By Eric B. Larson, DDP CEO
Since its inception, the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) has worked with 21 mayoral administrations. We look forward to continuing this collaboration with the oncoming administration and stand ready to provide support when needed.
While we represent the Downtown, our connections extend throughout the city, partnering with neighborhood groups, individuals, businesses, and public-sector and nonprofit organizations. As residents prepare to elect their next administration, the DDP’s goal is to ensure alignment on the existing and anticipated challenges and opportunities that will emerge as the new leaders take on their roles.
Over the past decade, the city has received plenty of national recognition, population growth, and recovery from bankruptcy. While we’re proud of our collective progress, the DDP recognizes that more work is needed to continually build a sustainable, world-class city in which we can all take pride.
The Downtown Detroit Partnership collected input from numerous stakeholders and published what it sees as the city’s priorities within its “Maintaining the Momentum” white paper.
The DDP believes it is important for Detroit’s diverse communities to be aligned on key principles and areas of focus to ensure the city continues its progress. In addition, we believe there are important qualifications for any individual who is willing and able to step into a role that can be both extremely rewarding and thankless at the same time.
And we have a robust amount of urban innovation, placemaking, data analyzing, and investment experience to build upon. The Downtown Detroit Partnership was founded in 1922, and we will be supporting our 22nd mayoral administration. Administrations have come and gone, but we have maintained a leadership position as the steadfast constant for the Downtown and beyond.
While the DDP does not endorse political candidates, we proudly support each administration in serving Downtown’s businesses, residents, employees, and visitors. This requires consistent communication and partnership with city leadership at all levels. Supporting the public sector is critical to our mission of cultivating social and economic impact in Detroit.
The next mayor will oversee a $1.4 billion budget and be responsible for roughly 30,000 employees. The importance of this vote cannot be overstated. As you prepare to cast your vote, our white paper may provide some key factors to consider.
About Maintaining the Momentum
For months, the DDP worked with stakeholders, DDP Board Members, and community leaders to build consensus on the priorities needed to sustain Detroit’s progress over the next four years. Together, we identified the most critical issues and opportunities.
The paper is organized into four sections:
- Priorities for the City
- Keys to Success
- What Makes a Great Mayor
- The Role of the DDP
Priorities for the City
Detroit has celebrated major wins: increased population, reduced crime, and record investments. Yet the challenges remain significant. How do we, emphasis on we, tackle housing, education, poverty, homelessness, and other pressing issues?
Maintaining the Momentum highlights seven areas where we must move the needle:
- Driving a “One Detroit” vision
- Sustaining progress in public safety
- Continuing critical quality-of-life investments
- Increasing economic prosperity
- Making city government more efficient
- Completing key high-impact initiatives
- Planning for long-term structural challenges
Keys to Success
Building Detroit’s progress under Mayor Duggan, our stakeholders identified strategies that will help the next administration maintain this momentum:
- Proactively invest in a strong and diverse coalition of relationships.
- Build a strong team.
- Strengthen ties with residents.
- Understand the governmental apparatus.
- Reinforce the spirit of collaboration.
What Makes a Great Mayor
The mayor’s role demands exceptional skills and relentless commitment. We believe the next mayor should embody the following qualities:
- Relationship builder
- Problem solver
- Two-way communicator
- Builder of trust and confidence
The Role of the DDP
Finally, the DDP needs to be as accountable as the voters. Our Board of Directors and team stand ready to:
- Approach new relationships with trust: Maintain open communication with the new administration and City Council, share our initiatives, and avoid comparisons to previous leaders.
- Assist with talent: Help identify and recruit qualified local and national talent and lend our own staff when needed.
- Support the transition: Provide on-demand assistance and facilitate dialogue among community, business, and philanthropic leaders.
- Provide resources and expertise: Offer historical context, current data, and subject-matter expertise across critical disciplines.
For more than 100 years, the Downtown Detroit Partnership has helped shape the city’s development and investments. We stand ready to support the next mayor and City Council in driving Detroit’s future and keeping up the momentum.
