Welcome back. I’m still Malachi Barrett. 

The City Council approved spending $1.45 million in federal pandemic relief funds to clean up four alleyways alongside new housing projects. 

Josh Bails, a senior development specialist with the city’s housing department, said it’s a one-time program to improve access to new multi-family developments. Four locations were selected, including:

• An east-west alley between Alter and Ashland near the Xavier Square development on Detroit’s eastside. 
• An L-shaped alley adjacent to the Parker Durand development in Islandview on the east side. 
• Seven alley segments between Hazelwood and Pingree near The Summit at Piety Hill project, which is expected to finish in 2025. 
• An east-west alley near Wesson and Michigan Avenue alongside Campbell Street Apartments, expected to finish construction this year in the Chadsey-Condon neighborhood.  

Bails said the alleys have long been in a state of disrepair. Cleanup activities include replacing pavement, removing debris and adding new landscaping.

Council President Mary Sheffield said overgrown alleyways are a “hot topic” among residents who struggle to clear debris and vegetation. An alley clean-up program available to residents is at capacity and is not accepting new applicants. 

The city has also invested federal pandemic funds to transform alleys into community spaces through the Arts Alley Initiative. 

WHAT PAGE ARE WE ON? 

Today’s notebook covers the Oct. 15 formal session. 

Dig into the agenda, read Detroit Documenter notes or watch the recording for more details.

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Surf these headlines I’ve been reading: 

• Mike Duggan takes the New York Times on a tour of Detroit
• What a pro-Duggan nonprofit means for potential governor run
• Mary Waters says Harris may not be doing enough to build support 
• How Trump campaign tried to “stop the count” in Detroit
• Pistons plan concert with Skilla Baby, Peezy, for early voting start 

Mitch Albom nonprofit secures long-term lease for rec center

A 25-year lease was renewed with SAY Detroit Inc. to use Lipke Recreation Center for programming and events. 

he nonprofit organization was founded by Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom and Detroit Rescue Mission CEO Chad Audi in 2006. It was originally granted an 10-year lease for the eastside facility, which expires in June 2025. 

Lipke Recreation Center had been closed due to city budget cuts before SAY Detroit moved in. The organization paid $225,000 to replace the heating and cooling system. 

Former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford pledged $1 million to build an indoor football field, and this year cut the ribbon on a $4 million addition to the site. 

The City Council extended the lease agreement for $1, allowing SAY Detroit to operate out of the recreation center until 2050.

Council Member Scott Benson, who represents District 3 where the site is located, said children are “thriving” in the restored space. 

Crystal Perkins, director of the General Services Department, said the latest investment will bring a new gym, classrooms, a theater and space for community meetings. 

“For someone to make this type of investment, there has to be some type of long-term commitment to the space,” Perkins said. “It only makes sense to allow a longer-term operating agreement.” 

Council Member Angela Whitfield-Calloway said she’s uncomfortable with long-term leases and argued that the facility is not as accessible to the public as it should be. Whitfield-Calloway said she would have opposed the extension if the facility were located in her district. 

The nonprofit offers services for youth aged 8 to 18. Students must maintain a “C” grade point average to participate in sports programs. 

City documents show SAY Detroit will use the space as a community recreation center, library, educational counseling services, after-school program location and more. The general public can also access the recreation center for pick-up games. 

SAY Detroit is responsible for utility payments, interior maintenance and playscapes.  

The city is responsible for all exterior maintenance, except for the football field, and provides a dedicated neighborhood police officer at the leased premises. Detroit has the right to terminate the agreement if the building falls into disrepair or ends its programs. 

City boosts towing contractors 

The Detroit City Council approved funding increases to pay several towing companies for extra services requested by the Police Department. 

The city underestimated the volume of tows in the original contract that began in 2022, according to a statement from the Detroit Towing Association. 

“Who works for free? It is not our fault the volume of tows were underestimated and our contracts did not reflect the correct amounts,” Detroit Towing Association Vice President Julie Semma said in a statement. “That is solely on the city.”

Contracts were boosted for Bobby’s T.C.B. Towing Service, Troy’s Towing, 7 D’S Towing & Storage and Wayne’s Service. 

The contracts were originally awarded for $187,500 each in 2022. The following chart shows the increases. Similar contract extensions are still pending with ABA Impounds and BBK Towing & Recovery. 

City documents show the Detroit Police Department requested additional funding to pay outstanding invoices for towing services. 

Benson voted against each of the contract increases. Council Member Latisha Johnson voted against the increase for Troy’s Towing, Inc. 

Last week, the City Council decided to pump the brakes on changing towing rates. The decision was sent back to the Public Health and Safety Committee for more consideration. 

Sheffield said the delay is coordinated with efforts to create a new ordinance aimed at stopping predatory towing practices. Sheffield said the delay doesn’t matter much since tow rate changes wouldn’t take effect until next July. 

Kamala Harris: Detroit is a first-class city      

Early voting starts in Detroit on Saturday, and presidential candidates are trying to make sure you won’t forget. 

Democratic nominee Kamala Harris visited Detroit on Tuesday to record a radio interview with Charlamagne tha God. She’s returning to Detroit for a Saturday rally. 

Former President Donald Trump announced plans to hold a campaign rally at Huntington Place on Friday.

Harris participated in a town-hall style interview at the iHeartMedia studio in Eastern Market. Detroit figures like Zeek Williams, Eric Thomas, Icewear Vezzo and Pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. posed questions to the vice president.

I attended a watch party at Cred Cafe on the lower eastside. Harris stopped by to meet roughly a hundred people invited by the campaign. 

The vice president was gifted with a “Detroit Vs. Everybody” shirt by the brand’s founder Tommey Walker. 

Harris said a college friend taught her about Detroit back when she attended Howard University, and got a big reaction after shouting out Cass Technical High School. 

“I just feel a kindred spirit whenever I come to Detroit,” she said. “This is a town of people who have grit … and apply to that a lot of hard work, which makes Detroit a first class city in the United States of America.” 

Earlier in the day, Harris stopped by Norwest Gallery of Art in the Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood. She signed a copy of Detroit City Photographer Cyrus Tetteh’s book “Only in Detroit.”