Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is pledging to take a significant bite out of the blight he says has come to define the city. Duggan made the vow during his annual State of the City address Tuesday.
Since 2014 Duggan has moved aggressively to demolish blighted and abandoned buildings in Detroit.
The federally-funded effort became embroiled in investigations over allegations including that some contractors had received preferential treatment, and that contaminated dirt had been used at some sites.
Duggan has said mistakes were made by trying to speed the demolition process.
But he says safeguards are now in place, and adds that Detroiters cannot afford a go-slow approach to erasing blight.
“Last year I stood here and told you by the end of 2019 we would get every house demolished, boarded, or occupied. We are on track to do that. By the end of the year there will be no more open and vacant houses in this city.”
Duggan also says the city needs to help train Detroiter for jobs he says are readily available for those who have the required trade skills.