Detroit Mayoral Candidate Forum on Public Transit

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‼️IMPORTANT: If you believe anything in the coverage tonight is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

Tonight’s session is co-hosted by Transit Riders United (TRU), Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 26, MOSES, Detroit Disability Power, Detroit People’s Platform, and Warriors on Wheels of Metro Detroit.

Who might we hear from tonight? Check out this article from @bridgedet313.bsky.social from May 2 to see who is running to be Detroit’s next mayor!

The meeting has started!

Megan Owens, Executive Director of TRU, begins by asking the audience for a show of hands who rides public transportation and who would rather not own a vehicle. She says transit is so important - that it’s reliable, convenient, something people can feel confident in.

Owens shares an important caveat that this a fully educational forum. “There will not be any endorsements in in the or any preferential treatment.”

Attendees who took the bus to the in person session will receive a bus pass good for 24 hours.

While all candidates were invited tonight, not all were able to attend. In attendance tonight is:
Saunteel Jenkins
Jonathan Barlow
Fred Durhal III
Joel Haashiim (joining shortly)
James Craig
Todd R. Perkins

This is a non-partisan forum, and an opportunity for the candidates to share their ideas around improving public transit for the city and region.

Casey, Policy Manager from Detroit Disability Power, with the first question of the night: Do you support implementing the DDOT Reimagined proposal to double bus service by 2030, and how will you fund it?

Perkins: “Transit is the critical component in the growth of this particular community”; says yes he does support implementing the proposal. Says we hae to make this “intentional” and a “priority.” Says it is a “human issue.” Plans to use general fund and public private partnerships.

Craig: “Yes, I would fully fund it. I support the initiative.” Familiar with the safety challenges related to public transit.

Jenkins: “Transportation insecurity is a real issue in the city of Detroit.” Says she does support increasing the budget for DDOT, but making sure we’re not turning back a surplus at the end of the budget year. Says we “have to make sure that we’re paying our DDOT [workers] competitive wages…

…so that we can hire them, train them, and keep them so that we keep our busses running and we’re picking up Detroiters on time.”

Durhal: “I will commit to doubling the DDOT budget. We will raise driver’s pay from the $19 an hour to be competitive with smart which is $27 an hour.” Mentions adding more accessible launch pads and fix infrastructure as well.

Barlow: Supports the plan; “calls for approximately $130 to $150M of annual investment…$23M is very, very short.” He says you need an advocate, but also need a businessman at the table.

DaNetta Simpson has joined the candidates on stage.

Simpson: Used to use the bus to get to school and work; “I will continue to make the busses safe clean, transparent.” Says she does support this proposal and “will do everything [she] can do to put things into the budget.”

Joel Haashiim has also joined.

Haashiim: Proponent of the proposal; wants to double driver salaries. Says it is “very important that we find additional revenue.”

The next few questions only 4 candidates will be allowed to answer. The final question will be answered by all candidates.

Sharon Collier, President/business agent for Amalgamated Transit Union asks the next question: Do you support wage parity for DDOT drivers?

Barlow: Comes down to funding this reimagined plan - need to unlock federal reserves and partnerships; “drivers are on the front line” - wants to increase wages and resources for drivers. Says this is an anchor of the reimagined plan.

Haashiim: Would do is call for a feasibility study - funding is an issue. Need to double buses and better integrate transportation. Many attempts to help/build a better system, but all have failed. “We need to make sure that we are taking care of the residents of the city of Detroit first.

Durhal: “I will continue to invest in our drivers, because it’s the right thing to do…a world class city starts with a world class transit system, and we’ve got to start investing in that.”

Simpson: Says she supports the increase as cost of living has risen “tremendously.” Wants to make it easier and more desirable for drivers to go to work.

Andre Bryant from Warriors on Wheels: Do you support same day service of for paratransit ASAP? And what will you do to ensure that Detroit city residents can travel in and out of the city?

Jenkins: Spent a day with Warriors on Wheels to experience what it’s like to get around Detroit in a wheelchair - says it’s changed her perspective. Need multiple modes of public transit to meet differning needs of residents. Would support the service.

