Detroit entrepreneurship and economic opportunity director Justin Onwenu launched a bid for state Senate in a seat in the redrawn 1st Senate District that could see a competitive Democratic primary election. In an announcement video released Thursday, Onwenu asks whether Michigan politics is worse than D.C., highlighting the chaotic lame duck session last year in which Democrats were blocked from accomplishing legislation that would have benefited Detroit residents the most. "I do think that the lame duck session, which is the first time that all three of our branches

Taxing speculators more for sitting on unused land is a priority for Detroit mayoral candidate Fred Durhal, who wants to slash $500 off property tax bills for Detroit homeowners. Durhal told Michigan Chronicle in an interview last week the goal of the proposal is to ensure productive use of land across the city. He wants the city to get aggressive going after owners of blighted property. His plan is to lower the property tax millage for residents by about 19.5 mills and make up for it by charging speculators