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Jessie

@jeschwalb.bsky.social
11 followers 13 following 108 posts

she/her | Detroit Documenter, gladly living under a rock

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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The next DTC Board meeting is scheduled for Oct 22, same place and same time 🫡
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
‼️IMPORTANT‼️ If you believe anything in this coverage is inaccurate, email documenters@outliermedia.org with 'Correction Request' in the subject line.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
That’s all for now! The DTC Board of Directors meeting ended at 4:46PM. For more information, check out detroit.documenters.org.
detroit.documenters.org
Documenters.org: Making Local Government More Accountable
All the info you need on public meetings in your town, in one easy-to-search place. Get TRAINED and PAID to hold your local government accountable. Powered by City Bureau.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
John Paul Rea, who serves on the SMART board of directors, said that he might transition off of the DTC board soon.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
One commenter online asked whether DTC had picked a location for potential expansion. "Short answer is no," Cramer said. In theory, the next phase could start considering engineering feasibility.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Howard encouraged Jack to keep advocating, but she's concerned about shoring up the existing DPM system.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Jack is asking what transit advocates could ask for in the Ren Cen process. Cramer said that they're not looking to "tip the scales."
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Cramer said that the DTC got some state funding to explore more ideas for expanding the DPM, but they're still early in the process. DDOT, DTC, and SMART are all watching what happens with the Ren Cen.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Jack, a Southwest resident and transit advocate, said that he works with a group that has been considering how they could get transit concessions as part of the controvercial Renaissance Center community benefits project. outliermedia.org/newsletter/r...
outliermedia.org
✋ Rushing the RenCen?
Inaugural community meeting about the RenCen’s redevelopment had many spirited public comments. Plus, a map of Flock cameras near you.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Now for the best part of the meeting (drumroll please…🥁) PUBLIC COMMENT! Each person has up to 5 minutes to speak and is asked to state their name and where they live. If you want to share your thoughts but don’t want to talk in front of people, you can email: webmaster@thepeoplemover.com.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
A transit sergeant is telling the board that the Detroit Transit Police recently arrested a narcotics dealer carrying 2 packs of fentanyl and 20 rocks of crack.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The motion passed. The board checked off all action items, and Council President James Tate is leaving early for another meeting.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The DTC decided to put out a call to find a business for plumbing services. The DTC staff is recommending a three-year agreement with a new contractor called Rolls Mechanical, based in Fenton.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The board approved renewing insurance from Goss LLC: a commercial insurance agency.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
John Naglick, director of the Detroit finance department, asked whether the DTC has property insurance. Foster explained that the property insurance is renewed on a different schedule.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Karen Foster, director of finance at the DTC, is asking the board to approve a little more than $1 million in different types of insurance coverage.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The motion passed, so the DTC will move foward with the project.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Here's a fun video from the Pittsburgh transit system explaining why transit systems grind rails www.facebook.com/watch/?v=127...
facebook.com
8.7K views · 102 reactions | 👀WATCH: Wondering what the rail grinding process entails and why we do it? We caught up with PRT Project Engineer, Jordan Loya to find out. Work will transition to overnight hours (9 p.m. to 4 a.m.) on the Silver Line from Hillcrest Station to Library Station March 1 through March 14. Visit www.ridePRT.org/railgrinding for more details on where and when this work will happen. | Pittsburgh Regional Transit
👀WATCH: Wondering what the rail grinding process entails and why we do it? We caught up with PRT Project Engineer, Jordan Loya to find out. Work will transition to overnight hours (9 p.m. to 4...
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
In May 2025, the DTC Board continued a rail replacement project scheduled to end in May 2026 static1.squarespace.com/static/65fca...
static1.squarespace.com
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Latham said they usually grind the rails appoximately every three years, but they moved up the schedule to create a better riding experience as new hotels open downtown. www.wxyz.com/news/4-plann...
wxyz.com
4 planned hotels in Downtown Detroit will add 1,600+ hotel rooms in the coming years
Groups throughout Detroit have been working to add more hotel rooms in the city for years, and those plans are coming to fruition with four planned hotel rooms.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Latham told the board that the DPM rails make some "high frequency" noises that grind on peoples' ears. The DTC plans to test the noise after the maintenance to see if they can lower the frequencies.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Robert Cramer, Board Chairperson and Executive Director of Transit at DDOT, asked whether the work will finish before the auto show. Latham said they're aiming to grind the rails in late November and into December, which would avoid the January 14-24 event detroitautoshow.com
detroitautoshow.com
Home - Detroit Auto Show
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The board is considering whether to grind about 3/4 of the track. Ernest Latham Jr., DTC Deputy General Manager, told the board that grinding the track keeps the rails healthy, extends their life, and quiets the train.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Howard was the Detroit Deputy Mayor under Former Mayor Mike Duggan and started on Jan 1, 2026 www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/340...
deadlinedetroit.com
Duggan's Deputy Mayor Will Head Up the Detroit People Mover
