THE SCHOOL THIS YEAR, WILL IT BE
GRADED ON A CURVE?
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN
DETROIT.
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2020.
I’M
THIS IS FLASH POINT.
YEAR ONE OF THE STRANGE SCHOOL
YEAR IS COMPLETE AND THOUSANDS
WILL BE GOING BACK ON TUESDAY.
THE COVID-19 FORCED PARENTS TO
MAKE SOME TOUGH CHOICES, WHETHER
TO LEARN FROM HOME, FACE-TO-FACE
OR COMBINATION OF BOTH.
EVERY CHOICE HAS DRAWBACKS AND
CHALLENGES ALREADY AND WE’RE
JUST GETTING STARTED.
WE’LL TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF
THE SCHOOL YEAR SO FAR, IF YOU
WORKED IN AN OFFICE BUILDING
DOWNTOWN, CHANCES ARE UYOUR
COMMUTE IS CANCELED BECAUSE OF
COVID SO WHAT DOES WORKING AT
HOME MEAN FOR THE COMMERCIAL
REAL ESTATE MARKET?
AND PROGRESS ON SOME OF THOSE
HIGH PROFILE PROJECTS THAT ARE
GOING UP IN DETROIT.
WE’LL TALK ABOUT WHAT’S ON PAUSE
AND WHO IS MOVING AHEAD WITH THE
CEO OF THE ECONOMIC DETROIT
GROWTH CORPORATION.
THIS THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR
MICHIGAN’S EASTERN DISTRICT
BROUGHT FRAUD CHARGES AGAINST A
MAN ACCUSED OF SCAMMING TO GET
COVID RELIEF MEANT TO SAVE SMALL
BUSINESSES.
WE’LL TALK TO U.S. ATTORNEY
MATTHEW SCHNEIDER ABOUT THAT
CASE, PLUS, FEDERAL AGENTS IN
DETROIT AS PART OF OPERATION
LEGEND.
IT’S A BUSY LABOR DAY WEEKEND
EDITION AHEAD ON FLASH POINT.
EDITION AHEAD ON FLASH POINT.
♪
♪
>>  U.S. ATTORNEY MATTHEW
SCHNEIDER ALWAYS HAS A LOT ON
HIS PLATE AND WE’RE ALWAYS GLAD
TO HAVE HIM ON FLASH POINT TO
TALK ABOUT THAT AND HE’S BACK
AGAIN THIS SUNDAY MORNING.
GREAT TO SEE YOU.
LET’S JUMP RIGHT INTO OPERATION
LEGEND AND THE FEDERAL AGENTS
BEING IN DETROIT HAS BEEN A
CONTROVERSIAL THING RIGHT FROM
THE START, BUT LET’S BACK UP AND
JUST, HOW MANY CAME TO DETROIT
AND WHAT IS ACTUALLY THEIR ROLE
HERE?
>> SO, IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW
WHAT OPERATION LEGEND IS AND
ALSO, WHAT IT’S NOT.
SO OPERATION LEGEND IS DESIGNED
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO BRING
ADDITIONAL FEDERAL RESOURCES AND
AGENTS TO HELP CITIES THAT ARE
AFFLICTED BY THE INCREASE IN
VIOLENT CRIME.
THAT’S ALL THAT IT IS AND WE
HAVE SEEN GREAT PROGRESS IN THE
CITY OF DETROIT, RIGHT FROM THE
START WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE BODY
ARMOR AND COCAINE AND HEROIN AND
ASSAULT RIFLE AND HIGH CAPACITY
MAGAZINES OUT OF THE HANDS OF
ARMED DRUG DEALERS AND ABLE TO
GET THEM OFF THE STREETS AND
ABLE TO GET THE FOLKS WHO ARE
TRIGGER PULLERS, MURDERERS,
LITERALLY, WE HAVE HOMICIDE
CASES WE PICKED UP AND WORKING
WITH THE PARTNERS IN THE DETROIT
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ABLE TO
WORK ON THOSE CASES.
NOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT’S NOT, OF
COURSE, IT’S NOT INTERFERING IN
ANYBODY’S RIGHT TO PROTEST.
THIS IS OUR WAY OF TRYING TO
HELP THE COMMUNITY.
IT’S TRYING TO HELP KEEP OUR
STREETS SAFER.
IT’S TRYING TO HELP OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND MAKING SURE
THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT
THERE ON THE STREETS, WHO ARE
LITERALLY MURDERING PEOPLE EACH
AND EVERY DAY, TRYING TO ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, GET THOSE PEOPLE
INTO A PLACE WHERE THE VICTIMS
CAN ACHIEVE JUSTICE.
>> I KNOW DETROIT POLICE
ORIGINALLY WHEN THIS WAS RAISED
BY PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, KIND
OF SCOFFED AT THE IDEA WE DON’T
NEED HELP.
BUT THEN I BELIEVE THE POLICE
CHIEF CAME AROUND ON IT HOW
YOU’RE FRAMING THIS.
GIVEN SUCCESS IT SOUNDS LIKE
YOU’RE HAVING WITH THEM, WOULD
THESE AGENTS POSSIBLY BECOME
PERMANENT AND COULD THEY EVER
ASSIST DETROIT POLICE IF THEY
HAD TROUBLE ON THE STREETS WITH
CRIME?
>> WELL, THEY’RE ASSISTING THE
DETROIT POLICE RIGHT NOW.
THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT’S GOING ON.
THE DEA, A.T.F. AND FBI THEY’RE
WORKING WITH DETROIT POLICE AND
I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THEY’RE
PERMANENT AND I KNOW THAT SOME
OF THEM WILL BE PERMANENT.
BECAUSE WE NEED THIS HELP IN
DETROIT.
AND LOOK, AT THE BEGINNING, I
THINK PEOPLE SAID, WELL, WHAT IS
THIS ALL ABOUT?
THIS IS JUST THE PRESIDENT
COMING AND INTERFERING, THIS IS
NO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT BARACK
OBAMA DID, WHAT PRESIDENT OBAMA
AND ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER
WHEN THEY WERE IN OFFICE, THEY
MADE SURE THAT PEOPLE IN DETROIT
MADE SURE THAT PEOPLE IN DETROIT
AND THE FBI, DE ACHLTA, AND A.T.
WORKED WITH THE DETROIT POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THERE’S A NEED AND DOING IT MORE
RESIZELY AND TAKING MORE MONEY
INTO DETROIT.
WE’RE SENDING MORE MONEY, AND
THEREFORE, LAW ENFORCEMENT,
WE’RE IN FACT PAYING THE
SALARIES OF 15 DETROIT POLICE
OFFICERS.
WE’RE GIVING GRANTS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE CAN
HAVE SHOT SPOTTER TECHNOLOGY TO
FIND OUT WHERE THE GUNSHOTS ARE
COMING FROM AND ENHANCING WHAT
WAS DONE IN THE PAST.
>> JASON: AND LET ME JUMP INTO
THE SPECIFIC CASES TO HELP WITH.
AND SOMETHING THAT BROKE THIS
WEEK.
A MAN WHO IS FACING CHARGES FOR
A COVID SCAM AND I BELIEVE IT
WAS MORE THAN $3 MILLION.
CAN YOU BREAK DOWN THE SCAM AND
CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG, THIS IS
NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT YOU’RE
SEEING AND IT FEELS LIKE WE’RE
SEEING SEVERAL OF THESE.
>> WE HAVE, IN FACT.
