Detroiters have already begun to feel the impacts of climate change, and for Detroit’s east side District 4, it’s been particularly acute.

Historic rainstorms in 2021 left as many as 70% of district residents with flooded basements, resulting in the growth of toxic mold and subsequent health problems.

“The sewer backups and flooding basements show this issue is already happening,” incumbent City Council Member Latisha Johnson said last week in response to resident questions about city-level efforts to combat climate change. 

“We’re working on addressing the seawalls, the stoploss system to shore up the shoreline in the Jefferson Chalmers community,” she said. “When it floods, the Detroit River rises and comes over the barriers.” 

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Johnson discussed the district’s unique needs and challenges during BridgeDetroit’s Meet the Candidates event on Thursday at Eastside Community Network in front of an audience of about 50 people. Also in attendance for the event were At-Large council candidates Valerie Parker, an educator and youth activist; James Harris, community relations chief for the Detroit Fire Department; and Shakira Lynn Hawkins, an attorney. 

The event is part of a series being held throughout the city to engage and inform voters ahead of the Aug. 5 primary.

Johnson said she decided to run for City Council four years ago because she had been doing volunteer work and felt disconnected from City Hall. She is running unopposed and will not face a primary. 

The councilwoman told the crowd she knows it’s tough to please and reach everyone but she’s long been “rooted in community.” Her team canvasses the district weekly and conducts surveys to have full understanding of the community as a whole, she said. 

“For me, it’s always about hearing as many people as want to chime in. I do recognize residents are busy, you’re focused on your family on your job,” she said. “Every decision you make (on the council), somebody is going to be upset. I’m the person who wants to bring everybody together and make us of one accord.” 

Johnson also cited resident feedback to the Great Lakes Water Authority’s plan to build a new pump station that would reroute floodwaters in affected areas of the district and police use of technology like artificial intelligence.

District 4 is home to about 100,000 residents, according to the city, and is known for its waterfront property, canal-lined neighborhoods and large recreation areas like Chandler Park. But the area also faces unique challenges due to its vast amounts of vacant land.

For his part, Harris, a retired Detroit Fire Department chief and a resident of District 1, also spoke Thursday about plans for dealing with the climate crisis. He said it begins with training, preparedness and education. 

“Looking back at the flood in Southwest Detroit this winter, a lot of people weren’t prepared,” Harris said. “We need to be. Civilians can train with police and fire so if there’s an emergency like that, we can all be prepared.”

All of the candidates spoke about keeping the community engaged in civic life and finding a balance when serving residents with different priorities for the city. 

“We’re in a whole ‘nother era. A whole other century. What are we going to do for our kids today?” Parker, who also lives in District 1, said. “They are our tomorrow. If I’m listening to what they say, and it doesn’t make sense, then we’re not doing. If it’s 2006 information, that’s not today. If it’s 2026 information, then we can have a conversation.”

Hawkins, who lives in District 4, said she had a completely opposite approach to serving residents. 

“I will let you know how I’m leaning, how I’m voting,” she said. “I’m not going to make any decisions in a vacuum. I will reach out to different groups.”

Harris touted teamwork and a committee of 18- to 33-year-olds he calls Generation Now, working on surveying the city and participating in a listening tour. 

“You get more out of working together as a team. It has to be about facts. You need to put your emotions (to the side),” he said. “The facts are what matter.”

By next year, Detroit will have an entirely new mayoral administration, and the money provided to the city under the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will be used up. The candidates discussed how they would make tough decisions on spending and saving programs.

“I don’t want to make everything about race, but quite frankly, everything is about race. People will look to Detroit to fail,” Hawkins told the crowd. “They will expect we cannot govern ourselves, that we will not grow, we will not be successful without white leadership. We need to be prepared for that. We need to all pitch in, work together because failure is not an option.”

Offered Parker: “I’m a precinct delegate. I’ve been telling my people to prepare since 2020.”

Harris emphasized telling residents the truth, saying, “we can’t lie to our citizens.”

Johnson offered specifics about programs that have a variety of funding sources, and discussed possibilities for additional revenue streams for the city, such as an entertainment tax for visitors to Detroit. 

“The next administration has the task of rightsizing staffing and programs. We may see some reductions in that, but between the administration and City Council we have to be clear about what’s in front of us and how we use those dollars,” Johnson said. “It’s important to communicate.”