Debra Ezell runs the only home child care service in her southwest Detroit neighborhood, one of several "child care deserts" throughout the city.

• "I have 30 people on my waiting list that have been calling me since April," Ezell, owner of Precious Steps Childcare, tells Axios.

Why it matters: Detroit's child care ecosystem is over capacity, leaving out 15,500 children from an estimated 37,000 in need of care, according to the city's Office of Early Learning.

• The current landscape impedes some parents from finding work and makes Detroit less attractive to families looking to move here, the early learning office argued in support of a proposal to aid child care centers.
• The city's time-consuming and expensive zoning process has also made it harder for small-business owners like Ezell to expand.

Driving the news: The City Planning Commission is reviewing a new proposal to ease zoning restrictions to make it easier for child care facilities to open and grow.

• The proposal would allow home-based day care centers that are limited to six kids to double their capacity without a zoning hearing.

The other side: Some planning commissioners are concerned about new child care facilities opening in neighborhoods without notice, potentially disturbing established residents.

• "Individuals want to enjoy their homes, and children need play space," commissioner Gwen Lewis said at last week's planning commission meeting, adding that she enjoys children.

Context: The state licenses three types of child care facilities. Each has its own zoning restrictions.

• Family day cares, which can have about six kids, and group day cares, with about 11 kids, are typically found in neighborhood homes. The city currently has 89 family and 62 group day care homes.
• Child care centers — Detroit has 302 of them — are not in private residences and can watch more children.

Between the lines: State licensing oversight will continue, ensuring that all facilities and their employees are fit to care for children, officials say.

What we're watching: The planning commission appeared concerned about the proposal's lack of notice to neighbors of new home child care facilities.

What's next: The commission will discuss the proposal at an upcoming meeting before voting. It would then go before City Council.

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Metro Detroit drivers tend to drive faster than the national average on major pedestrian roadways, making those streets more dangerous for people on foot.

Why it matters: Just 19.8% of our region's major pedestrian roadways have average vehicle speeds under 25 mph, compared with the national average of 36%, Axios' Joann Muller reports.

• Pedestrians are twice as likely to be killed in a collision when a car is traveling at 30 mph compared with 20 mph, and over five times more likely when the car is driving 40 mph, according to data from the AAA Foundation.

Driving the news: The finding is based on a report from StreetLight Data, which tracks mobility trends using anonymized cellphone data and other sources.

• The group's objective was to understand how fast vehicles are actually going and the impact on pedestrian safety, creating what it calls a "Safe Speed Index."

The biggest danger zone? Fast-moving roads alongside busy retail and service areas with lots of foot traffic. Take, for instance, infamously hazardous Gratiot Avenue.

By the numbers: Michigan had 1.78 pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 residents in 2022, compared with a national rate of 2.28, according to a separate report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).

• At least 7,508 pedestrians were struck and killed by cars in the U.S. in 2022 — the most in 41 years.

Zoom in: Detroit had the third highest pedestrian fatality rate of large U.S. cities in 2020, per a city report.

🎉 Big Sean's fifth annual Detroit's On Now (DON) Weekend is set for Aug. 26. Tickets to the free event, which includes a celebrity kickball tournament, community events and arts & crafts, are available starting July 31. (DON Weekend)

🏞 A new partnership between the Gilbert Family Foundation and Green Living Science is bringing improvements to eight Detroit parks. (BridgeDetroit)

💵 Ann Arbor is trying out a guaranteed basic income program where 100 lower-income entrepreneurs get $525 a month for two years. (Free Press)

👋 Annalise here. I recently realized that a tree arching over my backyard is providing more than just shade — it's also brimming with mulberries.

• Luckily, my dog steers clear of the ones that drop into the grass, though the birds don't and seem to be having a nonstop party back there.

📬 I'm wondering: What should I be doing with these mulberries? They taste alright off the tree, but I feel like there must be something more I can do with them. Is there anything specific I should make?

• Reply to this email with any recommendations or ideas! Your response may be featured in a future newsletter.