Barriers at the Ballot Box: Voting Access for Michiganders with Disabilities

As aviation faces turbulence, from safety lapses to strained oversight, a veteran insider challenges the government’s math and the stories we tell about air safety. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Last week, Democrats across the country ran on alleviating the issue of affordability.  Those people spreading the message were often young, 30-somethings. That was true in New York City, where Zohran Mamdani became mayor-elect. And it was true in Detroit, where Mary Sheffield won as well. The voters who brought those people to victory — particularly in the New York mayoral race and the Virginia governor’s race — were young voters. Amanda Litman is the co-founder and president of Run For Something. She joined Robyn Vincent to discuss why tackling affordability has become a rallying cry for liberal politicians across the country. 

Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield ran on several promises: creating job opportunities for young people, improving schools, and investing in neighborhoods. How are residents reacting to Sheffield's victory? And, what kinds of organizing and coalition building will the new mayor have to do to live up to her promises? Donna Givens Davidson, the president of the Eastside Community Network and a co-host of the Authentically Detroit podcast, joined Robyn Vincent to discuss. 

Health care costs are rising again as federal subsidies that kept insurance premiums affordable under the Affordable Care Act near their end. In Detroit, one doctor is testing a different approach — a monthly subscription that connects patients directly with their physicians and removes insurance from primary care. The Metro host Robyn Vincent speaks with Dr. Paul Thomas about the direct primary care model and what he noticed after bringing it into his pratice. 

The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a tragedy that is remembered with reverence and intrigue across the Great Lakes every year. Twenty-nine sailors lost their lives on November 10, 1975, and the exact cause of the sinking remains a mystery. Gordon Lightfoot's epic retelling, "The Wreckage of the Edmund Fitzgerald," firmly placed the story of the Fitz's in the national public consciousness. But, the Edmund Fitzgerald—the largest freighter on the Great Lakes at the time— was always part of Detroit history. It was built, christened, and launched in the Detroit River. It carried record-breaking loads of iron ore and was known as a workhorse in Great Lakes shipping. It's intended stop before sinking was Zug Island. This year marks 50 years since the Edmund Fitzgerald sank, and the ship's Detroit connection took center stage at several events over the weekend. Victoria Stewart is Assistant Director of the Humanities Center at Wayne State University. She created a pop-up exhibition “The Gales of November, Remembered: Detroit and the Edmund Fitzgerald." It was on display at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and Mariners’ Church in Downtown Detroit to commemorate 50 years since the ship sank in Lake Superior on November 10, 1975. Stewart spoke to The Metro about the ship's Detroit connections and the timelessness of it's story.

The Huron River is one of the most prominent in our state, and 650,000 people live in the watershed. But you can’t eat fish from the Huron River. After years of unregulated industry, dumping and pollution, PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals’ are part of the Huron. There’s also a toxic Dioxane bloom moving through groundwater towards the Huron River — the source of drinking water for Ann Arbor. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Awareness about PFAS is increasing, and so are the solutions that can improve river health. Some are policies being introduced at the state level, like so-called “Polluter Pay Laws” introduced by Michigan Democrats and supported by environmental organizations. On Wednesday, November 12, the Huron River Watershed Council will host a one-day conference, “State of the Huron” to discuss the health of the Huron River and chart its next chapter. Rebecca Esselman, Executive Director of the Huron River Watershed Council, joined the Metro to talk about the present and future health of the Huron River.

Thousands of women have been in the initial stages of a legal battle over hair products they believe made them sick. In 2022, The National Institute of Environmental Health Science, found that women who use hair relaxers frequently increase their risk of developing cancer, and now over 10,000 women who have used the treatment are suing the manufacturers. The findings raise important questions about the risks associated with hair products—risks that are present everyday in a city dubbed the "Hair Capital of the World." Aisha Langford, a professor of public health at Wayne State University’s School of Medicine, joined the show to explain important takeaways for consumers and stylists who use relaxers.

Political junkies have their minds on the elections that just happened this past week. But one year ahead, there are a lot more elections in the state. That’s true for the governor's race, where a slate of Democratic and Republican candidates, in addition to an independent candidate, are running for the seat.  Currently, Congressman John James and former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox are in the lead. Why? And, what do they need to do to win? Producer Sam Corey spoke to longtime Michigan Republican strategist Jeff Timmer to find out.

Despite laws guaranteeing equal access, most metro Detroit polling sites still fall short for voters with disabilities. Detroit Disability Power’s Eric Welsby joins Robyn Vincent to unpack what happened during Michigan’s midterm election — and what must change before the next one. Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Leading up to this year’s election The Metro has discussed how Detroit's turnout needs to improve. According to the city’s unofficial results, nearly 22,000 more people voted this year than in the 2021 mayoral election. After a quick update with Oakland County clerk Lisa Brown, we were joined by Al Williams, who leads ground efforts with Lift Every Voice and Vote in Detroit. The non-profit organization encourages voting.