Hey friends, Jer here.
There’s nothing like losing power for an entire holiday weekend. Lugging clothes to the laundromat and throwing away stuff out of the fridge, I had to remind myself how thankful I am that this isn’t my everyday life.
A weekend that was supposed to be restful turned hot, sweaty, and inconvenient. And the thing is, I lose power like this about once a year.
Me and my co-host Norris talked about it on a recent episode of the podcast, including discussing reforms to think about to get Metro Detroit plugged in properly. [Apple Podcasts] [Daily Detroit]
🧠 What do you believe?
Everyone talks about left vs. right, but humans are more complicated than that. A few weeks ago I found the Pew Political Typology quiz. It uses just 24 questions to place people into nine political groups, giving a much finer picture of what we actually believe.
They've been doing it since 1987, and over time it's interesting to see how the groups and beliefs change (or disappear) over time. This isn’t about candidates, it’s about ideas.
I’d love for you to jump in — the more of us who take it, the clearer picture we get of what this Daily Detroit community believes.
And I'd love for you to participate.
I'll share the results a week from now.
This is not a paid partnership. It’s just something I think will be fun (and useful) as we shape what we do and build community by understanding each other better.
The Rundown
🧱 A new pedestrian plaza opened at Gratiot and Randolph downtown. I swung by the ribbon cutting to check it out, and it's a huge improvement on what was there before. More pictures and details here → [Daily Detroit]
In my mind, cities are for enjoying, and this plaza out front of a trio of watering holes might be the ticket to help kick off more things happening on the street. Now if only we could get tenants in the rest of the buildings on that block... and someday, folks living upstairs from those storefronts.
🚍 The rebuilt Coolidge DDOT bus terminal opened today. [Daily Detroit]
💵 CNBC Named Michigan the 6th best state for business in 2026, up from 24th in 2019. [CNBC]
🚚 A billionaire-owned concrete plant has quietly taken over much of Cadillac Heights, a historically Black neighborhood on Detroit’s east side. [Bridge Detroit]
BridgeDetroit and ProPublica trace how land deals, lax enforcement, and dust complaints turned a quiet east side community into an industrial zone, and why some residents are cashing out while others are digging in.
🍩 Homies is bringing their over-the-top donuts Dearborn. [Freep]
👻 Pandemic-era changes that still reverberate in hospitality and entertainment are shaking up spots around town. After a major expense and a decade in operation, Ghost Light in Hamtramck is rethinking its way forward. [Ghost Light FB]
I appreciate honest posts like these, and it's a reminder I need to get back out there for some karaoke.
🎧 On The Podcast
💰 Michigan's $75 Billion Budget, Explained (with Steve Watson): If the new state budget feels like alphabet soup, this episode will actually make it make sense. Budget expert Steve Watson and I break down who wins, who loses, and what the numbers mean for transit, housing, schools, and even the future of the Ren Cen. Plus, I ask directly if incentives are necessary for Detroit-based projects to make sense? [Apple Podcasts] [Daily Detroit]
🗳️ McMorrow Drops Out: What's Next in Michigan's Senate Race? Mallory McMorrow is out, and Michigan’s U.S. Senate race just got a lot more interesting. We talk about why her campaign never quite clicked with voters, what Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed do next, and how that could suddenly give Republican Mike Rogers a real lane. [Apple Podcasts] [Daily Detroit]
🧶 Kraftologie and Creativity in Detroit, with Trice Clark: If you care about Detroit’s creative scene, you’ll want to meet Trice Clark and hear about plans for her new Kraftologie space. We get into life after Joann Fabrics, what makers actually need to thrive here, and why so many of her creative friends are moving back to Detroit. [Apple Podcasts] [Daily Detroit]
And that's it for tonight's edition. Thanks for sharing your inbox with me.
If you want to keep local civic media happening, you can join us as a member on Patreon.
Until next time, remember that you are somebody — and I'll see you around Detroit.
-Jer