UNFORTUNATELY WHAT WE HAVE IN A
SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE A
PANDEMIC AND SO, CONGRESS HAS
DECIDED THEY MEAN TO ALLOCATE
MONEY, IN FACT, BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS INTO MICHIGAN TO HELP
SMALL BUSINESSES, TO HELP THE
UNEMPLOYED AND THEY’VE ALLOCATED
THE MONEY TO COME HERE SO PEOPLE
CAN GET SOME RELIEF, BUT ANYTIME
ANYONE FROM THE GOVERNMENT GIVES
OUT MONEY THERE’S GOING TO BE
SOME SCAMMER THERE TRYING TO
STEAL IT AWAY AND THAT’S WHAT’S
HAPPENED.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CASES WHERE
PEOPLE ARE STEALING UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS, WHERE THEY’RE SCAMMING
THE SYSTEM, THEY’RE TAKING AWAY
THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION LOANS
AND THIS POT OF MONEY THAT WE’VE
RECEIVED FROM CONGRESS, IT’S
ONLY SO LARGE.
SO WHEN THAT MONEY RUNS OUT FOR
THE SMALL BUSINESSES, THAT MONEY
IS GONE.
SO, IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY AND
WE’VE SEEN THIS NUMEROUS TIMES,
YOU HAD SOMEBODY STEALING THAT
MONEY AWAY AND DIVERTING IT,
THAT MEANS THAT SOME BUSINESS,
SOME BAKERY, SOME SMALL SHOP IN
YOUR TOWN IS NOT GETTING THE
MONEY AND THAT’S REALLY SAD.
>> AND I KNOW--
MENTS TOO BAD.
>> AND I KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS LIKE YOURSELF WILL SAY
THEY WANT TO REMAIN
PROFESSIONAL, BUT WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT THAT IN THE BUSINESSES
THAT WE’VE SEEN ALREADY GO UNDER
THAT COULDN’T GET THIS MONEY OR
EVEN WENT UNDER AFTER GETTING
THIS MONEY, DO YOU TAKE IT
PERSONALLY WHEN THIS IS THE
NATURE OF THE SCAM?
>> WELL, I DON’T TAKE ANYTHING
PERSONALLY IN MY JOB BECAUSE I’M
NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT AND I
DON’T NEED TO.
HOWEVER, I KNOW THAT I NEED TO
LOOK OUT, NOT JUST FOR ANY
PARTICULAR RESIDENTS, I NEED TO
LOOK OUT FOR ALL SORTS OF
RESIDENTS IN THE STATE OF
MICHIGAN.
BUSINESS OWNERS THE UNEMPLOYED.
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO GET
FOOD ON THE TABLE.
AND I MEAN, IF YOU STEAL
SOMEBODY’S UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
AND THEY CAN’T GET THE BENEFITS,
THEY CAN’T BUY FOOD FOR THEIR
FAMILIES, THEY CAN’T BUY MEAT,
CAN’T BUY BREAD.
THEY CAN’T BUY FOOD.
AND THAT’S WHAT WE’RE UP
AGAINST.
WE’RE UP AGAINST THE PEOPLE WHO
USE THE PANDEMIC, WHO JUST DON’T
CARE.
THEY’RE TRYING TO STEAL MONEY
AWAY, REALLY HARMS PEOPLE WHO
NEED IT THE MOST.
>> JASON: AND SOME OF THOSE
PEOPLE ARE UNION WORKERS.
WE SAW THIS WEEK, DENNIS
WILLIAMS IS THE 15TH PERSON IN
THIS HUGE INVESTIGATION INTO THE
UAW TO BE BROUGHT UP ON CHARGES,
SEVERAL HAVE ALREADY PLEADED
GUILTY.
YOU CALLED IT DISHEARTENING
OVERALL THIS WEEK.
TELL ME WHY.
>> WELL, I THINK IT’S WORSE THAN
THAT BECAUSE THIS ISN’T JUST A
SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE A COUPLE
OF CORRUPT PEOPLE IN THE UNION
OR A COUPLE OF CORRUPT PEOPLE IN
THE COMPANY OR YOU’VE GOT JUST A
FEW OFFICIALS IN THE UNION WHO
ARE CORRUPT.
THIS IS THE SECOND
VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE
INTERNATIONAL UNION NOT THE
FIRST, BUT THE SECOND THAT WE’VE
CHARGED WITH A CRIME.
AND WHAT THEY’RE DOING IS NOT
WORKING.
