Detroit hires first urban agriculture director

Mayor Mike Duggan's office announced the appointment of Tepfirah Rushdan as the city's new director of urban agriculture Monday, joining a handful of cities with that role.

Why it matters: Neighborhood residents want to use Detroit's vast amount of vacant land for more than commercial development.

• Officials said Monday that having an urban agriculture director is a first step in providing more opportunities for residents to start their own urban farms.

State of play: Rushdan will serve as a liaison to the city, relaying issues urban farmers face on the ground. She said Monday she intends to form an advisory committee to help with the process.

Zoom in: Rushdan, 43, who has the word "decolonize" tattooed on her left wrist, is deeply rooted in the local urban farming community.

• She owns a kayak rental company and is a founding member of the Black to the Land Coalition and the Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund.

What they're saying: "She has a quiet demeanor, but don't be fooled Mr. Mayor: She will speak truth to power," Kathryn Underwood, who's been involved in local urban agriculture policy for years, said at Monday's press conference.

• "She already has!" a member of Duggan's administration interjected.

Between the lines: Officials say communicating among city departments like BSEED will be a main function of the new position, which is now under the mayor's office.

• Rushdan told reporters she wasn't expecting to be appointed to the role before meeting with Duggan to negotiate an urban farm exemption to the mayor's proposed Land Value Tax plan.
• She says urban farms will now receive a 100 mil discount under the plan to keep land tax rates the same.