Short Story
Long Story
In my short time in Detroit, I have become aware of a problem that Detroiters unfortunately have to take for granted: scrap metal theft. Catalytic convertors, air conditioners, and piping are stolen daily. This causes residents’ homeowners’ insurance to go up and much bigger problems if they cannot afford to get their car fixed or AC replaced. And it’s not just personal theft – railroad tracks, manhole covers, and wiring from city buildings are stolen too. Detroit infrastructure is literally being ripped apart, which makes it even more difficult to focus on economic recovery. Furthermore, while Detroit is definitely hit very hard by this phenomenon, it actually occurs all across the state. Farmers’ tractors, wind turbines, and telephone poles are all targets for people looking for quick, easy cash.
Luckily, there’s a solution.
Yesterday I helped launch a petition on behalf of a city-wide coalition to reform the scrap metal industry. These reforms were created by a bipartisan team (shout out to Detroit favorite, State Rep. Tlaib!) and have been in the works for two years. They implement common-sense reforms such as banning the practice of paying in cash and criminalizing the buying and selling of clearly marked public goods. These bills essentially make it harder for scrap metal yards to “unknowingly” accept stolen goods.
These crucial reforms are unfortunately stuck in the House, so our elected officials need to know Michigan residents care about this issue. Click here to sign the petition in support of the reforms!
PS Thank you Shelby, Spivey, and Lamar who sat through my pitch last night and got us over the 50 signature mark 🙂
