soccer stadium requires us, as a community, and me, as a council member, to “keep our eye on the ball” and hold developers accountable to respect the community and its people.
Detroit City FC’s new AlumniFi Field stadium is planned for the site of the abandoned Southwest Detroit Hospital. Credit: Lee DeVito
Unfortunately, creating jobs that people can raise their families with is much more difficult for Detroit’s city government than other cities in America. Corporations and developers lobbied the state legislature to pass laws that take away Detroit’s freedom, and right, to require that developers create good-quality jobs – these restrictions are known as “abusive preemption” laws. Corporate actors want to maximize profits at any cost, and have lobbied Michigan’s legislature to create a legal environment that empowers themselves and disempowers voters and local elected officials. These laws keep the working people of Detroit and in metropolitan areas across Michigan trying to rebuild on “defense” instead of “offense” on shaping our economic policy. It’s time that Michigan’s legislature “level the playing field” and restore Detroit’s freedom to make these decisions for itself.
I grew up in a single-parent household. My mother and I were like many Detroiters: working poor. I worked multiple jobs in the service industry to put myself through both undergraduate and graduate school. Every day, I hear from residents who are struggling to make ends meet, who have to decide between paying their rent, refilling their medical prescription, or filling up their gas tank to get to work or take their kids to school. What’s further disheartening is knowing that there are ways to ease this financial burden placed on our working-class and low-income residents, but the state won’t allow us to act.
My colleagues and I have worked tirelessly to repeal abusive preemption and return the power to Detroit’s voters. We must also be transparent with developers and investors, making it clear that committing to good union jobs, fair wages, and a respect for workers’ rights is essential to having a successful stadium.
The impact of the new 15,000-seat AlumniFi Field will be felt throughout the City of Detroit. We now know that Detroit City FC is seeking $88 million dollars in tax breaks. We need to have a say in how our money is spent. Detroit has already invested heavily in private development, with public subsidies for District Detroit hovering around $1.8 billion. Yet too often, those billions failed to deliver the union jobs and lasting community benefits residents were promised. We must prioritize working people and ensure developers and investors don’t cut corners. A sports development like this can pave the way forward for community wealth, strengthening families, and supporting workers’ rights.
Detroit City FC fans. Credit: Andrew Erdmans
The opening of AlumniFi Field has been a long time coming, tracing back to 2010 when five friends founded the fútbol club. This milestone reflects the commitment of community members and working people who came together to build Detroit’s professional league. We must remember those humble beginnings to ensure the stadium delivers real benefits to the working families of Detroit.
I stand for the working people of Detroit, which means ensuring that developments in my district are measured not just by profits, but by how much they elevate workers across the city, regardless of race, background, or ZIP code.
AlumniFi Field will soon be a place where thousands will gather to cheer for Detroit City FC, but the real celebration begins when good union jobs elevate our communities so all can thrive. That kind of victory will impact Detroiters on and off the field.
Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield received more than half the vote in Tuesday’s primary election.
Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield and Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. will square off in the general election for mayor of Detroit after becoming the top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s primary.
Nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins finished third with 16% of the votes, followed by attorney Todd Perkins at 5.4%, former Detroit Police Chief James Craig at 5.2%, and City Councilman Fred Durhal III at 3.4%.
Activist DaNetta Simpson, former businessman Joe Haashiim, and entrepreneur Danetta Lynese Simpson rounded out the bottom three, each receiving less than 1%.
If elected in November’s general election, Sheffield would become the first woman to serve as mayor since Detroit was incorporated in 1802.
At 26, Sheffield was first elected to city council in 2013. She has served as the council’s president since 2022. In her 12 years on the council, Sheffield has become a leading advocate for affordable housing, tenants rights, neighborhood development, property tax reform, and a clean environment. As council president, she has been a vocal critic of inequitable investment strategies, calling for a shift away from tax incentives for downtown developers and toward policies that directly benefit Detroit’s most vulnerable residents.
Kinloch, senior pastor of Triumph Church and graduate of Detroit’s Northwestern High School, portrays himself as a political outsider committed to addressing the decades-long inequalities in the city’s neighborhoods, arguing that Detroit’s economic comeback has left too many residents behind.
Kinloch’s platform includes building 10,000 affordable housing units, expanding workforce training, reducing poverty, and improving basic city services like trash pickup and emergency response. He has also pledged to bring more grocery stores to underserved areas. Raised in poverty and once a factory worker, Kinloch founded Triumph Church with a few dozen members and built it into one of the largest churches in the state, with campuses from Detroit to Genesee County.
