Free read, Jan. 6-10: Dems blast Duggan, Gelo's hit song and the next mayoral candidate
Here's what you missed during the sixth week of Detroit one million.
Good afternoon, faithful subscribers.
It felt good being back at city council this week, where I expect to be most Tuesdays this year with current members and candidates vying to replace or unseat them launch their campaigns.
District 6 council member Gabriela Santiago-Romero announced her reelection campaign last Friday.
The first days of Republicans control could finally see the passage of transparency measures, though bills to create a water affordability program for low-income residents seem dead. House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Twp, told reporters his members aren’t interested.
Detroit remains on the mind of Michigan’s House Speaker.
Hall said Detroit Democrat Karen Whitsett is “absolutely one of those leaders that I trust the most to help me as I'm learning how to how to be a good leader for the whole state, including Detroit and the areas around it.”
Whitsett announced this week she won’t be joining Democrats in caucus — Hall says she won’t be given Republican caucus resources either.
Meanwhile, independent gubernatorial candidate and Detroit Mayor Duggan took metaphorical punches to the mouth from those vying to lead the Michigan Democratic Party last weekend.
"We have seen people before that run populist campaigns paid for by billionaires. That's what Mike Duggan is. We have to be willing to punch him in the mouth,” former state Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing, said at a Michigan Democratic Party candidate forum in Washtenaw County.
Hertel’s quote was reported by MIRS’ Samantha Shriber.
Duggan, who I’m told was at the Teamsters holiday party last night, praised an appropriation from the Biden-Harris administration this week to repair old sewer lines causing basement flooding.
The event wouldn’t be worth spilling ink over — outside of the $350M federal award — if not for Duggan abandoning the Democratic party last month. He’s been proud to call President Joe Biden a friend, going as far to say the 46th president has been the best friend the city’s ever had in the White House.
Does he know about Mayor Coleman Young and President Jimmy Carter?
Whether Duggan can win over a portion of Republican voters will likely determine whether he can pull off a historic general election win as an independent. Michigan has never had an independent governor.
Here’s what else I was watching this week:
Sewell’s second act
Detroit pastor and Trump supporter Lorenzo Sewell led the invocation Wednesday, the opening day of the 103rd state Legislature, Beth LeBlanc reported.
Sewell at the rostrum was quite the contrast between former Rep. Joe Tate, D-Detroit, who stood there for two years before this week as House Speaker.
I asked Sewell at city council this week about his plans after his sermon at local campaign stops during the presidential election raised his profile. He said we’ll know more later this month.
Sewell led a group of like-minded residents to speak out during public comment at Tuesday’s council session against what they claim is a compromised local election system.
With 8,000 more Detroiters voting Trump in 2024 compared to four years ago, it’s worth considering whether Trump-style conservatism could play a role in the mayoral and city council elections.
National attention on mayor’s race
Election taking place in Detroit and across the country will test the strength of urban progressive movement that thrived in Donald Trump’s first term, writes Semafor’s Dave Weigel.
The beltway news site included the Detroit mayor’s race in a rundown of major races looming this year. Seattle also holds its mayoral primary election on Aug. 5.
Other cities holding general elections in Nov. 2025 include New York City, San Antonio, Boston, Atlanta, Oakland New Orleans, Cleveland and Miami.
New candidate drops next week
Nonprofit leader Saunteel Jenkins, a former city council president under Mayor Dave Bing, is set to announce her campaign for mayor Tuesday, Jan. 14.
The event, set for 4pm at a westside church, comes a month after city council’s current president, Mary Sheffield, launched her campaign inside a packed union hall Dec. 11. I’m hearing we may see announcements from other candidates before this month is over.
If I were running for mayor, I’d probably want to declare my intention to do so before the Detroit Policy Conference on Jan. 23 at the MotorCity casino hotel. The annual conference brings together hundreds of civic, business and government leaders pitching different visions to improve the city.
More mayoral coverage from familiar faces
Detroit Next, a new podcast by Khary Frazier’s Detroit is Different and Stephen Henderson and Malachi Barrett of BridgeDetroit aims to elevate community interests and interview candidates in an effort to get residents interested in the 2025 election.
We need more high quality local politics conversations happening on audio and video platforms — I’ll be following along.
If you have a question or want to leave a comment that could appear on Detroit Next, call 313-284-6407.
Big Baller Brand strikes gold
Gelo Ball wasn’t good enough to make the Pistons or the Hornets’ G-League roster when he got his shot on the court, but it didn’t matter.
He’s caught some buzz with his new song “Tweaker.”
It’s an unexpected throwback. Untrained ears might mistake it for Nelly at first (even though he sounds nothing like him). So far, Patrick Beverely is the only person who’s said anything negative about it.
In 2025, that’s how you know it’s actually good!
There’s a local angle too: Ball was waved by the Detroit Pistons after a brief preseason stint prior to the 2020–21 season. His stint in Charlotte was his last time on a pro basketball court, effectively ending the dream of his father, Lavar Ball, to get all three of his boys on the same NBA team.
Is Big Baller Brand still a thing? It’s original website is gone. The homepage of the current site features an image of Lavar Ball between two people I’ve never seen before, taking the place of Melo and Lonzo.
Not missing from the website is an opportunity to cash in on Gelo’s hype. Big Baller Brand’s “Tweaker White Tee” featuring the song’s cover art is available for $60.
1 show to look forward to next month
North Carolina artist and educator gum.mp3 returns to Detroit next month for The Cycles of Mars tour Saturday, Feb. 8 at Northern Lights Lounge.
The show is “an extension of the universe” spawned by the Baltimore resident’s most recent album. “Black Life, Red Planet” was named one of the best projects 2024 by Resident Advisor and Treble.
He tapped local collaborators swoozydolphin, Zoe Talley and Ameera, set to play an eclectic mix of all genres from 10pm-2am.
Buy tickets here.
Dope report.
Black citizenship was illegally granted in 1868.