Michigan Radio: Sarah Hulett

Can Detroit Be Saved?

Michigan Radio: Sarah Hulett — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 11:02:00 +0000

Detroit is broke. On Friday, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder announced the state will take over the city's finances.

"It is time to say, we need to start moving upward with the city of Detroit," he said.

But the question on many people's minds is whether state intervention will be enough — and whether the more ominous and painful scenario of municipal bankruptcy can be avoided.

Adding Up The Debt

Just how far gone is Detroit?

An Urban Tree Farm Grows In Detroit

Michigan Radio: Sarah Hulett — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 21:45:00 +0000

An entrepreneur says he's got a plan to curb urban blight in parts of Detroit. He's buying up acre after acre of abandoned lots and planting thousands of trees. But where backers of the plan see a visionary proposal, critics see a land grab.

Entrepreneur and Detroiter John Hantz, owner of Hantz Farms and the tree-planting effort called Hantz Woodlands, wants to plant at least 15,000 trees on about 140 acres.

Racial, Regional Divide Still Haunt Detroit's Progress

Michigan Radio: Sarah Hulett — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 21:56:00 +0000

For many years — perhaps even decades — Detroit has been the poster child for economic malaise.

Students Say They've Been Denied The Right To Read

Michigan Radio: Sarah Hulett — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 23:18:00 +0000

Eight Detroit-area public school students returning to classes this week are plaintiffs against a school system they say has failed them.

Their families and the American Civil Liberties Union say that the Highland Park school system has denied the students the right to learn to read, and that the state has a responsibility to fix that.

Michelle Johnson has five children in Highland Park schools.

Michigan Town Grapples With Shrinking Public Sector

Michigan Radio: Sarah Hulett — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:47:00 +0000

Tammi Warren has lived on the same winding street in the Detroit suburb of Inkster, Mich., all her life. But as she drives down the block in her Ford pickup, Warren points to several houses on her street that stand vacant, casualties of the housing market collapse.

Vacant houses mean less tax revenue for the city, and less revenue makes it harder for Inkster to provide basic city services.

"[The] city of Inkster has eliminated 38 positions," says City Treasurer Mark Stuhldreher.