City of Detroit Candidates

At-Large Candidate for City Council

Q: Where can people go to learn more about your biography? If not readily available online, please describe in 150 words or less, your relevant experience, public offices held (if any), involvement in environmental causes, and membership in any environmental organizations.  If you currently hold office, describe any votes or actions demonstrating concern for the environment. 

A: https://www.marywatersfordetroit.com/meet-mary 

Community 

Q: If elected, how will you work with Detroit residents to ensure that they benefit from and partake in the decision-making surrounding local development projects and that potential adverse impacts of those projects are identified, measured, monitored and mitigated? Moreover, how would you work to put more power into the hands of residents to maintain and revitalize their own communities and to access vacant land through the DLBA?

A: As a public servant, my charge is to listen to the will of the people. Community engagement requires a multi-faceted approach. This means holding town halls, both in-person and virtual. This means publishing short, easy to read fliers and social media posts that inform the citizens about the issues. This means continuing to engage with our District Managers and other local community leaders. This also means transparency at all levels. If elected, my mission would be to ensure that local development projects are transparent from the top down by collecting information the Detroiters would want to know, such as: How many Detroiters will be employed as a result of this project? How will the project enhance the quality of life of its surrounding areas? Will the development adversely impact our sewer system, our water, or our air?

To place power in the hands of the residents for the enhancement of their own neighborhoods requires information and funding. If elected, my office would engage with every district in Detroit to provide information on grant opportunities, forgivable home improvement loans, and community partners that can assist with neighborhood improvement efforts. As for access to vacant land through the DLBA, again, information is key. My office would work hand-in-hand with the DLBA and each district to send out information about vacant land, and ways to obtain some help with funding for purchases.

I will support the passage and the funding of Proposal P, which contains significant measures for citizen inclusion and equitable metrics for development projects. I will also support amendments to strengthen the Detroit Community Benefits Ordinance and Community Outreach Ordinance. I will introduce and advocate for adopting racial equity and sustainability indexes for evaluating, approving, and monitoring all development deals. I will introduce and vigorously fight for legislative amendments and policies that require the DLBA to eliminate auction sales that favor wealthy cash buyers over Detroit residents. Instead, I will support measures that create a tiered land disposition process with first preference to Detroit residents who are first-time home buyers currently residing in the surrounding neighborhood, followed by first-time home buyers and Detroit residents throughout the city. I will work with nonprofits, community groups, and state and federal entities to subsidize costs.

Q: If elected, what budget appropriations would you propose to increase investment in needed social and environmental services to help improve the quality of life and health of Detroit residents?

A: We must invest in residents first. Accordingly, I will propose an increase in appropriations to the Detroit Housing Trust Fund to create and preserve affordable housing in addition to increasing appropriations for home repair grants and loans, employment training, and neighborhood-based entrepreneurism. I will propose increases and shifts of public subsidies in preference of “green and clean” businesses. The city’s investment in air quality monitoring and regulation of industrial emissions must also increase.

If elected, I would propose increased funding to the City of Detroit Health Department. The Health Department has handled the COVID-19 pandemic with a coordinated campaign of information and access to services across all 144 square miles of the city. Detroiters suffer from a variety of chronic conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure and asthma. These conditions can be managed, but a vast segment of the population does not have access to information and services. As a breast cancer survivor, I am well aware of how access to information and services can lead to positive outcomes. By increasing  the Health Departments funding, the city will be able to focus more on the health of every man, woman and child in the city. 

Public Health 

Q: What long term solutions do you see for addressing vehicle speeds and making our streets safer?

A: We must first address over-policing and gentrification. There are not enough recreational options for low-income teens and young adults. Unfortunately, many teens and young adults are profiled in downtown, midtown, and more affluent areas. Years ago, the City of Detroit offered free festivals hosted in Hart Plaza until midnight. These places provided a safe environment for teens and young adults that were not dependent on money; accessible (public and financially) public venues keep people out of trouble. I will also invest in proven, evidence-based crime prevention interventions such as mental health and substance abuse centers. Finally, I will work collaboratively with community members to design and implement solutions for their neighborhoods. Neighbors may request speed bumps, support for community radio patrols, securing abandoned homes etc. I will work with neighbors across Detroit as co-leaders in designing solutions for their neighborhoods.

In the long term, there are 3 ways to make our streets safer: Information, enforcement, and obstacles. As to information, we need to consistently hammer home the speed limits in our neighborhoods. I often see signs that say, “Drive like your children live here”, and others that mention driving slower. A series of public service announcements and social media blasts can potentially remind drivers to take it slow. As to enforcement, the recent efforts of the Detroit Police Department to crack down on drag racing are a welcome addition to combating speeding drivers. If those enforcement efforts can be sustained and expanded, it would ensure the safety of our streets. Third, the efforts of the city to install speed humps, medians and other speed-reducing obstacles has the potential to greatly increase the safety of our streets, especially in less densely-populated residential areas. 

