Latest news with #Durhal
Axios
6 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Mayoral forum addresses violence against transgender Detroiters
Violence against transgender Detroiters must be more publicly acknowledged and discussed, a mayoral candidate said during a forum Friday organized by nonprofit LGBT Detroit. The big picture: The event — held as part of Black LGBTQ+ pride celebration Hotter Than July — featured conversations about environmental policy and voting rights, but it chiefly focused on the needs of LGBTQ+ residents. State of play: The three participating candidates, Saunteel Jenkins, Fred Durhal III and write-in Rogelio Landin, all said they'd support equity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ residents. All also committed to creating an office of LGBTQ+ affairs. Zoom in: Among other questions, moderator Roland Leggett of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters asked how candidates would address the safety of transgender residents. Context: Transgender people are over four times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violent crime, per the Williams Institute, with Black trans women even more impacted. And Detroit is no exception. A range of factors are at play, national advocates say, from anti-transgender legislation and rhetoric to other systemic problems like poverty, unemployment and homelessness stemming from discrimination. What they're saying: Durhal said a "significant amount" of Black and brown transgender Detroiters go missing and "no one talks about it." He added that as mayor he'd set a tone for bringing people together for uncomfortable conversations on the topic and would incorporate implicit-bias training for police and other departments to build trust. Jenkins said she'd assure the city's civil rights department has the resources to address the issue and, overall, solve more murder cases, including violent offenders acting based on biases. She added she'd "lean in in every way possible to protect and ensure the expanded rights" through the state's civil rights act. In his answer, Landin agreed with Durhal and Jenkins and emphasized his commitment to equity and justice; he said he'd "double down" on efforts to protect residents.
Axios
16-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Detroit mayoral hopefuls tackle property tax relief
Most Detroit mayoral candidates see providing residents relief from burdensome property taxes as a priority — but they differ on how to do it. Why it matters: Detroit's disproportionately high property taxes are seen as a barrier to housing affordability, building wealth through homeownership and attracting new residents. They stem from historical challenges with low property values, poverty and population loss. Zoom in: As of last year, Detroit homeowners pay 67 mills in property taxes, versus 33-37 in Grand Rapids, 53 in Dearborn and 38 in Royal Oak, per the state. Case in point: A home in Detroit with a taxable value of $100,000 pays an estimated $6,900 as of 2023, per the state's property tax estimator. State of play: Decreasing the weight of property taxes while maintaining or growing the city's revenue is a complex puzzle. We asked mayoral hopefuls about their plans. Here are some of the plans of those who responded. Caveat: Big changes to Detroit's taxes proposed by candidates mostly require state legislative approval — a substantial, though not impossible, barrier. Creating new revenue City Council President Mary Sheffield advocates for studying potential new taxes, including on sales or entertainment events. As Detroit's pandemic relief dollars end, the importance of bringing in new funding "cannot be overstated," Sheffield's campaign writes. Former nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins proposes exploring "all options" to increase revenue while reducing property taxes, including potentially a 1% local sales tax — while Sheffield has brought up a 0.5% one. City Council member Fred Durhal III would explore various new streams of revenue. Nearly all candidates in the race aim to increase tax revenue through attracting new businesses, creating more jobs, growing the population and/or encouraging new development. Sheffield would add two permanent jobs focused on growth, one on population and one on city revenue, while Jenkins would hire a chief growth officer focused on those issues. Durhal notes that the city should diversify its industries, including emerging ones such as green energy and tech. However, the Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. cautioned in a recent statement that while growing the tax base can help reduce taxes a bit, it's not enough for "meaningful relief." Changing property taxes After a previous property tax reform idea stalled at the state level, some candidates still want to lower taxes on homeowners and active developers while discouraging speculators sitting on vacant land. Durhal's Homeowner and Business Property Tax Relief Plan would tax idle land at higher rates, with reductions for homeowners and properties getting redeveloped. He'd also look to institute a tax on blighted properties and accumulate a fund to help lower property taxes stemming from city debt. Businessman Jonathan Barlow's plan also says he would advocate for land value tax reform. Sheffield would look to offset losses from property tax decreases with more penalties for blighted property and speculators, but wants more investigation before advocating for any big changes that require state legislation. Candidates including Sheffield, Kinloch, Durhal and attorney Todd Perkins also want to work on the city's often-criticized property assessment process. Perkins' main goal on property taxes is to lower the burden for residents and small businesses "while ensuring that corporations contribute their fair share to the city's future." Kinloch's campaign said in a statement that he would advocate for state-level legislative changes while focusing on individual-level relief through tax credits for first-time homebuyers, for those who lost homes due to being overtaxed and/or for making repairs to old homes. Durhal and Kinloch have both proposed working with the state to relieve the city of its school debt millage, which is "like an anchor around the city's ankles," as Citizens Research Council of Michigan president Eric Lupher put it to Axios.
