Joel Haashiim
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Age: 75 • Lives in: Northwest Detroit
Joel Haashiim is an entrepreneur and wholesaler who graduated from Thomas M. Cooley High School. He grew up on the city’s eastside.
Haashiim is running on a platform of ordering a forensic audit of city finances and budget, creating a “true” policy for community benefits agreements and restoring citizens’ district councils.
Notable responses
ON: Property speculation
Haashiim said he would push for tax changes such as the land value tax to disincentivize speculation.
“Give purchasers a land use agreement with time frames ... to develop the property purchase. If the land is not developed within the time frame, then the city will foreclose on the property,” he wrote in response to Outlier Media’s candidate questionnaire.
ON: Electricity affordability
Haashiim wants to explore publicly owned renewable energy initiatives to reduce the cost of electricity. “Detroit must expand its lighting department and use alternative sources of power, such as a solar tax credit, to compete with DTE,” Haashiim wrote.
ON: Water affordability
“Having water is a right, not an option!” Haashiim wrote. “Residents should only pay for sewage.”
Favorite song with a Detroit connection
About the candidates
Detroit voter info
The primary election is Aug. 5. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early in-person voting begins July 26.
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