right, good morning, everyone. We will now call to order our formal session for Tuesday, June the 24th and Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
Council member Scott Benson.
Council member Fred der Hall, the third
council member Leticia Johnson,
Council Member Gabriella Santiago Romero, present
council member Mary waters present. Council member Angela Whitfield Callaway. Council member Coleman, young a second here. Council President Pro Tem James Tate,
Council President Mary Sheffield present. Madam President, you have a quorum present. All right, there being a quorum present. We are in session. We will start with our invocation. This morning, we have chief Chaplain Demetrius Davenport, who is joining us to lead us in prayer this morning. Good morning. Morning, Madam President,
let us pray. Father God, thank you for today, a day we've never seen before. As we appreciate the gift of another day we ask Master that as we joy in your presence, that you continue to keep your hands upon this wonderful Council in this season of transition. Oh God, we pray Your Divine Wisdom continues to fill the room and decisions are made concerning the citizens and the upkeep of our city. Guide as only you can keep your hand on our leaders, give them the wisdom and the and the perseverance to make the right decisions and give us the citizenship, oh god the to follow good wisdom. And these are requests in the name of Jesus the Christ, I pray Amen.
Amen. Thank you so much, chaplain. We appreciate you for leading us in prayer this morning. And feel free to stay on as long as you can. If you have to hop off, we under Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. God bless. Have a great one. Alright, if we can start off just doing a quick moment of silence, we know we heard the news yesterday of the passing of honorable Judge Virgil Smith, who is no longer with us. We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing, a man whose life was truly marked by a profound dedication to public service and a deep love for his community. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all those who are fortunate to know the Honorable Judge Virgil Smith. I was also informed that Judge Donna Robinson mill house also passed as well, and I was going to yield to member der hog when he comes. I'm sure he may have comments as well, but we do want to take a moment of silence to honor them, and again, lift their family and friends in prayer as well. So we will do a moment of silence for both of them. I
All right, thank you all and again, we will be keeping both of their families in our prayers, for sure, a discussion. Yes, Council Member
Benson, all right. Thank you. I just wanted to say it is a huge blow to the history and the political landscape in the city of Detroit to have lost stalwart as the as the judge, former state rep, former state senator, who played a huge role in the third district, as far as getting young people organized, giving them jobs doing economic development, just a number of stories in my own staff, providing jobs for Pershing high school track students to go door to door during their training in the summer, to run door to door, to Give out flyers and leaflets when it came to politics, which actually encouraged many of them to get into politics, seeing how he's operated over the years and what kind of impact he had, which is huge and so just a heavy hearts that we recognize. Thank you very much.
Thank you so much. Member Benson, if the clerk will note, member Johnson has joined us as well. Council member Johnson, member Johnson,
thank you, Madam President, and thank you for recognizing the individuals who just recently transitioned. I also want to say thank you to all of you for supporting a testimonial resolution to judge Virgil Smith that was delivered to him last week prior to his transition. So appreciate all of you for that and certainly keeping the family lifted in prayer. I had a conversation with Virgil K Smith, and that was the reason that we were expediting the testimonial resolution that was delivered to him last week. But thank you all for your support in that endeavor, and certainly thank you to the family for their support of me. And judge Smith was very proud and excited to support my campaign four years ago, and certainly do appreciate him and the love that he wrapped his arms around me with and the family as well. So thank you. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you so much. And then member door Hall, we did mention judge Donna Robinson, Millhouse, and you also wanted to remark as well.
Thank you, Madam President. And yes, my students yesterday, 30 court, mirche Smith, very wasaan. And just really, when you talk about families here in Detroit, I served decades and sacrificed their service, definitely that is a deeply end in the Michigan Legislature. Through his and I will be definitely missed my heart and my heart and prayers go out to his son, Virgil Smith, the third who I served with, and he knows we are there with whatever he needs. And second, Miss Donna Milhouse, Judge Milhouse, who is the mother of two of my team members, Natalie and Justin, passed yesterday as well, and I am asking everyone again to open their hearts and their thoughts and prayers to that family as they go through this very difficult time. She was a stalwart on the bench as well, servicing the city in the judiciary, one heck of a Juris kind, but tough when needed, and she will be missed sorely so again, everyone across the city of Detroit today should take that time to recognize two of our Greatest that we lost yesterday. Thank you, Madam Preston,
all right, thank you so much, and we did do a moment of silence for both. And we will again continue to lift everyone up in continued prayer. So thank you all, and thank you colleagues as well. Okay, we will continue now, and we have the absolute honor of recognizing none other than Minister Malik Shabazz, who is here with us. Let's give him a round of applause.
You want to come up a little bit, but it's always an honor to be able to give flowers to you while you're here. You can smell them, as they say, and be appreciated right now, in this moment, and I'm sure you've already received awards, but I don't think it's we can award you enough and honor you enough for the work that you've done in this city. And so you have spent the last 40 years on the front lines fighting for justice, registering over 7000 residents to vote, closing 2000 drug houses in our city and over 60 merchants selling expired produce, organizing our communities and speaking truth to power, you boldly show up consistently and unapologetically for the people of Detroit. So we again want to honor you and recognize you. You know we you had some health challenges at one point in time, but to see you back and just in good spirits, I think, brings joy to us all. So we honor you, Mr. Malik Shabazz, we love you. We appreciate you. And on behalf of the City of Detroit, we want to present to you another Spirit of Detroit award. And and I would like, if any of my colleagues want to add anything additional as I prepare for another award as well, discussion council member Benson, thank you. And then followed by member Tate Protem tape,
so it's fantastic to see you here today with the family and supporters. I want to thank the President for preparing this Spirit of Detroit award for you to have your level of activism within the third district. I'm honored to have you as one of my bosses and one of our more prolific, engaged and active bosses, and who has had a huge impact on the quality of life, especially in your own neighborhood and those around the city as well, and so ensuring that people are safe. Your own form of CVI, doing it before it was cool, before we had acronyms for it, you have been there. You have been on the front lines, making sure that it happens, marches, as was said, closing down drug houses, ensuring that blight was identified and picked up, and being right there in our own community, not too far from the Joe Lewis Greenway, I might add, so hoping to help improve your quality of life with a great non motorized pathway coming right through your neighborhood. It's just an honor. I'm just really glad to see you here with the family, and we have Miss Redmond here next to you as well. So just good to see the family here receiving this dedication and this commemoration of your impact on the city of Detroit. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Madam President, for the minister, it is such a blessing to have you here today. You know you have gone through some health challenges that many, including some of my family, have not been able to overcome, and to have you here today,
it means a lot to me personally. We go way back, way back,
and you know, sometimes you were known to say things that were a little bit controversial on the edge, but sometimes it's necessary to get folks attention. You gotta rattle some cages, right? But for the most part, I mean, when we talk about 99.999%
of the stuff that you've done, the work that you've done it, has created
an impact in our city that has been immeasurable. I remember Benson stole the words right out of my head. We talked about how you are the godfather of CVI. You know, this is the thing that we are, you know, now pouring funds into and we see the results of it. You were doing it on a on a much smaller scale, based on your capacity and the funding that you did not have at this moment, at that moment, but you laid the groundwork for what we see in terms of community engagement and community taking control, in charge of the issues within our community. So I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart as a lifelong Detroiter and as someone who I hope that you would call friend, because you're definitely a friend of mine. So I appreciate the work that you've done, and you know, I got an opportunity to speak to an icon today. God bless you, brother. You. So much. Derha, thank you,
Madam President, and good morning. Minister Shabazz, you know, what can we say about you? To President Pro tems point, I think you really personified the term boots on the ground, whether that is ensuring that nobody forgets about hundreds, and sometimes close to 1000s, of young girls who have come missing here in this city and you are out there actively searching for them and reminding us that they still have not been found, or whether it is the initial CDI getting these young men and women to put these guns down, or whether marching throughout our community, you have really been a leader for our people, and very inspirational in so many ways. As we sit on this side of the table of government, I will agree with President Pro Tem. Sometimes the language is very strong, but oftentimes we forget. This is how government, as well as our community, has the ability to work together. On that side, it needs to be strong, because oftentimes it serves as a reminder for us up here as we do our duty and serve what our responsibility is to that community. And so I appreciate you and love you. Had the opportunity to spend a couple couple months ago, spend spend some time with you throughout the day, a lot of great labs with a lot of good old folks, usual, usual suspects here Detroit, as they would say, but thank you for your strength and your courage. You know my dad, who went through a heart attack, who was great friend of yours after coming out of that, I will tell you seeing firsthand the type of strength and courage it takes to go through rehabilitation after that. So thank you for your courage, thank you for your strength. We continue to pray for you, and I love you, man, thank you, Madam.
President, Council Member Young.
Thank you, President.
Um, sir. I just want to say to you, thank you for all of the hungry children's bellies that you fed, for all of the homeless people that you helped find housing, all of the people that were naked that you clothed. For all of the drug dealers you done ran out the drug house, all the rapists You didn't call. And it's kind of funny to me, because I because I thought you you meant that figuratively. You know you're gonna figuratively, go catch the rapist and I would see you go out there, and you meant that literally. So it's like, not only were you an activist, you were also like a superhero at night, and so I just wanted to say thank you for always willing to risk and make the ultimate sacrifice of your life and well being for our greater good. You really exemplify that quote, that power is only important as an instrument to serve the powerless with, and that it doesn't matter what's behind you or beside you or in front of you, it's what's within you that counts. Thank you for all the late nights. Thank you for all the battles. Thank you for all the struggles. Thank you for all the good times. Thank you for all the hard times. Thank you for carrying the weight because you were willing to carry the weight this city is now in a better place, and so it is my honor and privilege to be able to just say thank you. I appreciate you. This is well deserved, and this is going to be the first of many. Appreciate you. Thank you.
It The clerk will know. Member Callaway has joined us as well. Member waters,
thank you, Madam President, Good morning, sir. I salute you. I just wanted to echo everything that my colleagues have said number one and number two. I just want to let you know know how much we appreciate the fact that you are always loving on this city and its people. I truly thank you for that minister, uh, Shabazz. You know
you've had me out there with my boots on the ground a few times.
You know, whether we were looking for someone who committed a murder or or sexual assault and so forth. I appreciate that, and I just wanted to say thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. It is just a pleasure and honor to know you and to be able to work with you sometimes. I thank you, all right,
and thank you for all
right. Thank you, Madam President,
thank you so much. Member waters,
member Johnson, thank you, Madam President, and I'm not sure that there is much more that can be said, but just wanted to publicly say thank you to you for caring for the people in the city of Detroit, for your love, your compassion, and I'm so glad to see that is it's all coming back to you. We appreciate you. On for every every strong man. Behind every strong man is a strong woman, and we appreciate your wife as well. Absolutely. We appreciate the both of you. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much. Member Callaway,
thank you so much, and I'm so glad I made it in to say thank you for the text messages of support.
And beside a strong man is a strong woman. Never behind, always beside, and that's where you always are. And I just want to thank you for your your strength and your courage facing all odds. I used to watch you on television, and now I'm in this thing, I'm in this thing now, and understand that it takes courage to do what you do and what we do here. It's no easy feat. So I want to honor you today, and I'm so glad I'm here and you are here for me to say thank you, and thank you, young lady, for sharing him with all of us. God bless both of you.
God bless you.
Thank you so much. Minister Malik Shabazz, as you can see, we are full of love for you and the work that you do in Detroit. And I think we met actually in the community, boots on the ground. And one of my favorite pictures with you is probably the one you think posted not too long ago, when we were at a DT protest years ago, years ago, and that's how we met in the community. And so just keep up the great work. Some of your quotes here that I have no justice, no profit, No justice, no money. Buy black first when men stand up, boys will sit down, open their minds and hearts and learn how to be men. And then you also say, Love is the key to all. Love is the key to all. So we love you, we honor you. And then lastly, last term, we approved a resolution creating the the Dolores Bennett community warrior award, and we've never had the opportunity to present that award, and so it's my honor to present the Dolores Bennett community warrior award, named after a true Detroit legend who dedicated her life to serving and uplifting our neighborhoods. Everyone knows about Dolores Bennett, North End, North End in my district. So today we honor a man who carries that same spirit, Minister Malik Shabazz. This award recognizes not just what you've done, but who you are, a warrior, a servant in a steadfast voice for the people of our city, with deep gratitude for your leadership, your sacrifice and your unwavering love for your city. I would like to also present the Dolores Bennett community warrior award to none other than Minister Malik Shabazz.
