Latisha Johnson - Candidate for City Council - District 4

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: Emergency Solutions Grant that's provided to assist shelters with providing housing for homeless individuals and the hotline associated with seeking shelter.

CDBG-Disaster Recovery support that supports infrastructure improvements and home repair funds to assist residents who survived a weather-related disaster.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Home Repair funding

I would seek support from federal and state legislators for infrastructure upgrades and supporting the unhoused; and advocate for the philanthropic community to assist with home repair resources for low-income households.

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 collaborating with our county, state and federal leaders to understand the water infrastructure challenges we face and the impact it has on the residents and businesses throughout our community; as well as streamlining development opportunities and seeking support of additional tools that assist with economic development within our neighborhoods; and, provide greater support for families with youth to address their social needs as well as the per pupil funding.

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: I will keep a close eye on the financial review commission (FRC), closely monitor the performance of departments and tighten up on spending; Additionally, we're identifying the feasibility in creating an entertainment tax and other revenue sources. We are continually in communication with all levels of government so they're aware of the challenges that we face and understand the impact of these decisions on our community.