Aya Waller-Bey, a member of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan Board of Directors, cordially invites you to a reception and conversation to learn more about the Citizens Research Council and the recently published research on Detroit’s economic development efforts.
Founded in 1916, the Citizens Research Council of Michigan works to improve government in Michigan. The organization provides factual, unbiased, independent information concerning significant issues of state and local government organization, policy, and finance. By delivery of this information to policymakers and citizens, the Research Council aims to ensure sound and rational public policy formation in Michigan. The Council’s Detroit Bureau reopened in 2021, focuses solely on city issues to continue to lift the city and school system from their lowest times a decade ago. For more information, visit www.crcmich.org.
The tale of two Detroits is a tension that has simmered for some time. While city leaders development effort redirect tax revenues from development downtown back into the downtown and tax abatements are provided to wealthy developers and businesses, the neighborhoods feel left behind and forgotten. The Research Council’s papers published in 2024 aimed to enrich the conversation with data about the economic development efforts. They address:
- the city’s competitiveness and ability to demand rents that will pay for the construction and maintenance costs associated with development;
- the city’s practice of “capturing” the growth of property tax revenues in the downtown area to redirect in economic development services; and
- the city’s use of tax abatements to attract commercial, industrial, and residential development.
They offer reforms to increase accountability and help move resources from economic development to funding government services throughout the city.
WHO: The Citizens Research Council of Michigan
WHAT: Reception with short presentation
WHERE: BasBlue, 110 East Ferry Street, Detroit 48202
Parking is available in the designated lot diagonally across from BasBlue on John R. & Ferry St. Street and on both Ferry St. by meter and John R. at no cost.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 19, 2025, from 6 to 7:30pm
RSVP: Space is limited. RSVP is required by Thursday, February 14. Please fill out the form below to RSVP
