A Word From The MCO President's Desk

In last month’s column, I wrote about appreciating those City departments who are responsive to community requests for action. This month, I unfortunately must represent the opposite viewpoint.

Mayor Duggan, our Department of Neighborhoods District Managers and other staff consistently tell us to report blight and other problems via the Improve Detroit app, commonly known as “SeeClickFix.” While in my experience SeeClickFix often brings results, there are also many occasions where this channel simply does not work. One current example of inaction is the prominent illegal dumping pile near the corner of East Warren and Three Mile Drive.

On October 3, workers clearing out the closed party store at 16301 E. Warren were observed dumping insulation, shelving and other building materials in front of the first lot on Three Mile. They even blocked the fire hydrant! On October 4, I uploaded the address (5027 Three Mile Dr.), along with a photo of dumping in progress, to SeeClickFix. One week later, on October 11 our D4 Deputy District Manager submitted the same complaint. As of November 6, two additional citizens have also noted the same issue on SeeClickFix. Thirty-three days (and counting), four notifications, zero results.

Similarly, the partially demolished dangerous building at 16134 E. Warren at Bedford has been reported by residents since at least May. This eyesore was even mentioned to the mayor himself when he visited our August MorningSide meeting.

In my view, these shortcomings don’t mean we should give up on SeeClickFix. Rather we must continue to consistently call and email multiple contacts, starting with our District Managers Mr. Liggons and Mr. Perkins. The monthly Zoom calls hosted by the Department of Neighborhoods are another option, along with contacting the relevant departments such as DPW or BSEED. And I am hopeful that our incoming City Council member Latisha Johnson will prove more supportive than her predecessor.

Let each one of us ask ourselves the question: would these examples of visual blight be similarly ignored in Palmer Woods, or even in East English Village? MorningSide residents deserve no less attention.

Illegal Dumping on Three Mile Drive near East Warren. Image courtesy of Susan Newell

The partially demolished structure at 16134 E. Warren. Image courtesy of Jeffrey D. Lewis II