EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Why the Detroit Environmental Agenda? Why now?

Detroit is 88% people of color, with an alarmingly high rate of unemployment and a child poverty rate twice the state average.

(Image: Dot Density of Race/Ethnicity)

In 2011, over half of Michigan’s children with lead poisoning live in Detroit. The city’s asthma hospitalization rate is the highest in the tri-county area.

Quality of life for the majority of Detroiters is directly linked to the environment – the air we breath, the toxins in the soil, water, and buildings.

We need to do something about it – and we can.

(Image: Children less than six years of age with Confirmed elevated Blood Lead Levels 2011)

PATH TO HEALTHY CITY, HEALTHY PEOPLE

Because it holds special authorities and duties by law, the City has a powerful role to play in ensuring a healthy environment where all, regardless of income, race, gender or creed, can thrive in social, economic, and environmental health.

WE WANT OUR CITY LEADERS TO:

Take a Holistic Approach to Creating Healthy, Sustainable, Equitable Communities: Update the Master Plan and Zoning for public health, and adopt water, waste, and energy policies that reduce pollution, increase efficiencies, and improve health.

Take Responsibility for Neighborhood Quality of Life: Uphold the highest standards for air, water, soil, neighborhood, and indoor environmental quality by enforcing law and regulations, and strengthening them where necessary.

Communitize Neighborhood Care: Support community mechanisms and tools for residents to develop neighborhood plans, care for land, help monitor and enforce laws, and address illegal dumping and code violations.

Make Forward-thinking Investments: Protect our natural assets, improve local and regional public transit, encourage complete neighborhoods, declare commitment to a clean economy, and prioritize social equity.

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CLEAN AIR

CLEAN WATER

CLEAN ENERGY

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

ZERO WASTE

HEALTHY LAND

HEALTHY HOMES

HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS

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HEALTHY CITY

HEALTHY PEOPLE

CLEAN AIR

Detroit is home to at least 12 facilities that were out of compliance with federal regulations as of the end of 2012. A University of Michigan study found that Detroit is home to 5 of the top 25 most polluted zip codes in the state, including 48217 which has a toxic burden level 46 times the state average.

CLEAN WATER

The Great Lakes account for 95% of the U.S. surface freshwater, and over 1/5 of the world’s freshwater supply. In 2011, Detroit’s sewer system discharged over 26 billion gallons of untreated or partially treated sewage into the Detroit and Rouge Rivers.

CLEAN ENERGY

72 cents of of every dollar Michigan residents spend on energy flows out of the state for imported oil, gas, and coal. Detroiters spend twice as much of their household income on energy bills as the rest of the state. Weatherization alone could cut annual energy costs by over $400.

ZERO WASTE

Detroit recycles 7% of its total solid waste, compared to 26% on average for other major cities. The highest-ranking large city, San Francisco, recycles over 80% of its waste.

 HEALTHY LAND

Nearly 30% of Detroit’s population are within walking distance of a toxic release (1988-2009). Past industrial and commercial activity has also left legacy pollution, significant amounts of which remain today as brownfield sites.

HEALTHY HOUSING

In 2011, Detroit children had lead-poisoning rates twice as high as the statewide average. Lead poisoning lowers IQs, increases risk of ADHD, and increases aggression and delinquency. A Pittsburgh study found that juvenile delinquents were four times as likely to have been lead-poisoned as a child.

HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS

Heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are bigger causes of death in Detroit than they are statewide or nationally. Exposure to environmental pollution is a contributor to these types of disease, along with many other illnesses and health impacts such as low birth weights, infant mortality, respiratory disease, and obesity.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

According to Transit Riders United, DDOT riders working a six-day week would be late to work twice a week. Over 20% of Detroit Public School students (more than 14,000 students per day) rely on the public buses to get to school. 33% of Detroit’s low-income residents and 38% of our elderly residents don’t have access to a car.

Many community-driven efforts and public-private partnerships are working to improve Detroit’s environment. Because this report is focused on policy opportunities for the City to play a strong role in environmental justice and sustainability, we have highlighted collaborative, environmental health, or environmental justice focused initiatives with citywide policy impact.

Community Action Against Asthma

Community Development Advocates of Detroit

The Consortium of Hispanic Agencies

Detroit Black Community Food Security Netowrk

Doing Development Differently in Detroit

Detroit Climate Action Collaborative

Detroit Digital Justice Coalition

Detroit Food & Fitness Collaborative

Detroit Food Justice Task Force

Detroit Food Policy Council

Detroit Future City

Detroit Greenways Coalition

Detroit Lead Partnership

Detroit Parks Coalition

Detroit Peoples Platform Convention

Detroit Urban Research Center

Detroit-Wayne County Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

Detroit Water Agenda

FoodLab Detroit

Friends of the Rouge Watershed

West Grand Boulevard Collaborative

Grand Resource Program

Lower Eastside Action Plan

Neighbors Building Brightmoor

NextEnergy Green Economy Initiative

North End Woodward Community Coalition

People’s Water Board Coalition

RecoveryPark

Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition

Transportation for Michigan

Urban Agriculture Work Group

Woodward Corridor Initiative

Zero Waste Detroit

48217 Congress of Communities

WE COMMIT TO:

  1. Sharing the Detroit Environmental Agenda with mayoral and council candidates and asking them to respond to five questions
  2. Sharing those responses with you so that as informed citizens, you can help elect leaders who will take action for a cleaner, safer, healthier Detroit

WE ASK YOU TO COMMIT TO:

  1. Reading the Detroit Environmental Agenda and signing on as a supporter
  2. Sharing the Detroit Environmental Agenda with 5 friends
  3. Voting as an informed citizen

What’s next?

Detroit – cleaner, leaner, greener – is. And that means all of us.

See www.detroitenv.org to find out what’s happening and how you can elect and support strong leaders as we recommit to our city.