Team Rocky Weekly Email | Updates on medical marihuana, golf courses and more

City of Detroit, Michigan sent this bulletin at 03/23/2018 04:53 PM EDT
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Weekly Update | March 23, 2018

Reading is Fundamental

Council Member Castañeda-López after reading to first graders at Munger Elementary in 48210 in celebration of National Reading Month

What's happening downtown?

  • The Detroit Police Department has launched a new crime viewer that allows you to see crimes by type and date/time on a map. Check it out here.
  • See a sidewalk that needs to be fixed? Call DPW at (313) 224-0033 or report it on Improve Detroit.

Medical marihuana update:

  • On November 7, 2017, voters approved two ballot initiatives which proposed to “opt in” to the State Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act. However, the initiatives were challenged in court and mainly overturned, including the part that would have allowed facilities to be placed within 500 feet of other provisioning centers or religious institutions,  child care centers and youth activity centers.
  • On February 13, 2018, the City Council put an 180 day moratorium on processing new applications for medical marihuana facilities. This time frame will allow the City to draft an ordinance to put zoning requirements in place for these new types of marihuana facilities – currently Council Member Tate is leading the drafting efforts. In addition, the City is working to close marihuana facilities that are currently operating illegally.

Key approvals from City Council and other agencies:

  • New housing development on Lafayette between 10th and Rosa Parks, built by Elliott Blumenthal with 85-90% Detroit-based contractors. 6 of the lofts created by the project will be affordable: 10% units at 80% AMI, 5% at 60% AMI and 5% at 50% AMI (around 38k for a single person household. 
  • An $180,000 contract to Signet Golf Associates, who will operate and maintain Chandler Park, Rouge Park and Rackham Golf Courses.
  • BSEED rejected a request to install a concrete crushing facility on 7900 Dix, which would have been across the street from residents in Springwells Village.
  • The Housing and Revitalization Department will purchase the former Rogell Golf Course, over 120 acres of land from Greater Grace Temple in the area of Berg Rd. between Seven Mile and Grand River. The city will develop the site for housing, stormwater infrastructure and recreation which will include a running/biking path and playscapes for children.
Happy Birthday

 

 

Team Rocky members Claudia Meeks & Mary Turner wishing a happy 95th birthday to District 6 resident Joseph Christopher, Jr.


What’s happening in the districts?

Meetings and Info Sessions

  • NEW** Announcing the launch of Council Member Office Talks! The first Monday of every month from 5-6:30, Council Member Castañeda-López will host open office hours at the Mary Turner Center for Advocacy, 1927 Rosa Parks Suite 110A. Come to chat with her about community concerns, or give us a call to connect on the phone. Next Talk: April 2 5-5:45pm
  • Community Meeting on the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center March 27, 6-7:30pm | Bethel AME, 5050 St Antoine St.
  • DTE Dearborn is hosting an information session and hearing on their proposed turbine generator which may increase pollution emissions: Tuesday March 27, 5:30 (session) and 7:00 (public hearing). Location: Edsel Ford High School Auditorium, 20601 Rotunda Drive, Dearborn, Michigan. We will be providing a testimony letter in opposition of these generators.
  • Do you live near Stanford and Milford? Join Pastor Williams and our team for a community conversation at St. Stephen A.M.E. on March 28th at 5pm.

Jobs and Business

  • The At-Large Small Business Empowerment Fair | Thursday, March 29th 5-8pm, Greater Grace Temple on 23500 W. 7 Mile Rd. (313) 224-1245 or (313) 224-4248
  • YouthBuild is a paid 26-week training program for young adults (18-24) interested in building trades, and it offers a stipend. Recruitment in ongoing for program that starts April 2. Call 313-297-0091 for more info.
  • Greening of Detroit’s Detroit Conservation Corps is a paid training program that provides a certification to become a landscape tech, tree artisan or snow removal tech. Info session on March 26 from 9-4 | Tindal Rec Center, 10301 W 7 Mile. Apply by April 9th. For more info, call 313-285-2251

Entertainment and Education

Social Services

  • Wayne Metro Community Action Agency offers free tax services for households with incomes below 54,000. Call 734.284.6999 to schedule an appointment.
  • DTE Energy and THAW Customer Assistance Day (CAD) at Perfecting Church | Thursday March 29th 9am-4pm, 7616 E Nevada. Register at thawfund.org/events