The case for ranked choice voting in Michigan

Volunteers with the Michigan-based nonprofit Rank MI Vote have been working hard to get ranked choice voting on the general election ballot in November. Their effort just passed the state board of canvassers on Friday. Now they need to get hundreds of thousands of signatures over the next 180 days to get the initiative on the ballot. If passed, voters would be able to rank political candidates by their preference. Pat Zabawa, executive director of Rank MI Vote, joined The Metro on Wednesday to make the case for ranked choice voting and why he says it would more accurately reflect the will of Michigan voters. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Southwest Detroit native and entrepreneur Arnold Boyd is one of two write-in candidates competing against nine others in the city's mayoral race. Boyd, the founder of a school bus transportation company, launched his campaign in May and was one of the last to join the packed field of candidates facing off in the upcoming Aug. 5 primary. Running on a platform of expanding skilled trades, making it easier to start a business, offering legal aid to senior citizens facing foreclosure and more, he says he would bring something new and different to the city. "I'm running for mayor because I feel the city...all too often we vote for people that have name recognition or people that are career politicians," Boyd said. "It's time for the city to vote for people that come from their own." Boyd joined The Metro on Tuesday to share more details about his vision for Detroit and how he plans to achieve it. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

In Detroit, three of the city’s seven city council districts have a community advisory council (CAC). The body helps advocate for residents’ issues and gives them direct access to city council members.  Unfortunately, due to confusion around filing deadlines in the city clerks’ office, anyone who wants to run for  a CAC  will have to run as write-in candidate because their names won’t appear on the ballot. This includes incumbent candidates who have been serving on these councils for several years.  To help us break down what CACs are, why only some districts have them and what exactly happened that led to candidates missing the filing deadline, Metro Producer Jack Filbrandt spoke with Detroit Documenters Coordinator Noah Kincade and Outlier Media Civic Life Reporter Briana Rice. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

A judge is set to decide whether low-level radioactive material left over from the creation of the first atomic bomb can find its forever home in a metro Detroit landfill. The state of New York wants to send about 6,000 cubic yards of tainted soil and 4,000 gallons of contaminated groundwater to a waste disposal site near Belleville, Michigan. It’s one of a handful in the country licensed to dispose of such waste. Communities near the site, including Canton Township, filed a lawsuit to stop shipments of the toxic material from New York. WDET's Quinn Klinefelter spoke with Canton Township Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak about the lawsuit and why she says the shipments put public health at risk. Also, Metro producer Cary Junior II spoke with Carol Miller, a professor of engineering at Wayne State University, about how landfill sites are built and how they attempt to prevent contaminants from impacting its surrounding areas.

Two groundbreaking leaders of Detroit's arts and culture scene will be honored at the GhostLight Arts Initiative's inaugural GhostLight Gala, taking place this Sunday at the Garden Theater. Honoree Njia Kai is a celebrated cultural curator, producer and community visionary. Through her company NKSK Events + Production, the lifelong Detroiter has curated some of Detroit’s most iconic cultural celebrations— from the Charles H. Wright Museum's African World Festival to the Downtown Detroit Tree Lighting. Dr. George Shirley, who will also be honored on Sunday, is a man of many firsts. He was the first Black man to teach music at a Detroit High School; the first Black tenor to perform a leading role at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City; and the first Black member of the U.S. Army chorus in Washington D.C. He also received the National Medal of Arts from former President Barack Obama in 2015 for his work mentoring countless Black musicians. Kai and Shirley both joined The Metro ahead of the gala to discuss their commitment and contributions to Detroit's art scene. Proceeds from the event will help support GhostLight programming, including its Obsidian Theatre Festival — which provides a platform for emerging Black voices in theater and film. Use the media player above to hear the full conversation. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

After decades of steady decline, Detroit's population is finally growing. Latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows Detroit increased its population by 6,800 residents from 2023 to 2024. And even more people seem to be moving to Detroit's neighboring suburbs, with many housing investments being made in recent years in the city's outer suburban ring and nearby “exurbs” like Lyon, Milford and Commerce townships. Ro Harvard, a realtor with Island Realty — an affiliate of Keller Williams Realty — joined on The Metro on Thursday to shine some light on the inner workings of Detroit’s housing scene, and what types of amenities and priorities draw buyers to certain communities — from school districts and walkability to affordability and property value. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

The United Auto Workers union announced last month it would be endorsing Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. in the Detroit mayoral race, calling him "a longtime advocate for working-class people." Kinloch, a senior pastor at Detroit's Triumph Church, is the only candidate in the mayoral race who has not held an elected position. He is currently battling for second place in the race behind frontrunner Mary Sheffield — who continues to maintain a sizable lead. The top two vote getters in the Aug. 5 primary will face off in the November general election. In Detroit, a political endorsement from the UAW has always carried considerable weight, but membership is down in recent decades, and there are shifting political views within. Today on The Metro, UAW Region 1A Director Laura Dickerson joined the show to discuss the endorsement and why it matters. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Detroit's Rouge Park is turning 100 this year. Friends of Rouge Park is hosting a free, three-day festival at the park this weekend, June 27-29, in celebration of the park's centennial. Many improvements have been made at Rouge Park in the last few decades, offering more services and recreational fun to city residents. At 1,200 acres, it's the city's largest park, and the biggest urban park in the state. It was so popular at one point, it attracted international crowds. But like the city, the park fell on hard times and went into a period of decline and disinvestment. Despite those challenges, the park remains a staple in the city today thanks to the stewardship of community organizations like Friends of Rouge Park. Today on The Metro, we play a conversation WDET Intern Lauren Myers had recently with Friends of Rouge Park Trustee Paul Stark about the park's history. Also, Metro producer Cary Junior II and Metro Co-host Tia Graham visit Rouge Park to hear directly from residents about their connections to the park and how it's changed over time. Later in the show, Friends of Rouge Park's Executive Director Lindsay Pielack and Land Stewardship Manager Antonio Cosme join the conversation and share more about the centennial celebration this weekend. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Detroit comedian Melanie Hearn is one of the most unique voices in stand up. Opening up for seasoned comedians like Maria Bamford, Mark Curry and Preacher Lawson, her unique comedic style and strong energy often leaves audiences wanting more.  On Thursday, Hearn will be headlining WDET’s “What’s So Funny About Detroit?” comedy showcase at The Old Miami. The show, hosted by In The Groove's Ryan Patrick Hooper, is part of a monthly summer series benefitting WDET. Hearns joined The Metro ahead of the comedy showcase to discuss her career, her approach to comedy and what to expect at tomorrow's show. Editor's note: WDET is aware of the possibility of rain Thursday evening and is closely monitoring the radar. In the event of light rain, the show will go on. In the event of thunder and/or lightning, we will honor all June ticket holders’ purchases for our July 31 show. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Detroit mayoral candidate and City Councilman Fred Durhal III last week announced his strategic plan for improving the city, including cracking down on blight and implementing a more "equitable tax strategy." His plan emphasizes the importance of cutting taxes and red tape when necessary, reinvesting in communities and “main streets,” creating more affordable housing and expanding Detroit's development authority to Midtown, Corktown and to Gratiot, near Eastern Market. Durhal also wants to see more thriving business corridors, more Detroit enterprises and more city residents. He joined The Metro on Wednesday to expand upon the priorities laid out in his strategic economic plan for the city of Detroit. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.