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It’s challenging to identify a collection of local, regional, state, and national news stories and issues that will potentially impact the lives of Black Metro Detroiters and others in 2023. After all, like 2022, the year 2023 will produce thousands of news stories touching the broad spectrums of life in Detroit and beyond. Yet the Michigan Chronicle has identified a collection of news stories for readers to follow next year, some with origins and roots stemming from 2022 or before.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist made news on the first day of January when they were sworn in for a second term as Michigan’s top-two elected officials. January will also see Democratic State Rep. Joe Tate, a native Detroiter, sworn in as Michigan’s first-ever Black Speaker of the House.
History-making political stories in 2023 will continue when Democratic Congressman-elect Shri Thanedar, an Indian American, is sworn in on January 3 in Washington, D.C., to serve the heavily Black-populated 13th Congressional District, including much of Detroit. Thanedar’s swearing-in means Detroit no longer has a Black representative in the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in approximately 67 years. And for the first time in U.S. House history, a Black Republican from Michigan – John James – will be sworn in. He will represent Macomb and parts of Oakland counties. The storyline to follow is James will be Michigan’s only African American representative – from either political party – on Capitol Hill when the 118th Congress convenes in January.
In Detroit, “water shutoffs” will be on the minds of many residential customers – especially low-income residents – as the almost three-year water moratorium ends at midnight on January 1. However, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD), under the directorship of Gary Brown, has been touting the 2022 rollout of DWSD’s Lifeline Plan, Detroit’s first income-based water affordability initiative for eligible customers. For those not eligible, DWSD’s 10/30/50 down payment of the balance plan is available.
City, community, and other stakeholders hope residents in need of assistance will enroll in one of the plans to prevent “water shutoff” actions in 2023, which will avoid a repeat of national and international stories written about the city, like the ones in 2014 when DWSD executed massive water shutoffs, drawing the ire of human and civil rights advocacy groups and the United Nations. Several civil rights organizations in Michigan have recently gone to federal court in hopes of securing a ruling to stop water service disruptions in the city and extend the moratorium.
A feel-good sports story that will receive well-earned attention is the surprising turnaround of the Detroit Lions and their push for a playoff – that’s right – a playoff spot this season. After starting the season 1 and 6, the Lions – now 7 and 7 – enter 2023 with a great shot of clinching the NFC wild-card spot. Another newsworthy football story to watch in the area is the No. 2 ranked University of Michigan’s legitimate shot at winning the coveted College Football Playoff National Championship. However, Michigan must first beat No. 3 TCU on December 31, 2022, and then defeat either No. 1 Georgia or No. 4 Ohio State in the Championship Game on January 9.
Throughout 2023, look for news stories associated with the changing status of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on schools, businesses, and other sectors of society. While many people act as if things have returned to normal, health experts across the state, including the Governor’s Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities led by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, have continuously declared the pandemic is still with us. In addition, there are warnings about the spread of COVID-19, the flu, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in communities, especially during the colder months of January, February, March, and even April of 2023.
The Detroit Branch NAACP and its fierce advocacy history of fighting for economic and social equality for African Americans will attract thousands of people locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally to its 68th annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner in Detroit. The Dinner is the largest and oldest event of its kind in America. Typically held in the spring, a firm 2023 date has yet to be established. However, Chris Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., will serve as Senior Corporate Chair of the historic event.
In 2023, will President Biden’s $52 billion CHIPS and Science Act signed last year create volumes of jobs in Detroit and across Michigan as expected and make headlines? The passing of the Creating Helpful Incentives for the Production of Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act has been hailed by Michigan Democratic leaders like Gov. Whitmer, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, and Congresswoman Haley Stevens as the manufacturing breakthrough expected to create and protect tens of thousands of jobs in the state’s auto and other industries. Whitmer vows to fight hard to ensure that Michigan brings home as many resources and jobs as possible from the passage of the massive CHIPS and Science Act.
In mid-November, not long after the Midterm Elections, Detroit was named one of the world’s top 10 cities for national and international travelers to visit in 2023, according to Travellemming.com, a well-respected travel guide source reporting on hundreds of global locales. The travel guide cites Detroit’s almost 322-year-old history, the city’s robust revitalization, broad culture, museums, Art Deco architecture, and must-see landmarks as impressive. Interestingly, Detroit and Lafayette, Louisiana, were the only two American cities to make the top-10 listing of the 50 municipalities named.
Detroit will garner plenty of international news and attention this spring and summer when it hosts many “global-favorite” attractions and events, including the Movement Electronic Music Festival (Memorial Day weekend), the Grand Prix (running through the streets of Detroit again from June 2-4), the North American International Auto Show (September 13 – 24 at Huntington Place and surrounding downtown Detroit locations), and the downtown Detroit Jazz Festival, the world’s largest free jazz event held around Labor Day. The events collectively are expected to pump more than $100 million dollars into the local economy in 2023.
The year 2023 is expected to be filled with hope and forward movements for Metro Detroiters. Yet, no one knows what the future will bring as riveting news stories – good and bad – can happen in the blink of an eye 24-7 with ripple effects enduring for days, months, and years. Nevertheless, the Michigan Chronicle will continue to track and report on important stories throughout 2023 that impact the broad lives and communities of African Americans and others living, working, and playing in Detroit and the region.