Plowing neighborhood streets is a rare occurrence, only triggered when the city receives at least six inches of snow.
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 inDetroit City Notebook
Extreme cold raises power shutoff concerns in Detroit
While the mayor or council could issue temporary moratoriums on city-regulated activities like water shutoffs, only the Michigan Public Service Commission has authority over residential natural gas and electricity disconnections.
Posted inDetroit City Notebook, Transportation
Updates proposed for DDOT rider Code of Conduct
DDOT unveiled changes to its Code of Conduct during a Jan. 15 community input meeting before the policy is submitted to the City Council for review.
Posted inDetroit City Notebook, Housing
Advocates work to build support in Detroit for housing reforms
The statewide nonprofit, Abundant Housing Michigan, is advocating for a package of eight bills being put together by state Rep. Kristian Grant, D-Grand Rapids.
Posted inDetroit City Notebook, Police & Public Safety
Detroit crime drop fits national trend
The Council on Criminal Justice recorded a 21% drop in homicides in the cities it studied, while Detroit’s homicide total declined 19% from 2024-25.
Posted inDetroit City Notebook
Detroit council wants assurance that police data isn’t shared
District 7 City Council Member Denzel McCampbell requested a report on what city contractors sell or share data with third-party brokers.
Posted inDetroit City Notebook
Council wants to know: Who pays to clean contaminated dirt?
The city is testing more than 500 demolition sites and released results from 59 properties so far.
Posted inDetroit City Notebook
Mary Sheffield’s power players pitch Detroit’s future
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield’s appointees for top roles in housing, public safety, legal and finance met with a City Council committee last week. Here’s what they said.
Posted inDetroit City Notebook
Detroit council members begin community outreach ahead of budget talks
Budget priority forums are being hosted in all seven City Council districts to gather input on Sheffield’s recommended budget for fiscal year 2026-27.
Posted inDetroit City Notebook, Police & Public Safety
Detroiters demand City Council hold ICE accountable as Trump visits
Council President James Tate Jr. said the body must first gather facts about the body’s powers to constrain federal agents.