- [Person] Coming up on "One Detroit," we'll have highlights from the Detroit mayoral debate that took place at the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference, plus a civil rights landmark in Selma, Alabama finds a new home in Michigan, and we'll give you some ideas on how to spend this June weekend in Metro Detroit.

It's all coming up next on "One Detroit."

- [Narrator] From Delta faucets to Bear paint, Masco Corporation is proud to deliver products that enhance the way consumers all over the world experience and enjoy their living spaces.

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Serving Michigan communities since 1929.

- [Narrator] Support also provided by the Cynthia & Edsel Ford Fund for Journalism at Detroit PBS.

- [Narrator] The DTE Foundation is a proud sponsor of Detroit PBS.

Through our giving, we are committed to meeting the needs of the communities we serve statewide, to help ensure a bright and thriving future for all.

Learn more at dtefoundation.com.

- [Narrator] Nissan Foundation, and viewers like you.

(relaxed electronic music) (relaxed electronic music continues) - [Person] Just ahead on "One Detroit," we'll get the details on an important part of civil rights history in Selma, Alabama that is now housed at the Henry Ford in Dearborn, plus we'll tell you about some of the music festivals, Pride Month activities and art fairs taking place in Metro Detroit this weekend, but first up, five of the candidates for Detroit mayor were invited by the Detroit Regional Chamber to take part in a debate at last week's Mackinac Policy Conference.

"One Detroit" contributor Stephen Henderson of American Black Journal and Nolan Finley of the Detroit News were the moderators.

The candidates fielded numerous questions about their plans for leading the city.

(gentle electronic music) - What is the role that you think the business community should be playing in Detroit right now, and how would you manage tools, like tax credits and other incentives, to lure or keep businesses in the city?

This question goes to all five candidates, starting with Saunteel Jenkins.

- Thank you for the question.

First, I think it's really important that the new mayor focus on the fact that a majority of tax abatements will start expiring in '27, by the year 2030, over half of the tax abatements will have expired, so we will need to retool this tool in order to extend those abatements, otherwise, we'll start to lose businesses, we'll start to lose jobs, and the role of business is twofold.

It's creating jobs, it's driving, it's an economic driver, and it is also a corporate... Their corporate citizenship should help to move the city forward in other ways, we need a mayor who knows how to partner with business to solve some of the issues that the city is and will face as we're moving forward, so that's the role of business and that's the role that I will play partnering with business as mayor.

- [Stephen] Okay, next up, Fred Durhal.

- Thank you, good evening to you all, it's simple, the role that business has played in the revitalization of the city of Detroit is huge, we've gotta continue public-private partnerships, but we've gotta continue using the tools to develop our city, we're not done yet, so one of the issues that we are facing is the abatement cliff, which is a serious issue, and so, yes, we will look to restructure the abatement cliff by spreading out what those tools are and the length of those abatements, but here's a key and a point that we can use, we can utilize, as we spread out the length of that abatement, an opportunity to opt in and generate revenue earlier for our city by allowing developers, as well as those who have built there, to pay a little bit early, and that'll add more money and revenue to our general fund here, but we've gotta continue to grow the city of Detroit.

When you talk about business, you just can't wake up in the morning and support business and development, you're gonna need a mayor that has a proven track record of supporting development, and that's who we are, and we'll continue to do that as mayor.

- [Stephen] Okay, next is Solomon Kinloch.

- Well, thank you all for giving me the extension of the invitation to be here tonight.

I'm excited to be a part of this panel.

One of the things that we have to remember is that the mayoral office does not just cast vision, it also communicates that vision and it also convenes a table in order to bring stakeholders together.

We have to make sure that businesses are not the only stakeholders at the table, that we are calling together neighborhood leaders, we are calling together the philanthropic community, because we wanna ensure that residents feel as much a part of the community as anyone else.

I believe that businesses need to understand that they are welcome and that this is a city that's receptive to business, and we are willing to work with anybody that is willing to invest in the future health of the city.

I believe that we should continue to do that as long as those business leaders are willing to work with the citizens of Detroit.