Craig: Has experience with poor retention and low salaries - lived it through bankruptcy with police officers. Need to create an environment where people want to come to work - “need to raise morale up.”

Perkins: “I look at it from a constitutional perspective” - infrastructure plays a huge role in this as well. Wants to compel the city/government to fund these particular necessities in life. Will require updates in tech and additional funding - is in favor of this.

Durhal: Has heard a lot of horror stories related to para transit; “yes, we will provide, same day service for our riders.” Need to start looking toward the future, environmentally friendly solutions. “Need to invest and connect the dots and training.”

Renard from Detroit People’s Platform with the next question: How will you improve safety for Detroiters walking, rolling, and biking on our our streets?

Craig: Always been passionate about this topic; shocked at the blatant disregard for pedestrians and traffic laws. “Zero tolerance for blantant traffic violations.” Need increased education; have a lot of wreckless driving in Detroit; “robust enforcement of all traffic laws.”

Perkins: Committed to the safety of pedestrians; wants to create diverse controls as it’s related to street design. Wants to provide better use of access/bike lanes. “To accept 100 deaths a year is a failure…I will not allow that to happen on my watch.”

Barlow: Need to speed up the infrastructure; need to make disability equity a standard. Says he has the advocacy knowledge and business knowledge to get this done.

Durhall: Detroit ranks close to the bottom when it comes to traffic safety. Says the tone needs to be set - “you cannot speed up and down our streets.” Need to run a citywide safety campaign, better barriers, launch pads and increase speed bumps.

Question from MOSES: Do you support eliminating parking minimums? What mechanisms would you use to encourage denser development, especially along major transit lines?

Simpson: “Yes, I would support eliminating parking minimums.” Says it’s important for passengers to get themselves and their belongings to the next destination as safely as possible.

Jenkins: Wants to take the land use plan that’s underway now, and layer that with a housing plan, transit plan, safety plan, etc. Wants to create “viable, thriving neighborhoods throughout the city.” Yes, would support reducing parking minimums, but not necessarily across the board.

Craig: Want to build affordable housing, incentivize devlopers and use that as a priority. Supports small business development in neighborhoods. “We have to cut the bureaucratic red tape.” Wants to be able to apply ComStat concepts.

Haashiim: “Parking is a serious issue in here in the city of Detroit”; wants to redesign our city and increase one-way streets. Spent over 23 years in housing building concepts and learned concepts he can apply.

Last question: How will you build support for transit funding in the broader metro region?

Barlow: Says the person in the mayor’s office brings their values and experiences that allow them to make decisions; says in him, the city has their strongest advocate.

Haashiim: Need to define a regional plan to bring in mass transit; says Detroit is an international city. Without it, we won’t be able to grow our city or bring in more revenue. Have to diversify - focus on growing our revenue. Will go to DC/state - start with aiport, take Q line to 8 mile.

Perkins: Comes down to leadership, don’t want collaboration to result in loss of identity or power. “We just have to do better as a city, to provide them the equipment to provide them the wages, the benefits…” Wants to use our position as Detroiters to find federal funding.

Durhal: “I will continue to partner with you”; envisions expansive, regional and fast transit. “I don’t have to wait for those conversations to start, because I’ve already started talking.” Has served at the city and state level; brings experience and relationships to deliver infrastructure dollars.

Craig: Detroit needs a leader who can collaborate and get things done; says he understands “the importance of those relationships and those collaborations.” Wants to leverage his relationship with the White House.

Simpson: Says we have been left out for so long, and it’s time for us to “rise and shine on all levels.” Says we can’t keep raising taxes, need to come up with new ideas.

Jenkins: “I will be the mayor that changes the culture around public transit.” Says world class cities need world class transit and that public transit should not be an afterthought, or only for people who cannot afford a vehicle…should also focus on environment, convenience, ease.

Owens urges audience to get involved with the organizations that sponsored tonight’s event. Said they cannot do what they do without support.

The meeting wrapped up at 7:18 PM. Thanks for following along!
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