Daily Detroit

Housekeeping: We're getting a lot of requests for t-shirts. Do you want one? Are you willing to meet us in the middle and cover the cost of yours, or become a member? Listen to the end for more.

On today's show, Eric Trytko joins us to break down the Ford F-150 Lightning. How will it stand up to competition? Is there a market for this? What is there to look forward to, and what are the reservations? It's an in-depth, smart conversation on a vehicle that Ford is making big bets on.

Plus stories around town:

- Venues are opening up around town and concerts are returning

- Nicole Curtis won her case with the Detroit Land Bank Authority, keeping at 1908 Foursquare in the Islandview neighborhood

- Spotlite Detroit just opened also in Islandview

- Listener Jason reminds us Mt. Clemens in Macomb County is doing a drinking district, too (whoops! Sorry! Mt. Clemens has some beautiful architecture)

- Detroit City FC is playing the Michigan Stars after all this weekend after much drama

Thanks to our episode sponsor, Fusion Marketing. Go check John out at http://www.tryfusionmarketing.com for everything from websites to large format printing.

Also thanks to our members: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

OMGWTFBBQ what an episode. We literally scrapped it three times and then everything happened.

First, Devon O'Reilly joins us to talk about the change in mask policy. In Michigan, as of 9am Saturday, it's masks off for vaccinated individuals. But will you? Will he? And in what situations? And we get into what some of the thinking might be behind the moves.

We also talk about Bedrock's purchase of 300 River Place and the vibrant neighborhood that is down there at Jos Campau on the river side of Jefferson.

I-75 will be a mess this weekend, just avoid it.

Then, Fletcher Sharpe joins us for a not only a wrap-up and preview of the Detroit City FC matches, but literally while we were recording the show news broke that the Michigan Stars won't be going to California and are forfeiting their match over a conflict with the league, NISA.

Safe to say, Fletcher unloads. @saintfdw on Twitter, btw.

And finally, Michelle Mirowski from Ferndale Radio is on to talk about the ongoing fundraiser. The community station is raising $12,000 to start streaming what is a low-power FM signal on the internet. Which is exciting for fans of local content like us.

Alright, it's been a heck of a week. Pet your dogs, love your people, and we'll see you next week.

If you appreciate our work, consider sharing it with your friends or becoming a member at http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

The whole Line 5 pipeline situation under the straits of Mackinac, as I uncover more and more, seems to be a symptom to a larger, bi-national problem and lack of plan.

Proponents say the pipeline critical to the economy and energy infrastructure. Opponents say a double pipeline under the great lakes - especially one that's not buried - poses a special threat to the unique fresh water resource that is the Great Lakes.

What if both concerns are true?

And what if I told you that it's a pipeline that provides half of the province of Ontario's fuel needs and two thirds of Quebec? That's around 23 million people that are reliant on this thing.

It turns out Michigan draws a small percentage of the product, and most of it - possibly more than 90% - is pulled out of the ground in Canada, then starts in Wisconsin, goes through Michigan - and back to Canada.

So do we want to cut off our neighbor and ally without a backup plan?

But also… should we as a state demand more for bearing so much environmental risk? Should we set a real plan in motion because we're transitioning out of needing so much fossil fuel?

Spending the last week pouring over numbers, getting through the FUD - fear uncertainty and doubt - pipeline maps, all of that - made me question a lot about how fundamentally we've constructed our energy future.

My guest to help unpack this is Warren Mabee. He's the Director of the Queens institute for energy and environmental policy of the Queens Institute, based in Kingston, Ontario.

As always, if you have feedback, guest ideas, or questions - my email is [email protected].

Our show is member funded. Support our work: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Detroit Police Chief James Craig retires, and word is he's eyeing running for Michigan Governor as a Republican. But there's a hard reality that the violent crime rate in the city of Detroit is just about where he found it in 2014, even if we take out the pandemic. We discuss it and the Chief's answer that the November 2020 election result was a "political" question and so he won't address it until after he retires June 1st.

Plus - Ford's Headquarters in Dearborn, the "Glass House," has a new look. We quickly touch on what's happening. More background, you should read here: https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2021/05/10/ford-world-headquarters-dearborn-projection-screen/4997250001/

And finally, the old Newsboy Shelter on Belle Isle has been demolished. There wasn't much donation support for fundraising and rehabbing it would be cost-prohibitive vs. building new. We get into a discussion about Belle Isle needing a ton more money for it to operate properly, especially as the island is in large part was man made; and before then, it was basically swamp-like and is always dealing with erosion from the Detroit River.

Picture: https://www.facebook.com/HistoricDetroit/posts/4874465425953507

Support out show: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit