Latest news with #MarySheffield
Axios
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Trail Mix: LGBTQ+ communities and the mayor's race
Welcome back to our weekly roundup of election news. Event curator Lesbian Social, one of the strongest forces in Detroit's LGBTQ+ scene, is hosting a conversation with Council President Mary Sheffield on Tuesday about her mayoral campaign, alongside a group called LGBTQIA 4 Mary. The panel will discuss "asset protection and affordable housing for the queer community," per an Instagram post. In more queer politics news, Hotter Than July and LGBT Detroit are planning a mayoral candidate forum for July 25, per Facebook. The discussion is part of a larger day-long gathering discussing LGBTQ+ issues during Hotter than July, the 30-year-old Black LGBTQ+ pride event taking place July 22-27. 🔮 What we're watching: Look out for future news on LGBTQ+ organizers getting involved with election education — these two events signal that Detroit's queer and transgender residents are a notable block of voters to court. Always more endorsement news: A progressive collective — the Working Families Party, activist organization Detroit Action, Michigan Liberation and others — has endorsed District 6 City Council member Gabriela Santiago-Romero for re-election and former City Clerk candidate Denzel McCampbell for District 7, which lacks an incumbent.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Skilla Baby shooting: Detroit community leaders urge calm amid investigation
REDFORD TWP, Mich. (FOX 2) - A popular Detroit rapper is recovering tonight after a targeted shooting that could have been deadly. Skilla Baby, whose real name is Treyvon Gardner, was shot three times when someone opened fire on his vehicle. As he recovers, city leaders and supporters are calling for calm and praising the artist for his work off the stage. Skilla Baby can be seen praying on a recent Instagram video days before someone pulled up and opened fire. "I saw Skilla Baby on the internet praying for enemies and praying for himself, and God certainly answered that prayer," said Pastor Maurice Mo Hardwick. The 26-year-old rapper is expected to be recover even though police say over 20 rounds were fired at him. Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield has connected with the artist, whose real name is Treyvon Gardner on community initiatives "We definitely have had the opportunity to reach out to him and he is doing well," Sheffield said. "I think he's upset. I think he's disappointed and upset." Sheffield says what happened shook her. "I was shocked. Skilla Baby is definitely loved in Detroit," she said. "He's someone that over the years I've gotten to know personally. "I know Skilla Baby simply from his passion and love for our youth and what he does in Detroit. His giving back. He has always tried to step up to be a positive role model." Police say on Thursday, Gardner was heading east on Eight Mile just before Beech Daly. A dark-colored SUV then pulled up. "Back windows started rolling down and then next thing you know, shots were being fired at him and his vehicle," said Det. Edward French, Redford police. Hilary Golston, FOX 2: "Was it targeted and do we know why? "It definitely appears that it was targeted," French said. "I do not know why. I do not know any background information or any disputes that he's had with anybody, I'm not aware of anything, but it definitely appears to be targeted." Police said Gardner lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a building near Eight Mile and Centralia. He was shot three times. "He's in good spirits," French said. "I talked to him yesterday, last night. He seems to be just fine. He's gonna be okay." "We don't want retaliation," Sheffield said. "We don't want any continued ongoing issues here. We want to resolve this as much as possible because he has so many people in this city that are pulling for him, rooting for him, and that look up to Skilla Baby." "Let's take the high road," Hardwick said. "Maybe God can use you in this housr, Skilla Baby, and whoever else is involved. He can use you right now to settle differences and be blessed, because your life is spared - and we can spare the lives of others, and live in peace."