- [Stephen] Okay.

James Craig, you're next.

- Yeah, thank you, I'm happy to be here today and thank you for the invitation.

Certainly, we have to focus on growing our middle class.

You know, I talk a lot about, you know, growing small businesses, but that doesn't take away from continuing to grow big businesses, we have got to raise revenues in this city, but the real... And it's been said already, we have to collaborate, and we have to continue to push forward, if we're gonna grow our middle class, we have got to be a business-friendly city, and one of the things that I have heard as chief and deputy mayor over the time is that in many of the neighborhoods, they feel left out, they feel left out, the businesses feel left out.

You know, as chief of police, as you know, I leverage working very closely with small business... (indistinct) Was the gas stations, the liquor stores, the Green Light Project was widely successful.

We will continue to do that because it's important, so yes, I am business-friendly, we'll continue to work very hard to keep that relationship together, not dismissing the importance of drawing large corporations continuing into our city.

- [Stephen] Okay, next is Mary Sheffield.

- Thank you so much, good evening to everyone, thank you so much for having me, excited to be here, and so, I'm a firm believer that business needs people and people need business.

My entire decade serving on the City Council, I've tried to bridge that gap and bring the two together to ensure that we're moving Detroit in a positive direction.

There is no doubt that the growth of our city largely was due to the public-private partnerships that we've been able to partner and form here in the city of Detroit, and so, our business community, our corporate sectors are gonna have to continue to contribute to the overall growth of our city.

As it relates to fostering a more business-friendly environment, I do believe is needed.

When it comes to tax abatements, my number-one issue is addressing the core of why we have to abate in the first place, and that is because we pay some of the highest property taxes in the country, and so, my goal, day one, which we're laying the foundation now, is to ensure that we're addressing real structural property-tax reform so that we do not have to continue to abate our way out of the issues that we have in Detroit, but I do believe that business is the economic engine of our city, they provide jobs, they provide housing, and they provide vibrancy within our neighborhoods and the economic vibrancy that we want, and they must remain partners and I'm looking forward to working with each and every one of us that we... Of them as we continue to move forward.

- Okay, let's follow up on that question, in your views, what has the current administration of Mike Duggan gotten right when it comes to business and development and investment, and what has it got wrong?

What would you change?

And that first question...

The first candidate for that question is Saunteel Jenkins.

- Yes, Mayor Duggan has definitely done a good job of attracting business, coming out of the bankruptcy, he did a great job of rebuilding confidence and investing in the city of Detroit, and rebuilding some of those partnerships, and expanding jobs and our economic engine in the city of Detroit.

Now, what we have to do is make sure that we're doing the same thing in neighborhoods, we need to make sure that there is a commercial corridor in each of the seven districts, we have to ensure that our planning is intentional and that it is inclusive, and when we are having discussions about tax abatements, discussions about affordable housing, we have a real plan in place that is driving development, and affordable housing, and public transit in a way that is building our neighborhoods, and we also have to include schools.

- [Nolan] Fred Durhal, what do you think?

- What I would say is I think the mayor has done a tremendous job of laying, you know, the groundwork for the next mayor to come in, we've stabilized neighborhoods, we've had some historic crime rates that have dropped in over 30 years, we've built over a billion dollars in affordable housing, and I think it's also necessary to recognize that Council has played an instrumental role in that as well, but we're that phoenix that has been rising from the ashes, we gotta make sure that it doesn't fly into the window, so what we need to do is to continue to invest in affordable housing, continue to invest in development, but what nobody's talking about when we talk about comprehensive property-tax reform, all of those roads lead through Lansing, and you're not gonna have to use the GPS if you've already been there to get there to deliver back here to the city of Detroit, so when we take our plans to Lansing, we're gonna lower property taxes, we're gonna work on preemption to give our city the ability to have the determination of our future, and I think we can have a better job of delivering from Lansing to continue Detroit's growth, and you're gonna need that experience leadership to continue that growth.

- [Nolan] And Solomon Kinloch.

