Malachi Barrett has your dispatch from Detroit City Council: Water quality fears, Spirit Plaza enhancements, bus platforms, new child care zoning rules and more.
Malachi Barrett
Malachi Barrett is a mission-oriented reporter working to liberate information for Detroiters.
Barrett previously worked for MLive covering local news and statewide politics in Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Detroit. He was named Michigan’s 2019 Newspaper Rising Star by the Associated Press. Barrett graduated from Central Michigan University in 2016.
Barrett lives in Detroit's Pingree Park neighborhood on the eastside with his wife. He's mostly from Battle Creek, but also lived in California, Wisconsin, West Virginia, South Carolina and Japan.
Posted inCity Council Notebook
We want your feedback: Who should lead Detroit?
Here’s a few names I’ve been hearing, taken with a grain of salt, for candidates Detroiters would like to see:
Posted inCivic and Community Information
Report raises community needs for I-375 design, land use and business impacts
Reconfiguring I-375 half a century after it was constructed could majorly impact 2,000 surrounding businesses.
Posted inCivic and Community Information, Political and Public Policy Information
Duggan won’t seek re-election in 2025, setting up a mayoral free-for-all
The mayor’s decision to leave office after his term expires in 2025 clears the field for an open race to succeed him.
Posted inCity Council Notebook
Detroit, land of eggs and honey
In one of it’s last meetings of the year, the Detroit City Council approved an ordinance for backyard farms, set focus areas and said goodbye to the police chief.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
Half of pandemic relief funds spent, Detroit must use the rest by 2026
ARPA projects are set in stone. The council has no ability to create new initiatives.
Posted inCivic and Community Information, Political and Public Policy Information
Detroit will accept cryptocurrency in 2025 for taxes and fees
The idea came from a Detroiter who asked Mayor Mike Duggan at a recent charter-mandated meeting why the city doesn’t accept digital currency.
Posted inCivic and Community Information, Political and Public Policy Information
Democrats overestimated Detroit turnout. What happened?
Detroit leaders, advocates say Kamala Harris didn’t do enough to detail her vision amid a shortened window to campaign for president.
Posted inPolitical and Public Policy Information
Detroit voters driving turnout say there’s no reason to stay home on Election Day
‘It’s a vibe check every day,’ as candidates make their final push for votes in Detroit and Michigan.
Posted inPolitical and Public Policy Information
Detroit clerk predicts turnout for presidential race could be highest in a decade
Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey predicted up to 290,000 votes could be cast, possibly reaching 55% turnout.