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Detroit's population has grown for the second year in a row, Census says
Detroit city officials had long been convinced that the U.S. Census bureau's annual estimates showing slowing or stagnant population counts for the metro area were just a bit off. As Mayor Mike Duggan and other local leaders explained during a press conference and official statements Thursday, the city has finally won that argument. The city officially has 645,705 residents as of the May 2025 report. "Detroit is coming back. This is the place to be and the numbers are indicating that," city Council president Mary Sheffield said during her remarks. The U.S. Census bureau demographic reports go way beyond bragging points, although Detroit officials do consider reversing the trend to be a success story. The Census bureau encourages people to fill out the 10-year census forms and participate in off-year demographic studies by explaining accurate numbers help assign Congressional districts, distribute federal funding and contribute to public policy decisions. During a time when Detroit officials had verifiable data of formerly vacant homes and buildings being redeveloped into housing, they were frustrated that the off-year Census population estimates would not budge. As Duggan explained, "by the federal rules, they would not count renovation of a vacant house." Specifically, the Detroit Land Bank Authority has been working since 2014 to convert thousands of vacant, abandoned homes into livable and affordable housing. Although the Land Bank projects are a considerable step on their own merits, Duggan said he and other city officials knew that private investments into repurposed sites also were picking up. With that, local officials and demographers fought the Census bureau's interpretation on housing redevelopment. "And we made the case that this is not right," Duggan said. The latest annual city population numbers, showing an additional 6,800 residents, are the first time in which newly renovated housing properties are part of the calculations. "They pulled out addresses and visited houses themselves. And they said – they're right, this isn't correct," Duggan said about the Census reports. The previous annual city population report, released in 2024, also has been revised for Detroit. Instead of an increase of 1,800 people, which in itself was noteworthy, city officials said that number was undercounted and the actual increase that year was closer to 7,000 people. To put the trend into perspective, the city went decades without seeing growth, posting population declines every year since 1958. Sheffield cited the efforts of numerous groups and agencies ranging from block clubs and church leaders to revive neighborhoods, improve economic opportunity and welcome people back into the city limits. "Today is really a testament to our collaborative work," she said.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
In first candidate forum, Detroit mayoral candidates pitch plans to address loss of COVID dollars
Al 'BJ' Williams of the African American Leadership Institute, which hosted the April 26, 2025 forum for mayoral candidates at Riverside Marina. Seated from L-R: Mary Sheffield, Jonathan Barlow, Fred Durhal III, Joel Haashiim, James Craig, Todd Perkins, Saunteel Jenkins | Screenshot With Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan opting against seeking a fourth term in pursuit of the governor's seat, Detroit is in need of a new mayor. On Saturday seven hopeful candidates met at Riverside Marina to introduce themselves and make their case for why they were the best qualified to lead the city. Former nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins, attorney Todd Perkins, former police Chief James Craig, businessmen Joel Haashiim, City Councilmember Fred Durhal III, entrepreneur Jonathan Barlow and City Council President Mary Sheffield each took time to flex their qualifications while taking questions on how they would work to support the city's residents and address its most pressing issues, alongside their plans to maintain vital programs when the state's American Rescue Plan Act funding expires at the end of 2026. Triumph Church Pastor Rev. Solomon Kinloch, Jr. and two-time mayoral candidate Danetta Simpson have also filed to run in the Aug. 5 mayoral primary, though the two were not present at Saturday's forum. During the forum candidates were asked to name the city's biggest problem and what they would do to address it, with candidates pointing to economic opportunity, housing, public safety and empowering residents through education and opportunities within Detroit neighborhoods as the issues at the top of their mind. Several candidates also called attention to the need for affordable childcare, following a question on how they would uplift women of color within the city. 'When we talk about some of the issues that our women face, particularly here in the city of Detroit, I will tell you, as a father who drops his son off at daycare, childcare is too expensive,' Durhal said. 'Paying $2,000 a month to have childcare for your children is crazy. And so imagine if you are a single parent, mother or father, and you have to go to work, you have to take your child to daycare. You have to rush there. You gotta get there before six o'clock and they charge you a premium if you don't. This is reality,' Durhal said. The candidates were also asked how they'd maintain programs, services and jobs created using more than $800 million in COVID-19 relief funds which are set to run out at the end of 2026. Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield at an April 26, 2025 Detroit mayoral candidate forum hosted by the African American Leadership Institute and Supermajority. | Screenshot Businessman Jonathan Barlow discussed his business and political connections at a April 26, 2025 forum for Detroit mayor candidates held at Riverside Marina. | Screenshot Detroit Councilmember Fred Durhal III answers questions at an April 26, 2025 forum for mayoral candidates at Riverside Marina. | Screenshot Businessman Joel Haashiim joined other candidates for Detroit mayor at Riverside Marina on April 26, 2025. | Screenshot Attorney Todd Perkins speaks at an April 26, 2025 forum for Detroit mayor candidates at Riverside Marina. | Screenshot Former nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins during a April 26, 2025 forum at Riverside Marina for Detroit mayoral candidates. | Screenshot Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig alongside other 2025 candidates for mayor during a April 26, 2025 forum at Riverside Marina. | Screenshot Jenkins said the next mayor will need to dig into the numbers to make sure the city has enough revenues, alongside working with the state and the federal government — 'whether they like it or not.' Perkins called for a full scale audit of the city, as did Craig and Haashim. However, Perkins said he wasn't afraid to take Lansing or the White House to court to ensure the city receives any funding it is due. 'Whether it be the United States America versus or Perkins Law Group versus, I've been on one side of that 'v', and I'm not afraid of confrontation because out of confrontation and discord, we get understanding,' Perkins said. Craig said he would leverage his ties to the White House, with Craig previously drawing praise from President Donald Trump for his leadership amid Black Lives Matter protests in Summer of 2020. The city later agreed to a $1 million settlement after protestors filed federal lawsuits arguing the Detroit Police Department used unconstitutional and excessive force and prevented the protestors from exercising their First Amendment rights. 'This is about the city of Detroit. It has nothing to do with the person sitting in the White House or James Craig. It has everything to do with the city of Detroit,' Craig said. Amid talk of forensic audits of the city's budget, Durhal encouraged his fellow candidates to watch him chair the city's Budget, Finance and Audit Standing Committee, where they will review audits from the auditor general. The council has already begun taking steps to convert jobs added through federal funding into permanent positions, Durhal said, but the next mayor will also need to be brave enough to tell people that they must remain fiscally prudent. Sheffield noted that under her leadership the city had passed 12 balanced budgets, and that she would work with private and philanthropic support to see how the city could continue some of its grant programs. 'Our day one intention is to join a coalition with our local hospitals — because there's a correlation between health and housing — to create a pot of money that can continue funding home repair grants here in the city of Detroit,' Sheffield said. She also said the city needed to diversify its revenues including working with the federal government and bipartisan leadership in Lansing. Barlow touted his business connections and relationships with political leaders like Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. 'No one behind me can tell you where they sit at on the yachts down in Mar a Lago or down in Miami. I'm the only one who's taking a yacht from this marina all the way down to Miami. That's because we play at a different level when we don't get involved in petty popularity politics at the local level,' Barlow said, later arguing the city could better assess its assets. Detroit residents will vote in the nonpartisan primary election on Aug. 5, and the candidates with the two highest vote totals will face off once more in the Nov. 4 general election. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City Council President Mary Sheffield officially enters race to be Detroit's next mayor
The Brief Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is not running for a fourth term, leading to a wide-open race of candidates. City Council President Mary Sheffield officially filed to run for mayor Wednesday with 1,200 signatures. Sheffield has raised the most money of any candidate and says she wants to expand opportunities for residents. DETROIT (FOX 2) - Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield held up petitions she delivered to the Department of Elections - officially filing to run for mayor. "Together we can - together we will," she said. Big picture view Sheffield was first to announce in December that she would run after Mayor Mike Duggan announced he would not seek a fourth term in office. Duggan is, focusing on the race for governor in 2026. "I went out with a few of my staff - we went to grocery stores, all throughout the city and different events, and I made sure that I collected them myself," she said. Sheffield says she collected more than 1,200 signatures - even though she only needed 500 - and 1,000 is the maximum accepted. "We're serious - we are serious," she said. Sheffield is the first to file in what is becoming a crowded field of candidates including fellow Councilman Fred Durhal III and former councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins. Also in the mix are Democrat State Representative Joe Tate who is expected to run, along with attorney Todd Perkins - and businessman Joel Haashiim. So far Sheffield has raised the most money of all the candidates. "We're going to have a diverse amount of donations in our campaign," she said. "From low-dollar amounts to high-dollar amounts from all over the country to be honest. People are watching Detroit. They're watching my leadership and what's happening around the country, and Detroit will be at the forefront of those conversations." Sheffield says she wants to continue the growth and momentum in the city - and expand opportunities for more Detroiters. "We all recently saw what happened to the family at Greektown - and we're all devastated by that," she said. "And I think it sheds light on the need for access to more safe, quality, affordable housing in Detroit and really addressing the issue of homelessness." The council president spent time talking jobs, the economy and education and growth for young people - and girls - since Detroit has never had a woman as mayor. "Part of this campaign is really for our young people to let them know that they can pursue their dreams - no matter their age - no matter what people may believe," she said. "That if you work hard with determination and hard work - you can do all that you put your mind to." Detroiters will choose their next mayor in November. The Source Information for this story was gathered from a press conference held by Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield.
