“It’s too much truck traffic, they’re ruining our residential streets.”

This resident has lived in Hope Village on the west side of Detroit for over 20 years. She describes Detroit as a place with a wide variety of things to do, depending on a person’s interests. In her own neighborhood, however, she has seen ongoing challenges that affect residents’ quality of life.

One of her biggest concerns is the constant truck traffic in her area, which she says occurs daily. The trucks create loud noise from horns and vibrations, often waking her up at night and disrupting her sleep. She notes that they drive too fast on residential streets where they are not supposed to be, and their weight contributes to cracks in the road and damage to the neighborhood. She and her family have also experienced health issues such as asthma, severe allergies, and sinus problems, which she believes may be connected to air quality.

What Real Change Looks Like to This Resident

For this resident, real change means stronger enforcement of existing rules to prevent heavy trucks from using residential streets. She wants city officials to understand how the noise, street damage, and lack of enforcement impact her quality of life. As a taxpayer on a fixed income, she emphasizes that residents should not have to bear the cost of damaged infrastructure. She believes consistent enforcement, such as issuing tickets and restricting truck routes, would make the biggest difference for her and her community.