Mayor Duggan, University of Michigan officials present  analysis of the 2020 Census count in Detroit​

Mayor Mike Duggan joined officials from the University of Michigan and Wayne State University Dec. 16 to give an overview on the analysis of the 2020 Census count for the city of Detroit. According to the analysis, the Census population count for Detroit suggested a population decline of 31,000 people compared to the 2019 Census estimate, which is far off the trend line from prior years.​

Detroit is an outlier compared to other major U.S. cities in the extent to which 2020 population and housing counts deviate from the Census Bureau’s 2019 population and housing estimates, officials said.​

The audit of 10 Census block groups suggests the 2020 Census undercounted the number of occupied residential units by 8.1 percent.

Watch the entire press conference on the City’s Facebook page.

The Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department developing new website for affordable housing

The Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department is developing a new website for affordable housing, and it needs residents’ help to create the best web experience. Share your valuable input during the virtual feedback session on Monday, Dec. 20 from 6 – 7 p.m. on Zoom.

Registration is required to attend. Register at Detroit Affordable Housing Website Feedback Session Tickets | Eventbrite

City of Detroit issues Public Health Order extending remote public access to open meetings and requiring social distancing at meetings

• Detroit Chief Public Health Officer issues new order regarding all government body meetings to reduce the transmission of COVID-19

In order to protect the public health from further transmission of COVID-19, the City of Detroit’s Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair Razo issued an emergency epidemic health order requiring public bodies subject to the Open Meetings Act. The order extends remote public access to meetings and requires social distancing for individuals physically present at meetings through March 31, 2022.

Razo added the order may be revised or supplemented, per the Michigan Public Health Code. Additional information and a copy of the order can be found here: detroitmi.gov/health.

Detroit Health Department offering Pfizer booster doses to      16 & 17 year olds as vaccine arrival anniversary approaches

The City of Detroit is providing Pfizer booster doses to all eligible Detroiters ages 16 and up if they have completed their primary doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, following approval by the Centers for Disease Control and Michigan Department of Health & Human Services. Currently, Pfizer is the only vaccine authorized for those under age 18.

Teens ages 16 and 17 years can obtain their Pfizer booster doses at all Detroit Health Department vaccination locations. Individuals will need to bring vaccination cards, and walk-ins are welcome.

The latest booster recommendation comes as Detroit approaches the one-year anniversary of the arrival of the vaccine. The Detroit Health Department opened its first COVID-19 vaccination clinic at 100 Mack Avenue on December 23, 2020 to provide vaccinations to first responders and frontline medical workers.

Details are available at: detroitmi.gov/health or by calling (313) 876-4000. To read the full story, visit the City’s website at Detroit Offering Booster Doses to 16 & 17 Year Olds | City of Detroit (detroitmi.gov).

Detroit Office of Arts and Culture to offer development and entrepreneur workshops for artists, creatives in 2022

The City of Detroit’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE) announced Dec. 13 that it will continue free monthly entrepreneurship workshops in 2022.

ACE partnered with Art Ops to host the yearlong professional development workshop series for the city’s creative workforce to help artists improve their business acumen and potential for success. The training is free, thanks to the generous support of the Kresge Foundation.

The entrepreneurship training sessions are scheduled for the third Tuesdays of each month from 6 – 7 p.m. and feature experts in everything from marketing and brand management to networking and determining pricing for performance and products. The first session is January 18 focusing on the “Art of Finance” with attorney Michael Hall and consultant Jennifer Montgomery.

For more information and to register for the upcoming workshops, visit the ACE website at detroitmi.gov/ace.

Warming Centers open, Recreation Centers and Public Library branches serve as respite locations

City of Detroit DPW reminder to residents of last week of yard waste pickup

The City of Detroit Department of Public Works is reminding residents the deadline for yard waste collection is this month. The week of December 20 will be the last collection for some residents based on their scheduled yard waste pickup day. Collection for yard waste will not resume until April 2022.

Christmas and New Year’s will not postpone regular trash, recycling and bulk pickup because those holidays fall on weekends this year. In addition, collection of Christmas trees will be January 3-14.

To find out your scheduled collection dates, visit www.detroitmi.gov and enter your address in the My Home Info field. Residents also can sign up to receive text alert reminders the day before their next scheduled pickup by texting their street address to (313) 800-7905.