Friday, May 10, 2024     |     www.detroitmi.gov

Nicholas DuBose, joined by Mayor Duggan and Chief of Police James White, describes how his quality of life has improved significantly after participating in Project Clean Slate.

Thousands of Detroiters who have wanted to work and be a part of Detroit’s comeback now have that opportunity, thanks to the City’s Project Clean Slate (PCS) initiative, which recently completed its 10,000th expungement.

The goal of Project Clean Slate is to help Detroiters clear their criminal records to create additional opportunities for employment, education, and housing. Mayor Duggan created the innovative program in 2016. The program has become so successful; it helped Detroiters expunge more than 5,300 convictions last year alone.

PCS is a nationally recognized program and model for other cities. While other municipalities have similar programs to conduct expungements, research demonstrates that Detroit’s PCS is the only City-run program that employs full-time attorneys with the sole purpose of expunging records.

Thousands of Detroiters are eligible for criminal record expungement. Under state law, residents who have convictions that date back at least three, five, or seven years may be eligible to have those convictions expunged.

However, many of them do not seek expungement because they do not know they are eligible or do not know how to navigate the process. PCS helps Detroit residents remove those barriers by determining whether applicants are eligible for expungement, and if so, increasing the likelihood of a successful application by providing dedicated attorney support.

Mayor Duggan, along with Councilmember Latisha Johnson and Detroit residents, participate in the G-7 pop-up event.

Mayor Duggan joined community members, vendors and City leaders at a bustling pop-up event this week on a vacant – but strategically located – block on the Detroit’s east side.

The intent of the event – located along Gratiot just south of E. McNichols – was to show off the site’s potential as a future center of community activity and commerce.

The community-led event was filled with excitement and entertainment for all ages, including vendors, food trucks, music, and activities, creating a welcoming atmosphere for residents and visitors alike.

The pop-up location falls along a high-traffic corridor within the larger Gratiot/7 Mile Strategic Neighborhood Fund (SNF) area, which sees an average daily traffic volume of nearly 30,000 vehicles. The creative approach to highlight this section was developed by the City’s Planning & Development Department and the Better Block Foundation and planned along with neighbors, who have been preparing the site for weeks.

The purpose of the SNF, which includes 10 neighborhood clusters across the city of Detroit, is to spur a range of investments in each area, including commercial corridor improvements, housing development, park improvements and streetscapes.

CRIO’s 2024 Juneteenth Detroit Student Poetry Contest Guidelines & Submission Form here.

DWSD Field Services Technician Darius Byrd of Detroit explains to Mayor Duggan in the Russell Woods neighborhood how the crews remove lead service lines at homes and replace them with copper pipe.

During National Drinking Water Week, Mayor Mike Duggan, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) Director Phillip Roos, and Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) Director Gary Brown provided an update on the City’s robust, nationally-recognized Lead Service Line Replacement Program.

One year ago, Mayor Duggan and Director Brown made a commitment to get the lead out within the next ten years, which will exceed state and federal regulatory compliance.

DWSD estimates there are 80,000 lead service lines in Detroit. In May 2023, they started a neighborhood-by-neighborhood approach to replace lead service lines. Neighborhoods are prioritized based on density of housing built prior to 1945, significant number of children and seniors in the area, and likely high number of low-income households.

DWSD has completed more than 4,000 replacements in 15 neighborhoods across every district in Detroit since implementing this approach.

For a list of current and upcoming neighborhoods, visit detroitmi.gov/lslr. DWSD is also currently working on a live map that will be available on the City of Detroit website in the near future.

The new Jason Hargrove Transit Center will officially open to riders on    May 11. From that day forward, the City will no longer use the temporary State Fair Transfer Hub and move operations to the new location.

The new Transit Center is dedicated to the memory of Jason Hargrove, a beloved Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) bus driver who passed away from COVID-19 in April 2020, despite his appeal to the public to help keep bus drivers safe during the pandemic.

His advocacy led to important changes at DDOT to make sure driver and passengers would always be protected. Jason was first and foremost a devoted and loving husband, father, and friend, who touched the lives of everyone he met. We will remember him for his warmth, laughter, giving spirit, and his compassion toward others.

Learn more about the new location at Jason Hargrove Transit Center.

