As Detroiters prepare to elect a new mayor in November, a new survey from the University of Michigan highlights the top challenges residents want city leaders to address and what they believe would make a difference.
Safety and crime topped the list, with nearly 18% of Detroiters saying it’s among their household’s three biggest problems, according to the Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS), conducted with Outlier Media. Close behind were neighborhood conditions (16.4%), employment (15%), housing (14.9%), transportation (14.2%), schools (12.5%), and food access (12%).
But fewer than half of those who listed safety as a top concern said more police would help. Instead, residents pointed to other solutions, like stronger gun control, better street lighting, reducing vacant properties, and supporting neighborhood associations and block clubs.
“Detroiters’ needs and priorities should shape the agenda for the city’s new leadership,” Celia Fan, DMACS data manager and co-author of the brief, said. “Going into the election, the survey data offer insights into the day-to-day challenges that are most pressing for Detroiters.”
On neighborhood conditions, Detroiters called for more consistent garbage pickup, better maintenance of streets and alleys, preventing illegal dumping, and tearing down or rehabilitating vacant homes.
Jobs and wages were another major concern. Among those who couldn’t find work, 88% said insufficient pay was the biggest barrier. Even among people dissatisfied with their jobs, nearly two-thirds said low pay was the problem.
Housing affordability was also a top issue. Of those who identified housing as a challenge, nearly three-quarters said they struggled to find a home that fits their budget. Others reported trouble paying rent, covering utility costs, or keeping up with repairs.
For Detroiters who listed transportation as a challenge, most said the cost of owning a car, which includes maintenance and insurance, was the main issue. Problems with the city’s bus and rail system, including unreliable schedules, infrequent service, and limited routes, also were raised.
Parents who cited schools as a top concern said they want more choices, smaller class sizes, and safer environments. Food access was less frequently mentioned, but more than one in 10 residents still listed it as a major household problem.
“While school-related concerns and getting the food they need ranked lower on the list of challenges that Detroiters face, these are still areas where residents see opportunities for city leadership to make improvements,” Mara Cecilia Ostfeld, faculty lead of DMACS, said.
The findings were released with support from U-M’s Poverty Solutions, which is seeking to “find new ways to prevent and alleviate poverty through action-based research.”
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is running for governor as an independent, leaving a vacancy for the city’s top job for the first time since he was originally elected in 2013. Two candidates — City Council President Mary Sheffield and Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. — are facing off in the November general election after becoming the top two vote-getters in the August primary election.
