Welcome back. I’m still Malachi Barrett.

Using nicotine products like Zyn in Detroit stadiums could cost you $100.

The City Council voted 7-2 to criminalize smokeless tobacco and alternative nicotine products in sports arenas. Violators will first be given a warning, but refusing to comply results in a misdemeanor and a $100 fine. The ban also applies to athletes, stadium employees and coaches.

“This ordinance should apply to Joe Smith as much as it does to Spencer Torkelson or Tarik Skubal,” Detroit Attorney Graham Anderson said during a Monday committee meeting.

The proposal was led by Council Member Fred Durhal III, who said the ban will keep kids from being influenced by unhealthy habits. Durhal said high school students he spoke with assume chewing tobacco is part of baseball, but the MLB and other groups are working to end the longtime association.

The council did not hear from representatives of the stadiums or police during public discussions. 

The MLB banned new players from using tobacco products in 2016, causing some to embrace alternatives like Zyn nicotine pouches. Other players have become anti-tobacco advocates. Late Detroit Tiger Bill Tuttle, whose baseball cards showed him with a big wad of snuff packed into his cheek, was diagnosed with oral cancer and used the last years of his life to raise awareness. 

Durhal said he partnered with Knock Tobacco Out of The Park, a national organization working to remove snuff and similar products from baseball stadiums. They held a press event at the Corner Ballpark earlier this month advocating for Detroit to join 17 other stadiums that ban smokeless tobacco.

“Tobacco has taken an enormous toll on Detroiters for far too long and passage of this ordinance puts kids’ health first while focusing on keeping addiction out of sports,” Minou Jones, chair of the Detroit Wayne Oakland Tobacco-Free Coalition, said in a news release.

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Mike Cox said the City Council should focus on gun violence and poverty instead of banning nicotine pouches at baseball games. He posted an image on X.com of a pile of pouches with the phrase “come and take it” in response to the news. 

The ordinance doesn’t apply to vaping, Anderson said Monday. Ford Field, Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena are already smoke-free venues, prohibiting vaping and electronic cigarettes. Ford Field has an outdoor area designated for smoking.

Chewing tobacco inside stadiums could get you ejected according to policies posted by professional teams, but their visitor rules don’t explicitly mention nicotine pouches.

Council Member Coleman Young II voted against the ban, saying the city shouldn’t be a “nanny state” that limits the freedom of adults to consume legal substances. Young said visitors can purchase alcohol, which could also influence the perceptions of youth.

“To be able to ban that, then you’d also have to ban beer in terms of the negative externalities of that,” Young said. “You can also look at hot dogs because of cholesterol that can clog your arteries.”

Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero was the other “no” vote, arguing that tobacco and nicotine bans already exist in stadiums and are unlikely to have an impact.

Council Member Angela Whitfield-Calloway said this ban aligns with efforts by Police Chief Todd Bettison to stop gas stations from selling vapes to children. She said flavored vapes appeal to young people who aren’t aware of the health risks.

Whitfield-Calloway said children mimic what they see adults do, and widespread marijuana use is hurting children. The ordinance does not apply to marijuana, and it’s already illegal to smoke cannabis in public spaces and venues like stadiums that aren’t licensed for consumption.

“Even though we say it’s legal, and it’s a decision of adults making these decisions to make such items legal, it doesn’t make them right,” she said. “Go into our schools today, you can smell the vaping going on. Our students smell like marijuana.” 

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What page are we on?

Today’s notebook covers the Oct. 21 formal session. Want this in your inbox? Sign up for free.

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

Election Day is Nov. 4. Check out our voter guide covering all City Council races. Interviews with candidates are available on our podcast Detroit Next.

Our election tracker provides regular updates on city races. Stay on top of upcoming election events with this Google calendar.

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Overheard in CAYMC

Here’s a recap of issues raised by residents during public comment and other council intrigue.

Detroit’s Youth Affairs Team is holding a citywide gathering to uplift youth voices and connect residents with city leaders. 

A youth assembly is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Northwest Activity Center Theater. RSVP online here. It will feature a keynote address, panel discussions, and interactive activities designed to spark conversations.

The Detroit Tenants Union withdrew support of a proposed ordinance that would give renters the right to renew their leases. The tenant’s rights group has been working with Council President Mary Sheffield’s office on the new law but said the latest draft produced by the Detroit Law Department has a “total lack of tenant protections.”

A copy of the document has not been publicly released. Organizer Steven Rimmer said the group isn’t making additional public statements for now. 

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Detroit homeowners have until Nov. 7 to apply for property tax aid

Detroit homeowners have until 4:30 p.m. Nov. 7 to apply for a property tax assistance program to avoid the risk of foreclosure.

Detroit is hosting two Healthy Home Resource Day events on Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 to provide on-site Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE) application assistance and other aid for homeowners.

HOPE is an income-based program that may reduce or eliminate a homeowner’s current year’s taxes by 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100%. Last year, over 10,000 Detroit homeowners were approved for a reduction in their property taxes, according to the city. Homeowners approved for HOPE are also eligible for other assistance programs.

• The Oct. 24 resource fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers
• The Oct. 25 event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Perfecting Church, 7616 Nevada

The events are being held in partnership with the Detroit Housing Network, Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Association and United Community Housing Coalition.

HOPE, formerly the Homeowners Property Tax Assistance Program (HPTAP) is also referred to as the Poverty Tax Exemption, “PTE” or Hardship Program. The application must be completed by qualified homeowners annually.

The application deadline was moved from early December to early November to give the city’s Property Assessment Board of Review more time to reach out to applicants with incomplete submissions.

Eligibility for HOPE is based on household income and whether a person owns and occupies their home as their primary residence.

Residents can apply online or schedule an in-person appointment at a HOPE event by visiting www.detroitmi.gov/HOPE or contact the Call Center at (313) 244-0274, walk-ins for the events are also available.