50 min

The Amazon Deal: a Critical Look Riverwise Podcast

    • News Commentary

Episode Notes
Sugar Law Center Attorney Tonya Myers-Phillips,
State Fairgrounds Development Coalition members, Frank and Karen Hammer

In this tenth episode of the Riverwise Podcast, we hear from three Detroiters fighting for public involvement as the Mayor looks to fast-track the sale of Detroit's State Fairgrounds property to one of the world's richest corporations.

What does the Amazon deal offer besides unskilled jobs— jobs that aren't even promised to Detroiters? What broader economic and social opportunities do we miss out on when we continue to talk only in terms of the 'job system'? What about the environmental impact for thousands of Eastsiders? Should the Detroit City Council have insisted on more from Amazon in terms of community benefits?

Frank and Karen Hammer from the State Fairgrounds Development Coalition, which conceived the community-driven METAExpo plan, and Sugar Law Center attorney Tonya Myers-Phillips divulge how Mayor Duggan is avoiding the truth about Amazon job creation and bypassing Detroit's recently established Community Benefits Ordinance (CBO).

The Riverwise Podcast is bringing together Detroit citizens to consider new and forms of resistance to continuing economic and political marginalization in communities of color. For over three years now, the Riverwise collective has created media that depicts local activism and the profound new work being done in Detroit neighborhoods. Through the quarterly Riverwise magazine, Riverwise community conversations, and the Riverwise Writing Workshop, we're developing our collective voice.

Episode Notes
Sugar Law Center Attorney Tonya Myers-Phillips,
State Fairgrounds Development Coalition members, Frank and Karen Hammer

In this tenth episode of the Riverwise Podcast, we hear from three Detroiters fighting for public involvement as the Mayor looks to fast-track the sale of Detroit's State Fairgrounds property to one of the world's richest corporations.

What does the Amazon deal offer besides unskilled jobs— jobs that aren't even promised to Detroiters? What broader economic and social opportunities do we miss out on when we continue to talk only in terms of the 'job system'? What about the environmental impact for thousands of Eastsiders? Should the Detroit City Council have insisted on more from Amazon in terms of community benefits?

Frank and Karen Hammer from the State Fairgrounds Development Coalition, which conceived the community-driven METAExpo plan, and Sugar Law Center attorney Tonya Myers-Phillips divulge how Mayor Duggan is avoiding the truth about Amazon job creation and bypassing Detroit's recently established Community Benefits Ordinance (CBO).

The Riverwise Podcast is bringing together Detroit citizens to consider new and forms of resistance to continuing economic and political marginalization in communities of color. For over three years now, the Riverwise collective has created media that depicts local activism and the profound new work being done in Detroit neighborhoods. Through the quarterly Riverwise magazine, Riverwise community conversations, and the Riverwise Writing Workshop, we're developing our collective voice.

50 min