About thirty Latino voters and other members of the Detroit community gathered last night at the Saint Regis Hotel for the debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
In the crowd were many lifetime Southwest Detroit residents with an eye on environmental justice policy, Venezuelan migrants, a Western High school counselor concerned about education policy and undecided voters in the uncommitted movement.
Viewers crossed off the words “climate,” “clean energy,” and “public health” on their Planet Detroit Climate Debate Bingo sheets, though many expressed disappointment with the depth of the climate conversation.
Planet Detroit asked watchers their thoughts on how climate was, and was not, acknowledged at the debate.
Sergio Martinez, organizer with Latinos con Harris-Walz
“I’m disappointed. Harris can do better on both climate and immigration,” Martinez said. “I care about climate and I don’t even have kids. I don’t understand how people have kids and vote a certain way.”
Raquel Garcia, Executive Director of Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision
“It’s clear that it’s a very distracted debate. It does not allow for the issues to come through,” Garcia said. “I didn’t like that there was bragging about fracking… it’s not enough on climate. So far the issues that have been discussed are not going to directly affect health outcomes for Detroiters.”
Max Freer, student at Oakland Community College
“It’s very clear that Trump is protecting corporate interest, and he does not believe in climate change,” Freer said. “It seems like Kamala is a lot more receptive to hearing what feedback she’s getting from voters. She believes in science. I’d like to hear more about immigration. Trump has said a lot of horrible things about immigration and I think that topic should be focused on more.”