Axios
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Trail Mix: In the TV spotlight
Welcome back to our weekly roundup of local election news. Debate deets: WDIV's mayoral debate, 7pm Monday night, will broadcast live on Local 4 and stream on Local 4+. It's likely to be the most-watched debate of the primary season. 📬 Hosting a debate watch party? Send an email to [email protected] to tell us about it! Send a pic if you're feeling fancy. Endorsements of the week: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan put its lot behind two candidates in the mayoral race: City Council member Durhal, for his commitment to supporting women's reproductive rights, including while in the state Legislature, his campaign announced last week. Former nonprofit CEO and City Council President Jenkins, who says she's always fought for reproductive freedom and access to quality health care. Meanwhile, City Council President Sheffield's campaign says she secured backing from big-spending EMILYs List. The organization, focused on Democratic pro-choice women, cited Sheffield's advocacy against discrimination in the workplace, and her support of affordable housing and reproductive rights. Sheffield's campaign also announced recently she has raised $1 million, saying she is the first woman mayoral candidate in Michigan to do so. We should learn more about campaign finances in late July.
Axios
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Where Detroit City Council stands on mayoral race
Two Detroit City Council members are running for mayor, and whether any of their seven colleagues on City Council will endorse someone in the race is a big question mark. Why it matters: City Council leaders say the legislative body has created an environment of productive collaboration. Taking sides in a race so close to home, and so important for Detroit's future, could change the dynamic. City Council President Mary Sheffield and council member Fred Durhal III are among nine candidates on the ballot in the Aug. 5 primary. State of play: It's not likely anyone will weigh in soon, but it's on the minds of observers as candidates strive to make their mark in the battle that's been the talk of the town all year. Axios spoke with Sheffield and Durhal and reached out to the other council members or their representatives. Here's what those we heard from had to say: In an interview with Axios at the Mackinac Policy Conference in late May, Sheffield said she thought that discussions about endorsements could happen after the primary — but also that council members were focused on their own reelection bids. "We also have worked extremely hard to keep a very productive and collaborative environment, and I don't want politics to get in the middle of that," she added. Durhal also weighed in during Mackinac: "What I would say is, I don't think they weigh in right now, because one, they're running their own races. Two, you have two sitting members of the council who are running [for mayor] now … I think for them, they ask, 'What is the benefit of doing that?'" Like Sheffield, he told Axios the council had done a good job "building a coalition" and wanted to maintain that cohesiveness and avoid an outside narrative that the council is split. Council member Latisha Johnson tells Axios she will not consider endorsing anyone for mayor. She will need to work collaboratively with whoever wins, she says, and doesn't want to bring unnecessary tension to that work. "I am primarily focused on my race [for reelection] and continuing to work in District 4," she adds. Similarly, council member Mary Waters says that Durhal and Sheffield are both her colleagues, adding, "I'm just going to focus on my race." As for the other members:
Axios
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
3 takeaways from first Detroit mayoral forum
Seven candidates vied for the spotlight in the first mayoral forum of the race to succeed decadelong Detroit leader Mike Duggan. The big picture: The group used their varying experiences with leadership to differentiate themselves on top issues: public safety, affordable housing, economic growth and neighborhoods. The African American Leadership Institute hosted the forum Saturday at Riverside Marina with the national women's political nonprofit Supermajority. The participants were: Former police chief James Craig, businessman Joel Haashiim, City Council member Fred Durhal III, City Council president Mary Sheffield, former nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins, attorney Todd Perkins and entrepreneur Jonathan Barlow. Longtime pastor Solomon Kinloch and previous candidate DaNetta Simpson also submitted petitions, but weren't present. Our three top forum takeaways: Empathy: Candidates want to make personal connections with Detroiters. The question is who will be able to do it most broadly and convincingly. They zeroed in on what they believe Detroiters need, as people with their own personal history here — from Durhal's and Perkins' perspectives as fathers to Jenkins' history with trauma and a serious health issue and Sheffield growing up watching the activism of her father, Rev. Horace Sheffield III, and others. Banter: Onlookers want to know what this race is going to look like as it ramps up — not just in how candidates will pitch themselves, but also how they'll interact with each other. This was a Q&A forum, not a debate, so no rebuttals. But viewers did see a couple back-and-forth moments, including when candidates were asked the city's most pressing issue. "The single most is public safety. I thought my Republican counterpart would say that," Perkins said. Craig is a proud conservative, though the race is nonpartisan, and answered "neighborhood focus." Plus, when asked about handling the city's financial future without federal pandemic relief dollars, Craig, Haashiim and Perkins all said they wanted audits to dig into the city's financial health. Durhal said that the city has guardrails, and that any candidate "should already know what the budget is." Energy and turnout:"To be finally at a point where Detroit will have an African American at the helm of leadership is important," African American Leadership Institute CEO Al Williams said. "I think it's absolutely important that we turn out to vote. No more 19, 18 percent turnout," he added. The turnout for Detroit's last mayoral election in November 2021 was 19%.
