Axios Detroit

May 04, 2022
It is Wednesday, my dudes.
⛅ Today's weather: Look out for more clouds, with sun peeking through later in the day. High in the low 60s.
Today's newsletter is 889 words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: How Michigan could preserve abortion rights
Pro-choice demonstrators during a protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Michigan could establish a blueprint for reaffirming abortion rights at the state level if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
Why it matters: The ruling would leave abortion rights up to individual states. Michigan could preserve its status quo by making abortion bans unconstitutional.
- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat up for re-election this fall, and Planned Parenthood of Michigan filed separate lawsuits last month to protect abortion rights under the state constitution and to prevent enforcement of a 1931 state law criminalizing most abortions that would take effect if Roe is struck down.
- A ballot initiative is also underway to put abortion protections in the state constitution. (More on that in item No. 2.)
Zoom out: There are 13 other states with "trigger laws" or pre-Roe bans to prohibit abortion if Roe is overturned, per Axios' Oriana Gonzalez.
- "I really hope that we can provide a blueprint" to preserve abortion rights, Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald tells Axios.
Context: Most abortions are illegal and punishable by up to four years in prison under the 1931 law. There are no exceptions for rape or incest, only to preserve the mother’s life. Roe superseded the law, but it never was repealed.
- Attorney General Dana Nessel, another Democrat up for re-election, said at a press conference yesterday that she believes the law would take immediate effect after Roe is overturned — though some policy experts disagree with that take.
- Under the law, a person who performs an abortion could be charged, potentially including doctors and women who self-abort, either through a procedure or medication, added Nessel.
Between the lines: Nessel and county prosecutors in seven of 13 counties with abortion providers have said they will not enforce the old law if Roe is struck down.
- But the statute of limitations is six years, leaving the possibility that Nessel’s successor could enforce it retroactively.
- That prospect could create a chilling effect among doctors who perform abortions.
Go deeper with this FAQ on Whitmer’s lawsuit and its implications from the Detroit Free Press.
2. Surge of interest for abortion ballot proposal
A petition is signed during Reproductive Freedom for All's launch event for volunteer signature gatherers in March. Photo: TJ Samuels for the ACLU of Michigan
An effort to codify abortion protections in the Michigan constitution has seen its volunteer ranks skyrocket since Monday night.
By the numbers: Reproductive Freedom for All added roughly 900 volunteers in less than 24 hours.
- It previously had around 2,000 total volunteers, according to Dana Chicklas, spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, a partner in the project.
- "I think in the last 24 hours or so we’ve seen [support] just explode exponentially,” said Sommer Foster, co-executive director of Michigan Voices, another coalition partner.
- "Unfortunately, it takes a horrific draft decision leak to have people see what’s happening," Chicklas added.
What’s next: The coalition has until July 11 to collect more than 425,000 signatures.
- That’s the main focus — in addition to educating folks on their rights when it comes to abortion, and how those may change later this year.
- If successful, the proposal would go on the November ballot, and should it pass, go into effect 45 days later.
Look who's hiring
🌎 Find a job that’s out of this world with our Local Job Board.
- Financial Services Security Associate Director-NE at Accenture.
- Talent Consultant - National Consulting at EY.
- Director, Diversity Equity & Inclusion at KPMG.
Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.
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3. The Grapevine: You heard it here
Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
🗳 West Michigan Democrat Carol Glanville flipped a Michigan House seat yesterday with an upset victory over Republican Robert “RJ” Regan in a special election. Regan previously made headlines for his offensive comments about rape victims. (Detroit Free Press)
🗓️ The city and civil rights groups plan to host a four-day commemoration in June to remember the 1982 murder of Chinese American Vincent Chin. (Michigan Advance)
🦋 The federal government plans to spend $57 million helping a tiny, endangered butterfly in southeast Michigan. (Bridge Michigan)
🚨 Two Wayne County employees were arrested in a new FBI corruption probe. (The Detroit News)
4. Dan Gilbert bucks go to home repair
Homes on a neighborhood street in southwest Detroit. Photo: City of Detroit via Flickr
Detroit billionaire Dan Gilbert and his wife Jennifer’s foundation is starting a $20 million fund to pay for home repairs, which are desperately needed across the city’s aging housing stock.
What’s happening: More than 1,000 homeowners should be able to access free repair services for their roofs, foundations, stairs and other areas through the three-year program.
- The Gilbert Family Foundation is giving $10 million, with $8 million coming from health company ProMedica and $2 million from utility DTE Energy.
- The foundation picked two national nonprofits, Enterprise Community Partners and Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, to administer the fund — with local groups like the Eastside Community Network and United Community Housing Coalition doing on-the-ground coordination.
The big picture: Approximately 24,000 Detroit houses, or 5% of housing stock, need major work, according to a University of Michigan study as reported by BridgeDetroit.
- Mayor Mike Duggan has been a target of criticism over a lack of focus on the depth of home repair needs in the city.
- Detroit is also spending $30 million of its federal windfall through the American Rescue Plan Act on home repair.
Between the lines: The move is part of the Gilberts' $500 million commitment over 10 years for Detroit philanthropic pursuits.
- The home repair program builds on their $15 million Detroit Tax Relief Fund, which has paid off back property taxes for more than 5,000 residents in an effort to stem the tide of foreclosures.
What’s next: Contractors will be needed to do the repair work — a challenge with labor shortages in skilled trades.
5. 🐦 1 pic to go: On the hunt

👋 Annalise here. I know you’ve got things to do, but first please enjoy this photo of my hound dog Phoebe sniffing out some geese along the riverfront.
⛳ Joe is itching to golf, but the weather and life will not cooperate.
🧘 Annalise is in need of some quality yoga time.
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