As a research lead for U-M’s Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS), Elisabeth Gerber assesses Detroit residents’ views on crime, policing, transportation, local government and more. Thus far three waves of surveys have been used to publish seven thematic reports available at umdetroitsurvey.org, including “Detroiters’ Trust in and Priorities for Local Government.”
Overview: Amidst breakneck changes in the population and economy of Detroit, most Detroiters would like to see improvements in the quality of public education and their sense of public safety. Furthermore, Detroiters want greater investments in child care, health insurance, and an increased minimum wage and are broadly distrustful of state government’s ability to deliver on a range of issues.