IF YOUR QUESTION IS, DO WE NEED
REFORMS, I THINK IT’S PRETTY
OBVIOUS.
IT SHOULDN’T HAVE TO TAKE A
SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE UNION TO
BE INDICTED AND TO BE FACING
FEDERAL CHARGES FOR SOMEBODY TO
SAY, THIS CURRENT SYSTEM ISN’T
THE WAY IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE.
>> JASON: YEAH.
>> WE NEED TO TURN THIS UNION
AROUND SO THAT IT SERVES THE MEN
AND WOMEN WHO WORK THERE.
>> JASON: I’VE GOT ABOUT 20
SECONDS.
ANY CHANCE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD
TAKE OVER THE UAW TO GET THAT
REFORM?
>> LOOK, I DON’T WANT TO RUN THE
UNION.
IT’S NOT MY GOAL.
WHAT I WANT IS THE UNION TO RUN
ITSELF.
WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE A UNION
THAT WORKS FOR THE MEMBERS AND
THAT’S NOT CORRUPT.
AND IF THAT MEANS SOME LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, SO BE IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
U.S. ATTORNEY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER,
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND WE
APPRECIATE IT, WE’LL TALK BACK
TO SCHOOL IN A MOMENT.
STAY WITH US.
>>  BY THIS TUESDAY, JUST ABOUT
>>  BY THIS TUESDAY, JUST ABOUT
EVERYONE WILL BE BACK TO SCHOOL
WHETHER THAT MEANS LEAVING THE
HOUSE OR NOT.
EVERY DISTRICT AND FAMILY HAD TO
MAKE TOUGH CHOICES THIS YEAR.
WHAT HAS THE PANDEMIC REVEALED
ABOUT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM?
MY NEXT GUEST IS ERIN EINHORN
AND SHE WRITES ABOUT THE RACIAL
DISPARITIES THAT COME WITH IT.
SHE’S A NATIONAL REPORTER WITH
NBC NEWS AND BEFORE THAT FOUNDER
OF CHALK BEAT DETROIT.
WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT HOW
THE BACK TO SCHOOL JOURNEY IS
GOING SO FAR AND HAS IT EXPOSED
THE RACIAL DISPARITIES MANY
THOUGHT IT WOULD?
>> I MEAN, I’M NOT HEARING A LOT
OF ENTHUSIASM ABOUT HOW GREAT
IT’S GOING, I CAN SAY THAT FOR
SURE.
AND ACTUALLY, MY KIDS WENT BACK
TO SCHOOL VIRTUALLY LAST WEEK
AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM FIRST
PERSON EXPERIENCE IT’S NOT GOING
WELL.
IT’S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE
CHALLENGING.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY.
THERE ARE VERY FEW SCHOOLS, VERY
FEW TEACHERS AND PARENTS WHO
WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS IS, THAT
THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.
THAT WE’RE--
THAT IT’S GOING WELL OR THAT
IT’S SERVING ALL CHILDREN WELL.
YOU ASKED ABOUT RACIAL
DISPARITIES AND ECONOMIC
DISPARITIES, AND FOR SURE THE
KIDS WITH THE FEWEST RESOURCES
ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO
STRUGGLE THE MOST.
>> AS THE SUMMER WENT ON AND WE
WERE BUILDING UP TO THIS AND I
TALKED TO, OR COVERED AT LEAST A
FEW STORIES OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS
HAVING THOSE BATTLES AND IT
REALLY WAS DISHEARTENING TO HEAR
HOW IT WAS PARENTS VERSUS
TEACHERS IN A LOT OF WAYS.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT CAN BE
REMEDIED OR HOW IS THAT
RELATIONSHIP GOING TO, I GUESS,
BE MORE AMPLIFIED AS A LOT OF
KIDS ARE GOING FROM HOME?
>> I MEAN, YOU KNOW, TO SOME
EXTENT IT’S PARENTS VERSUS
TEACHERS.
TO OTHER EXTENT IT’S PARENTS
VERSUS THEMSELVES.
