Daily Detroit

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Michigan 2026 Primary Poll Deep Dive: Senate Race Wide Open Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

We break down fresh polling data from the Detroit Regional Chamber and Glengariff on Michigan's August 2026 primaries.

With 36% of Democratic voters still undecided in the Senate race, this election is anyone's game.

Plus, we get into the Republican and Democratic primary landscapes, examining Donald Trump's 85.9% favorability among GOP voters, Jocelyn Benson's commanding 58-point lead in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, and the tight three-way Senate race between Abdul El-Sayed, Haley Stevens, and Mallory McMorrow with a huge universe of undecided voters.

The conversation also explores Gretchen Whitmer's potential role in the 2028 presidential race, as she's got immense popularity in the state and is the leading candidate here for president — or be the person that chooses who would win on the Democratic side.

Topics covered:

Detroit Regional Chamber/Glengariff Group poll methodology (500 respondents per party, ±4.4% margin of error)
Republican primary: John James vs. Perry Johnson for governor
Democratic Senate primary breakdown by region and demographics
Youth voter impact on both parties
Presidential preference polling for 2028
The disconnect between progressive policies and progressive candidates
Why showing up matters

Why Ferndale is Growing While Other Suburbs Are Shrinking Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

Ferndale is bucking the trend. While most of Detroit's inner-ring suburbs are losing people, Ferndale has grown 1.3% since 2020 — outpacing every municipality that touches Detroit's city limits.

We dig into new population data highlighted by the Detroit Free Press and ask what makes Ferndale different: walkable neighborhoods, a real downtown at Woodward and Nine Mile, a strong LGBTQ community, and a place where people say they feel safe because neighbors have their back.

Here's a link to the piece we discussed: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2026/04/28/ferndale-is-growing-while-detroits-other-inner-ring-suburbs-shrink/89644896007/

We contrast Ferndale's urbanist-friendly density and sense of belonging with the population losses in places like Warren, Redford, Dearborn Heights, and River Rouge, and talk about how Gen Z, dual-income-no-kids households, and the Woodward corridor are reshaping where Metro Detroiters choose to live.

Ice Cream Taste Test + How Noise Pollution Hurts City Birds Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

In this two-parter, we start with Detroit's birds and end with Detroiters eating dessert. Science and snacks, basically.

First up, we talk with University of Michigan alum and Defenders of Wildlife science and policy analyst Natalie Madden about a new meta-analysis on how urban noise affects birds. They get into what a "study of studies" actually is, why everyday city sounds can mess with bird communication, nesting, growth and reproduction, and what planners and policymakers can do to turn down the volume so common species like robins and sparrows can actually thrive in metro Detroit.

Then we head back to the studio for a taste test: producer Shianne Nocerini and Big Lucci Marcon join me at the table to try Hudsonville's new Little Debbie-inspired ice cream sandwiches — Cosmic Brownie and Oatmeal Cream Pie. They rate, debate and rank which one deserves freezer space, with plenty of sugar, carbs and opinions along the way.

As always, send your feedback or guest ideas to dailydetroit@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at 313-789-3211.

Daly's Restaurant Memories, Coffee Speakeasy, Boat Club & New Arts Center Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

Detroit's Friday crew is back!

We kick things off a hidden "speakeasy of coffee" called Sml Wrld Cafe on Gratiot in Detroit, and why now is the time to get your yard and urban garden in order.

Plus, the historic Detroit Boat Club is on getting on track for a major revival into a public-facing hub with restaurants, events, and rowing education.

Jer also checked out the new Cadillac Arts Center near Waterworks Park, with In Thicket Books, Take Me Home, and Bowerbird Home anchoring a growing Little Village arts district on the east side.

On the west side, the guys mourn the end of nearly 70 years of Daly's Restaurant, swapping memories of steam-bun burgers, cherry fudge shakes, and midcentury drive-in diner culture as the last Livonia location prepares to close.

Then a serious note: DTE's proposed $474 million electric rate hike has listeners worrying about affordability.

Finally, meet our Spring logo, featuring Phezzy - a pheasant because quintessentially Detroit and they're in every corner of the city.

Detroit & Ann Arbor Development, Plus Science Center After Dark Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

Detroit's downtown housing study is back, and the headline is clear: there's still a lot of runway to grow.

Norris and I dig into what so many potential new units really means and how incentives, red tape, and construction costs shape what actually gets built. Then we get into lessons from Ann Arbor's plan to turn a parking lot into a library-and-housing hub, and what real urban density could look like in Michigan and Metro Detroit. After all, Norris hates surface parking lots in cities. Plus, we end on some joy with the Michigan Science Center's adults-only Aurora Space Party this Friday night and a call to bring back a sense of wonder. https://www.mi-sci.org/after-dark-auroras-space-party/

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Feedback as always (including our new alternate logo) - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com.

As always, thanks to our members on Patreon. Join them here.

Eastern Market: Feeding Detroit's Bodies and Hearts Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

Eastern Market is best known as a Saturday tradition and Flower Day selfie spot. But it's also one of the beating hearts of Michigan's food system.

In this episode, I sit down with Eastern Market Partnership president and CEO Katy Trudeau at TechTown to unpack how this 120-year-old market is adapting for 2026 and beyond.

Katy explains how the historic sheds anchor a 24/7 neighborhood where live animal processing, wholesale distribution, breweries, restaurants, and nightlife all coexist — and why keeping the core of the district focused on food is key to its future.

You'll hear about Shed 7, a new 40,000-square-foot indoor wholesale facility opening this year, and plans for an indoor, two-story Shed 4 with teaching kitchens and community space.