Colleagues, that we can all go down as well. Let
him speak first.
It's not working.
Maybe we could. Can we move up some and Pull it down? I
you know, the commission to do now, 40 years. I didn't choose I. I ran. I was like, Joe, I didn't get swallowed up by a whale, but I ran like you can run from God. And I found out I would be the whale withdrawal, divided answer the call. And I was told I was in perfect man, and I'm imperfect now that I'm called and I'm chose beneath
do this work
gave me an example
of community and community service. David Holmes Jr was dean
of the Michigan democratic Thank you Black Caucus and my grandmother, Avis Holmes, who ran Detroit nonprofit housing where they help people, especially young folks, get housing for the first time For 45 years. I watched them, and I learned about sacrifice, and I learned about commitment, and I learned that sharing and caring and service to others is what it's all about. And so I want to thank them. I want to also thank some of my teachers who've gone on the glory the honorable jeremoji of baby, founder of Black Christian nationalism, shrines of the Black Madonna. I want to thank Ed Wally move farm. I want to thank Dr elect lady Jesse Dubois and reverend Dr ishaka, Musa Bucha. There's so many I know I can't thank everybody. I want to thank City Council. Want to thank all, and I've had the pleasure off and on of working with almost all of you for a number of years, and it has been a honor. It is truly been a honor. And I think a few of our members are here. I want to thank them. Any any of our members here, can you stand can you stand up? Stand up. Stand up. Steve
and I want to
these are some very hard working people. You know, they've been out there in front of drug houses and chop shops and merchants selling rotten meat or merchants selling alcohol to 15 year olds or whatever the case may be, murder. They have been out there. And Stephen Ross, council president is Barry Ross, brother and council president now we were there when Barry made his transition. He literally passed in front of us, but he was a he was a white man and he was a Jew, but he was my brother. I could keep I could count on that man, and I noticed a heck of a thing coming from me. I've come a long way.
I see friends and lances where I can find them. Okay, you can be light as loose leaf paper or darkened shoes if you want to free up human beings from the misery and the muck and the mire and the mayhem of white supremacy, not white skin, white supremacy and its greatest weapon, which is the mind and the heart
of black People, if you
want to do that and we clean up the ghetto, then you my family. Charlie laduff Is my brother. He's here. Give him a hand.
So again, I want to thank you. Thank you all.
It is truly an honor. You know, no man knows the hour I was clinically dead. I died three times
clinically and I traveled.
Oh yes, ma'am, okay,
another time I another
time, a lecture for another time. But this woman right here, I got you, this woman right here
has been the best.
Has been the best, and I am not ashamed, yeah to say that, yes, when you find a good woman, you better hold on to him. Yeah, and I had just enough, sir
Jehovah, yeah. You. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. God bless.
Thank you. Thank you.
So colleagues go down discussion, yes, member, Vincent and so, very motivational, very emotional. I just got one last item. And so, Minister, when I started this job, you were doing something called hats, gloves, socks and scarves in the community. You worked with my staff, and you provided that to me as a legacy, and I just want to recognize you for doing that. And so since you started that and said, Councilman Benson, go ahead and run with it, we've been able to grow that to a $50,000 annual hats, gloves, sock, scars. We now add coats to that, so that is a direct result of your legacy and advocacy, and we continue to do that for the children in the third district, to make sure those babies have coats on their backs, stocks on their feet, scarves around their neck, and that they have those coats and they have those hats we got to make sure our babies are warm. You started that we've been able to run with it, and that's just a part of your legacy, and the things that you have done for this city. Great. Fantastic for me, that's one of the most important things. You want to make sure that everybody is taken care of, from the least of us to the most of us. And I want to make sure that you understand that I take that legacy seriously, and we continue to grow it and run with it. And so I want to thank you for that and let you know that we take it seriously. I continue to give you honor for that and make sure people know where that program came from. It comes from you. Thank you.
Thank you.
Alright, colleagues, you can come down and photo Minister Shabazz. I
Oh And
I'm all Right, let's we thank you all again, and let's give Minister Malik Shabazz one more round of applause. Great, great way to start our morning. And we so appreciate you for being down here. So we will continue now. You're very good, good, good, good, positive vibes this morning in energy. Thank you for bringing that to us this morning. All right, the Journal of the session of Tuesday, June the 10th, will be approved. There being no reconsideration or unfinished business. We will proceed to the budget Finance and Audit standing committee for the budget Finance and Audit. Standing
Committee one report from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. The one
report will be referred to the budget, Finance and Audit standing committee for the internal operations. Standing Committee, three reports from various city departments. The three reports will be referred to the internal operations, standing committee for the Neighborhood and Community Services. Standing Committee,
one report from the Office of contracting and procurement,
the one report will be referred to the Neighborhood and Community Services standing committee for planning and development, two reports from the Office of contracting and procurement. The two reports will be referred for the public health and safety committee, four reports from various city departments. The four reports will be referred to the public health and safety committee. We will now move to the voting action matters under other matters, there are no items. Madam President, under communications from the mayor and other governmental officials and agencies, there are no items. Madam President, okay, we are going to cut off our public comments, and we will start with public comment, and everyone will have two minutes, starting with James Ford,
followed By Sabrina rice, just
make sure the microphone is on. Mr. Ford, press the bottom. Just
press the bottom. It should turn green.
Okay, there we go.
Hello. I'm James Ford.
I'd like everybody in here, if you get a chance to go to youtube United States for safe driving. I would like to invite everybody to the Obama weekend festival, with all its grandeur.
It's the first weekend in August, August,
1, second and third. Grand River and the boulevard. We're
going to have karaoke, food, song, beverage, even a public auction, and even name that tune, and it's going to even be apology line there. If there's anybody you want to apologize to, just for fun, everybody
got somebody you want to apologize to. My phone number is 586-918-3061,
you can call me anytime, but I'm here today to extend extend a standing ovation invitation, I mean, to council member Mary Sheffield and Fred deer Hall. I would like them to please come one day, two days or three days and answer one question, and that question will be asked by honorable Theo Broughton. If you're elected mayor of the city of Detroit, what will you do about red light running and drag racing? It's very important in this city. That's all I have to say, please try to attend. You can call me if you want to help. And I will say this, we're going to have parades there. Hope that we get some people to share some information. Help us get a big parade. How many children have seen a parade? But how many children have actually been in a parade? Give me a call. 586-918-3061, my name is James, Ford. These invitations will be go to the honorable Mary Sheffield and FRED DURHAM. God bless you.
Thank you so much. Mr. Ford,
Miss Sabrina rice. I
Good morning, Madam President and city council.
My name is Sabrina rice. I am a resident of the city of Detroit. I am a business owner in the city of Detroit, but more importantly, I am a member of the Detroit advocates of the blind a little dab a Do you a lot more? Will school you? And we are here to thank the city council for being instrumental in providing same day service on Detroit metro list. Why is this so important? It is important because I might wake up one morning with the call, and I might need to make it to the nearest CVS. And guess what? I can call and have arrived within an hour before last Monday, I would have to schedule a ride at least the day before to ride about an hour and a half to two hours to get to the nearest CBS to get some concert to come back home. So I'm here to thank you. I'm thank I'm thanking each and every one of you for being instrumental and pushing forward our agenda with same day service. So I want you to be reminded about the Detroit advocates of the blind, and know that a little dad would do you, but a lot of dad will school you. Thank you. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
Miss Luckett. Thank you so much. Followed by Sawyer, Mr. Sawyer, and then followed by Mr. Clay.
Good morning counselor, good
morning giving honor, first of all, to God who allowed us all
to be here.
I thank you council people for considering us as human beings and not just people sitting in the corner, meaning doing nothing. So I thank you for realizing that we are worth something, and we have something to offer, and we need to get about our business, and being able to ask for a ride maybe an hour before we have to be there, that is monumental to us. We need to be about our business, and we can't do it sitting around waiting for somebody to take our hand. So you made it possible for us to dial that number and get that right, and that's
what I'm going to do today. Thank
you. Thank you
tonight, one second, please. And I just have to say, as you all continue that we thank you all, because you all advocate day in and day out. I know Richard clay, I've known for years, who was coming down the council and has always advocated on behalf of this group here and so advocates of the blind. We thank you all as well, because if you had not lifted up your voices, you know, not saying that, we would not have addressed it, but it brings more attention to the need of some of the challenges that you all face. So I just want to personally and I know on behalf of all of us, we thank you for your advocacy and using your voice to raise concerns around issues that directly impact you. So thank you all as well for the work that you all do and your advocacy that allowed us to move forward in the direction that we did. Yes. Council member Durham, thank
you and good morning to you all. I know it's going to be more public comment. Well, I will say, as the chair of the disability Task Force, each meeting that we had one of the number one issues that was always mentioned was same day service. And how do we improve paratransit here in the city of Detroit? And so Don't thank us, because that is what we are supposed to do, is to provide for our residents, but thank you each and every day for your advocacy, staying on the job, ensuring that you are holding our feet to the fire, and that we got same day service here and same day paratransit service here for all of our residents, particularly our Members of our disabled community. Thank you
so much. I Okay.
Morning, everybody. My name is Anthony Sawyer.
I'm sorry about that.
Madam President, city councilman, first of all, with all my heart, I want to thank y'all because y'all made it possible for me to go to the grocery store without waiting for a rather breath a family member or somebody to take me, I can go like within that hour. Man, you just don't know how much that mean to me, you know. And I just, I'm here just to support and say, Thank you very much.
Thank you. Thank you as well.
Richard clay,
good morning, everyone.
I'm Richard clay. I'm the president of Detroit advocates of the blind, and I am here, of course, to
I want to thank the Detroit City Council for standing by the blind community at a time when we really needed it. We have been fighting for improvements to Detroit's paratransit service now for many years,
but the last time that the city really had same day services around 2019 going into 2020 when COVID came, the service was shut down, and we've been fighting for it tooth and nail ever since. I want to thank all of our members who have continued that fight. We got help from so many places all the way up to the US Justice Department, but there was just that critical time when it looked like the mayor was going to maybe even take their transit service away, and we needed city council members to stand by us. You did council members? Johnson waters, Miss Gabriella and
of course, Miss Callaway really, really came to our aid when we need it, and we thank you for doing so. 1000s of blind persons and 10s of 1000s of people with disabilities in Detroit are now benefiting, rolling out every single day within an hour of making a call. And we told you it could be done all the time. Thank you for standing with us. Thank you.
I'm Stephen hanshu. I'm here with as as all those who have spoken on this subject, I'm here with the Detroit advocates of the blind. You'll notice there's a name change, but that's all. It's changed. We're the same people. We have the same philosophy, and we give the same determination,
and it is appropriate for us to thank you even though it is your job.
We live in a world where there's an awful lot of people in government not doing their job,
and we live in a world where there's an awful lot of people who are not only not doing their job, they are betraying their job. And so I do think it is appropriate for us to come and thank you for not being some of those. You'll be hearing a lot more from us, and we hope for the same kind of results. Thank you so much. You
miss Renetta Moore,
yes. Miss Yes. Miss Benita Moore, followed by Charlie laduff, followed by Mr. Cunningham,
good morning. I'm here to talk about cash community, our children are being fed sugary stuff early in the morning, like donuts, cereal, no hot meals. But we watched staff come from the third floor to come down with bacon, eggs, grits, something these kids do not see. These kids gonna end up being diabetic and have high blood pressure and all that. They are not being fed, right? They're not doing things right. Staff is hollering at people. They're not helping like they should.
We have a problem there, and it's not right for the way they staff treat the clients that's trying to help themselves. They I still ask for a broom
for the clean the patio where we be on they told me, Oh, we got janitorial for that. Do you know it's still like that, and I've been there almost a month and it have not been cleaned. It's ridiculous how the things they run in there and ignoring the things that should be done. All right.
