FEMA arrives: Federal Emergency Management personnel arrived in metro Detroit Thursday to tour flood-stricken areas. “We really are trying to gather information at this point,” said FEMA external affairs officer Troy Christensen. FEMA will make a report to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who can then decide whether to request disaster assistance from the federal government. (Freep) More storms, more flooding: Storms moved through metro […]
Posted inVoices
OPINION: Beyond lip service: It’s time to measure equity in clean energy investments
Imagine an aspiring Olympian training to contend for a medal, but being deprived of a stopwatch until after the race began. That is the current state of measuring equity in clean energy programs—we are running blind and overdue for a more systematic approach. On a positive note, nearly three out of four Americans live in […]
Posted inCommunity
City survey shows Detroiters want safer parks, more nature access, and less trash
Detroiters want safer access to more green spaces, according to a community needs assessment survey unveiled by the Detroit Parks and Recreation Department during a virtual Town Hall last week. The survey, which includes responses from 629 adult participants from all over Detroit, is part of a larger strategic planning process to inform future parks […]
Posted inCommunity
PARKS REPORT: Butzel Park
View on Instagram >>> Find your way to this park Butzel Park Butzel park is a medium-sized park located at 7737 Kercheval Ave. next to the Garvey Academy that features basketball courts, baseball/softball diamond, playground, picnic pavilions, sitting area, and paved walking track. This park hosts a rec center funded by the Parks and Recreation […]
Posted inCommunity
Planet Detroit welcomes 2021 Detroit Energy and Environment Reporting Fellow
Planet Detroit is partnering with the Energy News Network (ENN), a news and information service published by Fresh Energy, and the Detroit Equity Action Lab in a joint imperative to recruit, uplift, and mentor Black, Indigenous, and other journalists of color through the Detroit Energy and Environment Reporting Fellowship program. This year’s selected Energy and Environment Reporting […]
Posted inUncategorized
From the Headlines – June 28-July 2, 2021
Flood recovery: WDET and Detour both have useful guides on where to find help after this past weekend’s historic flooding. WDET gives a good rundown on how to file a claim with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) and what you need to clean up your basement after flooding. Detour provides a list of contacts for government agencies and […]
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OPINION: 5 ways to bring Detroit’s underground infrastructure challenges out of the dark and into the light
My grandmother always said what you do in the dark, will always come to the light. Well, in Detroit and other surrounding cities, what you DON’T do in the dark, will also come to the light. Water infrastructure is not something people really worry about until there is a crisis because most of it is […]
Posted inAccountability
What will it take to protect Metro Detroiters from basement flooding?
On the eastside of Detroit, car alarms alerted Terri Henderson to the water that was quickly overtaking her neighborhood in the early morning of Saturday June, 26. By the time she looked in the basement, the water was nearly up to the top of the stairs. “Outside you couldn’t get out the front or back […]
Posted inCommunity
PARKS REPORT: Nagel Park
Find your way to this park! View on Instagram>>> Nagel Park is a small recreation area located at 3100 Wabash Street right behind Burton Elementary School. This space features two soccer fields, baseball/softball diamond, picnic pavilion, and walking course that encircles the field. The park might lack some equipment but the community and local high […]
Posted inDeep Dives, Filling Our Plates, Solutions
Filling Our Plates: Detroit food security innovations
Lakisha King didn’t used to worry about how she would put dinner on the table. But last year, while on maternity leave after a surprise pregnancy, pandemic closures put her out of a job. Suddenly, she had to worry for two. “I wasn’t getting food stamps; I was paying cash for food. And I was […]