
Here’s a weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at some of the stories we’re following. Have a reading recommendation? Let us know at nina@planetdetroit.org.
???? Stellantis still stinks: Residents near Stellantis NV’s Mack Assembly Plant in Detroit report persistent paint odors despite the installation of new emissions control equipment, raising ongoing concerns about air quality and potential health effects. While the state environmental agency has noted a decrease in odor complaints and no unacceptable levels of odors in recent testing, local residents like Tanisha Burton and Robert Shobe still experience frequent and troubling odors, impacting their quality of life and raising worries about long-term health impacts, especially for children in the area. (Detroit News)
???? Tree beat: Detroit’s East Canfield Art Park will be redeveloped into a “Remediation Forest” over the next two years, featuring air quality monitors and sculptures honoring Canfield Consortium founders. The effort is aimed at addressing environmental concerns and promoting community engagement. The project includes air-purifying trees, educational spaces and an art installation that focuses on monitoring air quality, highlighting issues of environmental racism and community health impacted by nearby industrial emissions. Meanwhile, a local nonprofit in Detroit’s Poletown East neighborhood is collaborating with a northern Michigan organization to plant the city’s first-ever forest of giant sequoia trees, renowned for their longevity and carbon dioxide absorption capabilities. The initiative, led by Arboretum Detroit, aims to create an environmental buffer against pollution, offering significant ecological and educational benefits to the community while addressing the neighborhood’s history of environmental injustice. (Freep, WDET)
☀️Sweltering summer: After a warmer than average winter and spring, Michigan and surrounding states are expected to experience a particularly hot summer, with experts warning of increased risks of drought, wildfires, and heat-related illnesses. The state still struggles with low soil moisture from a dry winter, heightening fire risks and potentially exacerbating conditions for early heatwaves and environmental stress on both human and animal populations. (Bridge Michigan)
☀️Least reliable power grids: Michigan is noted for having one of the least reliable power grids in the U.S., with 90.2% of its major power outages since 2000 being attributed to extreme weather, a higher rate than the national average. The state, along with Texas, California, North Carolina, and Ohio, experiences frequent long-duration outages that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, highlighting the urgency for infrastructure improvements and increased accountability for utility companies. (Axios)
✏️Re-think I-375: Residents near Detroit’s I-375 are actively opposing state plans to convert the interstate into a boulevard, fearing it will disrupt community connections and ignore historical impacts, particularly on historically Black neighborhoods. Their organized efforts include a formal petition by the “ReThink I-375 Coalition” demanding that Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) pause the project to better integrate public feedback and address community concerns regarding safety, accessibility, and the preservation of local businesses. (Bridge Detroit)
????The case for animals in Detroit: Detroit Farm and Cider, reportedly the country’s first Black-owned cider mill and the only one within Detroit city limits, offered unique community programs but faced legal challenges when the city confiscated its animals and charged the owner, Leandra King, with keeping livestock illegally. Although a proposed urban livestock ordinance could legalize such practices and is nearing approval, it might not aid King, who believes her farm is being unfairly targeted and fears a conviction would prevent her from qualifying for future business rezoning. (Metro Times)