Thank you so much, Miss Moore, we will work with you to ensure that that is reported from CAST Community Services and understood, but we appreciate you coming down and keeping us informed of what's going on. Ms. Moore, all right. Thank you so much. Charlie The Duff, followed by Mr. Cunningham,
good morning. I'm Charlie laduff from the Michigan enjoyer. It's a beautiful day. For years, the Detroit demolition program has been a cesspool of graft and incompetence. More than a half billion dollars has been spent what the Detroiters get for it. They got done dirt in 2017 the US Treasury looked at 100 random demolition contracts, not one had receipts for the dirt. Nevertheless, the city paid handsomely. In 2021 the land bank told the Treasury they had no dirt receipts at all. Again, the city paid handsomely. Former inspector general Ellen ha estimates that as many as 10,000 demo sites may be contaminated with toxic dirt. Well, now we have the Northland Mall. An executive for the city testified last week that the contaminated dirt from the mall couldn't have been used in Detroit because the city did not approve it. This doesn't mean anything. The allegations, again, are cheating by the contractors and a blind eye by the city. And now sidewalks, a contract today worth nearly $3 million for what contractors who did those demolitions were supposed to complete the jobs or not get paid until they did, but they did get paid handsomely. Did those contractors who didn't finish the sidewalk have bonds, which is called insurance, which is required by law? When asked, another city executive said, Indeed, the new contractor who stands to receive the $3 million sidewalk contract today does have a bond. But that's not the question. The question is, did the old contractors have bonds? The public has been promised that information, but so far, it has been an information brown out. For years, we've heard the buzzword environmental racism. Meanwhile, here in Detroit, it's been perpetrated right under our noses. Quite probably there is an ocean of toxic earth underneath the city of Detroit. Children play in those lots. They deserve better. Thank you for your service.
Thank you so much. Mr. LED, thank you.
Mr. Cunningham, followed by Miss Williams.
Good morning, everyone on the sound of my voice, 313-444-9114,
my cash app and hotline number is 313-444-9114,
again, that cash app and hotline number is 313449114,
that number was made. You can remember it and on Facebook, two words, not enemy. Again on Facebook, two words not enemy. Hit the search key on Facebook, hit people and put in not enemy. It'll be me and my mom's picture there. What I'm asking folks to do is to send folks down to the Rose Park trans Center and the harbor Transit Center, go through security and try to sit down and see what the response is. Because every time I go past or go in, it's always empty on the inside, I have some testimonials on my Facebook timeline. It is, you can be anonymous and look at that timeline. I can't see who you are, what time you looked, none of that. But just go to that page and take a look. It's three testimonies on the timeline. Also, I purchased bus tickets and give them out at the bus stops. The service is still like luster. And I've been getting water donations and freezer space. I've been freezing the water and giving them out on these hot days. And I'm asking you, you may not like me, that's cool, but you love the people of Detroit. I don't care. I asking that you get some freeze up a case of water, give it out at the bus stops. Maybe buy some bus tickets. Give it out at the bus stops. Or you can vicariously do it through me. And that's 313-444-9114, I would love to do another ride along with the council members. Also we're doing a ride along with a large candidate Saturday, and I would love to do a bus ride along with Charlie the death. Get on the bus and let the people tell you what's popping, what's going on. I appreciate your work. Mr. Ledov, thank you City Council. Thank you for all you do.
Bye, bye. Thank you so
much. Mr. Cunningham, you as well. All
right. Miss Williams,
hello. I'm going quote Malcolm X, this is election year, so people put on different masses for different reasons. Why would we, of the people of Detroit when the city council was responsible, responsible for our well being. I've been coming here almost a year, continuing to talk about the epidemic we have in homeless shelters, and when people can't get bad spaces because the Detroit Police Department is taking up bed spaces. So like I said, liars, deceitful people, like all type of corruption in the city of Detroit, and you are like you said, it's your job to do your job correctly, but if you do not do your job, how can we invest and trust anything that anyone says in this city? Because all these contracts that you give out for the city of Detroit, you all are in debt, and it's going to be in debt for years to come. You will award billionaires contracts constantly, all the time. So it's like $800 million who going to pay for this? The city people pay for this stuff. So at the end of the day, I come here constantly complaining about the corruption of the city of Detroit, not just the Detroit Police Department. It stands. It started at the top, because none of this can be going on without you guys involved. And I do not care how you want to clean it up, how you want to dress it up when you break in federal laws, accountability and what you do in the dark is going to come out to light eventually, and I hope every last one of you all who have these positions, who did not do their job correctly, will be
held accountable for the people that pay
property taxes, that struggle every day they're unable to go grocery Shopping and fill up their refrigerator, take their kids certain places because they cannot afford it, and you all live carefree, like it's okay to spend this money, and this money is for the people who pay taxes in the city of Detroit.
Thank you. Miss Williams,
Miss Logan, followed by Miss Riley,
good morning. My name is Barbara Logan, and I'm here again to protest the over assessment of property taxes on lower income properties in Detroit by city and county officials contributing to the fraudulent foreclosures on owner occupied homes,
please. Let's be clear. I spoke to
President Sheffield last week, and
I was promised some things I haven't got yet, but I hear is coming
soon. I've been waiting more than a year just just to be identified as a as a property who's who had been over assessed, and if the city council is going to be serious in addressing this matter. They gotta first identify the people who have been over assessed. They they're not willing to do that. Councilman Tate, he said he didn't want to investigation. He didn't want no lawyers involved. He just wanted to offer me a rental property. Councilman Sheffield, council person Sheffield told me last week, well, what do you want us to do? Give you a free home? Absolutely not. I'm not asking for anything free. I'm asking to be compensated for the stolen my stolen home. Compensate. Compensated, restored, not given a high handout. There's ways that we can do this, but to just dismiss me every week. Thank you, Miss Logan, that's not good enough. I'll be back. A resolution is helpful to the goal of compensating me for that or another home or property, rather than spending millions of dollars on demolishing Detroit home.
Thank you so much. Miss Logan, and
we had a very good conversation when we talked and as we talked, and I know you want to say something differently. Now the microphone, that's OK. We had a great conversation. The assessor, as we talked about, is trying to pull the records of which you requested back from 2000 the years of 2000 to 2020 2000 to 2007 and so we are requesting that information. He mentioned that he should have that information today, and we will get that information to you as soon as he gets it to us. Okay, thank you so much. Miss Logan. We'll continue to work with you. We're always here to talk with you offline as much as we need to to get this situation resolved and to get you the answers that you're asking. Thank you, Miss Logan.
Okay, we will continue now to miss Riley and followed by Miss Love. Good morning City Council. Thanks, Charlie for talking about the sidewalks, because I failed on the City Sidewalks several times and broke my ankle, and I came down here and I had on my ankle, so yes, those sidewalks need to be fixed, and the city did not pay me. I was down here with my purchase, my wheelchair and everything. That's when council president Brenda Jones was here the city the sidewalks is terrible, especially in my area. But the thing is, I mean, I don't fail over there near living noise and Davidson waiting on. I mean living noise and six mile where the hump in the street was. I went from the gas station to back to the bus stop. Fell over there. I fell two times, three times, by my house where they had tore the house down. The sidewalk is cracked. Grass is coming up. I'm going for the bus sidewalks need to be replaced. And I would, I would like to be compensated for this plate in my ankle. I also want to talk about the land bank. They have a tree next door to my house that's been there that I haven't taken care of since 1999 I have mulberries all in my yard. The city just put a brand new roof on my house, so actually, it destroyed my first roof. That's why I had to get another one land bank. Since you bragging about when people were getting locks and stuff, no, get that tree cut off. My brand new roof, Tammy Daniels and the land bank. So I would like to have that done Council President Mary Sheffield, because that's a brand new roof. My roof is leaking. It was raining in my house because of the first roof that the tree damaged. So can you please get them to cut that berry tree down that's leaning on in my yard? I got pictures that were on Facebook Live, and I said, share it. It don't make no sense.
Thank you, Miss. Miss Riley, and I don't know if you said that to us, but we can work with member at large, and member Benson, I know you're in his district. We'll work with both of them to see how we can assist you, Miss Riley.
I know waters you would typically help out with Miss Riley as well.
He said, No, no,
okay, I didn't want to take your time. Okay?
Okay, Miss Love.
Well, good morning. Morning. Home, sweet home. I've been gone for about seven years, and I'm back in the city of Detroit, and I'm excited I'm here because I've been talking to the recreation department and some of the schools and the youth about things that we can do to improve the education aspects of the children during the summer, especially during summer camp, I written a curriculum, and I implement a lot of projects in Alabama, different places, and I just brought a few things here, because I just want to be able to work with some of the community centers. And I'm talking to the adults to show them things that we can do guaranteed six months. We can take grade level up two years. And one of the projects, what we did, I'm showing everybody, but what we're doing, I was showing them called hope never quits. I showed them how to take any lever I could take one old car, and you can choose five different subjects with that. I've been doing that, and I'm excited about something coming back to the city to show them that we can educate our children. I work with Liz when I went to school system here, but I've been going for like, eight years. So one of the things that we're doing three plus my letter. No, it's c1. Was my letter. It's a 20 plus my letter. T and the children don't know what it is. All I do call a picture of the cat. I'm teaching them how train yourself. And it's also adult. I just got, I don't have much time. That's why I wanted the whole project there all how to take anything and turn it into art. The max thing is so that, like I said, I don't know who should department over the records department, but from the sixth to the 15th, I'm willing to go into the recreation centers and to be able to help them to show care, and also, especially with the foster children, the lyrics and logic and my mission is here. I've been talking to the recreation department so many people outside there, but I just want to come and tell you all I'm back home. I love my city. I'm moving back here, and whatever I can do to bring hope and love, I'm here to make a change because I believe we don't, we need to, don't, take off, and to be able to not share the people. God bless you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much, Miss, love. Glad you're here. Thank you so much, Mister Foster.
Good morning to the president
event this week, but I just want to come down and just speak about leadership and our leaders. I think Minister Shabazz has been a leader when I look back historically in the 60s, and we understand the Jim Crow, they was all put up and appointed by the government who they wanted to be leaders over the people. I think that Mr. Bass had been an example of being a leader not appointed by the government. And I think that we have to do a better job of not continuing on those traits. Saint John 1513, says, Greater love have no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. And so we talk about spiritualness, we talk about a lot of other things. You know, it's not about doing all these things and getting a lot of glory in and everything else. It's about really the empathy that you have, the ability to relate to others, the ability to be able to understand others. Those are qualities of leadership. And so I just ask that we do a much better job and what we do and who it is that we ascribe as leaders as we promote where our money is going on this news fund, and I would like to audit on that to see who's actually putting these type of things in front of the mass crowds, their opinion and influencing our community. Thirdly, precinct delegates are very important. I've always advocated for precinct delegates. One of the things I know is I didn't do it this time because there are restrictions on it. If you're a precinct delegate, you cannot run for county commissioner and city government per the charter. Some of these jobs that people have will not be able to have those jobs in another administration, because they have to take off for a couple of years. I ask you all to uphold this charter, to learn the rules, learn the laws, and make them applicable. We have to do a better job. We don't want the same government, the same people in here bringing the same results. That's incentive.
Thank you so much. Mr. Foster, I wonder
if that was include all of our in person public comment. We will now go to those who have joined us online, virtually.
Good afternoon. Oh, still morning. Good morning, Madam President, there are 27 hands raised for public comment and the caller is phone number ending in 611,
good morning.
Can you hear me? Yes, we can.
Yes, ma'am. My name is Darryl rice, and I am a member of dab, Detroit, advocates of the blind. And as you heard a little dab, do you? But a whole lot of DAB will school you. And you heard from earlier today, we heard that a good man always having a good woman beside him. And
you heard from my glorious, beautiful wife earlier, Sabrina rice, but we just want to thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for same day service. Thank you for your dedication. Thank you for your commitment. Thank you for your tenacity, your perseverance and your fortitude. It takes teamwork. Thank you for having an ear what we in the blind has to say, and on behalf of the Detroit advocates of the blind, as our fearless president said, Richard clay name change, but we're still the same, folks, and we're still out here, and we're still fighting for our community, and together, we will win. So I appreciate you,
Madam President and your team. We, thank you. Thank you. We thank you. That.
Thank you so much our next caller, please.
