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What are Community Benefits Agreements?
Over the past three years, community benefits coalitions have requested and come to rely upon Sugar Laws assistance in their quest to advance effective and equitable economic development development that will create good jobs and ensure healthy and safe living environments for historically marginalized communities. The Sugar Law Centers role within Michigans community benefits movement has been twofold: 1) providing technical, legal and organizational support to coalitions engaged in community benefits campaigns, and 2) providing technical, legal and organizational support to a standing alliance of organizations that seeks to act as an ongoing resource for community groups. http://sugarlaw.org

We are District 6

Community Benefits Agreements

Detroit Trolley

A community benefits agreement (CBA) is an agreement between a governmental office, the developer, labor unions and/or a community coalition that helps to benefit a community that will be impacted by that development. It is legally binding and enforceable by the government or third party. Its a different way of operating because it opens up communication with developers, government and community before the project begins. It asks: how will a project impact the community negatively, how can community benefit from the project, and how can community support the project? A good community benefits agreement will look at all aspects including: 1. Impact on land, land purchase, and zoning decisions: will there be a change in zoning, or land sale and how will that affect residents quality of life? Will parks or public space be sacrificed? 2. Housing and a fair price and protections in raises or decreases in value: will the project force people to move through eminent domain or another avenue? Will they be bought out at a good price? If the project is projected to raise the cost, how will people afford the new tax hike or higher rent? 3. Air, water, and other environmental changes: will there be an increase in pollution, waste, or traffic? How can residents be protected from higher hospital bills due to health impacts like asthma or heart disease from added pollution? 4. Jobs, job training, and job placement: who will get the jobs from the new project? Will there be positions for local residents? Will the jobs have good wages and benefits for those working? Will it include minority businesses? These types of questions are just the beginning to a conversation that helps to increase investment and accountability for a better type of development. CBAs have been successful all over the country to help transform communities into more equitable economies. For more information see: http://www.forworkingfamilies.org/

Development Projects in District 6 Finding new ways to do business in Detroit Does your candidate support CBAs?
New development projects are bringing millions and even billions of dollars to Detroit District 6. But how will this investment help to improve the quality of life of Detroit residents? Will your city candidate vote for a legally binding agreement for jobs and a better living environment as a city council member? ASK: Will you vote yes to CBAs for Detroit? ACT: Join the struggle! Get involved.

Community Benefits for the

New International Trade Crossing
The New International Trade Crossing (NITC) formerly known as the Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) was cleared for construction in 2013 by Canada and the US. Canada will cover Michigan construction costs, and receive the monies through the tolls on the bridge for a period of 40 years. The bridges total estimated cost is over $2 billion. The NITC will cross over the DelRay Neighborhood, whose residents have been fighting for a community benefits agreement for years. The project will have several impacts on the local neighborhood including increased truck traffic and associated hot spot pollution; increase in noise and vibrations; land sales and possible transfer through eminent domain; and displacement of churches and other community centers. Canada will be contracting with construction firms for bidding and has placed preferences to those contractors who include community benefits, but without any definition of what that means.
Contact Simone Sagovac with the Delray Community Benefits Coalition: simonesagovac@gmail.com

Community Benefits for the M1 Streetcar

The M1 Rail is a 3.3 mile trolley that will service Downtown and Midtown residents, going to speeds of 11 mph. The project is estimated to cost $140 million, $25 million of which is public dollars provided through the FTA Tiger Grant. Currently residents of the North End are asking for community benefits for the Woodward M1 Rail through the Northend Woodward Community Coalition (NEWCC). Right now, of the 11 stops, there are no stops planned for Detroit residents above the Grand Boulevard. They argue the project will not alleviate the problems of those who depend on public transportation to get to jobs, hospitals or shopping centers. Proponents argue that the rail will create $4 to $8 in new economic development activity in that corridor for every $1 spent on the line. Although there are no stops in the North End, the trolley will pass the Boulevard north to the location of the Vehicle Storage and Maintenance Facility, where there are plans for hazardous waste and noise and disruption in the Historic North End.
Connect with the NEWCC:

Community Benefits for the new Red Wings Stadium?

In July, despite Detroits filing for bankruptcy, Governor Snyder announced up to $450 million in public bonds for the construction of a new Red Wings Stadium, and another $200 million more for a 45-block area between Midtown and Downtown. The construction is supposed to create over 4000 jobs. Yet the total return on investment is argued, because we already have a Red Wings stadium. How else will Detroit be impacted by the development? And how will Detroiters benefit from it?

http://www.northendwoodward.org/

Sources: NEWCC, Peoples Platform, MLive, http://www.mlive.com/business/detroit/index.ssf/2013/08/subcontractors_begin_vying_for.html , Crains Business Detroit, http:// www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20130804/NEWS/308049978/m1 -rail-wings-arena-move-ahead-in-midtown#; Detroit Free Press, the DelRay Community Benefits Coalition, http://

www.freep.com/article/20130412/BUSINESS06/304120188/bridge -Detroit-River-Gov-Rick-Snyder-Moroun ;