Blight around parks and communities still causes concern for Detroiters

The public had until Monday to submit feedback on two choices for improving public transit on SMART buses . At last week’s SMARTer Mobility meeting, design consultants said the agency must operate within its fiscal constraints, which may lead to a trade-off between increasing bus frequency and expanding the service area.

The competition for the top position at the city’s leading mental health agency has been narrowed to two candidates, one of whom is Detroit Police Chief James White.

Reporter Laura Herberg and two Documenters checked in on the Board of Police Commissioners last week. But this oversight board, which has faced rampant attendance issues , did not have a quorum and couldn’t conduct business.

Concerns about vacant homes in Detroit persist, with Councilmember Scott Benson reporting “disturbing numbers” of crimes associated with these types of properties. A Documenter reporting on the condition of Kern Park spoke with residents who said they want a vacant home across the street from the playground torn down.

Parks

9/21/2024 Documenters in the Park — District 3: Natalie visited The Village Park on the city’s eastside and noted a new basketball court, playground and young trees that will hopefully grow to provide shade. But she also found unevenly mowed grass, and fences and signs in need of repair.

Taura visited Kern Park near 7 Mile Road and Mount Elliott Street, and observed discarded liquor bottles and a dead pigeon. Residents expressed concerns about the park’s cleanliness, the need for better lighting at night and the vacant house near the playground that they believe should be torn down.

Documented by Natalie Davies and Taura Brown

Politics

9/23/2024 Detroit City Council — Public Health and Safety Standing Committee: The committee forwarded the proposed 2024 towing rates to the full council for approval, as well as agreements between the Detroit International Bridge Co. and neighbors in Hubbard Richard. Crime reports showed that 24 bodies were discovered in vacant buildings in 2023.

Documented by Pamela Taylor and Robert D’Andrea

9/24/2024 Detroit City Council — Formal Session: Residents and councilmembers talked about election integrity and the importance of voting. A decision on the proposed tow rate fee increases was postponed one week.

Documented by Gina McPherson and Heather Alder

For more on City Council, check out Malachi Barrett’s City Council Notebook at BridgeDetroit.

Development

9/24/2024 Detroit Land Bank Authority — Board of Directors: The board approved the sale of several properties, including a church in Indian Village, which will be converted to a single-family residence.

Documented by Amber Umscheid and Megan Anderluh

Transportation

9/24/2024 SMART — SMARTer Mobility Public Engagement Session: Consultants gathered feedback from residents on two proposed network redesign scenarios for the transit system. One scenario focuses on improving bus frequency and extending hours of operation; the other emphasizes expanding coverage, adding 11 new routes and servicing 10 municipalities that currently lack access.

Documented by Alisa Lomax and Ashley Williams

Housing

9/26/2024 Detroit Housing Commission: The board approved a contract extension and funding increase for ongoing environmental services at the commission’s properties. Board members also approved a contract with MHT Housing for property management at Gardenview Estates and reestablished the Parkside Development Co. board for The Villages at Parkside .

Documented by Nachum Eichenhorn and Patricia Quaglia

Policing

9/26/2024 Detroit Board of Police Commissioners: The meeting was never officially called to order due to lack of a quorum. Commissioners Willie Burton, Eva Garza Dewaelsche, Jesus Hernandez, Ricardo Moore and Tamara Liberty Smith were present, but after hearing public comments, the meeting was called off.

Documented by Christiana Beckley and Nachum Eichenhorn

For more on the Board of Police Commissioners, check out the latest BOPC Watch .

Health

9/27/2024 Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) — CEO Search Committee CEO Candidate Virtual Interviews: The committee had a tough time choosing from the six highly qualified candidates for DWIHN’s CEO. Ultimately, they selected Michael Hunter and James White as the top two candidates, with final interviews scheduled for Oct. 14. Afterward, the committee will recommend one candidate to the full DWIHN board.

Documented by Clarissa Williams and Sonja Stuckey

This story was written by Outlier Media’s Lynelle Herndon and Noah Kincade, with Detroit Documenter Nachum Eichenhorn.

Blight around parks and communities still causes concern for Detroiters · Outlier Media