Latest news with #SolomonKinlochJr.
Axios
7 days ago
- General
- Axios
Trail Mix: Detroit transit mayoral event coming up
Welcome back to our weekly roundup of local election news. Answer received: The hosts of a Detroit mayoral forum last month asked the candidates to answer who on the ballot they would vote for if they weren't candidates themselves. It took coaxing to get answers, many of which you can read here. Pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. didn't attend, so when we saw him at the Mackinac Policy Conference last week, we asked him what he would have said. He told Axios he wouldn't have answered the question — that he was told "a long time ago" that just because someone asked, doesn't mean you need to answer. Transit advocates, rise: Another mayoral candidate gathering is coming up at 6pm Wednesday — but this one is a deep dive into transit issues hosted by nonprofit Transportation Riders United and partners. TRU says it won't endorse, but believes better public transit is "crucial to the future of the city," so voters need to hear the candidates' ideas and stances. In-person tickets sold out, but it can be viewed virtually.
Axios
10-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
Detroit mayor's race sit-down: Solomon Kinloch
If the Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. becomes mayor, he says he could unite and convene powerhouse stakeholders while ensuring businesses deliver on their promises. The big picture: This is the latest in our series of interviews on mayoral hopefuls' policy priorities. More candidates are emerging in the race to replace Mike Duggan, the only mayor so far to oversee the city in its post-bankruptcy recovery. The nonpartisan race has its primary in August and general election in November. Flashback: Kinloch leads the Detroit-based Triumph Church, which had around 50 members when he began as pastor in 1998. Under his leadership, the church estimates it has grown to 40,000 members across locations in Detroit, Flint, Southfield and elsewhere. As well as usual church services, Triumph's offerings include scholarships and financial and mental health workshops. During the pandemic, the church provided free laptops for students, vaccines, groceries and care packages. Kinloch has also served on the Skillman Foundation board and the state's COVID-19 task force on racial disparities. Driving the news: Kinloch spoke with Axios Detroit about his goals as mayor, his ability to unify and why running from outside of traditional politics could be an advantage. Many people are skeptical of institutional politicians, he said, leading people like him to run for office to become the leadership they want to see instead of waiting for it. Zoom in: Housing is paramount, the pastor said. He wants to add 10,000 more housing units in the city. Some areas of focus there would be making housing affordable, using innovative materials and technology and building a bigger down payment assistance program to promote homeownership. Plus, housing construction connects with another of Kinloch's missions: job training, skilled trades and increasing economic opportunities. He wants to expand existing workforce training programs and "not just retain our middle class, but we want to continue to attract and to grow our middle class and upper classes." He also emphasized funding for small businesses, and has said he wants to add 10 more grocery stores in the city to increase access in food deserts. Kinloch also thinks his administration could do a better job leveraging private-public resources and convening philanthropic leaders, including in education. The mayor doesn't preside over public schools, but youth well-being is still their responsibility, he said. "Having a situation where our schools are not producing the best we can for our young people is no longer an option," he said. Context: If he's elected, Kinloch has said he doesn't plan to step down from leading Triumph, an avenue through which he hears from thousands of people. He also said in his announcement speech that he would be a mayor for Detroiters of all races and identities. Asked about Triumph's beliefs on its website against same-sex marriage, he said that he is not running for mayor as a pastor, and that he would defend equal protections under the law. While people have the right to their religious views, they don't have the right to impose their beliefs on others, he said. State of play: One theme of the mayor's race is going to be big business and community — balancing the varied interests and needs of those affecting and affected by how Detroit's landscape is evolving. Kinloch said the next mayor needs to be both a unifier and a fighter, and that he can and has bridged that gap. "Businesses need to know that Detroit is still open for business. … The difference is that my administration would ensure that, listen, if you make our people a promise, you've got to deliver on the promise you make." The bottom line: We asked Kinloch about a quality he would bring as mayor that is different from what other candidates and the current mayor have. He said: "Ministry is about people. And … the city's business, government ought to be about people." "I think that's what makes me rare, because I've been on the front line. I haven't been given anything … I had to build, I had to recruit, I had to lead. I had to be creative. I had to inspire hope. The next leader has to be someone who can inspire hope."
