City politics is beginning to heat up as more candidates begin to throw their hats in to the ring. Recently announcing his bid for Detroit City Council District 4, Toson Knight held a press conference in the city’s Eden Gardens Park which packed with community members and supporters of his campaign.
The current Dean of Students at Detroit Public Schools, the City Council hopeful is a staple in District 4, helping its residents beautify their neighborhood and inspire its youth. Through the nonprofit Caught Up, founded by Knight, young Black men ages 14 to 20 are able to find mentorship, learn life skills and have the opportunity for fellowship with Black men who are making a positive impact on their community.
“One thing I always learned was you never break down what’s there, you’re supposed to go in the system and build it back up instead. During the [Black Lives Matter] protests, I had many mentors, but my top one was Mr. Knight,” says Stefan Perez who helped to lead several peaceful Black Lives Matter protests in downtown Detroit. “Mr. Knight, he guided me, helped me with a lot of things and gave me the mentality I needed to have at that time.”
District 4 is located on the east side of Detroit bordering Harper Woods and Grosse Pointe. With over 100,000 Detroiters residing within its boundaries, District 4 is home to a slew of homeowners, religious organizations and waterfront parks. It’s also home to many historic and notable neighborhoods such as Chandler Park, East English Village and Morningside, the District houses community organizations and block clubs which help keep the area thriving.
“We believe in everybody that’s in the community. We believe in enhancing people’s lives, changing people’s lives, making improvements in people’s lives and making our community a community that will be recognized all the way through the city of Detroit,” says Karen Knox, President of the Eden Gardens Community Association. “Toson Knight has been with us.”
The former Detroit Deputy District Manager under Mayor Mike Duggan, Knight has the support of some of the state’s most prominent community and government leaders such as State Senator Adam Hollier, Chairman of the Police Commission Willie Bell and State Representative Jewel Jones.
“When you talk about what you’re supposed to get out of your city council members, it’s first somebody who’s going to pick up the phone. Somebody who knows your neighborhood, walked down your block, who understands what it means to show up,” says State Senator Adam Hollier. “That’s what Toson knows how to do. That’s what he’s made a career out of doing.”
With the support of many city and community leaders behind him, Toson Knight is ready to hit the ground running in a more official capacity that will directly impact the lives of those he is hoping to serve. Though he has yet to officially outline his stance on taxes, education and police, knowing where to start is key. Using the door-to-door method, the city council candidate was able to assess the needs of the community.
“Me and my mentees, the other day, walked down these streets and we knocked on doors and we asked them some of the concerns that they had and we told them about what we were trying to do. The people just want simple things. They want the police to respond on time. They want neighbors to take their trash can back so it won’t blow down the street in the wind. They want the abandoned houses to be down and for this community to not be forgotten,” Knight says.
Toson Knight promises the community he will continue to be accessible, stand in the gap for youth and address the needs of the District.
The Primary Election is August 3, 2021, while the General Election will be November 2, 2021. Anyone wishing to run for office during this voting season will have until April 20, 2021, to file.
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