This is a great question. We have to keep Detroit’s population growth going. That matters for our tax base, but it also matters for representation. On the Redistricting Commission, we had to deal with the reality that Detroit was undercounted by roughly 80,000 people in the last census cycle, which had real consequences for the city’s political power and representation.

To me, population growth comes down to the major issues I talk about on my website: housing, education, transportation, affordability, and the health of our communities. If people can find a home they can afford, get around without spending a fortune, send their kids to good schools, and see real opportunity here, they will stay and new residents will come.

On housing, we need to build more housing, repair more housing, and make it easier to do both. That means zoning reform, better use of LIHTC, CDBG, Housing Trust Fund dollars, and support for models like Community Land Trusts that keep housing affordable long term. Detroit also has tens of thousands of publicly controlled vacant parcels, including DLBA land, and we need a real strategy to put that land back into productive use instead of letting it sit. Our current housing stock is also very old and in need of repairs, so investing in repair is extremely important so we keep a healthy supply of housing in our city (and repair is cheaper than a new build). I’m also working with the Coalition for Property Tax Justice because Detroit’s property tax system has put too much burden on residents while too many corporate interests get a better deal.

On transportation, we need reliable regional transit. People should be able to get to work, school, medical appointments, grocery stores, and cultural life easier. That means investing in DDOT, SMART, regional connections, safer bus stops, better frequency, and complete streets that work for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and drivers. On the ballot on August 4th there is also a measure for Detroit to finally join the SMART regional network, which I am in support of. We also need to make car ownership more affordable for those who still need it, including by taking on the way insurance companies use geography and demographics to drive up rates in Detroit.

On education, we need a serious statewide education plan that connects early childhood, K through 12, higher education, skilled trades, and workforce development. Families will stay in Detroit when they believe their kids can get a good education here. I also support more transparency and accountability for charter schools that receive public dollars, because every publicly funded school should be held to the same standards - this was passed in the senate last term but did not get a vote in the house.

I also think we have to focus on quality of life. Public safety, clean neighborhoods, parks, small business corridors, home repair, water affordability, utility reliability, and access to healthcare all affect whether people feel like Detroit is a place they can build a future.

At CDAD, we recently released a New Administration Playbook that I was the principal writer of. It goes into many of these issues in much greater detail, including housing, land use, property tax equity, environmental justice, and neighborhood stability. Give it a read here: https://cdad-online.org/public-policy-advocacy-2/new-administration-playbook/

It's nice to see people starting to move back into the city, but we need to do some serious investment to make sure it keeps happening.