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Priya

Author

Priya

Contributing Writer

Priya is a Contributing Writer at Strait Journal. Reports on culture, community, immigrant Detroit, civic organizing, and the slow work that holds neighborhoods together.

Also covers music and the arts when the story is about people more than performance.

Cooks at home most nights. Goes to community board meetings on purpose. Knows where to find the best biryani in the city and will not tell you, but will write about the place that made it. Has a rescue dog named Wilson.

Has been writing for the Journal since 2024. Tends to file the pieces that take longest to report and read fastest.

Quick hits
Favorite room:
The Carr Center on a Saturday afternoon
Favorite restaurant:
Baobab Fare
One Detroit artist to put on first:
Tunde Olaniran

[email protected]

Recent work

Reverse chronological
Thirty-Seven Detroit organizations just pooled $27 million for neighborhoods. This is the largest round yet.
CommunityNews
Thirty-Seven Detroit organizations just pooled $27 million for neighborhoods. This is the largest round yet.Enterprise Community Partners has launched the third and largest phase of its Community Development Organization Fund, bringing 37 Detroit neighborhood groups together under a $27 million, three-year initiative.By Priya · Jun 11, 2026 Detroit's free lawyer program for renters runs out of money in early 2027
CityNews
Detroit's free lawyer program for renters runs out of money in early 2027Detroit's program providing free lawyers to tenants in eviction court has saved the city an estimated $48.5 million over three years, but its funding runs dry in February 2027 with no successor commitments in place.By Priya · Jun 5, 2026 Detroit assessor to host June 10 summit to help nonprofits avoid tax foreclosure
CommunityNews
Detroit assessor to host June 10 summit to help nonprofits avoid tax foreclosureThe city's assessor office is hosting a free summit on June 10 after discovering that many Detroit nonprofits and churches were accumulating unpaid property taxes, wrongly assuming they were automatically exempt.By Priya · Jun 5, 2026 A beloved Detroit River fishing spot in Delray waits on talks between the state and DTE
CommunityNews
A beloved Detroit River fishing spot in Delray waits on talks between the state and DTEThe state and DTE Energy are negotiating the future of Delray Park, a little-known Detroit River fishing spot on DTE-owned land that locals say needs investment to reach its potential.By Priya · Jun 8, 2026 Laura Killingbeck's 1,000-mile bike ride across Michigan ends in Detroit, documenting a hidden form of domestic violence
CommunityProfile
Laura Killingbeck's 1,000-mile bike ride across Michigan ends in Detroit, documenting a hidden form of domestic violenceLaura Killingbeck is two weeks into a 1,000-mile bicycle ride across Michigan in partnership with orsa credit union to document economic abuse, ending July 20 in Detroit.By Priya · Jun 4, 2026 Walk a Mile Wednesday returns with nine summer walks across Detroit's precincts
CityNews
Walk a Mile Wednesday returns with nine summer walks across Detroit's precinctsLace up for the June 10 kickoff at the new Helen Moore Community Center on Dexter. Walk a Mile Wednesday is back, with biweekly walks through September 23 across nine of Detroit's police precincts.By Priya · Jun 4, 2026 DPSCD confirms full demolition of Cooley High School this summer
CityNews
DPSCD confirms full demolition of Cooley High School this summerDetroit Public Schools Community District will demolish the 1928 building in full this summer, scrapping earlier plans to preserve part of the historic structure. A $25 million sports complex will be built on the site.By Priya · Jun 2, 2026 Detroit is hiring someone whose whole job is recruiting national retailers
CityNews
Detroit is hiring someone whose whole job is recruiting national retailersThe city is creating a senior director of retail attraction position aimed at drawing more regional and national brands to Detroit, Crain's Detroit Business reported Monday.By Priya · May 27, 2026 Detroit school board previews $1.1 billion budget with pay boosts and a warning about next year
CityNews
