Ballot proposal aims to tax wealthiest Michiganders to help fund education

Michigan’s schools have struggled post-pandemic, with students lagging behind in reading and math skills compared to other states. A coalition of progressive education organizations is seeking to allocate more funding for education in Michigan through the “Invest in MI Kids” ballot initiative.  The proposal would add a 4-5% tax on single filers who earn over $500,000, or joint filers who earn over $1 million. The group says that would generate about $1.7 billion for Michigan’s School Aid Fund. Charlie Cavell, Oakland County Commissioner for District 19 and a coordinator for the “Fund MI Future” campaign, joined The Metro on Thursday to share more about this ambitious proposal in its beginning stages. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Climate change is affecting the trees in metro Detroit. The Eastern U.S. experienced an oppressive heat wave recently. There were also a handful of severe thunderstorms that inevitably brought down branches, limbs, or even whole trees across the region.  In Detroit, fewer than 60% of households have air conditioning, according to American Forests. That makes shade a vital source of relief from the heat. So how is Detroit’s tree canopy doing in the face of climate change? And if you want to plant your own tree, what species will be resilient for decades to come? To find out, Metro producer David Leins spoke with Lawrence Law, urban forester and partnership coordinator for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Read more stories about Detroit's tree canopy in WDET’s ongoing series, the Detroit Tree Canopy Project. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Detroiter Donna Jackson is the first Black woman to serve as gallery manager of the historic Scarab Club.  The local hub for visual, literary and performing arts has been around for over 117 years, but its leadership has yet to reflect Black Detroiters. Jackson joined The Metro to talk about her vision for the future of the Scarab Club, Black representation and how she plans to engage all groups of people as the city continues to see shifts within its borders. The Scarab Club is currently hosting its 54th annual Photography Exhibition, juried by the local artist and Womxnhouse Detroit Co-founder Asia Hamilton. The club will also host a Scarab Salon Open Mic on Wednesday, July 16, for local writers to share their work.  Visit scarabclub.org for the latest programming and events. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

A new play from Arab American playwright Andrea Assaf is exploring the concept of "moral injury" and the devastating effects of drone warfare. "DRONE" tells the story of a U.S. military drone pilot "who is not allowed to talk about [the violence] he's witnessing, and the effect that silencing has on his mental health and daily life," Assaf told WDET.  The pilot’s story is juxtaposed with testimonies from three drone strike survivors — based on real-life testimonies from witnesses and survivors of U.S. drone strikes. "I'm a person who makes art to cope, to heal, to process, to express, so that I don't hold all that in by myself, and so that I can create spaces to talk about these things; to break those silences, to get communities to talk together about things in a way that makes it a human story and not just a news story," she said. Assaf joined The Metro to share her perspective about these unseen moral injuries and her inspiration behind the play. "DRONE," presented by the Arab American National Museum, will run July 31 and Aug. 1-3 at the Detroit Public Theatre, 3960 3rd Ave., Detroit. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

The Shrine of the Black Madonna in Detroit has a long history in the maturation of Detroit’s religious and political scene. The church is guided by Pan-African Orthodox Christianity and was founded at a time when Black Americans were fighting for social and political progress.  The Shrine's political arm, the Black Slate, endorses political candidates whom they believe will act in the best interest of Black Detroiters. Most recently, the group endorsed Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. for mayor of Detroit, and District 2 Councilwoman Angela Whitfield Calloway for city council.  Kandia Milton, associate pastor at the Shrine of the Black Madonna and chairman of the Black Slate, joined The Metro to share more about the organization and its endorsements.  Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Detroit’s homeless population is growing. A one-night count conducted last year by the city of Detroit and two local nonprofits showed a 16% increase in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park's homeless population compared to the previous year. The count — which includes both unsheltered individuals and those in emergency shelters, transitional housing or Safe Haven programs — came out to more than 1,700 people in 2024. People who experience homelessness or just need assistance often have to go to different places to get care and resources. Knowing where to get help can be a challenge. The “Detroit: Needs Management Map” aims to address that by highlighting and compiling various resources available to homeless individuals in the city. The map, created by Wayne State Master of Social Work student Cass Tretyak, includes everything from where to find food, shelter or a shower to free or low-cost medical care, employment resources, parenting support, free legal aid, and more. Tretyak joined The Metro to talk more about the map and her work as outreach coordinator for Community & Home Supports, a local organization supporting homeless populations in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

A recent survey of Wyandotte's water system by state regulators has identified "significant deficiencies" that they say "pose a significant health risk" to water consumers in the city. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) survey, released in April, reported deficiencies in four specific areas, including water treatment plant maintenance, distribution maintenance, finished water storage, and management and operations. Additionally, the survey suggests that 40% of Wyandotte's water system has "significant deterioration." "As a result," the report said, "the city is not demonstrating the technical, managerial and financial capacity necessary to own and operate a water system.” Paul LaManes, general manager for Wyandotte Municipal Services, says the city is currently working to address the issues highlighted in EGLE's survey, but insisted that the water is safe to drink and poses no health risk to the public. He joined The Metro to share more details about the survey and how the city is responding. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

The city of Detroit is suing a blockchain real estate company after many of its properties allegedly violated local safety and health codes. Real Token, or RealT, is a Florida-based company that markets itself as a decentralized real estate security token platform. In the lawsuit, the city alleges that the company’s co-founders, brothers Remy Jacobson and Jean-Marc Jacobson, have neglected over 400 properties in the city by failing to maintain basic health and safety requirements. "We're talking about roofs that are leaking, sewage leaking in the basements. We have standing water as well in many of the basements...408 properties, 408 properties and not one of them has a certification of compliance," said Detroit City Councilmember James Tate of the violations at a press conference. Conrad Mallett, corporation counsel for the city of Detroit, joined The Metro on Tuesday to share more details about the lawsuit. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Detroit's Avenue of Fashion is home to some of the city's most iconic businesses and shops. Every year on the first Saturday in July, the “Light Up Livernois” fashion, art and design festival takes over Livernois between Six and Eight Mile roads to highlight all the business and entertainment district has to offer.  Alysyn Curd, one of the event’s organizers and co-founder of the Independent Business Association headquartered on the Avenue of Fashion, joined The Metro to share more about the event this Saturday. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

A new jazz festival is coming to Windsor this holiday weekend. The inaugural Electric Avenue International Jazz Festival will take over the WindsorEats Food Hall on Erie Street in Via Italia July 4-5. The free event will infuse the city’s food and art scenes to create a cross-border celebration of blues, soul, and of course, jazz. Russ Macklem, a Detroit/Windsor-based trumpet player, composer, educator and artistic director for the Electric Avenue International Jazz Festival, joined The Metro to share more about the two-day event. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.