- I don't think anyone has to herald Mike Duggan's successes and achievement, Mike Duggan is an effective communicator, he's able to do that in a wonderful way.

(people laughing) - [Nolan] As we saw today.

- As we saw today, but one of the things that we have to look at is the fact that while we've come from a dark place of dismal debt, we have to admit the fact that although Mike Duggan has done a lot, he could not, and no one could not, do everything.

He gave us a great fiscal foundation for us to do bigger and bold, and I believe that we are at a crossroad, because when you look at the numbers and see that the majority of the electorate is not even engaged in the democratic process, we have to be open and receptive to trying something different and trying something new, and one of those things is prioritizing neighborhoods, and dealing with homelessness and poverty, and bringing equitable jobs to the community so people can not only just survive, but thrive.

(people applauding) - [Nolan] James Craig.

- Yeah, as has already been said, Mayor Duggan did a phenomenal job.

He came in just after me, certainly, it was probably one of the most challenging times in Detroit's history, certainly, were a lot going on, but he certainly did a great job at dealing with the basics, streetlights and those kinda things, but also, what comes to mind for me is when he was able to get an automobile manufacturing plant built here in Detroit Stellantis on the East Side, first time in 30 years, and negotiating getting 3,500 Detroiters hired for that, but as we continue to move forward, what we need to do now, we know, there's been articles written on it, it's 77 steps to open up a restaurant.

That's just too much, why is it?

The red tape bureaucracy does not work, even in normal business situations, opening up a regular business, sometimes, individuals have to wait a couple of years, so we have to do better, because as we continue to make our city business-friendly, that's gonna stabilize our property taxes, it's gonna keep it lower, if we can't draw business into the city, then guess what?

We got a problem because the taxes are gonna pay for work, those essential services like police, fire and infrastructure, we have got to do it, so part of my plan is to decentralize what's going on as it relates to zoning... - [Nolan] Thank you, Mr. Craig.

- Oh, okay.

- [Nolan] Your time is up.

(laughs) Mary Sheffield.

- Thank you, so I think it's important to mention again, that as we talk about the success of Mayor Duggan, that nothing would've been accomplished had it not been the partnership of this council, the leadership that I've done on chairing this body within the last four years, and so, I'm glad to have been a partner in the growth of our city, but without a doubt, we know that the foundation has been laid, but there's still far too many issues that our city are... Is dealing with, one of which is poverty.

I think we have to continue to improve in boosting our middle class, raising the income levels of Detroiters, we have a median income around $38,000 compared to the state of Michigan, which is around, I think, $70,000, so we have to make sure that people here are not just getting by, but actually thriving in Detroit.

Without a doubt, we have to ensure that more investment comes back into our neighborhoods and that we're activating our commercial corridors.

I'm very excited for my administration to be way more hands-on as it relates to the education of our youth.

We heard a lot during this conference about the strategic plan of academics in Detroit, and how the mayor's office can have better involvement in that, and so, when we talk about growing our city, building our middle class, and ensuring that Detroit is a destination of opportunity, we have to invest more in education and our workforce, creating a pipeline that is ready for the jobs that are coming for today and of tomorrow, and I will- - [Nolan] Thank you, Ms. Sheffield, we appreciate it.

- [Person] And you can see the entire Detroit mayoral debate at onedetroitpbs.org.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of several historic events in the civil rights movement, including the Selma-to-Montgomery marches and the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

The Alabama home that served as a sanctuary and strategizing hub for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders in 1965 is now part of the Henry Ford's Greenfield Village in Dearborn.

American Black Journal host and "One Detroit" contributor Stephen Henderson got the details on the exhibit that's scheduled to open next year at the museum.

(gentle electronic music) - Let's start with what this house is, I don't think a lot of folks who even know much about Martin Luther King Jr. or the civil rights movement know about this house, Amber, I'll start with you, why is this an important symbol?