Kinloch, who moved from the suburbs to Detroit about a year ago, has his work cut out for himself. In late July, Fox 2 Detroit revealed that he was convicted of beating his then-wife in 1993. According to court and police records, he hurled a glass at her, brandished a knife, and struck her in the back of the head with the weapon’s handle. Police found her bleeding from a cut on her hand and unable to walk because of her injuries.
Also on Tuesday, five city council seats were up for grabs. The races included both at-large seats, which represent the entire city, District 2 in the northernmost part of the city, District 5 just south of Hamtramck and Highland Park, and District 7 on the city’s west side.
Incumbents Mary Waters and Coleman Young II dominated the field of eight candidates in their bid to retain their at-large seats, each receiving nearly a third of the vote. Former City Councilwoman Janee’ L. Ayers and Detroit Fire Department community relations chief James Harris placed third and fourth, garnering 13.8% and 7.3% of the votes, respectively, and will advance to the general election.
In the District 2 race, incumbent Angela Whitfield Calloway placed first with 44.6% of the vote, followed by former District 2 Councilman Roy McCalister Jr. with 29.9%. Both candidates will advance to the general election.
For the District 5 seat, which Sheffield held, seven candidates faced off. The top two vote-getters were UAW retiree and founding member of the Detroit Historic Districts Alliance Renata Miller with 23.2% of the vote, and Detroit Police Commissioner Willie Burton with 19.4%. Both candidates move on to the general election.
In the District 7 race, four candidates were vying to replace Durhal, who ran for mayor. Progress Michigan Managing Director Denzel McCampbell narrowly finished first with 34.5% of the vote, followed by state Rep. Karen Whitsett with 33.9% of the vote. McCampbell and Whitsett will face off in the general election.
Detroit City Council is calling on Wayne County to halt owner-occupied house foreclosures this year.
Wayne County Treasurer Eric Sabree is defying demands to impose a moratorium on owner-occupied home foreclosures after a study suggested the city is illegally overtaxing houses worth less than $35,000.
In a statement to Metro Times on Thursday, Sabree said he will not pause foreclosures amid calls from the Detroit City Council and activists to do so.
“This year, the number of foreclosed properties is notably lower compared to previous years,” Sabree said. “This decline can be attributed to homeowners being given time to catch up over the past 4 years, alongside increased availability of assistance programs and community outreach in the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office.”
Last month, Detroit City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling on the treasurer to stop owner-occupied foreclosures on houses valued at less than $30,000 because illegally overassessed property values would likely force many lower-income residents out of their homes.
The study found that Detroit overassessed the value of 72% of the homes worth less than $34,700. A vast majority of the homes worth more than $35,000 were not overassessed, according to the study.
Activists for the Coalition for Property Tax Justice, a group that advocates for homeowners in Detroit, championed the call for a moratorium, saying the city “systematically overassessed” the lowest value homes.
Bernadette Atuahene, a property law scholar who has studied Detroit’s property tax foreclosure crisis, said Sabree’s failure to impose a moratorium will unfairly cost residents their homes.
“Treasurer Sabree is ignoring the demands of the City Council to cruelly foreclose on the homes of Detroiters who may be in foreclosure due to illegally inflated property taxes,” Atuahene told Metro Times in a statement. “The power of the County to take someone’s home is an enormous responsibility and should be wielded with extreme caution. However, Treasurer Sabree has chosen to recklessly foreclose on hundreds of homes valued under $34,700 — a decision that is morally, economically, and legally irresponsible.”
The Michigan Constitution prohibits property from being assessed at more than 50% of its market value. Between 2010 and 2016, the city assessed properties at as much as 85% of their market value.
In his statement, Sabree said his office supports removing some homes from the list of foreclosures, but not because of the study.
“Some homeowners who face extreme financial hardships may be offered an opportunity to apply for City of Detroit exemption and property tax assistance and may be considered for foreclosure removal — we are requesting this through the courts,” he said.
The city council also called on Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration to reduce property taxes for low-value homes because of the study’s findings. But the city’s assessor, Alvin Horhn, called the University of Chicago study “utter nonsense” and “politically driven.”
Metro Times couldn’t reach council President Mary Sheffield for comment.
Two influential disability justice groups have joined forces to launch a campaign calling for “substantial increases” in funding for people with disabilities in Detroit.
The objective of Fund Disabled Detroiters is to persuade Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration and Detroit City Council to devote more resources for people with disabilities.
Detroit Disability Power and Warrior on Wheels are leading the campaign, which runs through April.
A disproportionate number of Detroiters live with disabilities. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, more than 128,000 Detroiters — or one out of five residents — have at least one disability. By contrast, roughly one out of seven Michigan residents live with disabilities.
“Disability is not a niche issue; it’s a universal concern that can affect anyone at any time,” Lawrence Franklin III, lead organizer with Warriors on Wheels, said in a statement Monday. “By prioritizing disability funding, we’re investing in a Detroit where everyone thrives.”
