The Metro: What Detroit’s next mayor should run on

, , April 24, 2025

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An aerial view of Midtown Detroit.

An aerial view of Midtown Detroit.

For the first time since he won the role 12 years ago, Mayor Mike Duggan will not be on the ballot for Detroit mayor.

The longtime Democrat, whose term expires at the end of this year, announced in December that he’ll instead be campaigning (as an independent) for Michigan governor — opening up a competitive field of candidates vying to succeed him as mayor.

During his more than 10 years as mayor of Detroit, Duggan prioritized ridding the city of blight, revitalizing parks and recreation centers, and decreasing crime with the help of initiatives like community violence intervention (CVI) programs. 

Now, with nine people running to replace Duggan, what should they prioritize?

Anika Goss is the chief executive officer of Detroit Future City, a local think tank and policy advocate organization. In a new report, the organization is encouraging the city’s next mayor to focus on creating more middle class neighborhoods, generating more wealth opportunities for residents, and establishing a climate-resilient city. 

Goss joined The Metro on Thursday to discuss the report and the importance of this pivotal moment for the city.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Thursday, April 24:

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Authors

  • Robyn Vincent
    Robyn Vincent is the co-host of The Metro on WDET. She is an award-winning journalist, a lifelong listener of WDET, and a graduate of Wayne State University, where she studied journalism. Before returning home to Detroit, she was a reporter, producer, editor, and executive producer for NPR stations in the Mountain West, including her favorite Western station, KUNC. She received a national fellowship from Investigative Reporters and Editors for her investigative work that probed the unchecked power of sheriffs in Colorado. She was also the editor-in-chief of an alternative weekly newspaper in Wyoming, leading the paper to win its first national award for a series she directed tracing one reporter’s experience living and working with Syrian refugees.

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  • Sam Corey is a producer for 101.9 WDET, which includes finding and preparing interesting stories for the daily news, arts and culture program, The Metro. Sam joined WDET after a year and a half at The Union, a small newspaper in California, and stints at a variety of local Michigan outlets, including WUOM and the Metro Times. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago.

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  • The Metro

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