Levan C. Adams - Candidate for City Council At-Large

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: A lot of Detroiters depend on federal programs like housing assistance, food support, and funding for road repairs and public safety. Programs like Section 8, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Community Development Block Grant help keep families stable. When those are cut, it hits our neighborhoods hard. I’d work with our federal reps to make sure Detroit isn’t left behind, and if that support starts to dry up, I’ll push the city to partner with nonprofits and local businesses to fill in the gaps. We can’t sit back and wait, we’ve got to fight for what our people need.

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 believed that strong partnerships create strong communities. As we face rising costs and shifting federal support, I’ll work with leaders at every level, local, regional, and national, to keep Detroit moving forward. My top priority is housing. If people don’t have a stable place to live, everything else becomes harder, finding a job, raising a family, or getting an education. I’ll fight to protect programs that help Detroiters stay in their homes, fix their homes, and buy homes. And I’ll push for real investment in affordable housing, not just talk. I’m about results, not politics.

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. If the economy starts declining, we can’t wait until we’re in crisis to act. I’d keep a close eye on the city’s income tax revenue, property taxes, and state funding, those are key signals. If we see a drop-off that lasts more than a couple months, especially in income tax collections, that’s a sign we need to tap the brakes. That might mean holding off on new spending, pausing new hires, and slowing down large projects, not cutting vital services right away. The goal is to adjust early so we don’t have to make deep cuts later.

B. I’ve spent my career working with different departments and agencies, and I’d bring that same approach to this job. I’d stay in contact with our state reps, county leaders, and federal partners to make sure Detroit’s needs are well known. If federal programs get cut or tariffs hurt our job market, we need a seat at the table to fight for resources. I’d also work with other city leaders across the country to build pressure in D.C. We can’t afford to be reactive, we need a plan and strong relationships already in place.