Gabriela Santiago-Romero - Candidate for City Council - District 6

1) Federal policies often shift in ways that impact cities’ ability to provide essential services and maintain stability, especially in today’s political climate. What are the key federal programs you believe most directly affect Detroiters, and how would you advocate to preserve or replace these supports?

Response: In Detroit, thousands of residents live in Section 8 housing, are enrolled in Medicaid, and/or use SNAP benefits. I know what it’s like growing up without any money to spare, and for the residents and families who need these programs for housing, healthcare, and food, it’s literally a matter of life and death. I used a Bridge Card while in college full time, working five part time jobs. I needed it to survive. I will continue to advocate for these federal programs by working with the Detroit congressional delegation. However, our city needs to prepare for the possibility of cuts to benefits and federal programs during the budget process.

In community, we need to be setting up mutual aid networks. When a water main broke in Southwest Detroit earlier this year in February, my team and I helped coordinate resources between the City and nonprofits and secured emergency funding to help residents whose homes were damaged. If federal programs are cut, we all need to be ready to work overtime to keep our neighbors from falling through the cracks.

2) With the challenges posed by economic uncertainty, rising inflation, and evolving federal policies, what will be your approach to collaborating with local, regional, and national leaders to protect Detroit’s progress? What specific area—such as housing, education, or economic development—will you prioritize?

Response: I will continue to partner with anyone who will solve problems with me. My priority is ensuring Detroiters have the basics they need to live and thrive: affordable housing, reliable infrastructure, better transportation, clean air, and safer neighborhoods. To combat rising housing prices, I supported our PILOT ordinance and I’m working on rezoning to allow for missing middle housing. Our infrastructure needs serious updates—roads need repairs, and many areas still lack proper street lighting. I’ve reallocated more than $3 million dollars of ARPA and general funds to replace sidewalks and will continue to invest in infrastructure improvements. Public transportation is unreliable for many, making it harder to get to work and school. I chair our Public Health and Safety Committee where I work closely with DDOT to monitor their progress quarterly and invest general funds in the department annually. I’ve added an additional $2 million in our budget to expand bus shelters. I’ll also keep working to improve air quality and reduce pollution in overburdened neighborhoods. I championed the city’s Fugitive Dust ordinance and am working to pass our Truck Route Ordinance. For public safety, I’ll continue to support the creation of an Office of Violence Prevention and Neighborhood Safety to fund community-based violence prevention programs.

3) A review of the City of Detroit’s Economic Outlook 2024-2029, dated February 2025, states that:

“Detroit’s economic recovery has encountered significant headwinds over the last eight months, but we expect it to regain its footing this year as the macroeconomic environment becomes more favorable. We note, however, that there is substantial uncertainty surrounding our forecast, particularly regarding policy changes with the new presidential administration, as well as with the pace of inflation and the Federal Reserve’s response.”

The report further states that the gains made in the number of jobs in the city and the number of Detroiters employed have declined since mid-2024. With this sobering background information and the instability caused by the tariff policies and the anticipated gutting of federal programs, what will your strategy be to:

A. Monitor the general fund for impacts, identify the trigger for a reduction in revenue that would necessitate scaling back services or triggering layoffs, and/or slow down the pace of service delivery?

B. Engage other levels of government to arrive at a plan of action?

Response: My team on City Council is already monitoring the General Fund in light of recent changes to federal tariff policy. Since we’re close trading partners with Canada, any disruption to cross-border trade could have massive local consequences. That's why I’ve been actively advocating for Congress to exercise its constitutional authority over fiscal matters and assert greater oversight of our nation’s tariff policies. On council I sit on our Budget, Finance and Audit committee which keeps me abreast to our finances each month. I will continue to pass balanced budgets each year and will make the hard decision to cut services or programs where needed.

I am committed to convening fellow city council members, the Mayor’s Office, and regional leaders to identify the drivers of declining job gains and develop solutions. In times of economic uncertainty, it’s essential that local leaders stand united. By presenting a clear, coordinated message to state and federal agencies, we can more effectively advocate for the resources and policy support Detroit needs to stabilize and thrive. We do this by advocating for funding for our Community Violence Intervention programs and water affordability.