Detroit — Mayor Mike Duggan reflected Tuesday on the “tough time” the city has endured during the COVID-19 pandemic, but expressed optimism it will bounce back.
The mayor, during one of the first in-person conferences in Detroit since the coronavirus shutdown, said the city is climbing back from the devastation. Development and back-to-work plans are moving along and the city’s hospitalization rates have dropped.
“In March and April (2020), these businesses basically went to zero revenue and that lasted for a period of months, but we got grants, we worked with landlords, we got personal protective equipment in the hands of these companies and we were the first ones to vaccinate the workers at restaurants and grocery stores,” Duggan said during a one-on-one conversation with Fox 2 Detroit reporter and co-anchor Roop Raj at the Detroit Policy Conference. “It’s been a tough time but this is a resilient city.”
Duggan noted fewer than 30 people are hospitalized for COVID-19 in Detroit. That’s a significant decline, he noted, from just a few months ago, when it was closer to 200 people.
But the delta variant of the virus “is real,” he warned, and more than 60% of city residents still aren’t vaccinated.
Duggan, who is seeking a third term in November, said if he wins another four-year term he’ll prioritize efforts to curb crime and investments in the city’s public schools to bring families back.
The mayor suggested the city direct $1 million of the city’s $826 million in American Rescue Plan funds to bolster efforts of the Detroit Public Schools Community District and reiterated his support for quality preschool for all Detroit children.
“Certainly, we have to work on schools. Families with new children are still not coming into the city nearly as quickly as those without children,” he said during the event at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber.
But Duggan praised DPSCD Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti’s leadership: “I’m more optimistic about the Detroit Public Schools than I have been in a long time.”
Duggan also expressed confidence in the city’s interim Police Chief James White and the police leadership team following last month’s departure of James Craig, who retired after nearly eight years as the city’s top cop.
The police department, he said, is working to address 2,500 backlogged gun cases and to stem shootings with an investment in Shotspotter, an ariel sound system technology to detect gunfire.
“Chief Craig gave us a good base to build off in the city, neighborhood policing and bridging the relationship between the community and the police,” he said. “Chief White was a choice in the right direction and I think you’re going to see the next generation of the police chief’s team also advance.”
Craig is expected in the coming weeks to announce his candidacy for the state’s Republican gubernatorial primary. Craig delivered his first political speech last week, urging Michigan voters to declare “independence” from Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2022.
Duggan, a Democrat and supporter of Whitmer, noted Tuesday that it’s vital for Detroit to have a police department that is supported by the city administration.
“I got along fine with Chief Craig until he told me he was a Republican,” Duggan joked to Raj. “Apparently being on the cover of NRA magazine should have been a clue.”
Duggan is being challenged Aug. 3 by Detroit’s former deputy mayor Anthony Adams and perennial candidate Tom Barrow, past challengers Myya Jones and Danetta Simpson as well as Arthur Tyus, D’Etta Wilcoxon, Charleta McInnis, Jasahn Larsosa and Kiawana Brown.
srahal@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @SarahRahal_
344205 572882I was suggested this weblog by way of my cousin. Im no longer certain whether or not this put up is written by him as nobody else realize such detailed about my trouble. Youre great! Thanks! 801140
596369 573913Thanks for helping out, superb info . 860764
360460 43993I require to admit that that is one fantastic insight. It surely gives a company the opportunity to have in about the ground floor and genuinely take part in generating a thing particular and tailored to their needs. 337222
661578 800914There is noticeably a great deal of cash to comprehend about this. I assume youve produced certain good points in capabilities also. 311605
329484 112592This is an superb write-up and I totally comprehend exactly where your coming from within the third section. Perfect read, Ill regularly follow the other reads. 754031
576031 332926I dont normally check out these types of internet sites (Im a pretty modest person) – but even though I was a bit shocked as I was reading, I was certainly a bit excited as well. Thanks for producing my day 296013
680225 201897It can be difficult to write about this subject. I think you did an outstanding job though! Thanks for this! 469407