YOU KNOW, IN DISTRICTS THAT HAVE
A CHOICE AND NOT ALL DISTRICTS
DO.
SO, 20, YOU KNOW, IN MICHIGAN, I
THINK IT’S 20, 25% OF DISTRICTS
AREN’T OFFERING AN IN-PERSON
OPTION AT ALL.
SOME DISTRICTS ARE VIRTUAL, YOU
DON’T HAVE A CHOICE.
SOME DISTRICTS, PARTICULARLY UP
NORTH WHERE IN-PERSON IS THE
ONLY OPTION.
THE MAJORITY OF DISTRICTS ARE
GIVING PARENTS A CHOICE, RIGHT?
SOME IS HYBRID, MAYBE TWO DAYS
IN THE CLASSROOM AND THREE DAYS
AT HOME OR CHOOSE BETWEEN FIVE
DAYS IN THE CLASSROOM AND FIVE
AT HOME.
IN A FAMILY YOU MIGHT HAVE ONE
PARENT WHO HAS GOT A PREEXISTING
CONDITION OR GRANT PARENT IN THE
HOME AT HIGH RISK FOR GETTING
THE CORONAVIRUS, BUT AT THE SAME
TIME THE FAMILY MIGHT KNOW THAT
YOU KNOW, THEIR CHILD IS
STRUGGLING TO LEARN TO READ OR
THEIR CHILD HAS SPECIAL NEEDS
AND REALLY NEEDS THAT IN-PERSON
ATTENTION AND ALL KIDS NEED THE
IN-PERSON ATTENTION, NOBODY’S
IN-PERSON ATTENTION, NOBODY’S
GOING TO DISPUTE THAT WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF A FEW KIDS THAT
THRIVE ONLINE.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICES IS
MY CHILD’S EDUCATION WORTH
EXPOSING MY FAMILY TO THAT RISK.
AND WITH TEACHERS, YOU KNOW,
THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE A--
IS MY JOB WORTH EXPOSING ME AND
MY FAMILY TO THE RISK.
IT’S CHOICES THAT WE ALL HAVE TO
GRAPPLE WITH.
UNTIL THE PANDEMIC IS OVER, I
DON’T KNOW THAT SCHOOL WILL BE
WHAT IT SHOULD BE WITHOUT THAT
ANXIETY LEVEL.
>> SURE.
AND AS A PARENT, I WANT TO ASK
WHAT YOUR BIGGEST--
YOU SAID IT’S NOT GOING GREAT
YET FOR YOUR KIDS, BUT WHAT’S
YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
AS A REPORTER, HOW DO YOU SEE
THIS PLAYING OUT AS WE GO
THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR?
>> I MEAN, YOU KNOW, MY BIGGEST
FEAR AS A PARENT, IT WILL BE A
LOST YEAR.
AND I HEAR--
I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF
PARENTS IN DETROIT AND AROUND
THE COUNTRY WHO ARE JUST SAYING,
YOU KNOW, IS MY KID GOING TO
LEARN ANYTHING THIS YEAR?
MY CASE, MY KIDS ARE LITTLE, A
FIRST GRADER AND A THIRD GRADER.
THE FIRST GRADER, WE’VE PUT THE
ZOOM MEETING IN FRONT OF HIM AND
HE CLICKS AND HE’S OUT.
AND THAT’S THE FIRST WEEK,
HOPEFULLY HE’LL COME AROUND AND
THIS IS, NOW, AND MY FAMILY, WE
HAVE--
WE’RE HOME, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE
WORKING FROM HOME AND TWO
PARENTS AND WE HAVE THE WI-FI
AND WE HAVE THE DEVICES, WE HAVE
ALL THE THINGS WE NEED TO MAKE
IT WORK, AND WE’RE STRUGGLING,
RIGHT?