Q: How will you work to reduce the negative health impacts of air quality on the residents of Detroit?

A: I pledge and commit to the following to reduce the negative health impacts of air quality on Detroit residents. Specifically, I will:

• work with neighbors, council members, and the mayoral administration to obtain “clean and green” economic development.
• lead the way in requiring an environmental impact study, health impact assessment, and mitigation plan before approving any sale of land or zoning request for an industrial business.
• advocate for additional investment for our public health department to provide and subsidize air filters, window sealants, and other protective measures for homes.
• advocate to increase requirements for vegetative and other green buffers for industrial facilities.
• Work with experts to establish truck routes in our city to limit diesel emissions in our neighborhoods.
• advocate for a phased approach to convert all municipal buses to hybrid or electric models.
• work closely with state and federal entities to monitor and enforce (and advocate for enhanced standards) air quality standards in Detroit

To reduce the negative impacts of air quality, we would have to start at the sources of air quality issues: industrial and vehicular emissions. As to industrial emissions, I would have to work with the factories and businesses in each district to evaluate what, if any impact their emissions have on air quality. Once impact is determined, then the businesses and the community would come together in a town hall, to brainstorm a way to reduce or limit emissions in a gradual, safe way. I would also try to help the business identify any grants or federal funding to achieve the goals of reducing emissions and enhancing air quality. 

Q: If elected, what actions will you take to work toward safer, healthier, and more affordable housing for all Detroiters?

A: First, I will push for a substantial increase in appropriations to the Detroit Housing Trust Fund. Second, I will prioritize resource allocation, tax subsidies, and other public assistance to developments that reserve 50% or more units for low-to-moderate-income units based on the median income for the City of Detroit and not the regional index. Third, I will invest in grants for home remediation, including measures such as lead, mold, and asbestos removal. Finally, as stated earlier, I will advocate for increased appropriations for home repair grants, followed by zero to low-interest home repair loans, keeping Detroiters shielded from property tax foreclosure.

There are some citizens who live in deplorable conditions in a home they own, simply because financing for repairs is out of reach. There are already a few banking entities that work with Detroit homeowners, but I would like to attempt to expand the partnerships and increase the types of financing available for home repairs. I would also seek, as always, grant funding and federal programming assistance to ensure the success of the expanded programming. 

To shield more Detroiters from property tax foreclosure, I would like to work to intensely promote the Homeowners Property Tax Assistance Program, and other flexible payment options offered by both the Detroit Tax Relief Fund and the Wayne County Treasurer’s office. To bring more affordable housing units to the city, my office would need to hold certain corporate entities to their promises of building such units, as well as support smaller development companies who solely focus on affordable, sustainable housing.

Energy 

Q: What are your priorities to reduce emissions and lessen the impacts of climate change in Detroit during your term in office?

A: Our community’s health comes first. My priority is to shift the current economic development strategy to one that prioritizes jobs and “clean and green” industry. As stated earlier, I will advocate for the use of a racial equity and sustainability index for approving and monitoring development projects. Finally, I will hold the City accountable for following and adequately funding the Detroit Climate Action Plan and Sustainability Agenda.

One of my priorities is to evaluate the environmental impacts of the different industries and businesses in each district, then engage key stakeholders (the citizens in the impacted area, local leaders, and business owners) to come up with a coordinated plan to reduce and/or limit harmful emissions to meet the 2024 emission reduction goal of the Greenhouse Gas Ordinance. If such a plan had already been created, my term would be the perfect time to evaluate and revise with the input of the community. 

The next is to get citizens more information and education regarding climate change, and what sorts of actions/inactions by some industries can contribute to its effects. 

Q: What are your plans for helping the city transition to renewable energy and how will you ensure that the cost benefits and increased resilience that come from the use of renewables is made accessible to low-income and vulnerable communities across Detroit?

A: My plans include a proposal for City Departments to integrate a circular economy framework to eliminate waste, integrate reuse, and recycle materials. I commit to supporting proposals to incorporate green stormwater infrastructure into current and upcoming street redesign and greenway projects, in addition to enhancing energy and water efficiency at City-owned facilities. On a larger scale, I will advocate for issuing RFPS to assist the City of Detroit in a phased plan towards the majority use of natural and renewable energy sources. I will promote creating an index to determine cost savings and target those savings to reinvest in social services, subsidizing renewable energy upgrades for low-to-moderate-income homeowners, and promoting neighborhood-based green infrastructure projects.

The first plan is to distribute information to key stakeholders on what the transition to renewable energy could look like. Then, it would be my plan to host town halls across the city to gain citizen input on the transition. These town halls would be frequent and can be virtual or in person to capture everyone, especially in our most vulnerable areas. Not only that, but our office can direct citizens who are interested in solar panels and other forms of renewable energy sources of grant and federal funding to assist with the start-up costs.

