John Gallagher
@jgallagher-det.bsky.social
My most recent book is Rust Belt Reporter: A Memoir. Career-long journalist studying cities. Chronicler of creative urban change.
Just how important are foreign-born workers to Michigan's economy? Turns out, a lot! Check out my analysis in this new Forum article in Crain's Detroit: www.crainsdetroit.com/crains-forum...
Immigration turmoil sparks workforce worries for many Michigan industries
Immigrant workers are critical across Michigan, from the restaurant and hospitality industries to agriculture, manufacturing, construction and technology.
www.crainsdetroit.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Just how important are foreign-born workers to Michigan's economy? Turns out, a lot! Check out my analysis in this new Forum article in Crain's Detroit: www.crainsdetroit.com/crains-forum...
NYTimes headline: "Israeli Hostages and Palestinian Detainees Are Freed". Why are the captive Israelis "hostages" while Palestinian captives "detainees?" Value judgment in there somewhere?
October 13, 2025 at 6:19 PM
NYTimes headline: "Israeli Hostages and Palestinian Detainees Are Freed". Why are the captive Israelis "hostages" while Palestinian captives "detainees?" Value judgment in there somewhere?
Here's my take in Bridge Detroit today on the architecture and historical significance of the new Hudson's Detroit project: www.bridgedetroit.com/hudsons-towe...
Hudson’s tower signals new chapter for Detroit
While few of the public has gotten inside the new building yet, early reviews are upbeat.
www.bridgedetroit.com
August 8, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Here's my take in Bridge Detroit today on the architecture and historical significance of the new Hudson's Detroit project: www.bridgedetroit.com/hudsons-towe...
If anyone is surprised that Trump and Musk are now hurling insults so soon after their buddy-buddy in the Oval, well, I'm surprised you're surprised. This is who these guys are.
June 5, 2025 at 8:42 PM
If anyone is surprised that Trump and Musk are now hurling insults so soon after their buddy-buddy in the Oval, well, I'm surprised you're surprised. This is who these guys are.
Good for NPR. Trump's assault on federal funding for public radio as well as on Harvard's aid and research and a thousand other Congress-approved programs is illegal, mean-spirited, and likely to do enormous harm. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/b...
NPR Sues Trump Over Order to Cut Funding
www.nytimes.com
May 27, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Good for NPR. Trump's assault on federal funding for public radio as well as on Harvard's aid and research and a thousand other Congress-approved programs is illegal, mean-spirited, and likely to do enormous harm. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/b...
Homeowners in the city of Detroit may be enjoying rising property values, but Detroit's vast number of renters still faces too many obstacles to find decent and affordable places to live. My guest column today in the Freep: www.freep.com/story/opinio...
Detroit property values are rising ― and rental rates are going up | Opinion
The increase in property values is good news for homeowners, writes John Gallagher ― and bad news for renters.
www.freep.com
April 28, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Homeowners in the city of Detroit may be enjoying rising property values, but Detroit's vast number of renters still faces too many obstacles to find decent and affordable places to live. My guest column today in the Freep: www.freep.com/story/opinio...
Still think Michigan will be a climate haven as the world roasts? Better check out my new long-form Forum piece in Crain's Detroit here: www.crainsdetroit.com/crains-forum...
Action to mitigate climate change is tough — and it just got harder
Climate change may seem distant. But warmer temps impact Michigan now, and the political climate and urgency of the problem complicate prospects for action.
www.crainsdetroit.com
April 25, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Still think Michigan will be a climate haven as the world roasts? Better check out my new long-form Forum piece in Crain's Detroit here: www.crainsdetroit.com/crains-forum...
Thanks to wendyhgreen.bsky.social for having me on her Boomer Banter podcast yestesday to talk about my memoir "Rust Belt Reporter" and the state of journalism, cities, and living vitally as we age. Great conversation!
March 25, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Thanks to wendyhgreen.bsky.social for having me on her Boomer Banter podcast yestesday to talk about my memoir "Rust Belt Reporter" and the state of journalism, cities, and living vitally as we age. Great conversation!
Wednesday evening next week I'll be speaking at the Troy Public Library about my memoir "Rust Belt Reporter" with copies available for purchase and signing. Here's the link to registration: troypl.librarycalendar.com/event/rust-b...
