More work left to protect LGBTQ+ rights after expansion

1 big thing: More work left after ELCRA expansion

2. Where in Detroit winners

Sam outside of North End's Black Coffee Cafe

3. The Grapevine: You heard it here

Illustration of "The Grapevine" as a mural on a brick wall.

4. Your comfiest cafés

Illustration of the Detroit skyline with word balloons with exclamation points in them popping up above it from left to right.

On the job hunt?

5. One mural to go

A colorful blue, red and purple mural shows a person in a headdress.

😮‍💨 Every day, we breathe in and out about 22,000 times.

Hey, make sure you keep doing that while you read the news.

☁️ Today's weather: A chance of showers mainly after 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 51°.

Today's newsletter is 828 words — a 3-minute read. Edited by Everett Cook and copy edited by David Chiu.

📺 Joe is rewatching "Succession" in anticipation of Season 4 on Sunday and reading about the hilarious Tom Wambsgans.

🥪 Annalise is glad she brought a sandwich in her backpack to yesterday's City Council session.

🌞 Everett is reading "Circe" by Madeline Miller.

Detroit

Axios Detroit

Sheffield floats LCA ticket charge proposal

1 big thing: Ticket charge floated as District seeks green light

Council President Mary Sheffield sits at the table with other council members during session. 

"BMF" Season 2 finale: Meech and Terry handle business

2. "BMF" Season 2: Meech and Terry handle business

Demetrius 'Lil Meech' Flenory Jr. (“Demetrius 'Big Meech' Flenory”) and Abraham 'Da'Vinchi' Juste ("Terry 'Southwest T' Flenory")

Illustration of a map of Detroit, Michigan and the title "The Grapevine".

Wayne County juvenile jail in crisis

4. Wayne County juvenile jail in crisis

Take your career to the next level

Lauryn Hill spotted at Motown Museum in Detroit

5. Lauryn Hill in Detroit

🐇 Now that it's officially spring, what's on your to-do list?

🌤 Today's weather: Partly sunny, with a high near 52°.

🤝 Thank you to our members for supporting our newsroom! Join them.

Today's newsletter is 870 words — a 3.5-minute read. Edited by Everett Cook and copy edited by Joyce Laskowski.

🥳 Joe is celebrating his one year anniversary at Axios!

🍹 Annalise is hoping to hang out on many a patio this spring and summer.

🎧 Sam has been falling asleep to Japanese forest inspired ambient music from the '80s the past few days.

🏀 Everett was bummed about the Michigan women's basketball team losing to LSU in the second round of March Madness over the weekend, but is also now very excited to watch Angel Reese play in the WNBA. Her ludicrous statline from the game: 25 points, 24 rebounds (!) and six blocks.

1 big thing: Michigan State's March Madness dance continues

A.J. Hoggard, center, celebrates a play during MSU's win over Marquette.

2. Pothole problems less severe in Metro Detroit

Illustration of a construction crane hook with a downward arrow instead of a hook.

4. Picnics and splash pads

A map shows underused park land on Detroit's east side about three miles from downtown along the river. 

A new career is waiting for you

Go-to breakfast sandwich in downtown Detroit

5. Sam's go-to downtown breakfast 

The song of the day is officially Simon and Garfunkel's "Cloudy."

🌂 Today's weather: Rain showers mostly before noon, with temperatures holding steady around 50°.

Today's newsletter is 893 words — a 3.5-minute read. Edited by Everett Cook and copy edited by David Chiu.

🍕 Joe really wants to try some of this Denino's pizza that Tyson Walker delivered to coach Izzo.

🦇 Annalise is reading in Bridge Michigan about how bats being killed everywhere by white-nose syndrome are somehow thriving alongside it at Tippy Dam in the Manistee River.

🙇🏽‍♂️ Sam is watching this absolutely ridiculous performance of "Bad News" from 2015.

🥳 Everett is headed to New Orleans — happy 2023 wedding season to all who celebrate! 

What readers say Michigan can do to keep talent

1 big thing: What Michigan can do to keep talent

Illustration of The Spirit of Detroit exiting its usual position.

