DETROIT – Mayor Mary Sheffield is building on her first 100 days in office, releasing details from Detroit’s Rise Higher Community Survey — and some of what residents asked for is already in the works.
More than 8,000 Detroiters participated in the survey, representing all 39 of the city’s zip codes. The survey was conducted in five languages, and officials say the response shaped a clear agenda for the Sheffield administration.
Six priorities driving Detroit’s next chapter
Residents identified six major priorities: thriving neighborhoods, safe and just communities, infrastructure and reliable transportation, open and accessible government, equitable pay and workforce development, and opportunities for youth outside of school.
Teferi Brent, Director of the Office of Neighborhood and Community Safety for the City of Detroit, said the overlap between safety and neighborhoods is intentional. “Safety and neighborhood investments are not separate issues,” Brent said. “People stop feeling safe in their own neighborhoods.”
The city says mental health and crisis response teams are now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in Detroit.
Bus reliability and driver pay on the city’s radar
Infrastructure and reliable transportation ranked among the top concerns. The city says it is working to reduce missed and late buses by adding staff and increasing driver pay by $6 per hour to $25 per hour.
Youth and transparency also top of mind
Detroiters also flagged equitable pay and after-school opportunities for young people as priorities. Brent called for expanded summer programming, saying the city should “occupy the summer” with $1.5 million and bring back initiatives like midnight basketball.
Residents also pushed for greater transparency — something the Sheffield administration says goes beyond maintaining a balanced budget.
A new city role has also been created to help residents and businesses better navigate city services.