Rust Belt Reporter Author Talk | Troy Public Library
Events Calendar for Troy Public Library
troypl.librarycalendar.com
March 14, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Wednesday evening next week I'll be speaking at the Troy Public Library about my memoir "Rust Belt Reporter" with copies available for purchase and signing. Here's the link to registration: troypl.librarycalendar.com/event/rust-b...
I'm back in the Detroit Free Press this morning with some thoughts on Detroit's Renaissance Center and Bedrock's plan to remake that environmnet. Here's the link: www.freep.com/story/opinio...
I'm a historic preservationist, but these RenCen towers have to go | Opinion
Detroit's Renaissance Center makes a great skyline, but a Navy Pier-style riverfront development would be even better.
www.freep.com
March 12, 2025 at 12:06 PM
I'm back in the Detroit Free Press this morning with some thoughts on Detroit's Renaissance Center and Bedrock's plan to remake that environmnet. Here's the link: www.freep.com/story/opinio...
Trump takes Putin's side in the war, and plunges the U.S. economy into or toward a recession. How is he not a Russian agent?
March 10, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Trump takes Putin's side in the war, and plunges the U.S. economy into or toward a recession. How is he not a Russian agent?
Thanks to urbanist Pete Saunders for his wonderful review of my new memoir Rust Belt Reporter on his Substack column Corner Side Yard. Here's the link: substack.com/home/post/p-... and the memoir is available wherever you buy your books.
Get Your Rust Belt Education, Right Here
A review of the book Rust Belt Reporter, by former Detroit Free Press columnist John Gallagher.
substack.com
February 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Thanks to urbanist Pete Saunders for his wonderful review of my new memoir Rust Belt Reporter on his Substack column Corner Side Yard. Here's the link: substack.com/home/post/p-... and the memoir is available wherever you buy your books.
Thanks to hosts Robyn Vincent and Tia Graham for having me on WDET's The Metro yesterday to talk about my book Rust Belt Reporter. You can listen to the show here wdet.org/shows/the-me... and you can get Rust Belt Reporter wherever you buy your books.
The Metro - WDET 101.9 FM
"The Metro" covers local and regional news and current affairs, arts and cultural events and topics, with a commitment to airing perspectives and uncovering stories underreported by mainstream media i...
wdet.org
February 11, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Thanks to hosts Robyn Vincent and Tia Graham for having me on WDET's The Metro yesterday to talk about my book Rust Belt Reporter. You can listen to the show here wdet.org/shows/the-me... and you can get Rust Belt Reporter wherever you buy your books.
Thanks to Hour magazine for including my new book Rust Belt Reporter: A Memoir in its February issue as one of the "books from the heart" suggestions for Valentine's Day gifts. Available wherever you buy your books.
February 5, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Thanks to Hour magazine for including my new book Rust Belt Reporter: A Memoir in its February issue as one of the "books from the heart" suggestions for Valentine's Day gifts. Available wherever you buy your books.
Gary Peters' decision to retire from the Senate after this term holds an opportunity for Michigan Democrats. All those big names thinking of running for governor or even president now have another key office to think about.
January 28, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Gary Peters' decision to retire from the Senate after this term holds an opportunity for Michigan Democrats. All those big names thinking of running for governor or even president now have another key office to think about.
My latest guest column in the
@freep
this morning says Detroit should be more concerned with reimagining its riverfront than worrying about who should pay to demo part of the Renaissance Center. Here's a link: www.freep.com/story/opinio...
@freep
this morning says Detroit should be more concerned with reimagining its riverfront than worrying about who should pay to demo part of the Renaissance Center. Here's a link: www.freep.com/story/opinio...
Wondering who will pay to demo Detroit's RenCen? That's the wrong question. | Opinion
Cities must evolve to survive, and that includes Detroit and GM's soon-to-be-vacated Renaissance Center.
www.freep.com
January 13, 2025 at 1:53 PM
My latest guest column in the
@freep
this morning says Detroit should be more concerned with reimagining its riverfront than worrying about who should pay to demo part of the Renaissance Center. Here's a link: www.freep.com/story/opinio...