NOW IMAGINE IT’S A SINGLE PARENT
WHO’S GOT A JOB WORKING THE
NIGHT SHIFT OR ISN’T HOME DURING
THE DAY, OR DOESN’T HAVE, YOU
KNOW, THAT DATA CONNECTION OR
DOESN’T HAVE THE DEVICE OR LIKE,
SPOTTY INTERNET, RIGHT?
SO YOU SIGN IN FOR YOUR CLASS
AND IT’S NOT GOING TO CONNECT
AND THEN YOU HAVE TEACHERS,
RIGHT?
A LOT OF TEACHERS ARE ASKED TO
TEACH THEIR CLASS BOTH TO THE
AT-HOME KIDS AND IN THE ROOM
KIDS AND THEY HAVE TO
ESSENTIALLY WRITE THE CURRICULUM
TWICE.
YOU CAN’T JUST STAND IN FRONT OF
A CAMERA AND TEACH THE SAME
CLASS ONLINE, THAT YOU WOULD IN
THE CLASSROOM.
IT’S GOT TO BE DIFFERENT IF
YOU’RE GOING TO DO IT WELL AND
YOU KNOW, SOME DISTRICTS HAVE
INVESTED IN TRAINING THEIR
TEACHERS FOR THIS.
OTHERS DON’T HAVE THE RESOURCES,
OTHERS DIDN’T HAVE TIME.
SOME DISTRICTS WERE PLANNING TO
GO FACE-TO-FACE RIGHT UP UNTIL A
COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHEN THEY
PULLED THE PLUG ON THAT AND IT’S
BEEN REALLY HARD FOR SCHOOLS TO
PLAN WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING, YOU
KNOW, WHAT THINGS WERE GOING TO
HAPPEN.
YOU KNOW, AND EVEN ACTUALLY
DISTRICTS THAT HAVE OPENED, THEY
COULD HAVE AN INFECTION OR THEY
COULD HAVE A POSITIVE TEST NEXT
WEEK AND SUDDENLY BE VIRTUAL.
AND THEN THEY’VE PLANNED FOR
IN-PERSON AND THE TEACHERS WROTE
CURRICULUM FOR IN-PERSON AND NOW
THEY’RE NOT INTERN ANYMORE.
I DON’T THINK THAT ANYBODY HAS
THE ANSWER ON WHAT IT SHOULD
LOOK LIKE BECAUSE HOPING IT WILL
END.
>> JASON: RIGHT, TO THINK OF
KIDS PLAYING AROUND AND NOT
GOING TO ZOOM MEETINGS, BUT
SCARY WHEN THEY NEED THAT.
I’VE GOT 30 SECONDS, LET ME ASK
YOU, THE SCHOOLS OR THE
DISTRICTS INNER PERSON LEARNING
THAT HAVE PUSHED FORWARD.
DO WE REALLY THINK THEY HAVE A
PLAN, IF AN OUTBREAK HAPPENS
THERE?
>> I MEAN, IT’S GOING TO BE
DISTRICT BY DISTRICT.
I KNOW THAT DISTRICTS HAD TO
SUBMIT PLANS TO THE STATE.
OF COURSE, THEY’VE GOT TO HAVE
THE MASK AND THE SCATTERED
SHOWERING AND A PLAN FOR AN
INFECTION, BUT LIKE EVERYTHING,
SOME PEOPLE ARE--
SOME DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO BE
BETTER PREPARED THAN OTHERS, AND
YOU KNOW, SOME HAVE MORE
RESOURCES THAN OTHERS AND THAT’S
JUST HOW OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM
WORKS.
WE’LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
I’M SURE WE’RE GOING TO HEAR
LOTS AND LOTS OF COMPLAINTS,
PROBABLY THE PLACES WHERE IT’S
GOING WELL, WE MAY NOT HEAR AND
THEY MAY NOT MAKE AS MUCH NOISE.
AND SOME WHERE IT’S GOING TO GO
PERFECTLY, BUT, I MEAN, WE
SHOULD BE--
WE SHOULD ALL BRACE OURSELVES.