Popular New Center restaurant Baobab Fare plans second spot on east side

2. Scoop: A second location for Baobab Fare

Things to do this weekend

3. Things to do this weekend

Reports: Nessel is shielding search warrant records

4. FOIA Friday: Shielding search warrant records

Attorney General Dana Nessel at a 2022 campaign rally

New jobs to check out

5. Michigan schools at NCAA hockey tourney

Illustration of a sparkling hockey puck under multiple lights

☁️ Today's weather: Mostly cloudy with a high near 45°.

🏀 Situational awareness: Michigan State was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament last night in heartbreaking fashion, losing 98-93 to Kansas State in an overtime thriller.

Today's newsletter is 980 words — a 3.5-minute read. Edited by Carlos Cunha and copy edited by David Chiu.

🥴 Joe is still trying to figure out how Markquis Nowell so thoroughly dominated last night's game against MSU.

❤️ Sam is so appreciative of everyone who reads our newsletter!

1 big thing: How Michigan's gun laws could change

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer alongside former US Rep. Gabby Giffords at a gun violence rally in Lansing last week. Photo: Chris DuMond/Getty)

2. Perfecting Church says it spent $200k to restart project

Illustration of the Axios logo in an Old English font.

Is a new job in your future?

4. The Red Hook opens in Midtown 

🌷 Happy Monday and welcome to the end of winter — it's the first day of spring.

☀️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with a high of 47. Southwest wind, with gusts as high as 17 mph. 

Situational awareness: Go Green! Michigan State survived an intense battle with Marquette yesterday and advanced to the Sweet 16.

The Spartans play Kansas State Thursday at 6:30pm.

Today's newsletter is 893 words — a 3.5-minute read. Edited by Everett Cook and copy edited by Joyce Laskowski.

👀 Joe sees all the ingredients of a classic Izzo tournament run with this group of Spartans.

🐦 Annalise is wondering why geese have to be so particularly loud all the time. Like … the other goose right next to you can hear you fine, I promise.

🤔 Sam is wondering: Who are the people paying $2,000/month to live downtown? Let me know if this is you …

🏀 Everett is looking at his childhood basketball cards for the first time in probably 20 years. Anyone into this hobby? Have tips? Please email everett.cook@axios.com.

Council President Mary Sheffield wants the Ilitch family to agree to a 2% ticket surcharge from the city for events in their arena district.

Driving the news: The charge is among several additional commitments Sheffield brought up in committee last week as City Council debates approving city tax abatements for the Ilitches' and Stephen Ross' Related Co.'s $1.5 billion District Detroit development proposal.

These commitments would be on top of a community benefits deal the developers negotiated over weeks of public meetings. The developers and supporters called it unprecedented, while critics saw the deal as lacking.

The latest: City Council could vote as soon as today after a committee voted last week to move the requests to the full body without a recommendation to approve.

The items were moved with a "neutral" mindset, Council Member Fred Durhal III said, because of lingering unanswered questions.

Flashback: Sheffield also requested commitments on top of previously agreed-upon community benefits in July for a $60 million tax break for Dan Gilbert's Hudson's site. Council approved it after Gilbert's Bedrock agreed to those additional asks.

Sheffield also previously sought a ticket surcharge "or some type of direct revenue" for the city from Little Caesars Arena during the original deal around a decade ago, she said Thursday.

The other side: The Ilitch organization's Olympia Development declined to comment to Axios, but said it would likely address the surcharge at today's council session.

Reality check: Detroit would need a state law change to levy a new tax for entertainment venues, Eric Lupher of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan tells Axios.

Sheffield specified this would be a "voluntary agreement the developer would enter into," not a tax change. But it could only be enforced if authorized by city voters, per a city law department statement.

A similar precedent for a voluntary charge could be the local visitors' bureau's 2% assessment on hotels in the metro area, Lupher says.

It's unclear how the surcharge would be passed on to event attendees.

Of note: Other additional commitments Sheffield brought up include strengthening the language and impact around what's currently a developer "target" of spending $100 million with Detroit-based and "disadvantaged" businesses.

"If I'm going to support this project, I'd like to see stronger language regarding it," Sheffield said.

She also supports a monetary contribution to the city's affordable housing fund.

City Council is debating approving city tax abatements for District Detroit.