Next caller is Betty a Varner,
good morning to all within the sound of my voice. I'm Betty a barn the president of DeSoto Ellsworth black Association. First of all, I want to start off today to say, I thank all of the council members and appreciate the work that you're doing. My members also feel the same way we feel. We are very, very appreciative for all of the support that we have received for our community. I want to share some additional information in regards to the Saint Joseph helpers organization, I reached out to them yesterday to see what services that I could receive, and I found out that some of the examples of the projects that they do that they list on their Padlet, they no longer do, but they have partnership with other organizations that provide These services. And one thing is good about this organization, their their services is not based on income, as far as you being on Medicaid, having Medicaid and so a lot of time people are left out because they're not eligible for Medicaid. Their telephone number is 1-800-303-5075
again, 1-800-303-5075
they do offer a lot of services, and they partner with other organizations to help you get the need your your needs taken care of. Their mission is to make sure veterans, disabled folk and seniors, they help everybody, but they focus on that population for you to be secure and safe in your home. Thank you for this. Thank you so much. Miss Varner. The next caller is Galaxy S 22 ultra Good morning. Morning. First of all, I want to, I want to thank Minister Malik for all he done. I've been working with that brother for years on wh, PR, the brother helped me by we marched one way. Look for
the the murderer that killed my daughter. I marched with him up and we went up in Lansing with what's his name,
Matt and maroon when he was fighting, we marched in front of Cobo when they put the person out of Cobo. I'm not going to bash you guys, because you guys got a job in front of you. The thing I'm saying about you guys, if you win, and May May the best person win, be more dedicated to the people problems in the city of Detroit, because we're the ones that's going to vote you in. We're the ones that going to pay the salary for you guys while you're in there. And I know you're doing a whole lot, but we still need more done in the city of Detroit. You know, it's a job. I haven't never experienced that kind of job before, but I know you guys got your hands full, and like I said, May the best person win when they running, you know, just show the people something different than what we'd have seen, you know, and be careful when you get in there, because a lot of stuff that's going down with Duggan and office, do you have to watch and make sure them fairs don't come after the next mayor and the other folks that's getting in there. So y'all have a good day. Take care. Bless y'all and and thank you very much for taking my call. Thank you so much. The next caller is Mikko a Williams,
yes, hi. Good morning. You know, I'm very disappointed Detroit is invite only. If you're a well connected person or a cool kid in the popular club of Detroit, you get the party and be on the rooftop while us regular folks sit in the, uh, in the house, or we can't come downtown because they got the parks blocked off, and none of the mayoral candidates got the parks open. That's going to be counting against every last one of those candidates of ineffectiveness already shown throughout this mayoral election. Shout out to Malik Shabazz, the man I most admire. I worked with him when I was a kid, and what a what a great guy he is. You know, I'm revisiting memories from five years ago or so, when Mike Duggan or Sheffield in a group of duggites LED against proposal P. Proposal P was the people's charter. Proposal P would have fixed many of the problems in the city, but off of lies, disinformation, 15 million stolen for education of the charter to use against the charter and to vote no, and no one has overturned it. And there are people that I know that have supported proposal P and was failed to fight for it because the money was too strong. The grassroots was broken, and when we did come together to fight we were over toppled by dark money, white supremacy and sell out of different people. So again, you know, the problems that we're facing today is broken because we did not vote. Melissa, if you really want to be effective, you might want to try to get Janice Winfrey out. You may want to learn Election Law of Michigan. You want to learn campaign finance laws of Michigan because you can't box with me when it comes to real debate of cheated votes is real. Yes, it is real, but you never voted at all. So you can't claim to be cheated because you never voted. Our
next caller, please. The next caller,
good morning. Can I be heard? Yes, okay, I like to especially requested the council president and Councilman Fred DUA and Councilwoman Mary waters look into something that just come to my attention. City, Detroit retirees pension checks is being diverted. Some pension checks have been diverted for at least the past two months. It appears like it might be an inside job where these checks to normally in their account is being transferred to a different account and somebody is accessing them. So I think that's something that all three y'all should look into. Of course, the rest of you can look into it also because, you know, it's bad enough that City Church retirees, especially some of the racist policies been perpetrated by this city and the bankruptcy and that, especially when after City Church retires, he came to off, you know, started working for the city after COVID, a young became mayor, you know. So this is a we'll continue to be harmed and hurt, especially being harmed and hurt by this annuity clawback and the interest on it. It's bad enough that they are still in money that should be going to my sons and my grandkids and many other retirees like that. But you know, they also charging this huge 6.75% interest, which I think is sexist and racist and what have you in that most of the older retirees that wasn't involved in the clawback, who predominantly are Caucasians, you know. But you know, the most of the people who did, who had the claw back are, you know, black and brown people, you know. So we need to look back and see what could be done. We need to look back and see what help y'all could do for the city chart retirees, because we are suffering. We're suffering every month, and every month, more and more of our retirees are moving on. Thank you
so much. The next caller is Mr. Rue, aka Mr. Real, Mr. Crowley, yeah, it's about time. No, come July the first I'm coming all the way with it now. Dennis Winfrey, been teaching in elections for years. D'Amico Williams, Melissa love is one of the people that were cheated on absentee ballot fraud. Now, the mayor is cheated in, the city council is cheated in. That's all of y'all. Did you hear that? James E Tate, now, the next time one of y'all council members come out to our mouth talking slick about me. Y'all gonna find out why they call me real. The school board cheated in and the board of police commissioners, we either went through five commissioners trying to get Nene what she want. Nene won't y'all to stop saying her mama killed herself, and Kenisha Coleman did not shoot herself. I proved it and demonstrated to y'all, and y'all ain't took no action. So now that leads me to believe exactly what I believe now. This whole city is corrupt to from the rooter to the tutor, and can't nobody say I'm lying. Any one of you council people want to come out and say, I'm lying publicly you. Invitation is there, because now I gotta do the Mr. Rule. And Nene won't, what the f she won't. She won't tell her to stop saying her mama killed herself. And Rebecca McKay over there at the homicide unit of the police department, don't want to talk to me, because she knows that I proved and demonstrated that Kenisha didn't do it. I even said the name of the person who did it, because of all the people that was in the house, that's the only one that told all the lies. And what I'm saying. It's a truth, and y'all just got to deal with it. Now. Did you hear that? James E Tate Junior, I'm on the ground. Our next caller, please. The next caller is phone number ending in 03,
a 803, good morning.
Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Yes, ma'am, we can Okay.
Good morning, everyone. My
name is Tara Morgan, and I am a resident of Macomb County. I stand in unison with my Detroit advocacy of the blind members and thanking the Detroit City Council for their diligent work in helping to restore the same day paratransit service. I am also a low vision legally blind person, a business owner, and I travel into Detroit quite frequently, and we really appreciate the work that you did in standing with us when and getting this service restored. Thank you so very much, right. Thank you as well. The next caller, phone number ending in 169
caller, 169, Good morning.
Hello. Can you guys hear me? Yes, we can.
Great, great. I just want to say thank you all for praying for brother Cunningham. P R, a y, not P R, E, y. I got the information for this meeting from Cunningham's Facebook page. I see lots of candidates occurred, elected officials riding the bus with Brother Cunningham. I also see him passing out ice water at the bus stops. I see it all in the videos on his Facebook page. There's still a great need for money for bus tickets and to pay off the $2,000 private loan he got for his new used outreach vehicle. Thank you all for my time and listening. Most of you all out there get paid for what you do some type of compensation. Remember, Cunningham does this from his heart, and he does not get paid a salary or any other benefit. Thank you for my time. All right, thank you. The next caller is Tahira Ahmed.
Good morning, brother, Minister Malik Shabazz, I'm glad you're doing better. I remember at the double chi hotel and Willie Boyden Burton saw hotel meeting you said that I taught you everything that you know, and when I got the posse together to get the killer of Reginald Ellis. That was one of the lessons that you learned on how to track somebody down that's done something to us. So I'm glad I inspired you in that realm. But one thing, one lesson that you missed, that I taught, tried to catch, teach you, was that you should never support a white supremacist that is Mike Duggan for political, monetary or any other reasons, but you still support him. Just understand, under Mike Duggan, whom you support and advanced responsible. He's responsible for looting our people, $600 million to a billion dollars, 100,000 homes through illegal taxation and theft of black generational wealth, Mike Duggan refuses to pay us back. Instead, he's continuing to illegally over tax us. Mike Duggan, whom you support, took our hottest hit funds for home repairs and turn them into demolition funds, illegal demolitions, no bid demolition. Thank you. Charlie Ladakh for showing that even the dirt that he's he's responsible for filling in those holes are detrimental to our health. We have the highest asthma rate in Michigan because of Mike Duggan and his demolition, illegal demolition program. Mike Duggan destroyed records. It's a list that he destroyed records of Wayne County, Wayne County prosecutor and effectively destroyed records for people who were accused of crimes. They can't appeal their their convictions,
right? Thank you.
Our next caller is we see you.
We see you. Good morning,
good morning and through the Chair, may I be heard.
Yes, we can hear you.
No, you don't hear me.
We talk about Trump and his economics. Well, the Trumpian economics have been run here in the city of Detroit for some period of time with you and the mayor.
Let me. Let me address 23.2
through 20 dot 1223. Dot 12, the legal representations and the indemnifications that occur, that's that's really a Trumpian idea, right, that the police can do no wrong and we must keep paying. I thought the police had a union, and I thought the union should represent the union who paid, they paid dues to, I don't know that they pay dues to the city of Detroit to be their legal representative. And if you can represent them, why don't you represent the women who are going to court because they are being evicted? Why don't we? I mean, we have an ordinance for that. I'm not I'm not sure if we have an ordinance for what you're doing, but I'm not sure if that matters to this body. Yesterday, we had a public hearing. Miss Romero shared Councilwoman, and she didn't even wait to hear public comment before she approved voted on and then was going to ignore the public until she was told by the parliamentarian that she had to hear from the public. And it was involving a fund, an enterprise fund to support private industry with public dollars. Miss, Miss Romero, you have three such units in your community. I don't think with our advocate, Mr. Der Hall, we have any we don't even have a recreation center. And I get tired of people telling me what's on the border. I don't what's in my community is what I care about, and that's what my taxes pay for. And I would, I would like for you to address the issues of the community, please. Thank you. The next caller, Steven Holling, can I
be heard?
Yes. Awesome. So I want to,
you know, debunk some of the comments that came out about from Nico Williams. You know, I just want to say proposal. He was the worst proposal in modern Detroit history. You know, it was full of wasteful spending. On needed commissions, and it likely would have put the city back in bankruptcy, you know, it's a whole problem with this city, is wasteful spending, not thinking about just passing bills before even thinking about it, and then even includes the people's bills, a lot of them, you know. And they don't play those meetings in Miami, so proposal, P and I helped knock on it almost 500 doors to make sure Detroiters voted no on that trash. But second of all, I just want to say how disappointed I am of that there was a shooting at the fireworks, you know. And I was scrolling on Twitter, and there was a like five different fights between kids, you know, they need to start having some I know they already have a curfew, but should be after the fireworks. You know, everyone should be gone. You know, I'm happy they were able to close down the parts, you know, I know a lot of people have complained about that, but you know the fireworks, you know they you know, as much as I love the fireworks, everyone does. You know, there's been just so much fighting and violence on it. That's why they can't even have it on July 4, because, you know, when they had it on July 4, the riot nearly broke, so that's why they have to have it on Mondays. But, you know, overall, I think the police presence was pretty good. You know, they have metal detectors, but I still think they need to do more, because we can't have these violence,
right? Thank you.
