DETROIT – A growing number of neighbors on Detroit’s east side are beginning to speak publicly about a foul odor in the air.
Background: Neighbors complain of mysterious foul odor on Detroit’s east side
“It smell like it’s something that could be dead, you know,” Mae West Cheatham said while sitting on her porch on Wednesday.
This week, neighbors urged Local 4 News to head to the area near Gratiot Avenue, between Mack Avenue and Mt. Elliott Street, to look into complaints about a strong stench in the air. Some neighbors claim the mysterious and nauseating odor has been lingering in the air for quite some time. Most are complaining the stench has become more potent in recent months.
“I’ve been smelling it for years,” Cheatham explained. “As soon as you walk past Mr. Elliott and Gratiot and you get down to Moran and Gratiot. Bam!”
Several neighbors and business owners described the foul odor as a concerning nuisance, when Local 4 first began looking into the issue on Tuesday.
”It smells like defecation,” said Angelo West.
”It’s like a sewage,” explained business owner Margaret Afubu.
”Well, we’re not sure where it’s coming from,” said Mrs. Dee with the community group Grassroots Detroiters. “But it’s a very pungent, noxious odor.”
Tyshay Jones said, “It’s ridiculous, really, at this point.”
The big problem, right now, is no one seems to know the source of the stench. Getting clear insight into any potential investigation, so far, hasn’t been easy.
Local 4 contacted the City of Detroit on Tuesday. A representative from the city said the odor issue wasn’t in the city’s purview and suggested we contact the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, or EGLE.
A representative from EGLE said the odor concerns in that area are on the agency’s radar. However, at the time, we were told the lead on the case would be out of the office until Wednesday. Local 4 followed up on the inquiry on Wednesday, and we’ve year to get an updated response.
Meantime, more neighbors are beginning to get anxious for answers about the foul odor.
“Well, I would like for them to hurry up and find out what’s going on,” Cheatham said. “It could be a dead person. Dead animals. You know? Sewage, you know? Whatever. Just hurry up!”
During Local 4’s initial conversation with EGLE, the representative suggested, anyone who may suspect a foul or suspicious odor in the air, report it immediately to the Pollution Emergency Alerting System at 800-292-4706, or fill out the Air Quality Complaint Form at Air Quality Complaint Form (arcgis.com).