District 4 Councilmember Looks Back at a Productive 2022

As 2022 comes to an end, I wanted to thank you for the support that you have given to my team and me. With your help we have achieved a lot in our first year in office, including:

• $15/hour minimum pay rate for all city jobs

• Budget approval for a citywide Master Plan Update ($2 million) and improvements to Sasser Playground ($500,000)

• Establishment of Taskforces: Equitable Development - working to streamline processes to support small developers working within Detroit neighborhoods, and Small Business Taskforce - working to increase small business opportunities with city of Detroit contract opportunities

• Hosted two Vendor Procurement Fairs at WCCCD - Eastern campus, which assisted minority and local vendors in doing business with the City of Detroit

• $203 Million Affordable Housing plan, which includes.

  • Detroit Land Bank affordable home program ($3M in ARPA funds) This initiative will work with non-profit organizations to provide city subsidies to assist in rehabbing up to 50 Detroit Land Bank Authority (DLBA)-owned homes. The properties will initially be offered as rentals at deeply affordable rates (50%- 60% of the area median income (AM) and will create opportunities for the renter to buy the property and become a homeowner.

  • Self-sufficiency support for those facing rising rents ($10 million in ARPA funds) This initiative combats rent increases caused by the increased demand for housing in the city. The City of Detroit's Detroit at Work program will help residents through immediate placement in good-paying jobs or in "earn to learn" programs, including literacy and GED programs to increase employability rates of Detroit residents. The program provides rental subsidies as residents work through the various programs.

• Led Property Tax Foreclosure Prevention Initiative which threatened over 1,700 District 4 families with the loss of their homes

• Began discussions with the EPA-Environmental Protection Agency to discuss environmental protections for our community

• Keynote speaker at Eastside Community Network's (ECN's) Sustainability Fellowship event

• Established multiple forums to provide support and hear your concerns and ideas

  • Coffee Hours

  • Monthly Community Meetings

  • Visits to senior buildings

  • School visits

• Worked with WSU Urban Planning students and residents to develop an Eden Gardens planning study

• Fire Safety canvassing with the Detroit Fire Department (smoke detector/carbon monoxide giveaway)

Thank you all for supporting our efforts to improve the lives of District 4 residents and all Detroiters. My team and I look forward to working with you in 2023!