Daily Detroit

We're in the middle of a pandemic. But in many ways, it just exposed the weaknesses within the system we already have.

My feature conversation is with Abdul El-Sayed. His views on politics, health, and our nation are a fresh take on what the potential of the country could be.

Agree, or disagree with him - I think you're going to want to hear what Abdul has to say.

There's a reason this former head of the Detroit Health Department, gubernatorial candidate and now author has been getting national attention on CNN and a ton of other places.

Abdul is out with a new book, Healing Politics: A doctor's journey into the heart of our political epidemic. You can get that book here: http://www.healingpoliticsbook.com

Then, I'll update you on a few things to know around town:

- United Shore was cited for allegedly violating pandemic health rules around masks and distancing

- Quicken Loans (or Rocket Companies) is now public with the symbol RKT. However, the IPO didn't go as planned, with less shares sold and a lower initial share price.

- And Henry Ford has begun phase 3 trials of a Moderna vaccine.

Thanks for listening. If we bring value to your day, consider becoming a member at http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit and thank you to Carlo who recently did so.

On today's show, we run down some of the big headlines from the Primary Election on Tuesday, including freshman U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib's Democratic primary challenge, the Oakland County Executive race and some notable results from the prosecutor races in Oakland and Macomb Counties. Plus, we cover a few state House primaries that listeners asked us to keep tabs on.

Also, friend of the pod Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health Direct Primary Care joins us to talk the latest in coronavirus in Michigan and the difficulty of reopening schools this fall.

Today on your Primary Election Day edition of your Daily Detroit, don't forget to get out and exercise your freedom to vote, because Democracy hinges on it and also on robust participation. See, the scoundrels don't want you to vote. It helps them slip their unpopular proposals into law.

Also, we have a show for you today. We talk about:

Michigan's RT level, which measures the spread of the coronavirus, is now below 1, which suggests the spread is slowing in the Mitten, yay.

The Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office is a hotbed of racist and sexist behavior, a death examiner claims.

Canada still doesn't want Americans to come over. 'MERICA.

Evictions loom on a mass scale, and like many things with the coronavirus, black folks and other minorities figure to be disproportionately affected.

Lordstown Motors is going public, thanks in part to an investment from General Motors.

SMART is weighing extending its Woodward Avenue FAST bus out to Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills.

And Fletcher Sharpe joins us to talk DCFC and Lions QB Matthew Stafford's coronavirus diagnosis.

Thanks for listening to Daily Detroit. If you like what you're hearing, tell a friend about us, leave us a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or support us by becoming a Patreon member.

Bill Shea of the Athletic joins us to talk about his piece in the Athletic covering the crowdfunding campaign Detroit City FC is doing, why they're doing it and how legendary Detroit musician Iggy Pop is getting behind the cause.

Bill Shea on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bill_Shea19

The piece on The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/1963172/2020/07/30/iggy-pop-is-leading-a-small-detroit-pro-soccer-clubs-ownership-sale-campaign/

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Feedback welcome at [email protected]

Skymint, a Michigan-based cannabis retailer, has opened its newest location in Hazel Park, brightening a forlorn stretch of John R with a gleaming, state-of-the-art weed store that frankly wouldn't look out of place at Somerset Collection or any other upscale mall.

We speak with Summer Ransom-Cleveland, the company's president of retail, all about contemporary marijuana retail marketing, and with Joe Neller, chief government affairs officer and co-founder of Green Peak Innovations, Skymint's vertically integrated parent company, about the company's business model and efforts to promote social justice.

Staying with the getting-high-in-the-burbs theme, Royal Oak's City Commission has approved an ordinance permitting adult-use recreational marijuana in the city. So while the city of Detroit continues to drag its feet on allowing recreational weed businesses, at least a few suburbs aren't content to wait. (Ferndale now has three dispensaries operating, including two licensed for adult-use recreational.)

Lastly, downtown Royal Oak LGBTQ mainstay Pronto! has been sold. The buyer is its next-door neighbor, Five15, a novelty store best know for hosting Drag Queen Bingo.

