BridgeDetroit is at the Mackinac Policy Conference this week to learn more about the future leadership of Detroit.

Five of the nine mayoral candidates were invited to a debate at 5:30 p.m. Thursday evening. Watch the livestream here.

The debate will feature former Police Chief James Craig, City Council Member Fred Durhal III, former nonprofit CEO and Council President Saunteel Jenkins, Triumph Church Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. and Council President Mary Sheffield.

It’s the first debate of this election cycle and a major test for candidates. Sheffield and Kinloch have commanded high-profile endorsements and ranked at the top in polls, but the conference is a chance for other candidates to prove themselves to Michigan’s executive class.

“You get the opportunity to really see the candidates who have the experience, that have the vision to move this city forward, and it will be live on stage,” Durhal said.

Jenkins, Durhal and Attorney Todd Perkins hosted a sparsely attended mayoral reception Tuesday night. A few hours later, Perkins told me he’s disappointed that he was snubbed from the debate lineup but is working hard this week to ensure he’s still in the conversation.

The conference is catered to a distinct audience. The policy conference is hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber but attracts business, political and philanthropic leaders from across the state.

The case being made on the island is a little bit different than the case made at home,” Jenkins said. “Here, that executive experience makes a huge difference. You’re talking to other executives who understand.”

Durhal acknowledged something I’ve often heard Black Detroiters say about the Mackinac Island setting. It can be an uncomfortable space, and at worst, the Grand Hotel has a racist aesthetic that reflects Michigan’s history of segregation.

Durhal recalled attending the conference in 2013 when his father was participating in a mayoral debate when he was stopped by staff that demanded to see his credentials. Durhal claimed the same staff member stopped him for the same reason this week. 

Candidates are vying to prove they are the most qualified to be mayor. Jenkins said her campaign has internal polling showing she’s tied with Kinloch and Craig, who are all behind Sheffield. Jenkins didn’t share the data with BridgeDetroit but said it will be released next week.

“When voters hear my message, my qualifications and my story, I come out ahead,” Jenkins said. “The executive experience is the distinction. The things I’ve done for years in this community makes a difference as well.” 

Keep reading for more takeaways from conversations BridgeDetroit had on the first day of the conference.

Jenkins targets neighborhood issues 

Jenkins said voters have identified improving neighborhoods as the most important issue for the next mayor. She highlighted two specific neighborhood problems she would address: Safety and housing.

She said the Detroit Police Department needs to embrace community policing as an overarching philosophy, building up their presence in neighborhoods. Now that DPD has addressed its staffing issues, Jenkins said it’s time to look at deploying more officers into neighborhoods. Meanwhile, she would invest in after-school programs to give children constructive things to do.

Jenkins said she appreciates the work to partner police with social workers when responding to mental health crises, started by former Chief James White and carried forward by Chief Todd Bettison.

A shortage of affordable housing is pushing Detroiters into the suburbs, Jenkins said. She proposes using a new bond program to make building affordable housing more feasible. Jenkins said New York, Chicago and other major cities use bonds to provide developers with financing, as collateral for low-cost loans, create first-time home-buyer programs and use other creative solutions.

A majority of Detroit landlords own two or fewer rental properties. Jenkins said these aren’t corporate landlords, they’re residents often renting out generational family homes. She wants to offer them home repair programs in exchange for keeping rent low for a period of time.

Jenkins also wants to offer Detroit Land Bank Authority homes to teachers who move to Detroit. 

“We should be creating density in neighborhoods where there are schools that will attract families,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins is reviewing the DLBA’s latest five-year strategic plan, but said it needs to be easier for residents to obtain property. She said the land bank shouldn’t be “harassing nonprofits” and forcing them to deed back homes that are being renovated slowly. It contributes to a feeling that certain people are treated differently by the land bank, she said.

Durhal proposes property tax cuts

Durhal said residents tell him property taxes are far too high in the city. He said affordable housing and education are also top priorities.

“These are those kitchen table elements that families really care about,” Durhal said. “How do we build a Detroit that’s for families again, where families can stay, where families can work, where they can play, and where they can feel safe?”

Durhal wants to fully cut the city’s operating millage and make up for the loss in revenue by raising taxes on “folks who are sitting on underdeveloped land or speculating on land.”

“We want to accelerate rebuilding neighborhoods,” Durhal said. “If you are a person that is continuing to contribute to blight here in the city of Detroit, we’re not just going to slap you on your wrist. We’re going to let you know that we are creating an environment where we don’t stand for that.”

