Detroit Regional Chamber > Media Coverage > Sandy K. Baruah Discusses Detroit Region Wins and Challenges

Sandy K. Baruah Discusses Detroit Region Wins and Challenges

August 13, 2026

WJR

Aug. 12, 2026

Focus With Paul W. Smith

With guest host of Focus With Paul W. Smith and President and Chief Executive Officer of Business Leaders For Michigan (BLM), Jeff Donofrio, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Detroit Regional Chamber, Sandy K. Baruah highlights the Gordie Howe International Bridge opening, transit millage, Renaissance Center, and putting out Michigan’s housefire through collaboration.

“I think it does position the region for the first time in probably about a decade, well, really ever since the 2016 transit millage, transit RTA creation that just barely failed by 1.5 percent. I think we now have another opportunity at this,” Baruah said about Wayne County becoming an opt-in county.I mean, what our organization thinks, and I think many leaders that you lead at BLM think the same thing, that one of the key ways to create a prosperous region is to provide easy, safe, and affordable ways for people to get from point A to point B to either make money or spend money.”

 

Listen to the full interview.