>> WE’RE DEFINITELY BRACING
OURSELVES AND ROOTING FOR KIDS
FOR SURE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, WE
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
WE’LL DIG INTO WHERE MAJOR
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN DETROIT
STAND RIGHT AFTER THIS.
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>>  THE PANDEMIC PUT
>>  THE PANDEMIC PUT
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ON PAUSE
AND HIT BUSINESSES HARD.
SO, JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT ALL
OF THAT IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO
OF THE DETROIT ECONOMIC GROWTH
CORPORATION, KEVIN JOHNSON, AND
KEVIN, GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
I WANT TO JUMP RIGHT IN WITH A
CONVERSATION I FEEL LIKE I’VE
HAD SEVERAL TIMES.
ALMOST ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
WHICH IS WITH SO MANY COMPANIES
REALIZING THEY CAN SUCCEED WITH
THEIR WORKERS AT HOME, WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF
SKYSCRAPERS IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT
OR THAT OFFICE SPACE IN THOSE
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS?
>> WELL, JASON, THANKS FOR
ALLOWING US TO TALK TODAY AND
I’M EXCITED SHARING WHAT WE’RE
MONITORING EVERY DAY AND THAT’S
JUST THAT QUESTION.
THE FACT OF THE MA EARTH--
MATTER IS, WE DON’T SEE THAT IT
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTS COMMERCIAL
OFFICE SPACE USAGE IN THE
DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR OR ANY OTHER
OFFICE ENVIRONMENT IN THE CITY
OF DETROIT.
WHAT WE ARE REALLY PAYING
ATTENTION TO IT HOW DO THEY
UTILIZE THE SPACE IN A WAY THAT
IS SENSITIVE TO THEIR COVID
ENVIRONMENT THAT WE’RE IN, THAT
IT BUILDS UPON THE NEED FOR
IT BUILDS UPON THE NEED FOR
CONTACT WITH YOUR CO-WORKERS AND
HOW CAN WE BETTER ALIGN, YOU
KNOW, OUR STRUCTURE, WHEN I MEAN
KNOW, OUR STRUCTURE, WHEN I MEAN
OUR STRUCTURE, I MEAN HOW DO WE
TAKE THE ASSETS THAT WE HAVE AND
MAKE SURE THAT THEY’RE PROPPING
UP AND CREATING THIS VIBRANT
DOWNTOWN OFFICE SCENE THAT WE
SAW PRIOR TO COVID, HAD A LOT OF
MOMENTUM.
SO THOSE ARE THE THREE THINGS
WE’RE LOOKING AT AND I THINK
VERY SIGNIFICANTLY, THE WAY IN
WHICH DEVELOPERS AND THOSE WHO
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CON FIGURING
THIS OFFICE SPACE, TO INVITE US
BACK IN, IS GOING TO BE THE
WINNER WHEN IT’S ALL SAID AND
DONE.
>> YEAH, AND WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT THAT, THE FUTURE OF
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE REALLY IS
KIND OF INTRIGUING ON THAT, BUT
I’M KIND OF CATCHING A LITTLE OF
WHAT YOU’RE SAYING THERE, HUMAN
INTERACTION IS NEVER GOING AWAY.
IT’S ALWAYS GOING TO BE INTEGRAL
TO THE BUSINESS MODEL, CORRECT?
>> YOU’RE CORRECT.
THE HUMAN INTERACTION, BODY
LANGUAGE IS A THING.
ALL RIGHT?
HAVING A CONVERSATION
FACE-TO-FACE IS A THING.
GETTING INSTANTANEOUS RESPONSES
IS IMPORTANT.
BEING ABLE TO WALK DOWN FROM ONE
OFFICE TO THE OTHER, ONE CUBICAL
TO THE NEXT TO GET AN OPINION IS
VERY IMPORTANT AND YOU CAN’T
SCHEDULE EVERYTHING.
