Hey friends, Jer here.
Numbers mean something, especially 313. A 313 phone number, to some, is a point of pride.
I don't overly judge on these things, but my 313 number is decades old in my family — I still sometimes get calls for my late uncle, who was a window washer on the east side.
Sometimes there are stray messages for cleaning windows. Sometimes, it's his old weed man.
But Detroit proper (and nearby suburbs) won't just be using 313 for much longer, as the new 679 overlay area code is coming into effect in November. [WXYZ]
Speaking of 313, thanks to everyone who showed up ready for trivia and some libations at Tocororo last Thursday, March 13th. It was so cool to see a packed bar, and we'll have the live episode we recorded up for our supporters on our Patreon later this week.
Let's get to the stories.
National news, Local impact
🚙 The Big 3 CEOs of GM, Ford, and Stellantis have stopped lobbying against upcoming tariffs, realizing that they're coming April 2. [New York Times]
The auto chiefs, like the leaders of other industries, had been arguing that Mr. Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on cars coming from Canada and Mexico would wreak havoc on their supply chains and blow a hole through their industry. They had won a concession of sorts when Mr. Trump agreed to give them a one-month reprieve, until April 2.
But now, the Big Three automaker chiefs seemed to realize there was no point in fighting for more. They had gotten as much as they were going to get.
Reports say to get ready for far more expensive vehicles (and to spend an extra $4,000-$10,000).
It's worth noting the UAW supports the tariffs.
Moving this production isn't an overnight thing. It takes years to redeploy factories. In the case of Canada, we've been trading in auto parts for many decades.
The higher prices will likely slow sales, amid an overall vibe where people are feeling uncertain and spending less in general.
🥔 A Federal funding freeze and uncertainty around paying invoices are making things even tighter for local food banks, who warn critical shortages are ahead. It especially hurts those looking to distribute fresh food instead of highly processed canned goods. [Bridge Detroit]
I really hate to spend so much space on national news, but autos are core to what Metro Detroit is. And things in Washington are directly impacting us.
The excellent Kyla Scanlon lays out well what's ahead in a more general sense:
We're living in a reality shaped by automated outrage machines, while facing an economic downturn engineered through deliberate trade policy chaos. As this volatility harms everyday Americans, the Trump family could be positioning itself to profit from a parallel economy. Meanwhile, social media has so thoroughly warped our perception of time that we can no longer process events in a coherent timeline.
What to know
🙌 TIME has named Detroit's Little Village one of the "World's Greatest Places." Centering it all is a historic church complex called the Shepherd, which has been transformed into a vibrant cultural hub. It features art galleries, a skate park, boutique lodging, and dining. The priority is local artists and community engagement. [TIME]
🧖🏾♀️ The Schvitz has rehabbed a building in Detroit's North End to make "Little Schvitz." The new spot is a block from their main location. It has a sauna for six at a time with adjacent lounge space, a greenhouse with cold plunge, dining space for up to 12, three bedrooms, two bathrooms with showers, a fenced yard with fire pit and more. [The Schvitz]
The Schvitz has been open since 1930 and the only historic bathhouse left in the city.
🚧 Concerns about Asbestos-laced material in the RenCen could make whatever you do with the towers — rehab or demolish them — more complicated and expensive. [Detroit News]
🌳 The suburb of Hazel Park has been awarded "Tree City USA" status through the Arbor Day Foundation, its first certification since 1999. The certification follows several initiatives including a DNR grant to plant over 280 new trees, the creation of a Tree Board, and the city's first tree inventory in 25 years. [C and G News]
Three housekeeping things before I go...
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Until next time, remember that you are somebody...
-Jer
p.s. - Because of the new area code, tonight's track has to be 679 by Fetty Wap (ft. Remy Boyz).