Next caller is not that. Karen,
Hello, yes, good morning. Good morning. Yeah,
yesterday, there was a hearing about the electric charging stations, and I was wondering why we didn't use solar power, or why we don't have that for standby. If people are going to invest in these electric vehicles, they're going to be able to have to have some level of confidence that if they need to charge their vehicles, that it'll be available. So I think that we should make that a priority and make sure you don't have to have it for your normal power but for standby in the case of a power outage, they have them for the pump stations. So it's not that the presenter yesterday talked like, oh, it was so impossible to do. No, it's not impossible to do. It's very possible to do, but when you're talking to people who don't know you believe anything, and like Miss Hugh said the yesterday the hearing, the public wasn't even going to get an opportunity because it had been closed and forwarded recommended for approval, and we hadn't even had a public comment yet. So it seems like the decision was already made before the public had an opportunity to tune in. So we need to do more to listen to the public, as opposed to just the presenters at the corner of my block Sunday that chargers stopped in the middle of the intersection McNichols and Santa Barbara and they did donuts about five times. All traffic had to stop in all directions, or this poker did donuts. Perhaps it was around two o'clock Sunday afternoon. Perhaps you can check the screen light cameras and find out who that was. The tire marks are still in the street. I'm concerned about all this bombing in Iran. Do we have fallout shelters? Are they? I know we got to test the siren every first Saturday of the month, but where are the fallout shelters? Can we be told where they are, and can we get some more instruction on what to do
the next call
one second. Ari, yes. Member Callaway, Santa Barbara is in my district. Miss Winston, if you can call my office at 224, 4535 and tell us exactly where on Santa Barbara, what corner
we'll look into it. And thank you so much.
Thank you. Member Callaway,
Alright, our next caller, please. Next caller is Anthony s
Hey, good morning. Council joining from District Six, and I enjoyed the fireworks last night. I was right downtown, right there, where they said there was some fighting or whatever. I didn't see a problem last five minutes of the fireworks, so I don't know what that was. I didn't see any problem. I but it's a shame. It really is. It's the second best place to watch the Detroit fireworks. We all know the best places in Windsor, Canada, because they got all their parks open. And I thought that came up in a recent mayoral debate, but we see how that turned out. I think moving on, I think Charlie laduff for bringing up the demolition, the toxic dirt, that's a big issue. I don't think that can be swept under the rug, so I hope he keeps bringing it up. Everyone does on a personal issue I have, I have a landlord, and there's an apartment below me, and it looks like they cleared it out, and the previous tenant left a bunch of their items, and they threw out all the junk on the grass berm. And, you know, I thought they're going to get a dumpster or something, something, and now it's been a week, and they haven't done it. So I don't know if, if it's improved Detroit app, I should maybe put a ticket on there or something. I don't know. Hope that gets dealt with and but they, you know, it's like a landlord with so many properties, they, I don't know they can get away with it or what. Maybe you got to send a notice to their corporate office. And another issue for many years I've had with the bus system is, uh, I'd ask Council Member Santiago Romero for Fourth Street Night route 19 down to No, Fourth Street downtown, down to outer drive and everywhere in between. I really don't think that's frequent enough, it's once hour to the city's southernmost point. I think we need better service on that. If I don't even if you got a smaller bus to run in between in 30 minutes intervals.
Thank you so much, sir.
The next caller is, am swap for solar pickings victims. I All
right, good morning.
Good morning. Can you hear me? Yes, we can Okay. Thank you. Yes, I brought up the issue of the dirty dirt because I knew about it. One of my neighbors clearly has that. I didn't see anything that looked like proper topsoil over there. And so it's incumbent upon all of you if you're going to if you allegedly care so much about our health, but we don't have a fully functioning health department, no mental health services. The charter doesn't say you get to rely on doing if you care about that so much our health, so much you're going to take away people's private property for solar farms. When you have plenty of land to do it on already, then it's incumbent upon you to do something about the dirty dirt. I would also like to know why it is there's a contract to buy computers for the election department when they already have plenty of them. I also would like to know why the city hired premier Staffing Solutions after I went about 10 days ago to apply to work for the elections. They already have my information, and I was just told they're full yet when I went down there, they had a flyer saying they're looking to hire people. So why is this city hiring premier staffing solutions when there are Detroit residents who you're supposed to be hiring first to work the elections, and some people said some inaccurate stuff about me last year as an excuse not to hire me. And Mary Sheffield, your office wouldn't look into it, and you're on the election commission, and so please, as as your duty on the election commission, as my d5 representative, please look into these matters and the dirt. Thank you. Thank you. Miss worry. Okay, the next caller is phone number ending in seven Bureau, right. Good morning. Shelton,
district three
city, Detroit, again, needs to declare a emergency health crisis. Detroit is ranked as the unhealthiest large city in America, and the city has a plethora of very, very serious and deadly health problems. Charlie led we just mentioning another one, this toxic, poisonous dirt that Duggan allowed these contractors to fill out holes within various sites throughout the city
in the process of this demolition derby activities, and so Detroit again, number one, number two, number three, and all serious health
ailments and issues for the entire nation.
Yet I can't get the council to raise an eyebrow or lift a finger about it. Line item 19.3 he would go to these bonds again. You want to give away $3 million part of that contract is proceeds. Is coming from that proposal in bond. Those proposal in bonds are not authorized to go to fix sidewalks. None of the bond proposal or official bond language mentioned sidewalks. We know what it mentioned. Sidewalks are not mentioned. You can't spend those proposal and bond proceeds to fix sidewalks. That's what the MTF Bond was for the Michigan Transportation bond, bond fund bond. Michigan Transportation fund Bond was to fix sidewalks and roads in the city, and you still have a lot of that money. What is what is, what is Duggan doing with that way? Why is he sitting on a large portion of that money? Thank you, Mr. Shelton. Next caller is mea or Mia? Yes, I was calling just reference in the email I sent yesterday titled assemblage, breaking. I'm in d2 in gristell farms, and I, I am wondering why the members of PND and the dimes are saying this area won't have the interest of developers for 15 years. We're right off Woodward, across from Palmer Park and Palmer woods. Also, I'm wondering how people are able to live in the same neighborhood but not follow the same rules. It just appears if certain people are just non stop complaining to the mayor's office that's just being used as a way to circumvent the system for a lot of processes. And I just wanted to know if the council president and if the our council person in our district agreed to break up a 14 parcel assemblage for chickens across from Palmer Park. I believe in this area wholeheartedly, and I believe that developers are interested. I actually have talked to some people that are interested in developing over here, and I just don't understand how PND and the Dons are just considering this like a castaway area. It's changed tremendously with the help of our precinct 12 and our neighbors that care about the area and we want to see infield development. And I just I would like a response to that email. Assemblage breaking. Thanks.
Thank you so much. The next caller is iPhone.
IPhone, good morning. Good
morning. My name is Christopher with a K Carter. I'm calling about the reparations Task Force I would like the city of Detroit city council and the mayor to approve my recommendation of individualized trust backed universal basic income for Detroit's businesses, institutions and households, then all in the household, and Then every institute, every individual and business and institution created
with the establishment of trusts for each
and I also want the reparations Task Force in Detroit City Council to take a step and make it permanent,
like until we get our reparations,
unlike having to keep voting on it, like our voting rights, we need to make a bold statement and show a commitment to the citizens of Detroit and that's about all I have to say about that. And I want to give honors to the brother that was given honors. And please look into the dirt situation and everything that everyone is talking about. This will provide the funding. This will provide everything that we are equipping about, about the funding for different things, because I know everybody really wants to do the right thing. The money has to be there for us to have a polite society as the will to do out in Birmingham, Bloomfield, you know that that has so much interest in our politics, everybody outside of Detroit, we need to make that stand. Thank you.
The next caller is Charles miles,
hello. My name is Charles miles, and I came in today to let you know that I'm still fighting for you guys to get off your butt and do something about these property taxes. And you guys know that I've been coming down there and I've been going through this for over 10 years, and you did nothing, and I ride around the state of Michigan every day and look up addresses, and I see how these properties in every other city taxes is way lower than ours, with home value prices Much higher. So this is definitely a setup for Detroiters, and you guys care less about us, because you haven't done anything about it and don't plan to, and you should fire that assessor immediately, because he came on there a couple weeks ago or last week, saying about the age of houses in the city of Detroit. And I've been all around I got proof of all these properties in Detroit. I mean, all around the city, all around the state of Michigan, that's older than the houses in Detroit with much higher values, and older than the houses built in Detroit. Taxes lower, and it's a shame that you guys sit back and do nothing, and you do nothing continuously on purpose, because you know what's going on, because most of y'all live out in the suburbs too. So you know that your taxes is lower than the city of Detroit with these properties have no value, because you want us to not be able to get any money. You don't want us to be able to get no money. You want to keep us down and you selling rotten food, letting these a wraps help rotten food at these gas stations. You had Malik Shabazz say that he was fighting for this. So I guess his name is just in vain. You give him award, I don't know, pay him off. I don't know what you did, but you sure slap him in the face because you still allowing inspired food to be sold.
The next caller is Bernard monske, good
morning. Can I be heard
here? Can you hear me? Yes, yes, we can hear you. Go right ahead.
Thank you.
Good morning, Madam President and members of council and the public. My name is Renard mashinsky. I'm a daily bus rider and organizer and for the transit justice team of the Detroit people's platform, I wanted to raise to this body urgent attention to the treatment of DDOT riders. And I feel like there's disparate not feel like who have experienced and observed disparate treatment between DDOT riders in terms of the need for security versus riders and tourists that are using our people mover and queue line and any sort of public event invites any security issues as well. I can confirm that in Flint and Lansing, Ann Arbor and other cities including Ypsilanti, I have never seen the installation of metal detectors at our transit centers. That installation was done rogue and was done by basically the administration coming to this honorable body to propose that nor haven't seen any contracts for these metal detectors. May Have Missed it. There's a lot of things that comes before this body, however, the treatment of our riders, despite the assertions of directors, the director of DDOT saying that they've changed their policy, they're telling riders and their security guards that they can sit in the transit center. Myself and many other transit organizers and activists have observed bus riders, especially those that are middle and elderly age sitting outside during heat advisory days and they don't feel comfortable going in because someone wants to be going through a strenuous search, wanded or go through a metal detector, and just to sit and just be told five minutes before your bus comes to get out, this Treatment of bus riders has happened before this director and this maltreatment of DDOT writers suggest that we are criminal element, and I resolutely oppose that, and I ask this council to address this issue urgently.
All right. Thank you so much, Renard. And if you can also please send over what you just stated in an email that would be very helpful so that we can make sure it is properly addressed. Thank you so much for calling in. Madam President. Council Member Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President. Just want to share as well that we've been having these discussions at public health and safety. The director came yesterday, and I did ask that he stay for public comment to continue to listen to the concerns. So I will continue to work with the director and with residents calling in to make sure that we address the problem. I definitely need to make sure that we find a solution, because there are two thoughts to this. Right now we are hearing of folks not going into the transit center because of the metal detectors. And I'm also hearing of folks that feel better and feel safer, safer the metal detectors are there. So I need to, we need to figure out a solution, find a middle to make sure that people are able to go into the transit centers for respite, making sure that that that we are able to make sure that people feel safe while the transit centers and the director did mention that they are going to hire soon. I'm calling them a community health worker or community coordinator, really encouraging this person to be a social worker. But I mentioned in the past the need for us to have a liaison between the dot and community, for us to be able to address these problems and not create more barriers or issues for our writers. Thank you, Madam President, thank you so much. Council member.
Okay, our next caller, please.
The next caller is calling user one,
calling user one, good morning.
Be heard. Yes, you can.
Madam President, I would like to see you do more for the Rosa Parks Transit Center and the Jason Hargrove center not being kept clean, full of bird feces, vomit all over I've sent multiple pictures, both myself, my cousin and nothing has been done. Glass from these shelters have been broken out on Linwood, and it has not been corrected. Grass all on Linwood and West Grand Boulevard in the back of the Valero gas station has not been cut. This is your district. We expect for you to clean it up, other than cutting off phones when somebody killed you about how bad your district is. And finally, I'd like to see you offer new vocational skills. I'd like for you to tell me what council member handles that, and I need you to tell me that verbally, other than just saying, we'll get back with you and then you never do as usual, election day is approaching, and I know who I'm definitely not voting for, and I know who I am voting for. I do hope that you will make improvements with the same day service and bring in more companies so that people are not less stranded or in vehicles that is breaking down already in the middle of traffic with the new service starting. These are things that you all should be making happen and stop the new buildings that's being built from discriminating against those that are disabled and refusing to make reasonable accommodations like they do in southwest Detroit. Of course, I have it all on video.
