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Detroit's downtown foot traffic is increasing
Data: University of Toronto; Note: Downtown defined as the central location with the highest concentration of employment in each metro area; Chart: Alice Feng/AxiosDetroit's downtown saw a bump in visitor activity between March 2023 and February 2024, per new University of Toronto data.Why it matters: It's a sign of improvement for downtown's sluggish post-pandemic recovery.The big picture: Detroit's 20% increase was 12th largest among more than 50 U.S. cities studied.About a dozen cities saw decreases, led by San Francisco's 22% drop.How it works: The researchers used anonymized mobile device location data to estimate visitor activity in metro downtowns defined as...
City seeks financing proof for Perfecting Church's cathedral project
The city wants proof that Perfecting Church has money to complete its cathedral project at Woodward and 7 Mile that stalled after starting nearly 20 years ago.The big picture: To help revive commercial corridors like Woodward and Grand River, the city began cracking down on Perfecting Church and other well-known vacant properties last year with a wave of lawsuits intended to force the properties' redevelopment or demolition.Perfecting reached a deal with the city to restart construction on the $50 million church, but timelines within the agreement have been missed.What they're saying: "I'm trying to work with these guys. It's been...
Detroit's QLine ridership breaks records during NFL Draft
QLine ridership shattered records during the NFL Draft, solidifying the streetcar service's importance to the city's transit infrastructure during major events.The big picture: The 3.3-mile QLine's practicality and cost to the public have been questioned. But the service was critical during the draft, transporting about 9% of the event's unprecedented crowd of 775,000 people.Full service along Woodward Avenue — the route was cut by a third for the draft — resumed Thursday.By the numbers: Ridership during the draft totaled 68,377 for a daily average of 22,792.On a typical day, about 3,300 people ride."We never approached close to 10k riders in...
Real data backs Plymouth-made presidential campaign game
A video game created in Wayne County has had some success predicting outcomes of U.S. presidential elections, including seeing former President Trump as the winner in 2016, its makers say.The big picture: On Thursday, Stardock Entertainment, a 30-year-old game developer based in Plymouth, launches the 2024 election edition of The Political Machine.The company is known for strategy games, including Sins of a Solar Empire.How it works: Players choose a candidate like President Biden, Trump, a third-party candidate or create their own, and vie for the presidency while building a campaign, fundraising, visiting swing states and smearing their opponent, whose actions...
Things to do in Detroit: Cinco de Mayo weekend
This weekend is packed with horse racing, Star Wars parties and Cinco de Mayo.🐎 The Kentucky Derby on Saturday is known as the most exciting two minutes in sports, but you can celebrate before and after the race at 6:57pm.Get gussied up for gourmet food stations, an open bar and live music at the 2024 Detroit Kentucky Derby Day Party from 4-10pm on the grounds of Marygrove Conservancy. Tickets: $70 general admission, $140 VIP.The Eastern Market Social Guild's Kentucky Derby event starts at 2pm at participating establishments in the area.🚀 Embrace your inner Jedi at events celebrating May the Fourth,...
Michigan C-section rate higher than national average
Data: CDC; Chart: Axios VisualsThe rate of cesarean births in Michigan is higher than the national average, according to new data.Why it matters: The rates are increasing and well above the 10%-15% rate that the WHO considers "ideal."By the numbers: In Michigan, the 2023 C-section rate was 33.3%, according to provisional CDC data. That's nearly 33,000 births out of a total of around 99,000.It's up slightly from 33.1% in 2022.Zoom out: The national C-section delivery rate increased in 2023 to 32.4%, up from 32.1% in 2022, according to provisional CDC numbers.That's the highest rate since 2013, and the fourth annual...
Detroit names first poet laureate in 20 years
Internationally recognized poet and activist jessica Care moore was named Detroit's poet laureate Tuesday, the first such honor given in more than 20 years.The big picture: The title is a full-circle moment for moore, 52, a Detroit native and Cody High School graduate who grew up reading Nikki Giovanni, Larry Neal and others at the library off Joy Road.What they're saying: "Once that light was turned on, it could only become brighter," says moore, whose first and last names are lowercased as an homage to the late author bell hooks."I only hope with this new position, I'll be able to...
Tours and concerts to headline Michigan Central depot's reopening
A multiday celebration to welcome the public back inside Michigan Central Station is in the works for next month's reopening of the historic depot.Driving the news: Officials from the depot shared plans during a City Council meeting Tuesday in order to obtain permits for events, including a free concert for as many as 15,000 attendees.Michigan Central CEO Joshua Sirefman told council he thinks more than 60,000 will tour the building after opening to the media and a private event on June 6, the Detroit News reports.Catch up quick: After a six-year restoration of the abandoned train station, the public will...
