I support the reduction in lanes on Nine Mile from five lanes to three lanes. I also support a roundabout at Nine Mile and Kelly. Here's why.

1. Let's make Nine Mile ours. Right now our community has no area that would be generally considered a downtown. We have a Downtown Development Authority (DDA), and the group is and has been working hard to make Nine Mile and Gratiot this area. Just recently, the City Council approved a large DDA project that will make a community space behind the library. This is one trait of a downtown, and that will certainly help us get on our way. Another trait is walkability. Reducing lanes on Nine Mile will make it feel safer (important for people to want to walk Nine Mile) and will actually be safer. We can make Nine & Gratiot to Nine & Kelly our community's downtown.

2. Safety. A smaller, slower street is safer. And for the next two items to succeed, we need a safe road. Most people will not want to walk an area that feels unsafe, and a lot of small businesses will not want to open up shop in an area that does not feel safe.

3. Walkability. People will visit areas that are welcoming and walkable. Humans like to be social, and it's easier to be social when you can walk around comfortably. Let's improve the sidewalks, add trees and greenspace, create more areas to cross the street, remove unnecessary driveways, and install some public art!

4. Economic Development. We have some vacant properties along Nine Mile. Creating positive change on Nine Mile from Gratiot to Kelly will attract business, filling our vacant storefronts. Also, our existing businesses will better thrive when there are no vacancies, and have more customers that visit more frequently.

Planning experts have shown in study after study that changes like this will create results as described. Instead of being afraid of change, let's be bold and make positive change in Eastpointe!

Interested in a rain barrel? Want to help the community with the amount of water through our sewage system? Unfortunately, in three-fourths of the City, rain water runs through the storm sewers and mixes with our sanitary sewers to be processed. When there is a large rain event, we can have too much sewage to process and have a combined sewer overflow (CSO) into Lake St. Clair. We release treated sewage into the lake to prevent mass basement flooding. Rain barrels can help reduce the amount of gallons in a CSO. Working with our Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller, we will be supplied 200 rain barrels as a community. Our Department of Public Works will help with distribution.

• Application: https://www.cityofeastpointe.net/community/rain_barrel_pilot_program.php
• News article: https://www.macombdaily.com/2024/10/07/free-rain-barrel-program-expanded-to-eastpointe/

Ever since the City switched (mostly) from conrete fixes instead of asphalt for side streets, I think we have made great progress on fixing the damn roads. And I mean fixing the roads in the LONG TERM. Ashpalt provides a quick fix, but for the City Council to be back at it again 15 years later when the road starts falling apart and needs a full fix again. With concrete we can fix a little at a time for a smaller amount of money, and the materal lasts much longer.

Have you always wanted a tree in front of your house? The boulevard is a perfect place for one, and the City has put together a set of nine trees that work best depending on the amount of space available. John Kraus, a fellow of the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan working for the City of Eastpointe, interviewed with the Macomb Daily, and is hitting the ground running to get trees planted.

We planted 54 trees this past fall, and are looking to plant at least 50 more this upcoming spring! Help us make it happen! If you're interested, contact myself or John Kraus at 586-601-4122 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..