Today, in a city where more than a third of the residents are impoverished, billionaire Dan Gilbert is asking Detroit for an additional $60 million in tax breaks for his long-delayed high-rise project at the Hudson's site.

Five of the nine council members who are expected to vote on the tax handout received sizable donations from Gilbert. This is the same billionaire who donated heavily to Trump's campaign.

What's unusual about this request is that it comes after the project is well underway. So Gilbert still has to finish the project even if he doesn't get the money. Those taxes would help finance desperately needed services.

What does Dan Gilbert envision downtown Detroit to look like? Just look to Bedrock's ad banner in July 2017 depicting a virtually all-white crowd with the words: “See Detroit like we do.”



The city sold the Hudson's site to Bedrock for $1. Since then, Gilbert has received nearly $200 million in tax incentives from the city and state. He's the wealthiest resident in Michigan, and one of the biggest recipients of corporate welfare.

Here are the council members who received donations from a Gilbert PAC, according to a @Freep
report today:
• Fred Durhal III
• Scott Benson
• Coleman Young Jr.
• James Tate
•Latisha Johnson

Let's see how they vote today.

Council is now debating the wisdom of this corporate welfare. James Tate, who received donations from Gilbert's PAC, is talking about the benefits of giving the tax rebate. Some are calling for a delay on the vote.

Coleman Young, who also took money from Gilbert's PAC, said he plans to vote for the tax incentives because of the jobs it creates, even though the project is already ongoing and won't be stopped, with or without the handout.

Angeles Whitfield Calloway, who didn’t receive donations from Gilbert’s PAC, plans to vote no on the tax handout, saying the public overwhelmingly objects to corporate welfare for the state's wealthiest resident.

Latisha Johnson, who took donations from Gilbert’s PAC, says opponents of the tax breaks misunderstand what’s at stake. So far, those who got donations from Gilbert, support the handout.

Fred Durhal, who took donations from Gilbert’s PAC, also took aim at opponents of the tax break, saying “Miseducation is a dangerous thing.”

Not a single supporter of this tax handout is addressing what opponents are saying: The project is already underway, so withholding the tax break won't impact whether it happens.

Scott Benson, who also took a donation from Dan Gilbert’s PAC, also claims that residents who oppose the tax handout are misinformed. That means all 5 council members who received a donation support the handout.

Just in: The Detroit City Council voted to delay the vote on a tax handout to Gilbert by a week. Whatever the case, the council has enough votes to support it next week. Every council member who took a donation from Gilbert's PAC said they are in favor of the handout.