DETROIT – Detroit’s past, present, and future took center stage during Mayor Mike Duggan’s final State of the City address.
Duggan shared promising updates on significant crime improvements, stating, “Homicides are down 38%.”
He also addressed Detroit’s ongoing battle against blight and vacant homes.
Dugan said, “By the end of the year, we’ll be down to 1,000 vacant houses owned by the land bank.”
The mayor highlighted the promising future for Detroit’s Riverfront, declaring, “It would be as fine a waterway as there is in America.”
Dugan covered much ground in his address, such as how crime numbers have dropped dramatically over the past 10 years, with Detroit recording its fewest homicides last year since 1965.
There was also good news regarding improvements to the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT).
Duggan announced a $20 million increase in funding, meaning more drivers and operational routes than the city has seen in years.
Emergency response times, a struggle for the city, also showed improvement.
Duggan revealed that the average 911 response time was seven minutes and 30 seconds last year, which is better than the national standard.
Duggan spent most of his time focusing on the future of the Riverfront and the Renaissance Center.
He shared the city’s vision for revitalizing parts of the waterway that haven’t been touched in years.
It’s exciting to think about.
Watch the full address in the media player above.