Thank you. Miss Shea. The next caller is phone number ending in 434,
phone number ending in 43434434,
you hear me? Yes, we can hear you. Oh, hey, good morning. How
you doing? Mary? Hey, what's up, everybody? I just want to take the time to say, Wow, what a difference time has made. Great leadership is up there that council president is all is a fantastic council president. But let's pause for a second today. Should I ask I, I don't mean personally, but wow, did we just get the Black Panthers an award for what they've already been doing, championing the community. Wow, Detroit, you are spectacular. Looking past all that red tape, looking past all that nonsense, you have a great leader up there sitting amongst you all Detroit. Just speak of me. I'm Mr. Westbrook as that native with that canoe on his back. I believe in you. I know you're great. I can be here or there elsewhere, and I know Detroit is great. You will conquer all you will overcome. Don't forget, you've been around since 1701, I keep it so transparent. The thing, the reason things are getting better is because you're being transparent with the basic administration. You're not letting them someone just leave without getting answers. You're telling them what office to go to, reacting instantaneously
however the leadership
is uphold. It will be held with dignity and honor. I'm sure that, because we learned a lot of lessons together in this in this city. And you know, it's a great place to
be, even a little small micro.on
the globe. But we have a big name, and that big name will emote from how we carry ourselves, the work that we do. Council, President, keep up the good work. And thank you all have great day.
Okay, all right, thank you. The next caller is Melissa. Love.
Melissa love Good morning.
Melissa love Good morning.
Melissa love Good morning.
Okay, let's go to our next caller, please,
the other caller in the queue who had their hand raised before public comment had been cut off. Sonia Brown,
good morning. Sonia Brown,
good morning. Maddie heard Yes. Well, first of all, I definitely like to congratulate Minister Malik. My years of collaborating with Minister Malik says he is more than worthy of such an award. So it has been an honor to serve beside such a great man and be able to stand with him on this battlefield. So again, congratulations. Minister Malik, also Councilman Tate, I referred a young man to you who has also been worthy of a wonderful award from the city of Detroit. He just graduated high nurse. He created his own business inside of his school. I would love to see him receive such an wonderful esteem award as well. Next of all, I'm still waiting councilman for you to sit down with me and host this meeting with myself and you and Gary or Mr. Pack and Paul, there have been many on this calls that can still attest to what I have been fighting for over here on my cornerstone of Yellowstone, and that's the right to be compensated for the damages in the years of damages that I've received over here due to water and sewage damage. Please don't just send over here and fix pipes, pipes that you knew were already damaging, that left me 1000s and 1000s of dollars in waste and sewage. Please. I still like to host that meeting. Next of all, I am still waiting to have Mr. Horn contact me back to resolve these property tax issues. I am usually on hearing about others being homeless, I'd like not to have myself or anyone here at hunting aids village be suffered under that as well. The gentleman that made the comment about the fireworks, our firework dose is awesome. It's not the residents of Detroit that usually bring the chaos to Detroit. It's usually those outside of Detroit that bring that chaos to our city, we do well without being honored with our firework awards. I would like to see more community members do better about it through Juneteenth as it is that many of us here. So again, I yield at this time, and I think,
thank you. Yes, COVID,
thank you so much. I do apologize I have not received that information. If you can, please give a call. You don't have to send another email. If you've already done it already, please give a call to my office at 313-224-1027,
this is council president pro tem, James Tate again, 313-224-1027,
thank you. Thank you. Pro Tim
and our next caller,
the last caller for public comment, raised their hand before public comment had been cut off. Melissa love Good
morning. Melissa love Good morning. Can I be heard? Yes, you can.
Okay, thank you. Melissa baz, Minister. Malik Shabazz. I'm surprised too. But anyways, Malik Shabazz has always been a soldier, and I'm so glad he survived what the devil been attacking. I remember being a young girl going to his event on Lynnwood with my mother. Malik was a person I looked up to as a girl Black Power, and he stood for respect, as I'll continue to do the same. Also continue to block the parks for the fireworks. Detroit, y'all did good last night. Also, that's good. You finally helping the disabled. They've been forgot about for years. It's all in the fruit. Them people coming down because it never happened since 2019 That's horrible. Y'all will be held accountable. Cheetah, votes is real. Cheated. Votes is real. I'm Melissa love. Never voted in November 2020, or August 2024, election. But somehow I'm on the voter rolls. I will not be silenced, and justice will be served. I have a right to freedom of speech, and I will not shut up about election fraud. I will have a voice about election fraud. I am the evidence. I am the proof, and I will continue to come and call and speak about injustice and corruption in the city of Detroit that's been going on for ages, like Mr. Ruben talking about I just never knew until now. Pro Tim James Tate, I will never have a voice about voting, or encourage other people to vote for your officials. Or y'all, y'all going to cheat anyway. If you vote, they will change it to absentee. If you don't vote, they will vote for you. The City of Detroit is bold and corrupted, and the time is up for the wicked. It's time for the righteous to win. Election fraud is real. Election fraud is real. I demand my name, Melissa, love off the voter rolls and demand my share off that pot y'all robbing us with no gun for also to the public. They are still blocking comments. They are still blocking your comments. They are still blocking your comments. You
Thank you. All right, that will conclude all of our public comment for this morning, and we will now get to our agenda for the internal operations standing committee from the Office of contracting and procurement, Council
Member Johnson, seven resolutions. Line item 17.1 through 17.7 Madam President, I want to point out line item 17.1
should read
that is contract number 6007223,
100% city funding to provide invoice payments for reverse conviction and non reverse conviction, legal services contractor, McDonald boss and Livingston, PLLC, total contract amount 60,000
that's for law. Contract number 6004946,
dash a one, 100% ARPA funding to provide an extension of time only for computers, accessories, software, maintenance and staging services for outdated equipment. Contractor, see high Computer Products Incorporated. Total contract amount, 1,400,000
that's for do it. Contract number 6005784,
dash, a one, 100% ARPA funding to provide a time only extension for generators at 11 radio tower sites. Contractor, mobile city electric technologies, total. Contract amount, $1,427,745
for do it. Contract number 6006003,
dash a to 100%
ARPA funding to provide a time only extension for infrastructure equipment replacement and Linden data center contractor, Limbach company, LLC, total contract amount, 1,319,000
that's For do it. Contract Number 6006439,
dash, a one 100%
opera funding to provide an extension of time only to replace computer room air conditioner units within the main data center and main distribution frames at dpsh. Contractor, Limbo, company, LLC, total contract amount 936,000
that's for doing contract number 6007202,
100% city funding to provide Economic and Policy Analysis Services examining the feasibility and potential of local option, taxes, contractor, citizens, Research Council of Michigan. Total contract amount 200,000 that's for city council. Last contract is contract number 3083967,
100% capital funding to provide 785
HP. Pro book, 460, G, 1116, inch notebook, PC, u5, 120, 5u CTO to the Board of Elections, contractor, security solution Services, LLC, total contract amount $710,048.20 cent. That's for elections. Council member Johnson, seven resolutions, all
right, thank you, Madam Clerk. Council. Council member Johnson,
thank you, Madam President. Move for approval on line item 17.1 through 17.7 noting that line item 17.1 is as amended. Okay, all
right, we'll move for discussion. Member Young,
thank you, Madam President. I don't know who this would be towards. I don't know if this be towards LPD would be towards the administration, but I think that when we're talking about first convictions, I would like to see an analysis at some point in time about how this falls on the lines of demographics, meaning race. I'd also like a little bit of a historical analysis. I mean, we've been dealing with wrongful convictions since COVID leasing, since the end of the Civil War, and so I would just kind of like to know how that impacts Michigan, how that has impacted Michigan in the past, and how we can look to that in the future. Maybe just a little bit of analysis of the 13th Amendment that talks about that slavery is prohibited except for a crime, and how that has really impacted black people in America. There's some people that say that's actually the evolution from plantation slavery to penitentiary slavery. I would like to see a little bit more of an analysis of that, just for my understanding, as we continue to spend these dollars, I'm not saying I don't support this. I do. I would just like to see a little bit more of a historical analysis, a little bit more of a racial analysis, just for understanding, I know that's a racial audit, but I like to, like to see that, and then I like to see a little bit more fiscally, how that is going to impact us. For last time I checked, I thought it was, I think it's like $145,000 that we had set aside for these cases. I don't know what the increase of that has been since now, but I like to see that and what percentage of the budget that takes up, not only so we understand the impact of that, but also so going into next year, where potentially our work, potentially we'd be looking at a recession, I just like to know what we could do and how we have to Make decisions financially because of that. Thank you, Mayor,
President, thank you. Did you want someone from the law department to
respond? I don't know if I want someone to respond. If I was venting, you know what I mean, but I just really think that that's something needs to be done. I don't know if they want to respond. They can. I don't know if that's something that you should respond to. You to me. I don't want to put you on the spotlight. If that's not what you do? I don't know. That's economic analysis analysis, that's a historical analysis. There's a lot of things I say in a short period of time. So
thank you. Council member young,
Ernie Anderson, through the chair grant Anderson law department, we certainly have a risk assessment study that we could share with you. Council member young, in regarding to demographics, I don't believe we have anything like that. I'm not sure if we have access to that data. I don't know if that's something more for LPD to handle, but it's definitely, certainly something that is worth attention. But I can share that risk assessment with you.
Know, I appreciate that. I don't know if that's I think it's like when you're using history and economic analysis or numerical now, they call it Clio metrics. I don't know what that's something you have to contract out for in order to do that, but I would just really like to see that just don't inform my decisions of how we got here and what we need to do in order to change it. Otherwise, we're just going to continue to keep doing this, and people aren't going to understand, like, how did we get here? You
know, absolutely and through the chair. One thing too, that I want to reiterate, with all these reverse conviction cases, a lot of these matters happened long before this council got here, long before I was here for this administration, previous administration. So a lot of the work that we're doing now to make these changes, we're setting up for the future of Detroit. So it's, it's kind of long winded, but, but we'll get there.
Thank you. Thank you so much. Member Young, thank you. Attorney Anderson. Member Callaway, thank
you, Madam Chair, not to this one, not to that. Line item. Attorney Anderson, this. My question is regarding line item 17.2, it's a question for do it. Is there someone on from do it who can answer my questions. Madam Chair line item, 17.2
mr. Washington, can we? Do we have someone on for 17.2
Madam Chair and council, yes, we do have director art Thompson online.
Okay, we will promote him now. I
apologies I do not see director Thompson's name listed.
Mr. Washington. Do you want us to come back to this item? Or
Yes, madam, sure. He's texting me that he is online, so maybe he's under a different name, but if we can come back to this, I'll work this out with him. You
want to ask him what name He's under. Yes, ma'am, just one moment i
Madam Chair, I recommend if we could just come back to this item. Okay,
so we will, if there's a motion, we can move this item to the end of the agenda. Motion. Madam Chair, Hearing no objections. We will move line item 17.2 to the end of the agenda. Any additional questions for the remaining items? Member Benson,
17.6 to yourself, to the administration or to the committee chair. Have we what new information are we looking for here that we haven't already addressed in previous reports.
So, Mr. Whitaker, if you want to come up, this is supposed to be a lot more comprehensive, going into various options. I'm quantifying some of the local sales option tax. I know before it was more so just on entertainment tax. I thought, yeah, Sister Whitaker, if you want to kind of
give us a this will be Madam, Madam President. This, this, this study that we are having CRC perform should be very comprehensive, very intensive, as the council president is indicating. And we know that we're going to have to have legislative change in Lansing, and so we're gearing up for that. So it'll be argument that should be helpful in trying to perfect whatever conclusion he reaches. We also need some gradations in the amount or the manner in which we asked the state for help. So whether or not it's a half Penny which the council president just sent the report out, we forwarded that to CRC as well to cover. So we want to make sure that whatever actions we seek to get from the state will actually be a revenue source that will be beneficial to the city. So this is what we need. And not only do we need this report, but the administer, we met with the administration before we engage CRC, and they're desiring the CRC to do this report.
So this is very important report. All
right, thank you. Member Vincent. Member Callaway, yeah. Thank you, Madam Chair. I do believe Madam Chair in 2021 2022 from what I can recall, requested a report from LPD regarding, I think it was called an amusement tax, or entertainment tax. And then I came along in 2023 and asked for a similar report. So will this report include what Councilman, council president sheco asked for, and I asked for, yes. It'll include all of that.