The campaign is running now because the Detroit City Council is beginning to explore Duggan’s annual budget proposal, which goes into effect on July 1.
In previous years, Detroit Disability Power led a campaign to increase the budget of the Office of Disability Affairs to $1.4 million annually. This year’s campaign is different because it’s taking a more comprehensive approach, calling for increases across multiple departments.
Among the key demands are:
• Adding $3 million to the Department of Election to increase physical accessibility and federal compliance at polling locations. Only 16% of the polling locations in metro Detroit are fully accessible, according to the campaign.
• $7.8 million for the Detroit Department of Transportation to improve paratransit and fixed-route accessibility for buses.
• $25 million to the Department of Public Works to repair sidewalks and ensure greater mobility for people using wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
“This campaign underscores the importance of recognizing that funding for disability extends beyond the Office of Disability Affairs,” NaJaRee Nixon, lead organizer from Detroit Disability Power, said. “It’s about fostering inclusivity and dismantling ableism in every direction our tax dollars flow.”
“While we have undoubtedly had some key victories in our attempt to restore dignity to impacted homeowners and provide restitution, none of it has been done without a fight and a willingness to stay vigilant,” council President Mary Shefield said. “The most egregious part of the systemic overassessment of properties in Detroit has been the issue of regressivity, which is when low-value homes are assessed at a higher percentage of their true market value than are high-value homes. While we recognize the assessor’s job is difficult, the stakes are too high to sit idly by while the city’s lowest-valued homes are consistently overassessed.”
It’s unlikely that Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration is going to lower assessments because Detroit Assessor Alvin Horhn called the study “utter nonsense” and “politically driven.”
Horhn said the methods used by the University of Chicago “violate Michigan tax law and the practices that every assessor in Michigan is legally required to follow.”
It isn’t yet clear whether Wayne County Treasurer Eric Sabree plans to consider reducing assessments for homes valued at less than $35,000. Metro Times is awaiting a response from him.
Activists for the Coalition for Property Tax Justice, a group that advocates for homeowners in Detroit, called on the council to address the assessments.
Bernadette Atuahene, a property law scholar who has studied Detroit’s property tax foreclosure crisis, called the council’s resolutions “an amazing milestone in our fight for property tax justice.”
“The City Council finally acknowledged the continued over assessments and unanimously demanded that the Duggan administration and the County Treasurer take action to correct the ongoing property tax injustice,” Atuahene said in a statement. “Now Treasurer Sabree and the Duggan administration must follow these resolutions with action.”
The Michigan Constitution prohibits property from being assessed at more than 50% of its market value. Between 2010 and 2016, the city assessed properties at as much as 85% of their market value.
The latest study suggests that homes valued at less than $35,000 are disproportionately overassessed. By contrast, the highest valued homes in the city are the least likely to be overassessed, according to the study.
Activists are worried about another wave of foreclosures based on inflated property taxes on the lower valued houses, which tend to be owned by people struggling financially.
DETROIT – The city has long faced an uphill battle to recruit and retain police officers, which is why a proposed pay raise is awaiting the city council’s approval.
But, not even that would make the Detroit Police Department wages competitive with officers in other cities, including one that made a bold move to poach officers from Detroit.
“I saw it,” said Detroit police Chief James White. “I know that our officers are the best in the country, and I know that they get highly recruited in-state and out-of-state.”
The bold billboard in Detroit suggests officers could have a starting salary of $72,000. If Detroit City Council approves, pay raises for Detroit police would have a starting salary of $53,000.
“I am not surprised,” White said. “I’m a little bit disappointed that someone would post something like that in our community, but I also know that our officers are highly recruited.
A police union leader went to the city council urging the council to approve the pay raises, or the department would continue to lose officers.
“From my conversations with council members, everybody believes that we are way overdue in supporting our DPD men and women,” said Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield. “I’m looking for unanimous support coming next Tuesday.”
“I sent letters to chiefs across the country saying, ‘Please, don’t hire our people,’” said former Detroit police Chief Ike McKinnon. “They looked at me and laughed.”
Mckinnon says Detroit can’t compete with a $72,000 starting salary.
“You can’t compete with someone whose making or paying $70,000 to start,” McKinnon said. “They’re making as much as some of our command officers are.”
Shawn Ley: “Did you happen to call Indy by chance?”
White: “We won’t get into those conversations.”
So far, 290 Detroit police officers have left the department for other jobs.
The mayor and Detroit’s police union agreed on a new contract on Sept. 30. But so far, those raises have yet to become a reality, and officers are leaving the force for other departments and better pay. (WDIV)
Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