The City of Detroit, EGLE and EPA Region 5 invites community members to an in-person workshop from 5:30 – 8 p.m. on May 20 at the Eastside Community Network at 4401 Conner to discuss ideas for projects to improve Detroit’s air, land, and water.

Please register for the event here.

The City of Detroit Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE) is proud to partner with key organizations to host the Detroit Public Schools Community District’s (DPSCD) annual An Evening of Fine Arts for the third consecutive year at the Fox Theatre.

The event, which celebrates its 55th anniversary this year, will begin at        6 p.m. on May 15.

The free public extravaganza will feature performances by DPSCD’s top instrumental music ensembles, vocal music ensembles and dance companies as well as theatre excerpts. In addition, original works of art by the district’s top visual artists will be displayed in the Fox Theatre’s Grand Lobby.

Although admission to An Evening of Fine Arts is free and open to the public, tickets are required for entry and are available in advance at participating schools, the DPSCD Office of Fine Arts and Eventbrite.com.

For more information about the event, visit Detroitk12.org.

For more information, go to SaturdaysInTheD.org.

Registration is open now until May 12. Persons 50 & older are welcome to compete. Register Here.

Mayor Mike Duggan joined other City leaders, organizers, and local businesses last week to celebrate the record-breaking 2024 NFL Draft held in Detroit from April 25-27, and review the economic effect it had on Detroit.

The NFL Draft brought over 775,000 visitors and showcased Detroit to the world, having a massive impact on the city and region economically. The event was an overwhelming success thanks to many stakeholders’ hard work and coordination. Detroit proved once again it can host major events with first-class execution.

Mayor, Detroit ACE and Ford Foundation announce jessica Care moore as new Detroit Poet Laureate

Mayor Duggan joins Poet Laureate jesscia Care moore and Kevin Ryan from the Ford Foundation.

Mayor Duggan, along with Detroit Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE) director Rochelle Riley and the Ford Foundation, introduced renowned poet jessica Care moore as the City’s new Detroit Poet Laureate last week. A lifelong Detroiter, moore is an award-winning poet and activist, as well as filmmaker.

The position of Poet Laureate is sponsored by the Ford Foundation, that also is sponsoring the City’s first Composer Laureate to be announced in June.

moore fills the shoes of Detroit’s longtime Poet Laureate, the late nationally renowned Naomi Long Madgett, a teacher, award-winning poet and founder and senior editor of Lotus Press, established in 1972 to publish poetry books by black poets.

Detroit is calling on residents, community organizations, business owners and students to join the effort to clean and beautify neighborhoods on the final two days.

Organizers are emphasizing the need for residents to register in order to get a limited supply of bags and gloves, flowers and trees.

The remaining cleaning efforts will take place on:

• May 11 – Districts 4 and 5
• May 18 – Districts 6 and 7

Volunteers can sign up at motorcitymakeover.org or call (313) 224-4415.

Detroit Department of Appeals and Hearings consolidating offices

The City of Detroit Department of Appeals and Hearings (DAH) is consolidating its office space in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (CAYMC).

The DAH operations previously in Suite 124 (all customer service and cashier’s activities) are now located in Suite 1004.

Please visit the Department in Suite 1004 for assistance Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Services are available 24 hours online here.

First Merchants Bank breaks ground in Fitzgerald Neighborhood

Mayor Duggan joined local leaders for the groundbreaking of the First Merchants Bank coming to the Fitzgerald neighborhood. The new 3,000-square-foot branch will provide residents and businesses with the tools and resources to achieve their financial goals. Features will include accessible banking hours, community lending, financial wellness, and a local team ready to assist. First Merchants Bank, located at 7525 W. McNichols, will serve the needs of the broader community of northwest Detroit, maintaining its commitment to ensuring people can access fair banking. Construction is expected to be completed by November.

Mayor, local leaders celebrate the opening of new District by Design showroom

Mayor Duggan is shown around the new District by Design location by company president Reggie Roland.

Mayor Duggan joined local leaders to celebrate the opening of District by Design at 119 State Street last week.

District by Design is a new commercial workplace design and furniture dealership. Its Detroit showroom is home to the first minority-owned and minority-led dealership to combine deep industry experience with an unparalleled commitment.

During the grand opening celebration, the Mayor was given a tour of the location by District by Design President Reggie Roland and Vice President DJ Reid.

Learn more about District by Design online here.