As Detroit continues its fight to stabilize population loss and rebuild its tax base, one mayoral write-in candidate believes the solution lies in physically expanding the city.

Rogelio Landin, 71, a longtime political figure, proposes annexing 28 distressed communities across Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties. His plan, he says, would not only increase Detroit’s population and tax revenue but also help address longstanding issues such as poverty, illiteracy, and failing schools.

“The fact that Detroit has lost 20,000 people annually over the past 50 years is unbelievable,” Landin says. But projections show 650,000 immigrants are expected in the region by 2050, and he believes Detroit must position itself to benefit from that growth.

Landin’s career includes work with the New Detroit coalition formed after the 1967 uprisings, where he focused on economic development, capital access, and minority inclusion. Now, he’s emphasizing community self-determination and inclusive policy as central pillars of his mayoral campaign.

The key to Landin’s platform is securing funding for education reform specifically boosting literacy rates and student proficiency. He also wants to broker deals connecting Detroit entrepreneurs with venture capital funding.

Landin believes Detroit must expand its boundaries to recover economically. “This isn’t just about redrawing lines,” he says. “It’s about making Detroit more inclusive, economically vibrant, and future-ready.”

Whether his bold vision gains traction remains to be seen, but Landin hopes to ignite a new conversation about what it means to grow Detroit.