Jennifer Rice, May 18th, 2024

Jennifer Rice, May 18th, 2024

In this interview, Jennifer Rice discusses flooding in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood, particularly the floods in 2016 and 2021. She also talks about the Manistique Community Treehouse Center and its community programs.

In partnership with the Manistique Community Treehouse Center

Detroit Historical Society

Detroit Historical Society

en-US

Jennifer Rice

Jennifer Rice moved to the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood, where she grew up, in 1974. She moved out in 1997, then returned to the neighborhood in 2016. She worked for Wayne State University while at the College of Education.

Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo

5/18/2024

15:03

Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo: I'm Doris Lanzkron-Tamarazo. It's May 18th, 2024 and I'm here with—

Jennifer Rice: Jennifer Rice.

DLT: Can you spell your name, please?

JR: J e n n i f e r.

DLT: Thank you. And do you live in the city of Detroit?

JR: Yes.

DLT: What neighborhood?

JR: Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood.

DLT: How long have you lived there?

JR: I've lived in the home I'm in now for almost nine years.

DLT: Have you lived in any other neighborhoods in Detroit?

JR: Yes. I grew up in the neighborhood I'm in now, in Jefferson Chalmers. We moved here in 1974. I left in 2000, I'm sorry, 1997, and got my own apartment downtown.

DLT: And why'd you end up moving back to the neighborhood?

JR: They were going under subsidy, so they had us move. They gave us money to move out. So we found a house, back in the Jefferson Chalmers area, and we moved there.

DLT: And do you work or did you work in the city of Detroit?

JR: Yes. I worked for Wayne State University while I was going to school for the College of Education.

DLT: And in the past nine years you've spent living in this neighborhood, have you noticed any effects of climate change on you personally?

JR: Yes. Within the last, since I've been back in 2016, we had a flood in our basement, and then in 2021, another flood happened again.

DLT: And can you tell me a little bit more about those floods?

JR: Well, the first flood wasn't as bad. I would say we probably got about two, maybe 2 or 3 inches in our basement. We didn't lose too much. But the second flood we got in 2021, it was like five feet, it came to the basement door where we lost everything: the furnace, the hot water, washer, dryer, just everything in the basement was gone.

DLT: And did this affect other people in your neighborhood as well?

JR: Yes. All of my neighbors went through the same thing. We had to have our basement sanitized, and still we're reeling from the effects of it because they said we may have mold that's growing, and we need to have that treated.

DLT: And is that the city that said that, is it a private company?

JR: The company that came in and did our cleaning in the basement, they couldn't do a thorough cleaning because the equipment that they had. So they did recommend us that we have to have a more detailed cleaning eventually when they came back to do the follow up.

DLT: And how did people in your neighborhood respond to these challenges when they happened back in 2021?

JR: A lot of people left. They moved, because they just couldn't continue, you know, living in a situation, not knowing every time they purchased something like, their washer, dryer, furnace, that they're going to have to come out of pocket. A lot of people didn't have, insurance, so FEMA didn't give us a lot of money, only a little bit. And then we were able to get, like, a loan through the Small Business Association would help with us buying a few of our things that we needed. But FEMA didn't really help us much.

DLT: And what was the city's response to the flood in 2021?

JR: In 2021? It’s still kind of like a blame game. It's the Great Lakes Water Authorities, between the Detroit water and sewage, they're like going back and forth. Nobody wants to pretty much claim responsibility for it. I just want the, you know, the parties that be to come to a resolution to try and fix the problem instead of the blame game. It happened. I'm not really interested in how it happened. I mean, I am how it happened, but I would just want them to take responsibility and try to help the residents move forward so it won't happen again.

DLT: And are you involved with the Treehouse Center?

JR: Yes. I volunteer with the Treehouse Community Center with Ms. Tammy Black on occasions. I haven't been able to do it within the last year because I had been working a lot. But I do volunteer whenever she needs my assistance. I do come by and help out with the programs and events that she has.

DLT: And how did you get involved with the Treehouse Center?

JR: My friend. I had a friend who, asked me to come. They were having an event, and I kind of fell in love with what she's doing in the community, Ms. Tammy Black. And it really, it helped me get involved to help with the different events that she puts on throughout the year, and just makes the community better because you're involved in something that's helping everybody, you know.

DLT: And what are some of the programs that you've been involved in at the Treehouse Center?

JR: I've been involved in a little bit of the solar panel events that she had, she had, like, a training for that. The weather association had came by, we had a program for that. They had like a program where my son, he was involved, where they told him how to do, be a part of stocks. So that was a really interesting program. So he was involved in that. They had, like, a summer community program with the children. He went to that. So I came around to help out with that. Different events throughout the year, like for Halloween. They have, like, a little summer event. So I try to participate whenever I can. It’s really good to help the community.

DLT: And do you have solar panels?

JR: No, we don't, but we were thinking about it.

DLT: And what are some of the considerations in thinking about solar panels?

JR: The cost of the electricity bill. I mean DTE is like, you know, really the only energy place we have right now that provides us with our electricity and gas. So if anything that can help, you know, with the cost of that, because it's really expensive. So I think the solar panels will help bring down the cost.

DLT: And when you did these solar panel events, did the community seem very receptive to solar energy?

JR: I would think so, yeah. Everybody's in the process of efficiency and bringing down. he cost of the high bills [Laughter] from DTE electricity and gas. But definitely electricity, because with the solar panels, I know one person who got it and she said her bill is like in half almost or even less than half. So that's another consideration.

DLT: And have you been involved in the Treehouse's partnership with the National Weather Service on the flooding?

