The formula for Detroit's current status is complicated -- a mix of local, regional and national socioeconomic forces. But while many hands have shaped the good and bad of today's Detroit, the impact of current federal policy is easy to spot.
"With states like Arizona and Alabama largely framing the national discussion about immigration-namely how to keep numbers of unskilled, unauthorized immigrants from entering the U.S.-a more nuanced immigration discussion is beginning to take hold in Detroit. It builds on the region's history of attracting workers of varying ethnicities to work in the auto factories," writes author Sandra Svoboda.
"The abundant, low-skill jobs that greeted those earlier immigrants have nearly disappeared, but reminders of their legacy remain, and the idea of a "new" population providing some future promise for Detroit is being espoused by some. In Detroit, immigration debate is starting to focus on balancing industry's need for qualified workers with a respect for current residents who suffer some of the highest unemployment rates in the country."
Thanks to Nekoro Gomes
FULL STORY: Detroit: Beyond the Bailout, Immigration is Key Issue

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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