Toson Jewell-Knight
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.tosonknight.com/about-me-1
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: Communication is key. I will not only attend community meetings and do presentations about these issues, but I will have my staff create a robust database system where I can reach out to our residents. Everyone does not come to community meetings so it will be essential to make sure we communicate through all avenues available. Many residents want to purchase land from the Land Bank. Recently the budget was reduced and I will work to put more funding in the Land Bank so that they can reach out to residents on how they can obtain more property. I will communicate through the avenues mentioned above about availability. Recently, I met Ms. Calhoun who was trying to purchase some lots. I was able to get her with the right person after she had been trying to do this for months.
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: There are many programs that we should invest in to make Detroit a more attractive city for citizens and businesses. Since we have a lot of work to do rebuilding parts of the city, including District 4, we should make sure that the money and time we are investing goes towards mitigating climate change and improving the health of the environment for all citizens. Several policies are addressed in the following questions – as a quick list I support – environmental quality monitoring, investing in Green infrastructure like the GSI, better public transit options, and providing incentives and assistance to citizens for improving their homes and neighborhoods.
Public Health
Q: What long term solutions do you see for addressing vehicle speeds and making our streets safer?
A: More speed humps and other traffic calming measures are important. A major way to invest more long term in the transit of the city is to improve mass transit so that there are less cars on the road. We also should convert our roads into appropriately and safely designed bike lanes – some lanes in the city are set up well – but many are not. There are lots of bike-friendly cities around the world that we can use as inspiration for here in Detroit – like Amsterdam for instance.
Q: How will you work to reduce the negative health impacts of air quality on the residents of Detroit?
A: We need to have an open data environmental monitoring program. Aggressive Community Benefits agreements which are enforceable. We need to make sure that polluters are held accountable to current best practices in reducing pollutants.
Q: If elected, what actions will you take to work toward safer, healthier, and more affordable housing for all Detroiters?
A: Jobs-that pay a living wage. Community Benefits agreements should enforce citizens being hired and paid a living wage so that homes are affordable for the citizens. Offer assistance to homeowners to renovate their houses so that they are more environmentally sustainable and offer grants to install Green infrastructure – like rain gardens. New developments must also have a net-zero impact on the environment and offer significant numbers of Section 8 units. The City Council must have greater oversight over the Land Bank so that these terms are met by the Land Bank as well.
Energy
Q: What are your priorities to reduce emissions and lessen the impacts of climate change in
Detroit during your term in office?
A: There are some ordinances that need to be fixed or expanded upon. For example, the anti-idling ordinance has not been particularly effective for a couple reasons. Your organizations’ plan to adjust the ordinance is something I would support but we also need to make sure we are not unnecessarily punishing the businesses. Again, we need better public transit and to expand hybrid and electric bus service. Having safe bike lanes will help as well. We should incentivize the use of Green technologies like solar panels and windmills etc.
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: We want to provide assistance to homeowners and other people to renovate and to make their homes Greener and friendlier to the environment. We want to attract companies that are good for workers and do as little harm as possible to the environment.
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: Provide and drop off recycling containers upon request to all the citizen’s doorsteps and robust public education programs that are accessible and easy for all the citizens. Make recycling programs cover 100% of the city – businesses, residences, etc. Community Benefits agreements should include language around using recycled goods within their businesses. Attract 21st century businesses using grants or prizes like the Motor City Match to encourage innovative uses of post-consumer recycled materials.
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: Partnerships with DPSCD/WCCCD companies to provide trades and other job training opportunities for students and community members in order to have the skills to start working in the green economy. Increasing education and outreach programs so that residents and businesses are aware of green economic opportunities. We have to invest in the green economy as a city and attract green companies and jobs.
Water
Q: How will you ensure that clean water is accessible and affordable to all Detroiters?
A: We should continue and expand programs that assist citizens in maintaining their access to water and helping to keep it affordable for citizens. We need to keep our waterways clean – we need businesses and industry to have a reduced impact through zoning and CBA. We can incentivize green infrastructure like rain gardens and using greywater.
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: I am a strong supporter of increasing recreational opportunities for citizens. In District 4 there are parks that need to be beautiful. While beautifying, we should implement the GSI Plan at those parks. I support expanding the DWSD GSI Plan and educating and incentivizing businesses to participate as well.
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: Demolitions and the FCA Plant are the biggest issues in District 4. We need to ensure that what we’re doing is working in terms of mitigation and prevention. Set up an environmental monitoring program citywide with open access to the data possibly in tandem with M-DEQ. Then we can better enforce the CBA for FCA and other companies in the city.