We talk about Detroit's urban farming movement, including a program with a cooperative of Detroit growers to distribute thousands of free produce boxes.

Katy also shares how Eastern Market connects rural Michigan farmers and generations‑old family farms to Detroiters, and why Flower Day, Tuesday wellness markets, Sunday artisan markets, and Eastern Market After Dark matter for both residents and small businesses.

If you care about Detroit's future, local food, or how cities can connect urban and rural communities, this episode will give you a deeper appreciation for what's really happening behind the scenes at Eastern Market, and why it's still worth getting up early on a Saturday to experience it yourself.

More info: https://easternmarket.org/

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Our work is supported by our members on Patreon.

Detroit: Arsenal of Democracy Again? + New Poll Shakes Up Michigan's Senate Race Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

On today's Daily Detroit, we dig into a fresh Emerson College poll that shakes up the Michigan U.S. Senate race.

If their numbers are right, the Democratic primary is suddenly a two-person contest, with Abdul El‑Sayed and Mallory McMorrow tied at the top and Haley Stevens slipping into third, even as more than a third of voters are still undecided.

We talk through the big generational split driving those numbers, and reshaping the Democratic coalition, and why jobs and the economy are still the real deciders for that huge undecided block.

We also touch on a few other topics in the poll.

Then, we zoom out to a bigger question with deep Detroit roots: should this region become the "Arsenal of Democracy" again?

A quiet Pentagon push to involve automakers in weapons production is colliding with the reality that we may be past peak car sales.

We talk about what that could mean on the ground here. That means drones and cybersecurity to good-paying munitions jobs in old factory space, plus the moral, emotional, and neighborhood-level questions that come with it.

If forced to pick between the two, would you rather live next to a data center or a munitions plant, and who actually gets the jobs either way? We wrestle with nostalgia, economic necessity, and what kind of future Detroiters really want to build.

Your feedback is always welcome - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com 313-789-3211.

Detroit's City Budget, Explained Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

On today's Daily Detroit, we unpack Detroit's new $3 billion city budget that was just approved and what it actually means for people who live, work, and play in the city.

I'm joined by Civic Life reporter Briana Rice from Outlier Media and public finance expert Steve Watson of Watson & Yates to walk through where the money's going, what got reshuffled, and what that means on your block.

We get into why the overall budget, approved in April of 2026, actually shrank by about $30 million this year, even as Detroit's population ticks up.

Mayor Mary Sheffield and council still managed to pass a balanced plan. It includes $30 million more for DDOT to boost bus driver pay and maintenance, the creation of a new Housing, Homeless and Family Services department, and continued investment in community violence intervention.

We also talk about the big questions underneath the line items: Only 14% of rentals are code compliant. Or the fact that nearly one in every three city dollars goes to policem but less than 1 in 4 live in the city of Detroit. And, the Land Bank has moved from mass demolition to figuring out what to do with thousands of remaining lots.

Plus, how growing the city's population might help with making the budget have a little more room.

As always, feedback is at dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211.

You can follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you download podcasts.

Dearborn on the Rise: Hilton at Fairlane, West Warren, Greenways & New Housing Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Today's show comes to you from the Ford Experience Center in Dearborn, as Jer catches up with Devon O'Reilly at the city's first‑ever Dearborn Development Day. They dig into the future of the former Hyatt hotel at Fairlane — now moving forward as a Hilton‑flagged property — with plans for 168 residential units, a mix of restaurants and entertainment, and a revived rotating bar at the top.

From there, the conversation zooms out to Dearborn's wider development push: the emerging 'Midtown' Fairlane area, West Warren streetscape changes, and new housing concepts around Lundy, the Eugene and Porath sites, and the Joe Louis Greenway.

In the final third, Jer recaps his trip to the groundbreaking of the Gratiot Life Sciences Building on part of the old 'fail jail' site in downtown Detroit, why the two‑story project coming online in 2027 matters for 'eds and meds' jobs, and what BAMF Health and Henry Ford Health are planning there.

As always, send feedback to dailydetroit‑at‑gmail‑dot‑com, and be sure you're following the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Why Are New Single-Family Homes So Rare in Detroit? (And How One Company Is Changing It) Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

On today's Daily Detroit, Jer sits down with developer and Greatwater Homes co-founder Matt Temkin to unpack what it really takes to build brand-new single-family houses inside the city limits. After all, there were only 19 permits pulled in 2024 in Detroit.

We dig into the brutal math behind new construction: why a typical unit can cost $250,000–$400,000 to build, how the "1% rent rule" prices many Detroiters out of new apartments, and why at $2,500 a month most people start asking whether they should just buy instead.

Temkin says Detroit has always been a city of houses, and that new construction needs to respect that history while also meeting modern needs.

Jer and Matt talk about designing homes that fit the neighborhood — solid walls, solid oak floors, real fireplaces, and façades that sit comfortably next to 100-year-old houses — without falling into the "matchstick" trap of cheaply built new builds. How trying to cut every corner doesn't actually help anybody.

They also tackle pricing strategy, how Greatwater makes it financially sustainable while many others behind them have failed, and why bigger floorplans often end up being the better deal per square foot.

And we talk about policy: Detroit's tiny share of new home construction in Wayne County, Mayor Mary Sheffield's goal of 1,000 new single-family homes, and what process changes like permits, taps, and inspections that could aunlock more quality new housing in city neighborhoods.

As always, be sure to follow Daily Detroit in your favorite podcast app like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you isten to shows.

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