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield during the lawmaking body's formal session. Photo courtesy of the city of Detroit, via Flickr 

Council President Mary Sheffield wants the Ilitch family to agree to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a 2% ticket surcharge" data-vars-click-url="https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/2023-03/Memo%20-%20Entertainment%20Surcharge.pdf" data-vars-content-id="086cee1d-b542-47c8-8e08-e3cf8f2530cc" data-vars-headline="Sheffield floats LCA ticket charge proposal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/2023-03/Memo%20-%20Entertainment%20Surcharge.pdf" target="_blank">a 2% ticket surcharge</a> from the city for events in their arena district.Driving the news: The charge is among several additional commitments Sheffield brought up in committee last week as City Council debates approving <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="city tax abatements" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/01/12/ross-ilitches-800m-district-detroit-ask-public" data-vars-content-id="086cee1d-b542-47c8-8e08-e3cf8f2530cc" data-vars-headline="Sheffield floats LCA ticket charge proposal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/01/12/ross-ilitches-800m-district-detroit-ask-public" target="_self">city tax abatements</a> for the Ilitches&#x27; and Stephen Ross&#x27; Related Co.&#x27;s<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" $1.5 billion" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2022/11/16/district-detroit-plans-incentives-ilitch-ross" data-vars-content-id="086cee1d-b542-47c8-8e08-e3cf8f2530cc" data-vars-headline="Sheffield floats LCA ticket charge proposal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2022/11/16/district-detroit-plans-incentives-ilitch-ross" target="_self"> $1.5 billion</a> District Detroit development proposal.

News

Politics

Richmond

Axios Richmond

Reproduced from USAFacts; Chart: Axios Visuals

After two years of decline, car thefts in Richmond are on the rise again.

Driving the news: Major cities — from Atlanta to Chicago — saw a rise in car thefts from 2019 to 2022, according to new data from USAFacts, a nonprofit that analyzes government data.

By the numbers: There were 468,821 total thefts reported in 2022 across all the cities reviewed by the USAFacts data.

That's much higher than in 2021 (411,935 reported thefts), 2020 (361,550) and 2019 (318,467).

A number of these thefts were of Kia and Hyundai vehicles. Thieves across America are stealing those vehicles in seconds because of design flaws.

Thieves will break windows and remove parts of the steering column cover, then start the vehicle with a screwdriver or a plugin from a USB device.

The tactic became known from a recent challenge on TikTok, which encouraged thieves to target the vehicles.

In the city of Richmond, there were 1,207 car thefts reported in 2022, compared to 1,018 in 2021, 1,160 in 2020 and 1,192 in 2019.

Zoom in: 22 Kia or Hyundai vehicles were stolen in Richmond in December, accounting for 19% of all cars stolen. In June, it was 3%, per USAFacts.

Henrico County has received 37 reports of stolen Kia or Hyundai vehicles since January  — double the thefts it saw during what the department called a "spree" last August and September.

And Chesterfield said it too is seeing an increase in these thefts, but in smaller numbers, with nine Kia or Hyundai vehicles stolen since January. Chesterfield police have recovered seven of these vehicles stolen from other jurisdictions, though.

Richmond police did not respond to a request for 2023 data. 

What they're saying: Henrico County Police are encouraging owners of these models to update their car's anti-theft software — and invest in a very low-tech solution by picking up a wheel lock, like The Club.

What's next: Kia and Hyundai both released new "theft deterrent software" for more than 8 million vehicles in response to the trend.

TikTok said in a statement to the Washington Post that it "does not condone this behavior which violates our policies and will be removed if found on our platform."

Go deeper: Thieves are stealing Hyundais and Kias in seconds.

Thieves are stealing Hyundais and Kias in seconds

Car thefts on the rise in Richmond

Major cities — from Atlanta to Chicago — saw a rise in car thefts from 2019 to 2022.

After two years of decline, car thefts in Richmond are on the rise again.Driving the news: Major cities — from Atlanta to Chicago — saw a rise in car thefts from 2019 to 2022, according to new data from<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" USAFacts" data-vars-click-url="https://usafacts.org/data-projects/car-thefts" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://usafacts.org/data-projects/car-thefts" target="_blank"> USAFacts</a>, a nonprofit that analyzes government data.

Baobab Fare, a nationally acclaimed East African restaurant in New Center, is planning a second location.

What's happening: Married co-owners Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere are looking to buy a building at 16900 E. Warren Ave. in East English Village from the city for $145,000 and renovate it, per city documents.

The purchase still requires city council approval.

Between the lines: Baobab Fare opened in early 2021 and has had two successful years, Mamba tells Axios. The owners have been thinking about a second location since last year and originally got an offer to open in Ann Arbor.