- Absolutely, what a great question, so the Jackson home, the Dr. Sullivan and Richie Jean Sherrod-Jackson home was the home of a family, most importantly, a family who opened up their doors to their close personal friend, Dr. Martin Luther King, in 1965, as well as his lieutenants as part of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to help coordinate what became the Selma-to-Montgomery marches of 1965 and help plan out the Voting Rights Act.

Essentially, what this family did is take it on the chin, essentially, for a lot of Americans during this time period, welcoming in who... You know, this person who was a great friend to them, but for many others, was public enemy number-one.

This is him also coming on the backs of many other organizers that are already there in Selma, but I think what makes this story really interesting and really rich is that it's a story of an ordinary everyday family who did something extraordinary, but also, it allows us to talk about this really interesting intersection of justice, family and community all under the lens of American citizenship.

- And now, it's ours, it's in our community, permanently, right?

- It is, we got a call from Joanna Jackson, Joanna is the daughter of Dr. Sullivan Jackson and Richie Jean Jackson, and she's the only child, only... And she wanted to preserve this house in perpetuity, her parents had since passed, she doesn't live in Selma, and she grew up in this home, she understands the significance in her family, an incredible story, not just what they did, as Amber said, but that they preserved the things that were there from that time period, they understood the significance of it, and Joanna made a promise to her parents that she would do whatever she could to preserve the stories of the home, and she did for many years on her own.

She would travel back and forth, meeting visitors and giving them tours, and pretty much out of the blue, we got a call from Joanna in February of '22, and she very passionately explained the significance of this home and what her ideas were to preserve it, and she basically said, "Patricia, this home belongs in Greenville Village," and, you know, we took it from there, and we really did a lot of homework and a lot of research, so it didn't actually leave Selma until the end of '23, and now, it's being restored in Greenfield Village.

- Yeah, you have other important markers from this time at the museum, I'm not sure everyone knows about that, but, of course, I've been to the museum and sat on the bus where Rosa Parks also sat in Montgomery.

- And we're an American history museum, we tell the stories of American innovation, and we consider social transformation an American innovation, and so, we tell the story of freedom and our rights as citizens for freedom in this country, democracy, in an exhibit called "With Liberty and Justice for All," and that's where the Rosa Parks bus is, that's where we tell some of the things...

Stories about civil rights, there are tremendous connections to what happened in 1955 with the bus to what happened in 1965 with this home.

- You were talking about the things that have been preserved, that the... She's...

The daughter has spent a lot of time making sure they're preserved, what are some of those things?

- Absolutely, so... Oh, it is a wonderful treasure trove, to be honest, probably the most important piece, or one of the most important pieces, is the chair that Dr. Martin Luther King sat in on the night of March 15th, 1965, as Lyndon Baines Johnson delivered his "we shall overcome" speech, and we have photos of Dr. King in that living room, as well as all the other people who were in that living room and all of the things in it, and so, using a combination of the things that the family has held onto, family records, photos, family photos, as well as press photos because this is a very well-documented event, it's a very well-documented house, we're able to see, like, the vast majority of these things are all original, they're all here and they're all gonna be going back into the house when it opens in summer 2026, so it is... We're doing some really awesome history detective work when it comes to bringing the house back to life, because, you know, it was well-loved and well-lived-in until 2013 or so, before it became a museum on its own, so it is real important work, but it's also just really cool to be able to bring a more modern story to Greenfield Village.

- And the fact that the family knew the significance and saved all these things... - And saved those things, right?

- They saved these things, we've even found, for instance, if they recovered or reupholstered a chair, they saved the original fabric underneath, so we're finding the fabrics that were used, we're finding wallpaper on the walls, it's an incredible history that's coming to life, and our curators and our conservators, like Amber just said, they're like detectives, and they're matching up the treasure trove of photographs with the things that we're finding in the collection, because when we moved the house, everything came with it.

- Right.

Right.

- Exactly, and I will say, we also, you know, have the awesome opportunity of having Ms. Richie Jean's voice, she wrote a book about her family's experiences in the home called "The House by the Side of the Road," and if you wanna know what our interpretation is, just pick up that book... - [Stephen] That's what you were using.