Durhal said downtown parking lots are a prime example of how the tax system is unfair. The lots generate millions of dollars in profits while paying lower property taxes than homeowners. He plans to release more details on his tax plan in the near future.

Last week, Durhal joined Sheffield and Mayor Mike Duggan in announcing a new plan to remove unnecessary permitting and licensing processes that make it hard to start businesses. Cutting bureaucratic “red tape” has been a common theme among candidates. Sheffield and Durhal have an opportunity to take action through the council as they run for mayor.

Durhal also teased zoning ordinance changes he will introduce to the City Council to reduce minimum parking requirements for businesses.

“What we’re going to be looking at is how we make the best use of land, how we make it more conducive for business to thrive,” Durhal said.

Durhal said blight is plaguing neighborhoods. He said residents have asked for better enforcement of illegal dumping and more trash cans to reduce littering. Durhal said he wants to put more surveillance cameras in parks and other places where dumping is too common.

Durhal also wants to create an Office of Violence Prevention to support the city’s community violence intervention program and provide wrap-around services for people dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues. He would create a crisis hotline for gun violence victims to receive support from the city.

“We’re up here because all roads to true property tax reform, all roads to eliminating preemption, all roads to the public safety trust fund dollars — they lead through Lansing,” Durhal said. “If you don’t have the experience or the relationships with most of the folks and legislators up here, you are not going to be able to deliver for the city of Detroit.”

State announces fund for young entrepreneurs 

State officials announced a new grant to house recent graduates who are starting businesses in Detroit.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is providing $770,000 in talent retention grants across the state. Michigan Chief Growth Officer Hilary Doe said it’s part of a larger strategy to attract young residents.

Justin Onwenu, Detroit’s director of Entrepreneurship and Economic Opportunity, said the city will receive $210,000 to house eight startup founders for a year.

“Recent Michigan graduates leave Michigan to start businesses because they either need capital or need community,” Onwenu said. “We’re recurring recent grads who have startups to stay in Detroit, get memberships to TechTown, Newlab and Bamboo and we’ll cover housing costs.”

Boarding school at the Renaissance Center? 

Herb Strather, a real estate investor and chairman of Strather Associates, is pitching a plan to save two Renaissance Center towers that are proposed for demolition as part of Dan Gilbert’s redevelopment proposal. 

Strather said the Detroit Association of Realtors is seeking to purchase towers 300 and 400 from General Motors. One tower would be used as a data storage facility, while the other would be renovated into dormitories for 3,000 homeless students identified in the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

“It’s in our city’s interest to keep these buildings,” Strather said. “What we can do in the tower is (provide) education, STEM engineering and arts programming.”

Strather said he’s hoping to bring the idea to Duggan and GM at the policy conference.

DPSCD Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said the proposal shows some promise, as long as someone else renovates the aging tower. Vitti said chronic absenteeism is directly connected to housing stability, but DPSCD has enough on its plate with upgrading its school buildings.

“If the right people come to the table and the funding is there, there’s certainly an opportunity to create maybe a boarding school for boys or for girls or for families, just to continue to address the instability of housing,” Vitti said.

“It would be difficult to take the lead on, only because we have needs. We’re hoping to continue to implement $700 million of capital projects to prove to the city that we can manage those resources well, and inevitably we’re going to have to go for a bond.” Duggan said he hadn’t seen the proposal Wednesday but said he doesn’t put a lot of stock in people who have big ideas but no funding and no ownership of the property.

Michigan Black Business Alliance has message for mayoral candidates 

The Michigan Black Business Alliance urged Detroit candidates for mayor and City Council to present a “bold, unapologetic, and actionable agenda for Black entrepreneurs and small businesses.”

The MBBA released results from a Detroit Policy Survey with responses from 200 Black-owned businesses. It found most businesses face barriers to secure funding and affordable commercial space, while 89% believe the city isn’t doing enough to support them.

Nearly a third of the businesses surveyed (31%) don’t accept cash, despite a city ordinance outlawing the practice.

MBBA President and CEO Charity Dean said the group’s advocacy resulted in important wins in recent years, like proposed reforms to licensing processes and the creation of a director of entrepreneurship position within the mayor’s office.

Dean said candidates must put support for Black-owned businesses at the center of their economic development strategies. Recommendations include permanently funding a small business concierge service, decriminalizing cashless businesses, supporting access to funding, cutting certification fees for minority and women-owned businesses, among other items.

The MBBA plans to host a candidate forum and will release a scorecard to evaluate candidate platforms.