Horace Sheffield III
Horace Sheffield III: Role in the Detroit Bridge Controversy
Participation in "Astroturf" Organizing
Summary: Rev. Horace Sheffield III participated in what academic researchers have identified as "astroturf" organizing - the practice of creating an appearance of grassroots community support through paid participation - as part of billionaire Matty Moroun's efforts to block a competing bridge project.
Details:
According to research by Amy Erin Krings of the University of Michigan, the Detroit International Bridge Company (DIBC) owned by Moroun engaged in "astroturf" organizing by paying protesters to attend public hearings about the New International Trade Crossing (NITC). In 2010, a group led by Rev. Sheffield spoke out against the NITC at such hearings.<ref>Krings, Amy Erin. "Building Bridges Where There is Nothing Left to Burn: The Campaign for Environmental Justice in a Southwest Detroit Border Community." University of Michigan, 2015, p. 74.</ref>
After these 2010 hearings, members of Sheffield's group reportedly apologized to Delray residents, admitting they "didn't know" what the campaign was actually about and stating they were simply told they could make $40 by showing up, according to testimony gathered by Krings during her doctoral research.<ref>Krings, Amy Erin. "Building Bridges Where There is Nothing Left to Burn: The Campaign for Environmental Justice in a Southwest Detroit Border Community." University of Michigan, 2015, p. 75.</ref>
This practice of paying people to protest created a false impression of community opposition to the bridge project, particularly since actual residents of the Delray neighborhood, where the bridge would be built, largely supported the NITC project (with community benefits) through their Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition (CBC).<ref>Krings, Amy Erin. "Building Bridges Where There is Nothing Left to Burn: The Campaign for Environmental Justice in a Southwest Detroit Border Community." University of Michigan, 2015, p. 74-75.</ref>
Financial Connections to Bridge Company
Summary: Rev. Sheffield acknowledged receiving advertising money from Moroun's bridge company to support his radio show, while claiming these payments didn't influence his opposition to the competing bridge project, contradicting the pattern of his advocacy.
Details:
When questioned about his relationship with Moroun's business interests, Sheffield admitted that he had taken advertising dollars from Moroun to support his radio show on WCHB.<ref>Sledge, Matt. "Detroit Bridge Battle Pits City Residents Against Each Other." HuffPost, December 7, 2017.</ref> Despite this financial connection, Sheffield maintained that these donations were not the reason he opposed the crossing.<ref>Krings, Amy Erin. "Building Bridges Where There is Nothing Left to Burn: The Campaign for Environmental Justice in a Southwest Detroit Border Community." University of Michigan, 2015, p. 74.</ref>
His statements claiming independence from Moroun's influence stand in contrast to his consistent alignment with the bridge company's interests and the documented pattern of paid participation at hearings that supported those interests. This created a significant appearance of conflict of interest that undermined his credibility as a genuine community advocate on the issue.<ref>Sledge, Matt. "Detroit Bridge Battle Pits City Residents Against Each Other." HuffPost, December 7, 2017.</ref>
False Claims of Community Representation
Summary: Despite not representing or residing in the Delray neighborhood that would be most affected by the bridge, Sheffield positioned himself as speaking for Detroit's interests against the NITC project, directly contradicting the expressed wishes of actual neighborhood residents.
Details:
Sheffield's opposition to the NITC project put him at odds with the actual residents of Delray. At a critical Coast Guard public hearing about the environmental impact of Moroun's competing bridge expansion plans, Sheffield was the only speaker among forty who spoke in favor of Moroun's project.<ref>News Hits staff. "Bridge backlash." Metro Times, March 2009.</ref>
Academic research revealed significant tensions between Sheffield's group and actual Delray residents. During CBC meetings, members reported that Sheffield's supporters had minimal connection to the neighborhood and were unaware of the actual issues at stake.<ref>Krings, Amy Erin. "Building Bridges Where There is Nothing Left to Burn: The Campaign for Environmental Justice in a Southwest Detroit Border Community." University of Michigan, 2015, p. 75.</ref>
This false representation allowed opponents of the NITC project, particularly Democratic state senators, to claim they were opposing the project because of "objections within the host community" - despite the fact that the actual community organization in Delray supported the NITC with community benefits agreements.<ref>Krings, Amy Erin. "Building Bridges Where There is Nothing Left to Burn: The Campaign for Environmental Justice in a Southwest Detroit Border Community." University of Michigan, 2015, p. 75.</ref>