- Because she walks us through every room, she walks us through that whole time period, and we don't often get to have a narrative of not only the person who lived in the house and experienced this, but also, their daughter who also was there.

- She was there, and she was a little girl, so she...

The very first meeting we had with her when she... And we were on a Zoom call 'cause it was still kind of that COVID time period, right?

So we did a Zoom call, and she was referring to her Uncle Martin, and it took me a second, I thought, "Wait a minute."

(people laughing) - [Stephen] "She's talking about Martin Luther King."

- She's talking... Yeah.

"That's my Uncle Martin."

So there are some wonderful pictures and she has a lot of very, very fond memories of Dr. King and a lot of the people that were in her home during that time period, but it was also a scary time for them.

- So, you know, you described this moment where she just kind of reaches out to the Henry Ford and says, "This is the place that I think this should be," I mean, that's such a testament to the museum's power across the country, not just here in Southeast Michigan.

- Well, my first question was, "How did you find out about us?

How did you know about us?"

And she actually had some friends that were working with her that were in the museum research area and curatorial area, and they were doing a little digging, but there was an interesting story, she was giving a tour to an attorney who writes... Who works in the civil rights world in Washington, D.C., and he had brought some of his students down he teaches to, and they toured the house in Selma, and he pulled her aside and he said, "This house belongs in Greenville Village," so he whispered this to her a few years before she called us, and it got her thinking, and then, some of... And then, her curator colleagues also did some research, she really did her homework, she knew what we could do and she knew that this story needed to be told, and it needed to be preserved.

- [Person] Summer is almost here, and there are plenty of outdoor activities featuring music, food and art taking place in Metro Detroit.

Dave Wagner and Haley Taylor from 90.9 WRCJ have today's "One Detroit Weekend."

- Hi, everyone, Dave and Haley here, ready to spice up your weekend plans.

If you're into art, music, dancing, or just soaking in some good vibes, we've got a jam-packed lineup for you, Haley, why don't you hit us with the first event?

- Okay, kicking things off is the Motor City Irish Festival, June 6th through the 8th at Green Mead Historical Park in Livonia.

From Celtic bands to Irish dance, whiskey tastings to family fun, it's a celebration of Irish culture and community.

- [Dave] Then there's Motor City Pride, June 7th and 8th at Hart Plaza.

It's Michigan's largest LGBTQ+ celebration, with parades, performances, food trucks, and plenty of colorful energy along the riverfront.

- [Haley] Also this weekend, Art on the Grand takes over Historic Downtown Farmington, June 7th and 8th.

This fine art fair features over 100 juried artists, live music and handmade goods in a beautiful outdoor setting.

- [Dave] If you're in for some Zen, go check out Peace Fest at L.A. Cafe in Waterford, also June 7th and 8th, enjoy local music, community vibes, over 100 local artists on display and backyard-chill all day long.

- [Haley] And don't miss the West Side Art Hop in Ann Arbor, June 7th and 8th, it's a mix between an art walk and art fair, and features artists showcasing work right from home and porches.

- And there's always even more to experience around the Detroit area, so stick around and see some more options.

(gentle electronic music) (gentle electronic music continues) (gentle electronic music continues) - [Person] That'll do it for this week's "One Detroit."

Thanks for watching.

Head to the "One Detroit" website for all the stories we're working on, follow us on social media, and sign up for our weekly newsletter.

(gentle electronic music) - [Narrator] From Delta faucets to Bear paint, Masco Corporation is proud to deliver products that enhance the way consumers all over the world experience and enjoy their living spaces.

Masco.

Serving Michigan communities since 1929.

- [Narrator] Support also provided by the Cynthia & Edsel Ford Fund for Journalism at Detroit PBS.

- [Narrator] The DTE Foundation is a proud sponsor of Detroit PBS.

Through our giving, we are committed to meeting the needs of the communities we serve statewide to help ensure a bright and thriving future for all.

Learn more at dtefoundation.com.

- [Narrator] Nissan Foundation, and viewers like you.

(relaxed electronic music) (relaxed electronic music continues) (upbeat piano music)