Detroit Evening Report: Urban farm tracking pollution from nearby Stellantis plant
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A sign for Stellantis' Detroit Assembly Complex on Mack.
A local urban farm is tracking toxic chemicals in the air from the nearby Stellantis plant.
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Sanctuary Farms, a small organic farm and composter on Detroit’s east side, has installed solar powered air monitors on their property in response to the 200,000-plus pounds of toxic chemicals the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the auto company releases each year, Bridge Detroit reports.
Stellantis received eight air quality violations since 2021. The Farm plans to send out the reports of toxic chemicals to the public in their farm, as well as other farms in the city dealing with this issue. Sanctuary Farms is building a network of Detroit Farmers to monitor air quality.
“We’re tracking the air because we…want to show what the [expletive] Stellantis is doing,” Jon Kent, co-founder of Sanctuary Farms told Bridge Detroit.
Kent is working with the nonprofit Ecology Center to collect and analyze data to publish for the public, not just from his own farm, but farms around the city.
Other headlines for Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023:
- The Detroit Sports Commission and Visit Detroit recently announced they will contribute $1 million to community initiatives that support youth groups in the city.
- A fundraiser to support Detroit artist Amp Fiddler will be held at Spot Lite Detroit at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, to help him pay for medical bills accrued following a surgery and extended hospitalization.
- A campaign called Buy Michigan Now is looking to support local businesses in Detroit and the greater Michigan state.
- The annual Hanukkah celebration, Menorah in the D, returns to downtown Detroit for its 13th year at 5 p.m. today at Campus Martius. The menorah will be lit this year by community members whose families were taken hostage in Israel in October. They are calling for unity in prayer and support for peace.
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