Free read, Jan. 20-24: Tech leaders want connected region, Cade's all-star case
Here's what I was following this week, the first of President Donald Trump's second administration.
Hey, you!
It was quite the week here at Detroit one million, wouldn’t you say? I was told an announcement from Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) about her bid for governor was coming Wednesday, so imagine my surprise when I saw this tweet.
That tweet (combined with being addicted to scrolling Twitter) is the reason Detroit one million was first to report Benson was in fact running for Michigan governor. She joined Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (I) and Sen. Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R) as candidates. More candidates are expected to announce in the coming weeks and months.
It was an interesting day at the Detroit Policy Conference Thursday. Guests at the conference heard from tech entrepreneurs and innovators, like the founders of Black Tech Saturdays, Song Foundation’s Dug Song and TechTown president Ned Staebler.
Staebler’s presentation offered a sober analysis of the state’s economic slide over the past three decades.
“We’re about to fall to 40 (in personal income per capita) this year — we’re about to be Mississippi,” Staebler said.
Song’s presentation focused on the benefits of connecting Detroit’s tech hubs.
A map of the city featuring places where tech innovation is already happening and future sites, like UofM’s Innovation Center.
The tech centers are shown in relation to public transit options; People Mover, QLine, city buses, the D2A2 bus to Ann Arbor and DAX bus to the DTW airport
“Equity is not just about moving barriers to billions, but reducing distance to power,” Song said.
I met plenty of readers, my favorite being Luke, who was working the coat check and said that the regional chamber tapped his firm to not have a repeat of the Auto Show.
I caught up with mayoral candidate Saunteel Jenkins, who told me “I’m not going to be one of those candidates scared of talking to the media,” and quickly followed by couching that she wasn’t directly referencing any media shy candidates specifically.
I also spoke to Fred Durhal, who is expected to announce his bid for mayor next Tuesday. He said it was too early to endorse a candidate that would replace him in District 7. Educator Regina Ross and state Rep. Karen Whitsett, D-Detroit, have announced their candidacy.
“We’re probably going to see seven or eight candidates,” Durhal said.
Here’s what else you should know about:
Bedrock to study People Mover expansion
Should a People Mover station be included in Dan Gilbert’s new Hudson’s building?
The Downtown Development Authority approved a matching $50,000 grant to fund a design study to figure it out, Anna Fifeslski of Crain’s, reports.
There’s already a station nearby at the Cadillac Center, but Bedrock believes the People Mover will see increased ridership once workers are inside the long-awaited development which will house GM employees moving from the Renaissance Center.
DDOT director and former People Mover leader Robert Cramer told me the system expects to see two million riders in 2025.
“When Hudson's comes online at its full capacity, there's gonna be thousands of thousands of people coming … There's some parking around it, but not enough to accommodate all of those guests,” Kevin Mull, senior director for the Office of Urban Strategy and Innovation for Bedrock, told Fifelski.
The Multi-Modal Mobility Hub design study will look at the flow of vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the area around the Hudson’s site and the People Mover station, as well as the impact of dynamic curbside technology and more, Fifelski reports.
GM gives RenCen tax incentives another go
Bedrock plans to resume its Renaissance Center redevelopment pitch to the state Legislature in the coming months, Joe Guillen reports.
Wayne County executive Warren Evans told Kurt Nagl at Thursday’s policy conference he was reluctant to support public money going toward the demolition of buildings.
“If GM needs to tear it down, then tear it down,” Evans said. “It sounded like they were selling me something I wasn’t ready to buy.”
Evans told Nagl that he met with stakeholders about the plan months ago and will keep conversations open.
“If they’re plan makes sense, I’m going to support it, just as I have for the last 10 years.”
Duggan told reporters he understood the concerns from Republican House Speaker Matt Hall, who criticized GM and Bedrock’s request for $250 million in public dollars.
Cade snubbed as All-star starter
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham has become an NBA superstar overnight.
In his fourth year, Cunningham has led the Pistons from the laughing stock of the league, to a legitimate threat. The Pistons currently hold the six seed in the Eastern Conference and are being talked about on national media.
He joined Vince Carter, Candace Parker and Shaq this week on NBA on TNT as the Pistons traveled to Atlanta before taking down the Hawks.
His stats this month put him in conversation to be among the 24 players named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team:
Cunningham's scoring average (24.6) is lower than Knicks guard and All-Star starter Jalen Brunson's, but he’s averaging more assists (9.4) and rebounds (6.5). Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball has the best numbers out of Cunningham and Brunson but hasn't impacted winning.
Cunningham won’t be an all-star starter (determined through a combination of fan votes (50%), media votes and player votes) but is the frontrunner to win the NBA’s most-improved player award for what has been an All-NBA caliber season. He would join Ja Morant as the other No. 1 overall pick to earn the award.
Cash for students decreases absenteeism
The chance to win up to $1,000 in gift cards is fueling perfect attendance, Detroit Community Schools District Superintendent Nikola Vitti, told Jennifer Chalmers this week.
During the first two weeks of the program, which was first reported by Detroit one million, nearly 3,000 high school students, or 21% of the high school student body, had 100% attendance, the News reports.
"At least compared to the same time last year, the incentive has had a positive impact on high school student attendance," Vitti wrote to The News in an email. "All high school students are eligible. They did not have to do anything to be eligible other than attend school each payment period for 10 straight school days."
Cade cunningoat mentioned