Detroiters have lived for decades with the fumes of industry and the silence of government. At every level — city, county, state, and federal — officials hold specific legal powers to monitor, limit, and enforce against pollution. Yet those powers are often left unused, leaving Black and working-class neighborhoods to bear the cost in their lungs, soil, and water.
The Power Over Pollution series breaks down who actually has the authority to act — and what residents can demand of them.
Each level of government has a role:
- Detroit City Government controls zoning, business permits, and nuisance enforcement within city limits.
- Wayne County manages public health departments, road maintenance, and truck routing that affect neighborhood air quality.
- The Michigan Legislature writes the laws that define how agencies operate, fund inspectors and monitors, and can tighten or loosen environmental standards statewide.
- The Michigan Governor appoints the leaders of EGLE and MDHHS, sets the state budget for enforcement, and can issue executive orders or emergencies that strengthen—or weaken—environmental protection.
- Congress and the Federal Government fund, direct, and enforce the Clean Air and Water Acts through the EPA and the Department of Justice.
Understanding this chain of responsibility is essential. If pollution continues, it’s not because Detroit lacks power — it’s because those in power haven’t used it.
This series is both a civic guide and a call to action: a way for residents to see where decisions are made, how accountability flows, and what demands can turn authority into protection.