Daily Detroit

Sometimes the perspective of history can help us understand the world we live in today. This epsiode is a mini-documentary on this history of the "Monument to Joe Louis," the controversial statue at Woodward and Jefferson by Robert Graham - and what it really stands for.

On today's show:

Love's Furniture is navigating supply chain issues and closing more stores; soon after they opened them.

Detroit's Cultural Center is getting free public wi-fi and more thanks to a grant. We have details.

Detroit's public schools come to an agreement with unions representing non-teaching positions.

Plus, Fletcher Sharpe stops by to talk Pistons and play time for Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose; The wayward Lions; And a shakeup in national basketball ratings with U of M and MSU.

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

Merry Christmas Eve! Here's a special episode of the podcast around a virtual fire, talking about the year that was and our hopes for 2020. We also include some podcasting advice because apparently, that's a question we get a lot?

This one has Shianne Nocerini, Fletcher Sharpe, Devon O'Reilly, and Randy Walker.

Also, major thanks to our members on Patreon who make this show possible: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Jer hasn't had a weekday off since the beginning of the pandemic, so he's gonna hang out with the studio dogs for Christmas. Hope that you get to spend time with your loved ones, too.

Take care of each other and we'll see you on Monday.

Today's show is focused on Detroit sports, on and off the court. Fletcher Sharpe (@SaintFDW) is our guide.

First up, Big Sean is joining the Detroit Pistons as their "Creative Director of Innovation."

Then we get into the predictions for the season - and Fletcher promises a tattoo upon certain conditions.

Then, we get into Detroit City FC now having U23 development involvement and how it could bolster the club going forward.

And finally, we talk about the COVID-stricken Detroit Lions. And should Matthew Stafford keep soldiering on even when he's really hurt and there's nothing of value to play for?

The $400 million worth or so of development happening at the State Fairgrounds site in Detroit with the new amazon distribution center has turned a lot of heads.

The project promises to create as many as 2,000 jobs at the amazon facility; not to mention the developments nearby on the same parcel.

But it's not without some questions and pushback.

The part we'll talk about today, since the fairgrounds is a site with generations of history. Should the long-standing buildings like the coliseum and the bandshell be preserved somehow, instead of demolished?

And what about transit connections? A quarter of Detroit households don't have a car and buses are a way lots of people here get to work.

Our feature conversation raises some questions and gives us some historical context. Dave Gifford is a regional community and transit advocate who also has a passion for music.

He wrote an interesting piece that appeared on medium and in the Metro Times about it that's gotten a lot of traction.

Link: https://www.metrotimes.com/city-slang/archives/2020/12/14/dear-amazon-before-you-bulldoze-more-than-80-years-of-detroit-music-history-please-read-this

And we dive into the question - could this, with some adjustments, be a much better development than it is? And Amazon has a response, too.

Find Dave on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TransitGuideDET also https://twitter.com/DE_Gifford

Then, I'll share three things to know around town: Including an update on coronavirus relief in Michigan, Marathon is looking to create a green zone near their Detroit refinery, and an update on community benefits money on Detroit's east side.

Today's episode is about something you may not have thought about very often.

When a big storm hits, where exactly does all of the wastewater in our region go? And how do we handle it?

It gets attention in the news when basements back up or a freeway is brought to a standstill - but in order to fix it, it requires a plan.

And that's just what the Great Lakes Water Authority has announced.

A new 40-year plan to help deal with the realities of what's happening in our region. It has a focus on fixing and improving what we have, as well as improving our water quality. And to make it happen, there's been a good dose of regional cooperation which is frankly a bit of news for southeast Michigan.

Joining me to talk about it is Suzanne Coffey - she's the chief planning officer of the GLWA.

Then, I'll share three things to know around town as StockX raises more money, local restaurants are getting slapped with liquor license suspensions, and a long-time Eastern Market business is expanding - along with improvements on roads nearby.