Detroit school board previews $1.1 billion budget with pay boosts and a warning about next yearThe Detroit Public Schools Community District's proposed $1.1 billion budget for 2026-27 prioritizes employee pay increases, an expanded bus pilot, and seven more high school counselors. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti presented the plan while warning of serious financial uncertainty in the years that follow.By Priya · May 26, 2026 Detroit's Museum of Electronic Music is looking for a building
MusicSpotlight
Detroit's Museum of Electronic Music is looking for a buildingAdriel Thornton wants to give Detroit techno a permanent home.By Priya · May 23, 2026 At Movement this weekend, women DJs are no longer an exception
MusicSpotlight
At Movement this weekend, women DJs are no longer an exceptionStacey Hotwaxx Hale has been on the Movement lineup since the festival's first year. DJ Stacye J, DJ Killa $quid, and others who followed her are at Hart Plaza this weekend.By Priya · May 22, 2026 Colorado startup Alquist 3D is bringing a concrete-printing robot to Detroit, with state help
CityNews
Colorado startup Alquist 3D is bringing a concrete-printing robot to Detroit, with state helpThe Michigan Strategic Fund approved a $1.6 million grant to Alquist 3D, which plans to open a robotics and workforce training facility at Newlab in Corktown.By Priya · May 21, 2026 Detroit's bankruptcy case is officially closed
CityNews
Detroit's bankruptcy case is officially closedMore than 13 years after the largest municipal Chapter 9 filing in U.S. history, a federal judge signed a final decree closing Detroit's bankruptcy case.By Priya · May 21, 2026 Detroit approves $52K to fix contaminated soil at one demo site as hundreds await testing
CityNews
Detroit approves $52K to fix contaminated soil at one demo site as hundreds await testingDetroit City Council approved a $52,000 contract to remediate a single contaminated demolition lot on the east side, raising alarm about the scale of costs facing the city as it tests hundreds of additional sites.By Priya · May 21, 2026 Wayne County is cutting foreclosure checks smaller than claimants expected, with no explanation
CityNews
Wayne County is cutting foreclosure checks smaller than claimants expected, with no explanationFormer homeowners who lost properties in Wayne County tax foreclosures say checks from the county are arriving below expected amounts, and the treasurer's office won't say how it's calculating the deductions.By Priya · May 20, 2026 Decades of regional water policy left Detroit holding the bill
CityNews
Decades of regional water policy left Detroit holding the billStarting July 2026, Detroit water and sewer rates rise again. A piece in Bridge Detroit traces why city bills have climbed 400% since the late 1990s and why Detroit ratepayers cover costs for 76 suburban communities.By Priya · May 15, 2026 Free buses, still stranded: Detroit high schoolers wait while schedules lag
CityNews
Free buses, still stranded: Detroit high schoolers wait while schedules lagDetroit made bus rides free for high schoolers in April. At Southeastern High School, that free pass gets you to a thirty-minute wait while the 3:27 bus runs before the bell.By Priya · May 15, 2026 Residents sue to block Wayne County transit millage from August ballot
CityNews
Residents sue to block Wayne County transit millage from August ballotNot Smart Wayne filed suit in Wayne County Circuit Court on May 8, alleging transit officials withheld information about a March meeting and wrote ballot language designed to confuse voters ahead of an August vote on a countywide SMART millage.By Priya · May 13, 2026 Heidelberg Project names new executive director, moves toward arts hub model
ArtsNews
Heidelberg Project names new executive director, moves toward arts hub modelThe Heidelberg Project announced a new executive director and plans to renovate its Number House as flexible space for Detroit artists and small creative businesses, a shift toward earned revenue the nonprofit has been building toward for years.By Priya · May 13, 2026 Walk a Mile Wednesday returned with the police chief and city leaders on the route
CommunityNews
Walk a Mile Wednesday returned with the police chief and city leaders on the routeWalk a Mile Wednesday returned this week with the Detroit police chief and city leaders walking a neighborhood route with residents.By Priya · May 8, 2026 Gayanga Co. shuts down, sues Detroit Inspector General over contaminated-dirt allegations
CityNews
Gayanga Co. shuts down, sues Detroit Inspector General over contaminated-dirt allegationsGayanga Co. announced it is shutting down and filed a defamation suit against Detroit's Office of Inspector General over contaminated-dirt allegations and an active FBI probe.By Priya · May 7, 2026 DPSCD parent sues state over per-pupil funding gap and legacy debt
CityNews
DPSCD parent sues state over per-pupil funding gap and legacy debtA DPSCD parent filed suit in Michigan state court against Gov. Whitmer and the state board of education, seeking equitable funding and the elimination of district debt from the state-control years.By Priya · May 6, 2026 The Detroit Riverfront filled with anglers for the seasonal walleye run
CommunitySpotlight
The Detroit Riverfront filled with anglers for the seasonal walleye runThe Detroit Riverfront filled with anglers this week for the seasonal walleye run, the spring spawn when fish move up from Lake Erie into the river system.By Priya · May 5, 2026 Yellow-bus pilot at Henry Ford High cut chronic absenteeism for riders by 8.5 points
CityNews
Yellow-bus pilot at Henry Ford High cut chronic absenteeism for riders by 8.5 pointsDPSCD's $600,000 yellow-bus pilot at Henry Ford High and East English Village cut chronic absenteeism by 8.5 points among the most frequent riders.By Priya · May 4, 2026 East Side residents launch data center study group to shape city policy
CitySpotlight
East Side residents launch data center study group to shape city policyThe Eastside Community Network is hosting a biweekly study group starting in May to build resident knowledge about data centers and produce policy recommendations before city officials move forward on permits.By Priya · May 2, 2026 Workers rallied at Roosevelt Park for May Day with a familiar list of demands
CommunityNews
Workers rallied at Roosevelt Park for May Day with a familiar list of demandsDetroit workers rallied at Roosevelt Park on Friday, May 1, for May Day, marking International Workers' Day on the lawn in front of Michigan Central Station.By Priya · May 1, 2026 Shed work at Eastern Market is holding back new vendors this spring
CommunityNews
Shed work at Eastern Market is holding back new vendors this springDeferred maintenance on Sheds 2 and 3 is creating a bottleneck for vendors hoping to expand or land new stalls ahead of the 2026 peak Saturday season.By Priya · May 1, 2026 Project Clean Slate clears 20,000 criminal records in its tenth year
CityNews
Project Clean Slate clears 20,000 criminal records in its tenth yearDetroit's Project Clean Slate marked ten years and 20,000 criminal records cleared this week. The free expungement program is run out of the city's Law Department.By Priya · Apr 30, 2026 DPSCD data shows hundreds of special education evaluations running past the legal 30-day deadline
CityNews
DPSCD data shows hundreds of special education evaluations running past the legal 30-day deadlineOf 1,680 special education evaluation referrals DPSCD received from the start of the 2025-26 school year through March, 72 were completed past the legal deadline and 728 are still in process. The figures were presented to the school board last week.By Priya · Apr 29, 2026 Hamtramck joins Michigan Main Street and the Jos. Campau bet gets bigger
CommunitySpotlight
Hamtramck joins Michigan Main Street and the Jos. Campau bet gets biggerGovernor Whitmer announced on March 3 that Hamtramck has been selected by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for the Select Level of the Michigan Main Street program.By Priya · Mar 3, 2026 DJ Minx signed to Rekids
MusicNews
DJ Minx signed to RekidsDJ Minx signed to Rekids in early 2026 and released the Energy EP in February. The title track features Kendra Foster.By Priya · Feb 15, 2026 Five Wayne State alumni open Rahha inside the Hannan Center
EatsProfile
Five Wayne State alumni open Rahha inside the Hannan CenterRahha translates loosely from Arabic as comfort, peace of mind, the feeling of finally putting something down. The five founders chose it deliberately.By Priya · Nov 17, 2025 Marrow in the Market opens in the Capital Poultry building
EatsSpotlight
Marrow in the Market opens in the Capital Poultry buildingPing Ho opened Marrow in the Market on November 13, 2025, in the former Capital Poultry building at 2442 Riopelle Street in Eastern Market. The space is 14,000 square feet across two floors.By Priya · Nov 13, 2025 Waka by Baobab Fare gets the old Russell Street deli