But they ultimately decided to stay, grow and contribute in Detroit.

"We started everything from here," Mamba says.

The building in the growing East Warren corridor, he says, was an opportunity to bring needed restaurant options to the east side area.

It also allows the restaurant to expand to space much larger than its small spot at Woodward and East Grand Boulevard.

What's next: The co-owners are still early in the process. They plan to start construction on their new space around October and open around next summer, with a build-out cost of around $1 million-$1.2 million, Mamba says.

The spot will have a similar concept and ambience.

Of note: The co-owners are semifinalists for this year's James Beard restaurant industry awards. Mamba also recently won the Food Network competition "Chopped."

Couple wants to bring restaurant options to the East Warren corridor.

The building at 16900 E. Warren Ave. where Baobab Fare aims to open a second location. Photo: Courtesy of Hamissi Mamba

Baobab Fare, a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nationally acclaimed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/11/18/baobab-fare-in-detroit-makes-esquires-list-of-best-new-restaurants/69661404007/" data-vars-content-id="5c73bf8e-6cc6-45b8-ae9d-d924fde1a81f" data-vars-headline="Popular New Center restaurant Baobab Fare plans second spot on east side" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/11/18/baobab-fare-in-detroit-makes-esquires-list-of-best-new-restaurants/69661404007/" target="_blank">nationally acclaimed</a> East African restaurant in New Center, is planning a second location.What&#x27;s happening: Married co-owners Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere are looking to buy a building at 16900 E. Warren Ave. in East English Village from the city for $145,000 and renovate it, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="city documents" data-vars-click-url="https://pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=85585" data-vars-content-id="5c73bf8e-6cc6-45b8-ae9d-d924fde1a81f" data-vars-headline="Popular New Center restaurant Baobab Fare plans second spot on east side" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pub-detroitmi.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=85585" target="_blank">city documents</a>.<ul><li>The purchase still requires city council approval.</li></ul>Between the lines: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Baobab Fare" data-vars-click-url="https://baobabfare.com/" data-vars-content-id="5c73bf8e-6cc6-45b8-ae9d-d924fde1a81f" data-vars-headline="Popular New Center restaurant Baobab Fare plans second spot on east side" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://baobabfare.com/" target="_blank">Baobab Fare</a> opened in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="early 2021" data-vars-click-url="https://detroit.eater.com/2021/2/19/22289891/baobab-fare-east-african-restaurant-opens-new-center-detroit" data-vars-content-id="5c73bf8e-6cc6-45b8-ae9d-d924fde1a81f" data-vars-headline="Popular New Center restaurant Baobab Fare plans second spot on east side" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://detroit.eater.com/2021/2/19/22289891/baobab-fare-east-african-restaurant-opens-new-center-detroit" target="_blank">early 2021</a> and has had two successful years, Mamba tells Axios. The owners have been thinking about a second location since last year and originally got an offer to open in Ann Arbor.<ul><li>But they ultimately decided to stay, grow and contribute in Detroit.</li><li>&quot;We started everything from here,&quot; Mamba says.</li><li>The building in the growing East Warren corridor, he says, was an opportunity to bring needed restaurant options to the east side area.</li><li>It also allows the restaurant to expand to space much larger than its small spot at Woodward and East Grand Boulevard.</li></ul>What&#x27;s next: The co-owners are still early in the process. They plan to start construction on their new space around October and open around next summer, with a build-out cost of around $1 million-$1.2 million, Mamba says.<ul><li>The spot will have a similar concept and ambience.</li></ul>Of note: The co-owners are semifinalists for this year&#x27;s James Beard restaurant industry awards. Mamba also recently won the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Food Network competition &quot;Chopped.&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-detroit-a8acab06-6df9-4d6b-b98c-821341a1ba45.html?chunk=6&amp;utm_term=emshare#story6" data-vars-content-id="5c73bf8e-6cc6-45b8-ae9d-d924fde1a81f" data-vars-headline="Popular New Center restaurant Baobab Fare plans second spot on east side" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-detroit-a8acab06-6df9-4d6b-b98c-821341a1ba45.html?chunk=6&amp;utm_term=emshare#story6" target="_self">Food Network competition &quot;Chopped.&quot;</a>

Food and Drink

A recent study envisions wide improvements for play and water access for some under-publicized parks along the riverfront east of downtown in the Gold Coast district.