It'll include we've got to this report is being generated because of member Johnson and the council president, but it does overlap with the issues raised by you. We attempted to draft a report. I think our report is good. I don't I don't expect the CRC to refute what we have said. But this is a bigger report, and it's coming from CRC. It has,
I don't want to diminish LBD, but they have more credentials, yeah. And so you, you, if you're trying to make an argument to the state, you need the most powerful advocate that you can get on the topic. And so getting the CRC to give a comprehensive report should be helpful if the city seeks to get it's no question that the city needs more revenue. So this report is designed to make an argument to effectuate that argument with the state, which is what you're going to need to do in order to get any new revenue source. You're going to first have to get the authority to act from state from the state legislature. Yeah,
through the chair to you, Mr. Whitman, I've been working with a couple of state legislators, particularly Senator Mallory McMorrow, and she's on board, and understand that Sylvia Santana had been working on it as well a few years ago, and it didn't go anywhere. We're hoping this time it will go somewhere. I was in St Louis last week attending the women in government, the National League of Cities conference, and had an opportunity to see sent representative Santana there. We did not talk about the entertainment tax. But I'm hoping that my request that I made in 2023 will not be overlooked during this conference in this comprehensive study. What I also like for you to include, and I can put it in a memorandum form, to look at the choice tax. That's what Illinois is doing. Whenever they have big events downtown, they call it a choice tax. You choose to come into the city to attend this event, and this is what you can expect. I think it's like 50 cents if I'm not, if not, if I'm not mistaken, I met with, I think her name, her name was state representative Laura Murphy from Illinois, and that was one of her initiatives, and it got passed in the state legislature in Illinois, and it's called the choice tax. So if we could also include maybe have whoever's doing the work, I think it is the citizens Research Council, if you can just remember to ask them to look at what Illinois is doing, they were pretty successful. When folks come downtown and enjoy all of their venues, they have a choice tax attached to tickets or whatever else. So I will send you a memorandum to bring it, just to remind you to have them look at what Illinois is doing, and they've been pretty successful. Thank you, Madam Chair, thank you, Mr.
Whitaker, thank you so much. Member Callaway, Council Member Young,
thank you. I just
wanted to ask you
to me, it seems like was not. It seemed like we're going to have to get two thirds vote in the House and the Senate, and then we're going to have to have a statewide vote in order for this to pass. That's according to Article Nine, section 31 the Constitution. I just want to know, is there an analysis? It seems that this is going to be fixed just to the stadium, so, but I just want to know, just to ask you first, is this also going to be something where they would look to see if they were going to apply this to or expand this to gasoline, to food, to prescription drugs? If so, you'd also have to amend Article Nine, stage eight of the Constitution that prohibits those types of things. You can tax pre packaged food, you get tax liquor, but you can't tax actual food or prescription drugs that are there for human use. And so I just want to know, when you're talking about a comprehensive plan, are we talking about expanding that? Is this something that's going to be just for the city of Detroit? If so, that would, I would think require a special act. So I don't know the language here. Would have to be population based. Do we also have an analysis of what the impact this would be on consumers during these inflationary times? I just want to know, because, you know, regressive tax is pretty Listen, personally, I support the split rate tax. It cuts probably taxes by 17% 97% Detroit homeowners, that's where I support a person. They need to cut tax at this point in time. If I have my druthers, we would change article 977, the Constitution, referring to graduated income tax, the more money you make, the more tax you pay. I think the flat tax state has been a failure, personally, but if we're here doing this, I just want to know, do we have an analysis of what the impact this would be on people who make less money because we aren't talking about a sales tax and or do we have the impact on expanding it to certain services? And then, would this be a state? Would this be something that local cities across the state could use, or would it be something that would just be specifically for Detroit? And would that be another vote that that had to take on time? Madam
President, you said an awful lot, but I do think, I do think that the regressive nature of a sales tax is something that we've talked about with CRC. So we would assume that that, that the effect on the populace has to be included into this report. So we'll make sure that, that if, see if, if the folks at CRC doesn't understand that, we'll make sure that they do. Because we got to be cognizant of our population, right and the effect is going to have on it. I think I don't miss member Johnson, if you have a comment there or not, but, but we will make sure that that is covered, and whether or not we know that, in order to to to to actually get this pass in the state legislature. Obviously, there's a lot of Detroit fatigue, so you need to make an argument for an option that that any city could avail itself to in the state so it we were hoping that the argument will be made so that it's broad enough to be effective in any city that chooses to go this way.
No, I agree. And I just want to say, I'm going to wrap up. I just want to say, I don't even think it's, you know, I know people are going to describe it as Detroit fatigue. I don't think anything is Detroit fatigue. I think it's just, you have a lot of people that are coming out of the side of City of Detroit, and they're coming in that have disposable income, that are spending money at these games, and you're asking legislators from across the state, basically, to tax their constituency. And so it's just, I just want people to be aware of. I just, you know, I don't know how things have changed since I was up there, like ice ages, but that was the conversation that we had. Whenever we had those conversations. It was, like you said, right? Detroit fatigue all the time, even if they didn't do anything Detroit. It was Detroit fatigue. And then it was Secondly, also the fact that their constituents were coming down on them for raising these types of money. And so I just want people to be aware that that's what you're facing. Particularly it was hard enough it, you know, we had a hard enough time last century getting a tax cut through, through here all the chambers now with the Republican Party, you're asking for a tax increase, there's going to be some pushback to that. I just want people to be aware of the political climate. I'm not saying they can't be overcome, and if it does, and I'm wrong, I will sit here and eat crow and humble pie. But I just want people to be aware of the forces that were, the significant forces that we're facing, the significant lobby core that we're facing politically in order to get that done.
Member Callaway, yeah, Madam Chair, thank you. Also, Grand Rapids has just instituted a special tax in their downtown area for taxes. I was just there for concert, but we have the appetite for it. Now. We have winning teams in Detroit. There's another there's going to be another sports arena right there at the entrance of Belle Isle. We're talking about bringing in the national women's basketball team. We have the appetite now. So this is the opportunity when the when the iron is hot, to strike. So I'm thinking is going to go this time may not have been appropriate years ago, but that doesn't mean it can't happen now. The appetite is there, the desire is there, and again, we have winning teams like we haven't had before in a very long time. People are coming from all over the country to these games down here. We know that from NFL, we didn't make any money from that the surrounding businesses did, but we had just had a penny tax or 2% we would have made a lot of money, and that would have went right back into our general fund. Nothing went into the general fund. Nothing. But we had to clean up provide public health and safety EMS services. We had to make sure people got across Woodward to get to their car so they can hop on i 75 north. So this is the time to do it. Whatever happened in the past, that's in the past, it can happen now. And I do believe, I talked to a lot of people in St Louis, from Michigan, this is the time to do it, and I believe it is going to be successful this time. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you
Mr. Whitaker. Thank you so much. Member Callaway, member Johnson,
thank you Madam President. Thank you, Mr. Whitaker, for all the work you all have done, and the conversations in the meetings we have talked about regressivity of sales taxes, and I think essentially, this study will answer a lot of the questions that member young posed. We're looking at this trying to determine how to move forward, what we would suggest to implement or not, how we want to lobby the state, and so I think a lot of things have been raised that we're aware of. We're trying to figure out how we move forward, because, as we've already talked about, we know we have a need to increase our general fund revenue. And the question is, how do we do it? The question is, how do we do it? We have services that are needed. We have programs. We have residents every day asking us to support a variety of things. And while we all might want to, we can't do it if we don't have the resources to be able to do it, and so we're just really trying to determine from this study what is worthwhile. What's worth the advocacy, the lobbying that will need to take place in order for this to be something that gives us the option to implement as a city here locally, but other cities in the state of Michigan, and so I appreciate all of the work. I appreciate the questions, but this is really just trying to help us to come up with a road map on how to move
forward. Thank you, Madam President, Madam Chair. Thank you so much yet. Member Callaway and my last my last remark, we have lobbyists, and we paid them handsomely. So we need to put this on their list of tasks to start looking into lobbying on our behalf in this instance, for this particular increase in taxes. So I don't know how we can get them to do anything. I don't know what the process is, but perhaps you know, you know Mr. Whitaker, or Madam Chair, Madam President, you can advise me, but maybe we can put forth some type of memorandum, going to the lobbyist and just asking them to just, you know, bring it up, start talking about it, having some discussions on our behalf. Because this, this is the route that we're going to take. And I do believe it's going to be successful this time. I really, really believe that. I'm 100% confident it's going to happen this time. But what is the process to get the lobbyists to do anything on our behalf? A special assignment like this, Mr. Whitaker, or the chair to Mr. Whitaker,
Madam President, normally contact with the lobbyists is through the mayor's office, okay? And because the city normally speaks with one voice when it comes to the lobby, they need clear direction, and that direction is normally give given through through the mayor's office. So in the past, the council president and the mayor discusses matters such as this, in that item will be placed on that agenda, on the lobbyist agenda, through the mayor's office.
Madam Chair, through Thank you, Mr. Whitaker, so to you, Madam Chair, perhaps we can discuss it or
and I think this, again, this report was the start point to really have a comprehensive understanding of what that option is. Right. There's a lot of different things on the table that we're talking about, and if we can have one that we can all agree upon so much as possible, we not all agree on everything, but we can all say we want to aggressively pursue this route. I think it would be best for all of us. So hopefully, after this study is done, we can start to have more conversations with the mayor's office as well. Thank you, Madam Chair. Okay, thank you member Calloway, member der Hall. Thank
you, Madam President. And
you know, in my personal opinion, you know, I'm very careful about how we talk about imposing a tax, a new tax on residents that affect directly, residents paying, as opposed to other entities paying. My question is, though, in this I know you talk about the broader base, because, again, the reality is this has to be passed through Lansing and to member Young's point, while I do appreciate the optimism and the confidence I know being up there on that floor, there has been apprehension from other cities and municipalities who already feel that their taxes are too high and their constituencies are a little bit more conservative than ours. My question is inside that report as we look at the effect, and if it may be an aggressive effect on residents, can we have a level of specificity with different AMI ranges in there to see how, for instance, how much would a one penny tax or half Penny tax or whatever the case may be, benefit someone who falls between 30% am I and 50% AMI range, and then as and then kind of, you know, bridge that, or go above all the way up to a higher rate, so we can see how those particular demographics would be affected. Is that something that we could request a level of specificity to kind of know where we where we will be, Madam
President,
I suppose we did talk about how it would affect our residents. So conceptually, it would include that we did not speak in the manner in which you just spoke to relative to, you know, the AMI
level. We didn't speak in those times. I don't know if you did.
Council member
president, yes. Member Johnson, thank
you, Madam President, so we didn't speak as relates to AMI, because the focus was on and is on the greater downtown, midtown area. Our focus has been on essentially more of a tourist tax than taxing residents in the city of Detroit.
Okay, were you done the murderer?
No, no, but just following up. I mean, even if it's a penny stack, a penny tax, local sales options, tax, or any tax that has a direct effect on residents, and not just folks that are coming in this town, you know, I think there needs to be a level of specificity with that. So, for example, I have Penny tax may not hurt someone who makes over $100,000 a year, but it's extremely regressive for someone who makes 30,000 and when we look at our city and based off of the population, whether it's downtown, whether it's midnight, Midtown, particularly as we have pushed to build affordable housing and have a level of diversity in that affordable housing, having some of those ranges in those units and developments be 60, 60% Am I or below? I think it's important to have those conversations as well, because I do find it difficult, and I will say this even from conversations that I've had to just, you know, there is a lot of apprehension going in front of a legislature in totality, saying that we only want to tax folks that come in here, and not the folks who actually live here that predominantly make up the population of that city or municipality that will be affected so but if there's a way that we can have those discussions, Mr. Whitaker, just talking about how each demographic, based off of their income, could be affected, I think that would be helpful as well.
Madam President, Mr. Whitaker, I assume that when this report is generated, and you have a chance to look at it, there will be much discussion. I doubt if it would go to Lansing or anywhere without you having some extensive deliberation over its content. And I would assume that the mayor's office, as I indicated,
the mayor's
financial folks have met with us over this. They want this to happen. They want this report to happen. So I would assume that that we have not you have not forfeited your obligation as legislators by giving this task to CRC. So they're not they're not producing a Bible. They're producing a report, so you'll have a chance to look at it and make your decisions as to whether or not the advice given is sound. Something you want to go, go forward with, or whether or not modification will be needed, but, but you should, I think you know whether LPD did the report, or CRC, or anybody. I think you should look at it thoroughly and make your judgment based on the findings that they come and if, if they are advising you something that you don't think will work, then don't go that way. But I think you need a comprehensive report by by folk who are who have a degree of expertise in order for you to make that judgment. So that's what we're trying to do.
