Would proposed community benefits ordinance give voice to Detroit residents, or slow development?

A petition drive to get a proposed Detroit city ordinance on the ballot has hit opposition. The ordinance would require that new, large developments that use public money or land return some benefits to the local community. Benefits could include things such as employment preference for neighborhood residents, or health and safety measures.

Mike Jackson of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights says they’re not against community benefits, but they are against this particular ordinance. According to Jackson, this ordinance is too vague.

Rashida Tlaib, a former state representative, is one of the leaders of the campaign to get this community benefits ordinance. She believes there needs to be a legally binding agreement when a project is more than $15 million and where developers get more than $300,000 in public subsidies.

Jackson and Tlaib joined us to talk about the ordinance.