@freep
this morning says Detroit should be more concerned with reimagining its riverfront than worrying about who should pay to demo part of the Renaissance Center. Here's a link: www.freep.com/story/opinio...
In his latest Substack column, urbanist
@petesaunders3
looks at how Detroit rebuilt its civic leadership, quoting extensively from my new memoir Rust Belt Reporter. Here's the link: substack.com/home/post/p-... and the book is available wherever you buy your books.
@petesaunders3
looks at how Detroit rebuilt its civic leadership, quoting extensively from my new memoir Rust Belt Reporter. Here's the link: substack.com/home/post/p-... and the book is available wherever you buy your books.
Detroit's Introspection Paid Off
By the time the city filed for bankruptcy in 2013, Detroit was at least a decade into the internal restructuring needed emerge stronger. Today there's a solid foundation for growth.
substack.com
January 13, 2025 at 12:22 PM
In his latest Substack column, urbanist
@petesaunders3
looks at how Detroit rebuilt its civic leadership, quoting extensively from my new memoir Rust Belt Reporter. Here's the link: substack.com/home/post/p-... and the book is available wherever you buy your books.
@petesaunders3
looks at how Detroit rebuilt its civic leadership, quoting extensively from my new memoir Rust Belt Reporter. Here's the link: substack.com/home/post/p-... and the book is available wherever you buy your books.
Thanks to Mark S. Lee and In the Conference Room for my new interview about the past and future of Detroit's Renaissance Center and my new book Rust Belt Reporter: A Memoir. Here's the link to the show: www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3NQ...
In the Conference Room with Mark S. Lee and John Gallagher
YouTube video by In the Conference Room with Mark S. Lee
www.youtube.com
December 11, 2024 at 2:06 PM
Thanks to Mark S. Lee and In the Conference Room for my new interview about the past and future of Detroit's Renaissance Center and my new book Rust Belt Reporter: A Memoir. Here's the link to the show: www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3NQ...
Detroit's Renaissance Center facing partial demolition? Maybe not a bad thing at all. Here's my Op Ed column explaining why it was a mistake to build it from the beginning....
www.freep.com/story/opinio...
www.freep.com/story/opinio...
As GM prepares to move out, let's be honest: The RenCen is an embarrassment. | Opinion
Legendary mall developer A. Alfred Taubman told Henry Ford II that Detroit's Renaissance Center was a mistake. He was right.
www.freep.com
December 4, 2024 at 12:27 PM
Detroit's Renaissance Center facing partial demolition? Maybe not a bad thing at all. Here's my Op Ed column explaining why it was a mistake to build it from the beginning....
www.freep.com/story/opinio...
www.freep.com/story/opinio...
Today's unveiling of the GM/Bedrock plan to raze two towers of Detroit's Renaissance Center and remake the whole waterfront there underscores how poorly designed the RenCen was in the first place back in the '70s. What a colossal waste!
November 25, 2024 at 6:41 PM
Today's unveiling of the GM/Bedrock plan to raze two towers of Detroit's Renaissance Center and remake the whole waterfront there underscores how poorly designed the RenCen was in the first place back in the '70s. What a colossal waste!
Visiting the shops at Michigan Central this holiday season? Don't forget to browse the books for sale including my new memoir Rust Belt Reporter.
November 24, 2024 at 12:49 PM
Visiting the shops at Michigan Central this holiday season? Don't forget to browse the books for sale including my new memoir Rust Belt Reporter.
If your holiday shopping includes buying books online, please consider visiting bookshop.org, a site that promotes and shares profits with local independent bookstores. And if you like to give books as gifts, there’s always my new memoir Rust Belt Reporter….
bookshop.org/lists/wrap-u...
bookshop.org/lists/wrap-u...
Bookshop: Buy books online. Support local bookstores.
An online bookstore that financially supports local independent bookstores and gives back to the book community.
bookshop.org
November 16, 2024 at 12:36 PM
If your holiday shopping includes buying books online, please consider visiting bookshop.org, a site that promotes and shares profits with local independent bookstores. And if you like to give books as gifts, there’s always my new memoir Rust Belt Reporter….
bookshop.org/lists/wrap-u...
bookshop.org/lists/wrap-u...