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Detroit Free Press Editorial Board
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In many respects, Detroit is a dramatically different city than the one convulsed by a state takeover just eight years ago. The city emerged from its historic municipal bankruptcy in 2014, having wiped out its overwhelming debt largely by slashing the pensions and health care of its retirees.( A balloon pension payment comes due in 2023, something city officials are quietly worried about).
Downtown has been transformed, thanks to investments by Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert and others. The city has maintained a balanced budget, enjoyed modest surpluses, and had been on a generally upward trajectory until COVID-19 posed a new threat to its financial stability.
Several Detroit City Council members won t seek reelection
Detroit New representation is in store this fall for many Detroit residents as nearly half of the incumbents on the City Council are not seeking new terms.
Indicted District 7 Councilman Gabe Leland is foregoing another run as well as District 4 Councilman Andre Spivey, who represents the east side, and District 6 Councilwoman Raquel Castañeda-López, the first Latina elected to the council whose district covers southwest Detroit. Council President Brenda Jones also did not submit petitions for another bid by the 4 p.m. deadline, according to city election records.
Overall, 45 candidates filed petitions for seven City Council district seats and two at-large seats, including five incumbents seeking to retain their seats: James Tate, Roy McCalister Jr., Scott Benson, Janeé Ayers and President Pro Tem Mary Sheffield.