SOME THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN IN A
SPONTANEOUS FASHION AND FOR
SPONTANEOUS FASHION AND FOR
THAT, I THINK THAT THAT’S HUMAN
CONTACT AND INTERACTION IS GOING
TO BE THE REASON WHY OFFICE
SPACES ARE GOING TO LIVE AND
THRIVE WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
>> BEFORE I LET YOU GO, I
DEFINITELY WANT TO GET YOUR
TAKE, AT LEAST AN UPDATE THE WAY
YOU SEE IT ON SOME OF THE
PROJECTS THAT WERE CAUGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC ON PAUSE
AND GOING FORWARD.
THE OLD TRAIN STATION AND FORD’S
CENTRAL STATION AND THE HUDSON’S
SKYSCRAPER IS IN THE MIDDLE OF
CONSTRUCTION, WE HAVE DISTRICT
CONSTRUCTION, WE HAVE DISTRICT
DETROIT, NEXT TO OUR STUDIOS, WE
HAVE THE CAMBRIA HOTEL AND THEN
OF COURSE THE EASTERN MARKET
EXPANSION.
HOW DO YOU SEE ALL OF THOSE
MOVING FORWARD?
MOVING FORWARD?
>> WELL, WE SEE THEM GOING TO
COMPLETION.
THERE HASN’T ABOUTEN ANY
INDICATION FROM THE DEVELOPERS
OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT YOU
MENTIONED, AND OTHERS, THAT HAVE
SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE’RE
GOING TO SUSPEND ALL OF THAT
WORK, WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A STEP
BACK.
WHAT I THINK IS HAPPENING,
JASON, I THINK THEY’RE SAYING,
WELL, IF THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENT
THAT WE’RE WORKING IN NOW, HOW
DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE SPACE
DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE SPACE
THAT WE’RE CREATING IS AS
CONFIGURED IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS
FOR US TO BRING OUR TEAMS BACK
INTO THIS SPACE THAT WE’RE
CREATING, AND DOES IT WORK
ITSELF INTO THE WAY FORWARD
VERSUS THE WAY BACKWARDS.
AND I THINK THOSE CONVERSATIONS
ARE HAPPENING, BUT THE PHYSICAL
SPACE ITSELF, THERE HASN’T BEEN
ANY INDICATIONS FROM ANY OF
THOSE PROJECTS THAT THEY’RE
GOING TO PULL BACK FROM DETROIT.
>> JASON: AND THAT’S REALLY GOOD
NEWS.
I THINK EVEN BETTER IS SOMETHING
YOU MENTIONED OR ALLUDED TO IS
HOW GOOGLE MADE A HUGE--
I SHOULD SAY AMAZON AT THE
FAIRGROUNDS, THAT’S A HUGE WIN
IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
>> IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC,
THE NEED TO DELIVER PACKAGES HAS
SOARED AND DETROIT AND METRO
DETROIT IS A SIGNIFICANT MARKET
FOR AMAZON.
THUS, SO MUCH SO THAT THEY’RE
GOING TO BUILD 3.8 MILLION
SQUARE FEET OF SPACE WITH THEIR
DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS OUT OF A
STATE FAIR.
STATE FAIR.
1200 JOBS IN THE CITY OF DETROIT
WHICH WE OBVIOUSLY NEED AND
THEN, A COMPANY LIKE CLEAR COVER
WHO IS IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS
ALSO MAKING A DECISION TO COME
TO THE CITY OF DETROIT DURING A
PANDEMIC AND SOME OF THOSE
THINGS ARE GIVING US A LOT OF
THINGS ARE GIVING US A LOT OF
CONFIDENCE THAT THE WAY IN WAY
WE ARE POSITIONING DETROIT HAS A
SUSTAINABLE DESIRE FOR COMPANIES
THAT NEED A DETROIT LOCATION AND
A DETROIT ADDRESS.
>> YEAH, THERE’S A LOT TO LOOK
FORWARD TO.
A LOT MORE BRIGHT SPOTS OUT
THERE THAN PEOPLE MIGHT THINK.
KEVIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, JASON, APPRECIATE
YOU.
>> JASON: ANYTIME.
THANKS TO YOU JOINING ME FOR
FLASH POINT.
DEVIN WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.
