Detroiters will find two community benefits proposals on the ballot this Election Day.
A CBO would require developers who get public support for their projects, like tax breaks, to provide certain benefits to the community.
Proposal A, known as the People’s CBO, came from a grassroots push from a petition drive. It calls for developers to provide community benefits if their projects have a public and/or private investment of more than $15 million, or if they’re seeking a tax break from the city of at least $300,000.
Proposal B was put forth by Detroit City Councilman Scott Benson. It would require developers to provide community benefits for projects worth at least $75 million or tax breaks of at least $1 million.
Proposal A would bar the council and other city officials from having any direct involvement in choosing community representatives for the neighborhood advisory groups, and residents would be allowed to pursue legal action if deals aren’t upheld.
Among opponents of Proposal A is Mike Jackson, executive secretary treasurer for the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights. He’s backing Proposal B.
Jackson told us his main concern is that Proposal A would discourage development in areas that so desperately need it.
“There’s always a balance between community benefits and then exactly how much you ask for before the developer decides to move somewhere else,” he said.
“If you put something in place that actually stops the development, there is no community benefit.”
Listen to our conversation above for more.
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