CommunityPreview
Waka by Baobab Fare gets the old Russell Street deliHamissi Mamba's mother sold chapati and brochettes in the markets of Bujumbura, Burundi, when he was a kid.By Priya · Oct 3, 2025 Dally in the alley returns for its 46th year, still without sponsors
CommunityReview
Dally in the alley returns for its 46th year, still without sponsorsDally in the Alley filled the streets between Forest, Hancock, Second, and Third on Saturday, September 6, 2025, for its 46th year. Magazine Free admission.By Priya · Sep 6, 2025 Tacos Wuey opens on Vernor with a family birria recipe
EatsReview
Tacos Wuey opens on Vernor with a family birria recipeEddie Vargas grew up around Vernor Highway. He spent the past several years cooking other people's restaurants for them.By Priya · Jul 18, 2025 Haraz coffee opens its 30th location, in Corktown
EatsSpotlight
Haraz coffee opens its 30th location, in CorktownHaraz Coffee opened its second Detroit store on Wednesday, June 11, on the ground floor of The Brooke on Bagley at 1501 Church Street. Mayor Mike Duggan cut the ribbon.By Priya · Jun 11, 2025 Underground Music Academy took the stage at Movement
MusicReview
Underground Music Academy took the stage at MovementUnderground Music Academy took over the Detroit Stage at Movement 2025 on Sunday. It was UMA's first festival showcase.By Priya · May 25, 2025 Father Dukes headlined Movement
MusicProfile
Father Dukes headlined MovementFather Dukes played a Movement 2025 stage on May 24. She came out of Seraphine Collective's beatmatch brunches two years earlier.By Priya · May 25, 2025 Flower Day brings 80 growers and a full Sunday of plant-hauling to Eastern Market
CommunityReview
Flower Day brings 80 growers and a full Sunday of plant-hauling to Eastern MarketThe 58th annual Flower Day ran from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Eastern Market. Mix 92.3 Free.By Priya · May 18, 2025 Hart Plaza, Detroit's electronic music ground zero
CityProfile
Hart Plaza, Detroit's electronic music ground zeroHart Plaza opened to the public in 1975. Isamu Noguchi designed it. Fourteen acres of plaza, fountains, sculpture, and amphitheater set on the Detroit River across from Windsor.By Priya · May 17, 2025 Public thrift closes after three years on Joseph Campau
CityLegacy
Public thrift closes after three years on Joseph CampauPublic Thrift closed its doors on Joseph Campau in Hamtramck in May 2025, after almost three years in its brick-and-mortar location. The store ran a final $5 Fill A Bag sale on May 9 and 10.By Priya · May 10, 2025 60th Cinco de Mayo parade walks West Vernor with three women leading
CommunityReview
60th Cinco de Mayo parade walks West Vernor with three women leadingThe 60th annual Cinco de Mayo Parade ran 2.4 miles down West Vernor Highway on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Organizers put the turnout around 8,000.By Priya · May 4, 2025 La Fonda Street and Encarnación open as a coffee-and-cantina pair in West Village
EatsProfile
La Fonda Street and Encarnación open as a coffee-and-cantina pair in West VillageRobert Encarnación was a Bank of America small-business banker in Miami before he moved to Detroit. He came up for a weekend in April 2019. By the end of June he had moved.By Priya · Mar 26, 2025 Marche du Nain Rouge marches the red dwarf out of Detroit again
CommunityReview
Marche du Nain Rouge marches the red dwarf out of Detroit againAbout 10,000 people showed up in Cass Corridor on Sunday, March 23, 2025, for the annual Marche du Nain Rouge CBS News, the costume parade that exists to chase a small red imp out of Detroit.By Priya · Mar 23, 2025 DJ Minx played the Pistons halftime
CommunitySpotlight
DJ Minx played the Pistons halftimeDJ Minx played the Detroit Pistons halftime show in March 2025. It was her second halftime booking at Little Caesars Arena.By Priya · Mar 15, 2025 Detroit raised money for Shake Shakir
MusicLegacy
Detroit raised money for Shake ShakirA benefit for Anthony Shake Shakir happened at Tangent Gallery on March 1, 2025. The room was packed.By Priya · Mar 1, 2025 From warehouse parties to Hart Plaza: how Movement got its venue
CitySpotlight
From warehouse parties to Hart Plaza: how Movement got its venueDetroit techno spent fifteen years homeless before it got Hart Plaza. The festival came out of the warehouse circuit, not the other way around.By Priya · Nov 15, 2024 Encarnacion and La Fonda Street open in West Village
