Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel wants to build a new jail, because the current one is a squalid death trap. On June 19, he plans to ask a special meeting of the county board of commissioners’ Records and Public Safety panel for approval of the $375 million project, plus the OK of ballot language for a tax to pay for the bonds that would pay for it.
It’s not clear how much the tax millage would be or whether this would constitute a tax increase for residents. But for a generally tax-averse county, this one could get problematic, fast.
Oh, and there’s a new attempt to thwart the new Gordie Howe International Bridge, this time via an addition to a state budget bill that would prohibit the state from spending any money to finance its half of construction. You know, even though Canada is reimbursing us 100% of the costs. Will wonders never cease?
Elsewhere, we run down:
- Security guards in downtown Detroit began a strike today, though it’s unclear how widespread it actually is.
- The city has broken ground on the Joseph Campau Greenway, a 1.2-mile non-motorized path that will run parallel to the Dequindre Cut.
- Friday is Flag Day, and the Fisher Building will celebrate by displaying its collection of 60 national flags from way back in 1928, when the building opened. [Facebook]
- Beyond Juice, the Madison Heights based food retailer, will open its second Detroit location on the ground floor of The Platform.
- Shinola is selling love locks that you can hang in Parker’s Alley.
- And there’s a cash flash event planned for a stretch of Grand River Avenue seeing reconstruction on June 26. You can learn more about the event, which aims to support neighborhood businesses in Detroit, at DiscoverDetroitD1.com.
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