Reminder - audio narrative journalism like this is possible thanks to our members. You can join them at http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

The Ford Bronco is back - and it turns out there are some really interesting stories behind it. Former NPR reporter and audio storyteller Sonari Glinton joins us to talk about "Bring Back Bronco."

That's our feature conversation

Then, I catch up with Sven Gustafson at Wanda Park in Ferndale to catch up on a couple stories you should know, including a suburban mayor who is embroiled in controversy and taking a step back when it comes to reopening.

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Today's show is in two parts. We'll talk about the unemployment cliff and the PPP bridge to nowhere with Laura Khalil.

Then, a Detroit City FC update on the men's and women's teams with Fletcher Sharpe.

Reminder: Support us for best news and politics podcast, there are only a couple days left and it would really help out our little band: https://www.podcastawards.com/app/signup/

We've reported several times about the state's plan to rebuild Interstate 375 as a grade-level boulevard complete with bike lanes, sidewalks, streetscaping and new buildable real estate. Now, Crain's reports the plan has been inexplicably iced to at least 2027, unless Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan can convince officials not to delay it.

On today's show, we also discuss Ferndale's nifty new drive-through voting initiative, plus Sterling Heights' bid to become the U.S. Space Command, overseeing the newly created Space Force.

Also, Blake's Hard Cider in Armada is apologizing after notices spread across the Internet that it was hosting a rally for Lisa McClain, a local Republican running for an open seat in the U.S. House, in support of President Trump and police. The rally was set to feature both former Trump campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski and controversial former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke. Blake's is a sponsor of Detroit City FC, whose supporters weren't pleased.

That and the latest in coronavirus updates from the state, plus the spectre of COVID forces Major League Baseball to postpone two games, just after the Tigers (finally) kicked off their 2020 season.

Reminder: We're up for a podcast award! Vote for us in the News & Politics category so we have a chance to be a finalist! https://www.podcastawards.com/app/signup/

Hamtramck is the most population-dense - and possibly the most ethnically diverse - city in Michigan. But in its history has never passed a bond to support their schools. Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed joins me to talk about why she thinks the time is now, and what could be the oldest functioning elementary school in the state.

Plus - You might think that during a pandemic people might stop buying homes. Nationally, that's not the case; and for two local companies that are big in the mortgage industry - Quicken Loans and United Shore - that's good news. Gay Cororaton from the National Association of Raltors joins me to talk about existing home sales and how they're recovering.

Welp. Operation LeGend, the Trump administration's name for sending federal troops to cities to impose law and order that aren't asking for any help, will come to Detroit after all.

Sometime in the next three weeks, the latest news has it, heavily armed, camouflaged federal troops will descend on the Motor City. Recall that yesterday, Mayor Mike Duggan and Police Chief James Craig said basically, "Yeah, no thanks, we got this." Should be fun.

On today's show, we follow a 2-minute speed round type of format, covering the decision of Warren police to reverse its own earlier decision and arrest the driver of that Amazon delivery van who parked on the wrong side of the street, and who was black. This as the city's police commissioner decries that "crime is out of control," after a shooting at a large gathering in Warren, though he also said crime wasn't that bad in the inner-ring 'burb. Got that?

Also:

• Detroit City Councilman Gabe Leland is expected to plead guilty to corruption charges, per the Freep. That would require him to abandon his seat.
• Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti opines about the Legislature forcing schools' hands on whether to open up classrooms during the coronavirus.
• TCF Bank announces a $1 billion round of loans to women- and minority-owned businesses, plus $10 million in grants for home buyers in low- and medium-income neighborhoods.
• Hamtramck is opening up their sidewalks for socially distant retail
• And there are a bunch of food openings you should know about. Slyde is doing a pop-up this weekend in West Village (more here on Eater Detroit) and make sure to give Godwin Ihentuge some love at Yum Village. He's been a friend of the show and been going through some tough stuff.

Thanks for listening to Daily Detroit. If you like what you're hearing, tell a friend about us, leave us a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or support us by becoming a Patreon member.