CityProfile
Encarnacion and La Fonda Street open in West VillageRobert Encarnacion opened La Fonda Street in June 2024 and the Encarnacion coffee shop next to it as a soft opening that November.By Priya · Nov 15, 2024 Filipino comfort food in a New Center bakery, finally
EatsProfile
Filipino comfort food in a New Center bakery, finallyJonathan Peregrino spent fifteen years in corporate America before quitting to bake.By Priya · Nov 7, 2024 Five alebrijes now live on Bagley
ArtsSpotlight
Five alebrijes now live on BagleyFive life-size animal sculptures went up along Bagley Street on Friday.By Priya · Nov 1, 2024 The High Dive reopened in October with new owners, a hibiscus tea base, and Jeopardy nights
MusicSpotlight
The High Dive reopened in October with new owners, a hibiscus tea base, and Jeopardy nightsDavid Lew, the L.A. artist who goes by Shark Toof, sold the High Dive in September 2024.By Priya · Oct 15, 2024 Sepia coffee project lands a North End shop after a long detour
EatsProfile
Sepia coffee project lands a North End shop after a long detourMartell Mason got into coffee through trade dynamics, not espresso.By Priya · Oct 3, 2024 The old Lincoln motor factory is a techno venue now
CitySpotlight
The old Lincoln motor factory is a techno venue nowDetroit has a new techno venue. It used to make cars. Dreamtroit opened in September 2024 inside the former Lincoln Motor Factory.By Priya · Sep 15, 2024 Detroit jazz at Hart Plaza: how the festival economy shares the riverfront
CitySpotlight
Detroit jazz at Hart Plaza: how the festival economy shares the riverfrontThe 45th Detroit Jazz Festival closed on Labor Day. The festival is free, runs at Hart Plaza, and shares the same downtown riverfront acres with three other major Detroit festivals across the year.By Priya · Sep 8, 2024 Hamtramck Labor Day festival closes its 44th year with a Jack White surprise
CommunityReview
Hamtramck Labor Day festival closes its 44th year with a Jack White surpriseThe 44th annual Hamtramck Labor Day Festival ran August 31 through September 2, 2024. Joseph Campau Avenue from Caniff to Carpenter. Free admission.By Priya · Aug 31, 2024 Florian East opened in Hamtramck after eighty years without a brewery and put the name on the front in seven languages
MusicSpotlight
Florian East opened in Hamtramck after eighty years without a brewery and put the name on the front in seven languagesThe last brewery in Hamtramck closed in 1941. Auto City Brewing Company, gone since the early 1940s.By Priya · Aug 29, 2024 Collect beer bar opened its license at 4 p.m. on a Friday and was pouring beer at 4:10
MusicSpotlight
Collect beer bar opened its license at 4 p.m. on a Friday and was pouring beer at 4:10Collect spent six years on the second floor of a Gratiot building in Eastern Market, above what used to be Gather. In June 2024 the lease ran out.By Priya · Aug 16, 2024 Concert of Colors fills Midtown for its 33rd year, free as ever
CommunityReview
Concert of Colors fills Midtown for its 33rd year, free as everConcert of Colors ran for the 33rd time from July 16 to 21, 2024, with most stages at the Detroit Institute of Arts and additional programming across the Detroit Historical Museum, the Charles H.By Priya · Jul 15, 2024 Mighty real/queer Detroit's second biennial hits 11 galleries
ArtsReview
Mighty real/queer Detroit's second biennial hits 11 galleriesThe second Mighty Real/Queer Detroit biennial opened tonight and runs through June 30.By Priya · May 31, 2024 Hatch Art keeps working on Hamtramck Disneyland
ArtsLegacy
Hatch Art keeps working on Hamtramck DisneylandMichigan Public's Stateside podcast spent its May 29 episode at Hamtramck Disneyland, a backyard sculpture installation atop two side-by-side garages at 12087 Klinger Street.By Priya · May 29, 2024 Tiffany Cartwright wins Hatch Detroit, twelve years into the program's run
CommunityProfile
Tiffany Cartwright wins Hatch Detroit, twelve years into the program's runTiffany Cartwright was the first finalist to take the stage on May 9 at the Wayne State University Industry Innovation Center.By Priya · May 9, 2024 The Hamtramck Blowout returned in 2024 with new organizers and the same scrappy energy
MusicReview
The Hamtramck Blowout returned in 2024 with new organizers and the same scrappy energyNine years after Metro Times stopped producing it, the Hamtramck Blowout came back.By Priya · Mar 1, 2024