Michigan cities are losing millions in tax revenue from pollution exemptions but have little say in granting them, and aren’t required to track or report the cost.
Jena Brooker
Jena Brooker is BridgeDetroit's environmental reporter, covering food and agriculture, pollution and climate change. She has held three fellowships: a ProPublica fellowship, where she led an investigative project on heavy industry in Detroit neighborhoods; a Data Fellowship at the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, where she produced award-winning coverage of Detroit's automotive industry and environmental racism; and a Science-Health-Environment Reporting Fellowship through CASW, AHCJ and SEJ. Her work has also earned the Michigan Press Association public service award three years in a row and recognition as Young Journalist of the Year in 2023. Before joining BridgeDetroit, she covered environmental issues across the Midwest as a Reporting Fellow for Grist.
Jena holds a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from the University of Michigan, and her work has appeared in The Guardian, Mother Jones, Salon, Slate, Grist, Next City, Chalkbeat and Planet Detroit.
Posted inEnvironment
FAQ: What to know about Michigan’s pollution exemption law
In Detroit, over the last decade, five companies – three owned by Marathon Petroleum – have received 28 exemptions under the law, equaling about $46 million.
Posted inBusiness, Civic and Community Information, Housing
Years after buying home, Detroit couple caught in aftermath from land bank deal
The conflict highlights concerns over oversight and accountability in special deals between the Detroit Land Bank Authority and developers.
Posted inArts & Culture, Environment
Voices for manoomin: Protecting Michigan’s sacred rice
One Detroit, BridgeDetroit and Great Lakes Now collaboration takes viewers to a northeastern Michigan rice camp
Posted inCivic and Community Information
Harvesting manoomin, Michigan’s Indigenous wild rice | One Detroit
As part of National Native American Heritage Month this November, BridgeDetroit’s Jena Brooker along with One Detroit’s Bill Kubota take us on wild rice harvest where some new manoomin beds now grow because of a dam removal on northeastern Michigan’s Au Sable River.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
Help us report on how concrete operations are impacting Detroit’s neighborhoods
Do you live, work, own a business, visit family or send your children to school in Cadillac Heights off I-75 and Six Mile? We want to hear from you about what needs more attention.
Posted inEnvironment, Political and Public Policy Information
Detroit looks to rezone parcels along the Joe Louis Greenway
The city launched public engagement around efforts to rezone areas along the Joe Louis Greenway to ensure environmentally conscious and appropriate uses of adjacent land.
Posted inEnvironment
Protesters push for closure of concrete facility in Detroit neighborhood
Community members gathered Friday to demand the shutdown of the Kronos concrete mixing plant off Six Mile.
Posted inBusiness, Environment
$225K in new grants available for Detroit farmers
Applications for grants from Eastern Market Partnership and the City of Detroit are now open to Detroit farmers.
Posted inCivic and Community Information, Housing
Detroit Land Bank Authority adds discount for properties purchased by Natives
The policy change came after the Thečhíȟila Collective worked with Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero to meet with the land bank.