Detroit residents' biggest complaints to oversight office
Data: Detroit Ombudsman's Office; Chart: Axios VisualsOmbudsman Bruce Simpson, who leads the city's independent Ombudsman's Office, received 4,020 complaints from residents last year.Why it matters: The oversight office acts as a mediator between the city and residents, addressing their concerns and proposing policy changes.Zoom in: From February 2023 to February 2024, the department residents had the most concerns about was the Building, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED), per the ombudsman's recent report.BSEED's share of complaints has been on the rise, from 1,583 (40% of the total) in 2020-2021 to 1,996 (50%) this recent cycle.Between the lines: Common categories of complaints included illegal dumping, high grass, dangerous buildings, demolitions, abandoned vehicles and sidewalk repair.What they're saying: Based on complaints, Simpson proposed in his annual report to increase standards for lead inspections and improve the demolition deferral process so salvageable properties don't get torn down.Complaints can always be submitted through an online form. Residents can also call the Ombudsman's Office at (313) 224-6000.
Campus encampments call for divestment from Israel at MSU and UM
Data: Axios research; Note: Universities with joint encampments reported separately; Locations approximated for clarity; Map: Kavya Beheraj, Tory Lysik and Will Chase/Axios. Correction: The map was updated to show Arizona State University is in Tempe, not Tucson.Students at Michigan State and the University of Michigan have joined antiwar protests across the country in setting up on-campus encampments to decry the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.Driving the news: Pro-Palestinian student protestors set up tent encampments in Ann Arbor and East Lansing this month to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and that their universities divest from Israel or companies that support the country.The...
Michigan has one of nation's least reliable power grids
Data: Climate Central via U.S. Department of Energy; Note: Major power outages affect at least 50K customers or interrupt service of 300 megawatts or more; Outage events can cross state lines; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosMichigan is a national outlier for its number of major power outages since 2000, a new report from nonprofit research and communications group Climate Central found.Why it matters: Electricity outages will become more common as extreme weather events — many driven by climate change — wreak havoc on the country's aging power infrastructure.Outages and lengthy restoration times can cost the economy billions of dollars.The big picture: While...
Detroit breaks NFL Draft attendance record
Detroit broke the NFL Draft's attendance record with 775,000 people, and the Lions made a flurry of trades over the weekend to stock their roster with young talent.The big picture: Detroit shined throughout the three-day draft, setting a new standard for hosting the NFL's annual fan festival.State of play: The Lions' bevy of draft picks should help them defend the NFC North division title and compete for a Super Bowl next year.The players general manager Brad Holmes drafted:First round: Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold.Second round: Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.Fourth round: British Columbia offensive tackle Giovanni Manu.Fourth round: Utah safety Sione...
Slow but varied food options at NFL Draft in Detroit
Dozens of local restaurants are offering draft attendees a wealth of options — but don't expect to grab a quick bite.Why it matters: There are long lines for the fan zone's "Taste of Detroit" booths, but you can likely find any food you want if you're willing to wait — burgers, falafel and more from 20-plus restaurants, including Detroit 75 Kitchen, Good Vibes Lounge and Louisiana Creole Gumbo. Jordan Balduf of Side Biscuit based in Ann Arbor poses with a menu in front of his wing flight, featuring blueberry BBQ, Brogarashi and cracked table wings. Photo: Samuel Robinson/AxiosLines at the...
NFL Draft celebrates Detroit: Vibrant scenes and sports spirit take center stage
Day one of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday was a 12-hour celebration of the city of Detroit.Why it matters: Detroit made NFL history, breaking the league's day-one draft attendance record with more than 275,000 people downtown.The event reached capacity around 7pm and gates were closed.The big picture: Thousands of fans in a sea of Honolulu Blue — speckled with rival fans in yellow, brown, navy and other NFL team colors — strolled Woodward Avenue and Hart Plaza for hours Thursday. They posed with famous players' jerseys and giant helmets, collected swag and autographs, and made observations about the city...
Lions trade up for cornerback Terrion Arnold
Lions fans got a surprise Thursday night when the team traded up five picks to draft Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold with the 24th pick.Why it matters: Arnold is considered one of the draft's best cornerbacks and should give Detroit's pass defense a needed boost.What they're saying: "I just want to say, Detroit, y'all got a star, man. I'm home, man!" he told the NFL Network after getting drafted.Between the lines: Before Detroit picked, watching the division rival Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings draft their quarterbacks of the future was a little unsettling.Zoom in: The Vikings traded up to the No. 10 pick to nab U of M quarterback J.J. McCarthy.The Bears took USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the top pick.The bottom line: Detroit capped a wild draft day with an exciting pick that makes a lot of sense.
Metro Detroit's growing AI job landscape
Data: UMD-LinkUp AIMaps; Note: "AI job" defined as a job requiring technical skills to build and/or use AI models; A bigger circle indicates more new jobs per capita; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosFewer new AI jobs are posted in Metro Detroit than the national average, but workforce development experts still consider it an essential field for future careers.Why it matters: As AI emerges as the hottest new thing in tech, cities outside Silicon Valley can get in on the action — and reap the potentially lucrative economic rewards.AI job postings continue to grow nationwide, while public trust in AI technology sinks and...
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