Driving the news: The report comes from the parks and rec division's larger 2021-22 community engagement and analysis of city-owned east riverfront sites.

The recommendations based on the report require more planning, engagement and funding to come to fruition.

Why it matters: These parks have beautiful views and are used for fishing, picnics and boating. But they have little to no amenities, plus a lack of access that stops them "from being more utilized," the report reads.

The city is looking to build on other improvements that have made more of the riverfront accessible between the Ambassador Bridge and Belle Isle.

🛥️ Renovated marina for boat launching

Vision for Gold Coast parks: kayak launch, splash pads

These parks have beautiful views but few amenities.

Parks along the Gold Coast by Belle Isle, three miles east of downtown. Map courtesy of City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan

A recent study envisions wide improvements for play and water access for some under-publicized parks along the riverfront east of downtown in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gold Coast" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/30924683.124/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubW9kZWxkbWVkaWEuY29tL2ZlYXR1cmVzL2RldHJvaXRkaXN0cmljdDEwMTMuYXNweD91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/626acc8107c7f518353216d2Bfaf93539" data-vars-content-id="728f5c41-f1ac-476e-bab0-fdeebc31838e" data-vars-headline="Vision for Gold Coast parks: kayak launch, splash pads" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/30924683.124/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubW9kZWxkbWVkaWEuY29tL2ZlYXR1cmVzL2RldHJvaXRkaXN0cmljdDEwMTMuYXNweD91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/626acc8107c7f518353216d2Bfaf93539" target="_blank">Gold Coast</a> district.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The report" data-vars-click-url="https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/2023-03/AppendixH_ERAS%20Report%20%281%29.pdf" data-vars-content-id="728f5c41-f1ac-476e-bab0-fdeebc31838e" data-vars-headline="Vision for Gold Coast parks: kayak launch, splash pads" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/2023-03/AppendixH_ERAS%20Report%20%281%29.pdf" target="_blank">The report</a> comes from the parks and rec division&#x27;s larger 2021-22 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="community engagement and analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://detroitmi.gov/departments/detroit-parks-recreation/parks-and-recreation-strategic-plan/east-riverfront-assets-study" data-vars-content-id="728f5c41-f1ac-476e-bab0-fdeebc31838e" data-vars-headline="Vision for Gold Coast parks: kayak launch, splash pads" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://detroitmi.gov/departments/detroit-parks-recreation/parks-and-recreation-strategic-plan/east-riverfront-assets-study" target="_blank">community engagement and analysis</a> of city-owned east riverfront sites.

Washington D.C.

Axios D.C.

Kias and Hyundais made up a third of car thefts in D.C. in 2022, according to new data from USAFacts.

The big picture: Thieves across America are stealing the vehicles in seconds because of design flaws in the cars.

Thieves are breaking windows and removing parts of the steering column cover, then starting the vehicle with a screwdriver or a plugin from a USB device.

The tactic became known from a recent challenge on TikTok, which encouraged targeting these vehicles.

What they're saying: Last month, D.C. announced it would offer Kia and Hyundai owners free steering wheel locks to combat thefts.

MPD tells Axios that each police station had about 75-100 steering wheel locks left as of Tuesday.

TikTok said in a statement to the Washington Post it "does not condone this behavior which violates our policies and will be removed if found on our platform."

Thefts of Kias and Hyundais are up in D.C.

The two makes accounted for a third of all car thefts in D.C. in 2022.

Washington, D.C.

Kias and Hyundais made up a third of car thefts in D.C. in 2022, according to new data from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="USAFacts" data-vars-click-url="https://usafacts.org/data-projects/car-thefts" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://usafacts.org/data-projects/car-thefts" target="_blank">USAFacts</a>.The big picture: Thieves across America are stealing the vehicles in seconds because of design flaws in the cars.

Annalise Frank

Stories

Car thefts on the rise in Richmond

Popular New Center restaurant Baobab Fare plans second spot on east side

Thefts of Kias and Hyundais are up in D.C.

Vision for Gold Coast parks: kayak launch, splash pads

Sheffield floats LCA ticket charge proposal

Newsletter editions

🍽️ Scoop: Baobab Fare 2

🏀 Spartans still dancing

🏳️‍🌈 More work left

✏️ Lauryn Hill's Motown education

🚩 Stricter gun laws