John Barlow - Candidate for Mayor

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:

Federal programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Medicaid, Section 8 housing assistance, WIC, and LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) are lifelines for thousands of Detroiters. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 32% of Detroit residents live below the poverty line, and more than 100,000 families rely on these supports to survive. Cuts to these programs directly increase homelessness, food insecurity, and preventable health crises.

As Mayor, I will lead with data and equity. My administration will quantify the impact of any federal cuts at the neighborhood level—mapping the potential rise in evictions, uninsured rates, or hunger—and use that data to pressure state and federal partners. I will champion a “Detroit Federal Equity Review Board” that rapidly reports impacts to our congressional delegation, media, and national coalitions to push back against unjust cuts.

Simultaneously, I will work with local institutions and philanthropy to create bridge programs when necessary, ensuring that no Detroiter falls through the cracks due to policy negligence in Washington. For instance, if LIHEAP or MEAP funding is delayed—as it has been in FY25—I will redirect emergency funds from the city’s contingency reserves and seek private matching dollars to support vulnerable residents through winter months.

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 prioritize economic development and housing stability through multilevel alignment and direct, measurable collaboration. Detroit’s economy has seen progress, but we cannot allow that growth to be erased by federal shifts or market instability. I will initiate a “One Detroit Compact” with regional mayors, Wayne County, and our federal delegation to commit to five measurable outcomes: (1) stable employment rates in every zip code, (2) reduced evictions, (3) increased affordable housing starts, (4) enrollment growth in Detroit schools, and (5) public-private capital investments reaching underserved areas.

I will leverage tools like the Detroit Economic Justice Dashboard to track results and hold all partners accountable. As part of this effort, I will expand Detroit’s capacity to secure federal grants—by creating a federal funding strike team inside the Mayor’s Office. Detroit left over $100M in unclaimed federal funds on the table in recent years due to disorganized efforts. My team will reverse that trend by hiring experienced grant strategists and aligning City Council behind a shared legislative-funding roadmap.

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:

A) I will monitor the city’s financial health through a quarterly Revenue Resilience Report published by the Chief Financial Officer. This will include automatic triggers for action: if job numbers fall more than 1.5% in any quarter, or if commercial property tax receipts drop more than 5%, an emergency economic response plan will activate. That plan may include reallocating surplus TIF revenue, freezing non-essential capital projects, or offering payroll tax credits to prevent small business layoffs.

B) I will also lead a standing Intergovernmental Stabilization Committee—comprised of representatives from Wayne County, the State Treasury, HUD, MDHHS, and our federal delegation—to proactively model impacts from national policy changes. That way, Detroit is never caught off guard by budget gaps. During COVID, I coordinated multi-jurisdictional vaccine distribution efforts and COVID-testing partnerships for smaller countries and states. I’ll bring that same strategic coordination to this economic moment—where data, speed, and cross-government relationships are key to protecting Detroiters.