Recycling 

Q: How can the city increase recycling, composting, and the use of post-consumer recycled materials, while addressing the city’s litter and illegal dumping problem?

A: I will work with community groups and environmental allies to host demonstration projects and educational events across Detroit to show residents how simple, non-cost-prohibitive actions can create a better world for our children. I will promote investment in neighborhood patrols and cameras to target illegal dumping, most of which comes from businesses outside of Detroit, in addition to proposing increased fines and the ability to seize vehicles for violators. We must send a message that Detroit is not a dumping ground.

Once again, information is part of the process. We have the city recycling bins, but there are still a few citizens who may be a bit confused as to what you can put in them. Putting out more information, even a simple as a few social media posts, can increase residential recycling. Composting is an excellent process that might require a little more support and help to get started with, and I could host a series of webinars using leading environmental professionals to show citizens how to do it. As to the use of post-consumer recycled materials, I would have to work with local businesses and our citizens to help them identify how and where in their supply chain they could incorporate recycled materials, be it from plastic to paper biodegradable straws, or by “up-cycling” old fixtures and furniture.  “Up-cycling” is the repurposing of something old into something new and has the potential to curb the litter and illegal dumping issue. For example, an old bathtub can be turned into a planter, an old barrel into an outdoor seat. More education about up-cycling and recycling, as well as stiffer penalties for littering and dumping can help Detroit resolve these issues. 

Jobs

Q: What steps would you take to prepare the local workforce to take advantage of and be part of the movement toward a green economy, through qualifying for good paying infrastructure and clean energy jobs, amongst others?

A: I will champion policies that reserve economic development incentives for clean, green, and equitable companies. I will leverage my vote to support businesses that not only hire Detroiters but provide a path to a career in infrastructure and clean energy beyond temporary and entry-level employment. Furthermore, I will organize and work with City departments to host “meet and greet” activities in neighborhoods to connect employers, recruiters, education and training programs, and skilled trade programs to Detroiters eager for an upwardly mobile career path. Finally, I will also use my experience as a seasoned state legislator to secure state and federal appropriations to subsidize paid job training and transportation vouchers to ease the burden of Detroit residents making skills and career transitions.

To get our Detroit workforce ready to participate in the green economy, I would have to work to identify sources of training for green jobs. Once those sources have been identified, then distribution to the local community begins. I will work to identify sources of grants and other funding that can keep the trainings low-cost and/or free to Detroit residents. I can also reach out to the green industries that are here or that are considering a move here. Those industries can work with the city to provide training and a direct hiring pipeline for Detroiters. 

Water 

Q: How will you ensure that clean water is accessible and affordable to all Detroiters?

A: I believe water is a human right and will support a water affordability plan based on an individual’s income and not a debt-based collection model. I will not support water shut-offs for homes with children, elders, differently abled, and low-income residents. I will also fight for continued infrastructure improvement in replacing all lead-based service lines. I will increase education and outreach for water testing and require plain-language disclosure to assure residents that lead testing will not subject homes to water shut-offs. I would explore the feasibility of programs that can use yearly income as a factor, and potentially a sliding scale for water payments based on usage and yearly income. 

Q: How will you help municipal agencies and property owners integrate Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) across the city to manage stormwater and reduce drainage charge fees for property owners?

A:  Billions of dollars are coming to Detroit and the State of Michigan through the American Rescue Plan Act for this express purpose. I will fight to ensure Detroit’s allocation for infrastructure is used wisely and equitably, including integrating GSI and reducing onerous drainage fees.

I will help both municipal agencies and property owners integrate GSI by using a coordinated campaign of information, volunteers and town halls. These events will teach each of the groups how to integrate GSI and explain the benefits to everyone. 

Optional  

Q: Please identify the top environmental concerns to you personally, identify the environmental issue in your community that is the most pressing, and what you would like to do as an elected official to address this most pressing concern.

A: Air pollution is a top concern personally and a truly pressing concern for our community. Air pollutants deteriorate Detroiters’ health and health and cause a slow and premature death for too many. As stated above, I will propose the use of economic development for incentives only for corporate actors that utilize clean, green, and equitable practices. Conversely, I will aggressively advocate for stiff and swift penalties for businesses that violate environmental, health, and safety standards. Finally, I commit to leveraging my vote and voice to invest in public monies to offer health mitigation tools and benefits to Detroit residents.

I, and many Detroit citizens, are most concerned about air quality. The COVID-19 pandemic showed us exactly how much damage respiratory disease can do, and the air we breathe plays a part in that. The area surrounding the Marathon refinery is an excellent example of what bad air can do to a population. I understand that industry and manufacturing are dirty processes that are necessary for our society to function. But now that we all know what is being put out into the air, we must do better and work with our companies, factories, and businesses to improve our air quality.