JR: Yes. Yep. They had an event last fall I went to. Very informational. I did make a couple of suggestions with them regarding the radios, having the radios on stand, if they could, help us with that. Because a lot of people don't have phones, you know, the older people don't have access to, you know, the newer technology. So I was saying, like, weather radios would be a good idea if they could get those for us. But I haven't heard back yet.

DLT: Yeah, absolutely. And have there been other major floods since the 2021 one?

JR: There was a flood last year in 2023, but it really didn't affect us. I think we got, like, kind of like a wet basement, but nothing compared to 2021. That was the worst that I've seen since I've been back on this side in the Jefferson Chalmers area.

DLT: And do you think the flooding efforts that the Treehouse and other organizations have done have helped mitigate some of the effects of flooding?

JR: I would think so, yeah. Keeping us informed, bringing in people from the city to hear our concerns. Also, giving ideas as to what the next steps are as far as putting in different things in the basement to, you know, help with mitigating the floods from happening again and just providing resources for those who may need it.

DLT: And what do you think the community's biggest needs regarding flooding are today?

JR: Basically to find ways to help it, you know, stop from happening. Because it's been happening over the last, since I've been here, 40 years, off and on. Not as much, but now, within the last nine years since I've been, there’s been two. So there's something wrong with the infrastructure. Maybe they can see if they can put sump pumps or something to help from this, from occurring again, because I believe it's going to happen again. I just hope it's not as bad as it was in 2021.

DLT: And if the city could do one thing in terms of infrastructure programs to help deal with these flooding issues, what would you want them to do?

JR: Try and put in barriers that would eliminate it from happening again, whatever they can do. If it’s sump pumps, if it's restructuring their pipes, getting out the old pipes, putting in new pipes. Because a lot of these homes are, even the one we live in was built in 1921. So that's over 100 years old, of structures that’s decayed, and just better technology to help deal with these floods would be better.

DLT: Are there any programs you'd like to see the Treehouse or other nonprofits do to deal with these issues?

JR: No, they're doing pretty a pretty good job with the different events that they have with the city. Just a little bit more involvement with the city would help, like the water and sewage department for them to come out. And they are. Don't get me wrong, they are. But just to make more suggestions from the citizens that will allow them to, you know, hear our voices and concerns and try to do as much as they can to help us with, you know, making it safe so we don't have to have a flood again like we did.

DLT: And how would you say the organization, in its own way, helps educate the community about climate change or other environmental issues?

JR: With the meetings that they have. I'm not able to attend all the meetings, but they do send out like probably, I would say, once a month. And I do get the updates online about the different meetings that they have, which is really good. You know, it lets us know as citizens that we have a voice and that we're being heard. And if we continue to have those at least a couple of times a month, you know, see what progress they're making, it would really help us, you know, and make it more so like, you know, they're listening to us, what we’re saying.

DLT: How do you feel the community’s response has been to these efforts? Accepting, apathetic?

JR: Kind of 50/50. Some people were like, oh no, they're, we've heard this before and nothing's going to happen. And then we have other people like me. I do see changes happening. They are coming in the neighborhoods. They are sweeping the streets. They are trying to go underground, you know, see where they can make improvements with the infrastructure and the service so we won't have floods like we did before. So I do see improvement, but it's still a long way out.

DLT: And has involvement in the organization increased over time, from what you've noticed?

JR: Yeah, I would say so. Yeah, definitely. It's been really an increase. And I think that flood, because of everything that happened for 2021 was the biggest, like I said, since I've been here, it kind of put a fire under everybody. We have to do something to make changes, so this won't happen again.

DLT: And can you tell me a little bit about how your community was impacted by Covid?

JR: With Covid, I would say— Covid was a really stressful time for me and my family. Because for me, I worked. I was at work and they sent us home. So getting used to being home, eight hours a day, working from home, computer. I didn't have a computer, so I had to find ways to get online. I was able to, thankfully, get one for my job, and then eventually I had purchased one.
But just the challenges of being home, not being able to go out, people around me getting sick, people dying. It was just a rough time for everybody, it changed your whole life. And it makes you think, positively now, about how changes in your life, you know, not to take things for granted because you don't know, you know, with a pandemic like that. It just came out of nowhere and we were all faced with what, you know, what to do with that situation. And it was just really hard. But we made it through.

DLT: What do you think the lasting impacts of Covid have been?

JR: People trying to navigate back-to-work. A lot of people were afraid to go back into the offices. A lot of people still work from home like me, myself. I think I went into the office once last year per week, but most of my job is done from home. It's just trying to— I miss the interaction with people. And I think that has a lot to do with the mental effect on it. You're not seeing people every day, you’re just seeing them through Teams or on a phone or, and it's been hard. Yeah. The interaction with people I would say is the most for me.

DLT: And have you been involved at all in the Treehouse's urban gardening efforts or greening efforts?

JR: A little bit. Yep. I did go over when they were planning different things, as far as the trees. I enjoy what they're doing to make the greenery and make it, or more viable with the different plants and stuff that they’re putting in. Trying to make the area beautiful, and it’s really coming along. Yeah.

DLT: And were there other services that the Treehouse offered that I haven’t brought up yet?

JR: Let's see. No, I think you pretty much mentioned everything. Yeah. The different movies that they, offer, they try to have an event for the community where it involves all ages, seniors, young adults, children. They have stuff over the summer, always training sessions, helping us stay afloat of what's going on in the community. Yeah, they're doing a pretty good job, I would say, they're doing a really good job.

DLT: And did you have any final thoughts that you want to share?

JR: Nope. I think this is a really good opportunity to hear our voices. Concerning the floods and what's going on in our community. I really appreciate you for doing that.

DLT: Thank you so much for your time today.

JR: Thank you.