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The board unanimously approved a resolution to let the DTC General Manager Melia Howard enter the DTC into projects with the Michigan Department of Transportation.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The board members approved the minutes from the August meeting. I don't believe we had a Documenter at last meeting, so the minutes will be the official record.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
It’s 4:03, and the meeting has officially started. They have quorum.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The Board of Directors includes representatives from DDOT, city officials, City Council President James Tate, and a representative from Monroe County www.thepeoplemover.com/dtc-board-me...
thepeoplemover.com
DTC Board Meetings — Detroit People Mover
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
DTC is not technically part of the Detroit government. As a bit of history, the DPM was built as part of federal grant and started under SMART, but the DTC was established to finish and own the project www.thepeoplemover.com/about
thepeoplemover.com
About — Detroit People Mover
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The DTC is also home to the Detroit Transit Police, who got a 2% wage bump at the DTC Board of Director’s July meeting www.documenters.org/documents/de...
documenters.org
Documenters.org: Making Local Government More Accountable
All the info you need on public meetings in your town, in one easy-to-search place. Get TRAINED and PAID to hold your local government accountable. Powered by City Bureau.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
But I shouldn’t dunk on the People Mover too much. On an average day from July 2025-June 2026, 2,900 people rode the DPM www.documenters.org/documents/de...
documenters.org
Documenters.org: Making Local Government More Accountable
All the info you need on public meetings in your town, in one easy-to-search place. Get TRAINED and PAID to hold your local government accountable. Powered by City Bureau.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The DTC, not to be confused with the Detroit Department of Transportation, owns and operates the Detroit People Mover (DTM): a one-way, 2.9 mi loop around downtown. In my opinion, the title of this video really says it all: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBl5...
youtube.com
Detroit Is Losing Money On The 'People Mover' Train That No One Ever Rides
YouTube video by Business Insider
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Take a peek at today’s agenda:
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Find out how to join the meeting online (or book it to the Guardian Building!) www.thepeoplemover.com/dtc-board-me...
thepeoplemover.com
DTC Board Meetings — Detroit People Mover
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Check out our media partners 👀 @bridgedet313.bsky.social @chalkbeat.org @freep.com @michiganpublic.bsky.social @outliermedia.org @planetdetroit.org @wdet.bsky.social @wxyzdetroit.bsky.social
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Ride along while I report on Detroit Transportation Corporation (DTC) Board of Directors’ 4PM meeting for @detdocumenters.bsky.social #DetDocumenters.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
bsky.app/profile/jesc...
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
That representative is Wayne County Community Development Director Betsy Palazzola - just caught her name!
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
That's all folks! The Wayne County Commission meeting ended at 11:40am. For more information, check out detroit.documenters.org.
detroit.documenters.org
Documenters.org: Making Local Government More Accountable
All the info you need on public meetings in your town, in one easy-to-search place. Get TRAINED and PAID to hold your local government accountable. Powered by City Bureau.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
A representative from SMART thanked the commissioners for supporting a tax passed by voters in August that expanded public transit across the county www.bridgedetroit.com/smart-celebr...
bridgedetroit.com
Wayne county voters approve millage for expanded public transit
The millage renews public transportation for communities already in the SMART system and loops in 17 others that had previously opted out of the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation...
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Local artist and filmaker Anthony Brogdon is highlighting his new film, The Great Detroit thegreatdetroit.com
thegreatdetroit.com
The Great Detroit
Documentary and Coloring Book
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Time for public comments! Now's your shot, join the meeting here: www.waynecountymi.gov/Government/E...
waynecountymi.gov
Wayne County Commission - September 3, 2026
Truth in Budget Hearing.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Baker McCormick is asking the Commissioners to honor Gloria Steinem, "who helped transform the national conversation about women's equality." Steinem died yesterday at 92. www.npr.org/2026/09/03/n...
npr.org
Gloria Steinem, trailblazing journalist and activist, dies at 92
At a time when women were largely limited to domestic roles, Steinem challenged gender stereotypes and championed feminist ideals like equality, sisterhood and reproductive freedom.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The other commissioners did not support Baker McCormick's request.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Reading between the lines, it seems that the county's legal office decided a civic youth council Baker McCormick's office had operated for a year violated these new limits. Baker McCormick believes that an independent lawyer should review how the new limits should impact the council.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
On August 20, the commission passed limits on how commissioners can interact with youth. www.documenters.org/documents/no...
documenters.org
Documenters.org: Making Local Government More Accountable
All the info you need on public meetings in your town, in one easy-to-search place. Get TRAINED and PAID to hold your local government accountable. Powered by City Bureau.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Commissioner Baker McCormick is asking the commission to approve independent outside council. She's concerned about removing youth programming, particularly in her district.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the project.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Commissioner Sam Baydoun said that he understands some other commissioners' apprehension but will support the project. The county must use the funding soon so that it doesn't return to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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Jessie @jeschwalb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The commission is still discussing the project. Wayne County Community Development Director Betsy Palazzola told the commission that this is a new process for the county, and there is a steep learning curve.
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