And thank you. And I agree. I think the feasibility to understand the feasibility of whatever could be introduced or proposed is important to know what the numbers look like in an unbiased manner, you know, regarding whatever avenue we're deciding to take. But again, my point was just more so in gaining that data, taking specific concerns and addressing those throughout the throughout this report, to understand specifically where our city is, because it is in my best belief that if it is done in that manner, that whatever the case may be, when you take it to Lansing, you have a stronger argument based off of where your city is, because if that is to come from us, it is going to be coming, you know, yes, as a package for everyone, or every city and municipality across that state. But the argument becomes better. We can firmly, you know state, why it's needed based off of our population that exists, which is, which is a point. Thank you.
Member Santiago Romero, thank you, Madam President. Through YouTube. Member der Hall, you mentioned that,
for lack of a better statement that you don't have a lot of faith in Lansing when it comes to passing what we need here in the city of Detroit, member young mentioned a graduated income tax, which I think really would solve not just our problems, but problems for a lot of cities across the states. Do you believe this is something that could happen? Because I believe if the next mayor, if Council, if we all push to really change the tax system here in the state of Michigan, we would all benefit. Do you think that's possible
Through you, madam president, remember Santiago Romero, I am an optimist by nature, and I I firmly believe anything is possible. But what? What I would state, no noting that these are not issues that are new, right. These are issues that have been talked about for over two decades and shortly thereafter, 1994 when Prop A and a heli event came, this is, this is nothing new relative to taxes here in our state, what I what our state and our city, but what I would say is, in the conversation, even for a graduated income tax, which has been introduced by many, I think even member almost said member vice chair, but member young, I think he introduced a graduated income tax while he was in Lansing, and it was, it is very, very difficult to get that through. Now, the legislature has changed a bit there, and folks are a little bit more open. But the problem is not the city here as a whole. It comes from the buy ins of other cities and municipalities who already feel that they are overtaxed, who already feel that they don't want to impose something new on our residents. You know, I'll remind you, in recent history, when I was a part of the legislature, we proposed a one penny gas tax here,
which fell flat on his face the voters. Reach out.
And so voters, as well as members of the legislature that are not from city of Detroit, are generally apprehensive on opposing imposing a new tax on themselves, not necessarily another entity, whatever that case may be, but more so on residents in general.
Thank you. Through you, madam president, Thank you. Member Derk Hall,
sounds like we should be building coalitions with entities, municipalities across the state. This is something that I believe a lot of cities are dealing with, so this is a task for us. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President, thank you. So, Director Whitaker, just really quick. So you are looping in the request that I put in writing on June 5 for the half penny sales tax. Yes, this particular report, because we have very specific questions that we wanted addressed, right? So you're no longer going to do that report,
right, because it madam president, it is within the same scope that we provide the
citizen Research Council, okay,
I just want to make sure it gets sufficient amount of of attention and detail to the degree for the half Penny,
yeah, to the degree that it doesn't, you know, We will, we will, we will, you know, make sure that that it does
okay. And then lastly, when do we think that report will be done, just so the public goes
well, I'm not really sure, because, as we know,
a contractor can't go forward without a contract. This is the contract. So we're trying to get this through so that we can we can get it done. We have been speaking to leadership at the council, and we have some confidence that will come fairly quick, but no, quick is a relative term,
okay, all right. Well, thank you, Director Whitaker. And are any additional questions? All right, there are no additional questions. There is a motion to approve line item 17.1 through 17.7 we did remove 17.2 to bring it back to the end of the agenda. Before we do so. Mr. Washington, is someone on for 17.2
Yes, Madam Chair, Director art Thompson is on as well as Chris maduka from elections. Okay,
well, we can bring them on now to address member Calloway questions for 17.2 I
they have been promoted. I
All right, I will turn it over to member Callaway.
Thank you, Madam Chair and good afternoon. Mr. Maduka and Mr. Thompson, good afternoon. Real quick question on line item 17.2, after the ARPA dollars expired, then what? What happens to this contract
through the chair? This is a one time purchase, so it's not a contract,
and we've gotten capital funding to pay for this purchase.
Okay, through the chair to yourself or to Mr. Thompson, what services or products that this particular company offer that? Human, it doesn't,
I can answer that. So good afternoon. Mark Thompson, Chief Information Officer for the City of Detroit. Human, it sells or distributes refurbished devices. They do not sell new devices. And so with this bid, we had specific specs that we were looking for, for processor, memory, RAM, all the it fund and human, it does not sell new equipment that met those specifications.
Through the Chair to Mr. Thompson, you said that. Human, it does not offer refurbished
electronics computers,
they only, they only do refurbish. They do not do new. And so when we purchase our computers, we buy a three year warranty with our devices, so that we can always have support maintenance in case, you know, someone has physical damage or anything like that human it does not offer that on any of their devices, it is just the refurbished devices that they sell.
Okay, through the chair to you. Mr. Thompson, Mr. Maduka, what is staging services for outdated equipment? What's that service? Because that's part of this contract. It says staging services for outdated equipment. So if the equipment is new, how is it outdated?
I will defer to Mr. Dua on that
one before he goes through you the I believe Mr. Maduka is here for line item, 17.7 not 17.2 so 17.2 is a contract for do it. And so Mr. Thompson, I'm not sure from do it that can respond to member Callaway question, but I don't believe is. Mr. Maduka,
no, then, sorry. I'm thinking of two separate things in my brain. So thank you. I was looking at 17 seven trying to think of what staging was. So stage it should be two separate things. So we're missing a comment there. So staging services, where they will take the devices, set them up, run them through, just basic imaging services for us, but then the old equipment should be separate. So we will decommission that old equipment. And to council member Calloway, currently, we have that contract in place with human it, in which they will take our old devices. So the staging should be separate from old devices. Staging is a separate service that they provide on the new devices. Old devices are
wiped and then taken over by human it currently
through the chair to Mr. Thompson. So staging services for outdated equipment should not be in this particular contract with this company in Rochester Hills.
It's, yeah, it should. It should say staging services period, but not reference old technology, because they don't do anything with the old things. There's no staging services for the old computers.
Okay, so I guess through the Chair, I guess the correction should be made, because it says staging services for outdated equipment. And that's why I started inquiring about human it, because I know that's their line of business. I know they do. They refurbish outdated equipment. So this shouldn't be in there. Is that a typo? Through the Chair to you? Mr. Thompson,
yes. Yes, it is. So
through the Chair, Madam Chair, so we will the contract be amended, because if it's not supposed to be in there, should it be removed? Because that's the services that this company does not provide, but it's in the contract language.
All right, so we need to check, I'm not sure if the resolution also reflects this particular language. Madam Clerk, do you have the resolution as well?
Madam President, no, we do not have a correction contract for that.
Member, Benson, thank
you. Just as this is a extension of time only, can we make amendments at this point, and if so does, there need to be another type of process for this. This is not a new contract. This is an extension of extension of time only. So Dr
powers, can we just make a friendly amendment? Friendly amendment to the wording here at the table?
Madam President, I would defer to Mr. Whitaker as to whether or not you can amend a contract at the table. I
a short answer is no,
okay, so you probably should remove it and get it corrected and then have it brought back next week.
Madam Chair, yes. Mr. Washington, yes. Madam Chair, if we could bring this one back to the end as well. And I will reach out to Director star to see if a collection letter could be provided, because there is an expiration date for this one for June 30. Okay,
alright, so let's bring this item back 17.2 towards the end of the agenda. Motion, Hearing no objections that will take place, and any additional questions or comments? Okay, any objections to 17.1 through 17.7 excluding 17.2 all right, Hearing no objections, the resolutions will be approved.
Madam President, yes, I'd like to request a waiver for line item, 17.3 through 17.6
Okay, any objections to a waiver
hearing, none that action will be taken. All right, you all can jump off. Thank you, Mr. Maduka as well. Thank you. All right,
from the law department
council member Johnson, eight resolutions, line item, 17.8 through 17 point 15.
Council member Johnson,
thank you, Madam President. Move for approval. These are requests for various lawsuit settlement. All
right, hearing, no objections.
The eight resolutions will be approved
from the Human Resources Department, classification and compensation division.
Council member Johnson, a resolution. Line item 17, point 16.
Member Johnson, thank
you, Madam President. Move for approval. This is to request, a request to amend the 2025 2026 official compensation schedule, specifically for the accounting technician manager three
okay and Hearing no objections, the one resolution will be approved
under resolution,
Council Member Johnson, on behalf of Council President Mary Sheffield, a resolution line item 17, point 17. Council member Johnson,
thank you, Madam President. Move for approval. This is a resolution extending the Detroit reparations Task Force.
Okay. Motion has been made in discussion. Member Benson,
alright. Thank you. Just glad
to see that we continue to move forward with this. And this is a huge heavy lift. This resolution also calls for the budget to be rolled over. Do we have an update on where the task force stands with the expenditures and balance of that budget as approved for the task
force. We have someone here from the reparations Task Force.
He can mention that, yeah, thank you through the Chair. I'm Evan Doherty. I'm the project manager for the Detroit reparations Task Force. The current budget that we have now is about $180,000 left over. So we were given leave 350,000 to start. We did in March of last year, received an additional 66,000 our budget right now is about 180,000 remaining.
Okay, and that'll be enough to take you through the yes, we're confident that it will, and we be able to get everything you need done by the October
through the Chair. Yes, that's the date that our writer requested, and that's what our members as well came to an agreement on,
okay? And then, when will we see this balanced budget in writing? I'd like to trust but also like to
verify for sure through the chair we presented at the internal operations committee, we shared this specific numbers, and I have those. I can send them to you directly and send them to all the members of the council body. All
right. Fantastic. Thank you very much. Thank you
council member, Young.
Thank you, man. Can you give us a percentage about how far you guys think you're along in terms of being able to produce a full report? Are you 30% long? 3540
55, Chair. I feel like we're personally talking, I think we're about 75% done. I think we came to our recommendations and agreements. We just had a public meeting on Saturday, and there was additional feedback that we got. So we did pass a motion to end all additional information by July 31 so right now we're just, you know, in the process of showing our recommendations to the public, making sure that, you know, we've crossed all the bases, and we're not leaving anybody else's ideas out again, cutting off any new information by July 31 and then October, you know, gives us that time to make sure everything is completed. But yeah, personally, I would say about 75% I don't
want to get too ahead of myself. I just want to ask it, just for my cute bone personal curiosity here. But have we had the discussions in terms of race based versus lineage based reparations at all? Have we had the discussion in terms of land versus cash payments or versus, I think it'd be cryptocurrency? Have those discussions been used? If it had at all? Will that be in the report, or is that just something you the discussion had? But you don't think
that definitely? So one thing that we've done is put out our eligibility survey to let the people decide. So there are questions on there to deal directly with that. Want to get the feedback from the public. First and foremost, a lot of the members have spoken about, and
they'll be after you put out the report, right, right. That won't be like during or before you put the report out. Then you'll do the survey right, right, and
those surveys out now, yeah,
and so that'll be included in our report as well the data from the survey. A lot of members have talked about, you know, just the legal action that may be taken against us. Remember, for was here in February, she brought that up, and a lot of members have been speaking about tailoring our recommendations to be race based in the impact, but not necessarily in the language, so that that's something that you know we'll be able to withstand. Thank you, Madam
Chair. Thank you Madam Chair. Thank you
council member. Calloway, thank you so much. Thank you so much, Batman, for all the work that you've done. We know that it's been a heavy lift. We know there's been a lot of movement on the reparations task force in terms of those who originally served and those who are serving now. I've watched it since day one, and I come to some of your meetings, so I just wasn't here last Wednesday. I watched it when I was in St Louis, and had I been here, I would have thanked you personally for all the work that you've done to gird it up and to keep it connected and keep it going in a positive direction. So thank you so much for your leadership, and I'm looking forward to the end report. Thank you for all thank you work. Thank you. Thank you. It's greatly appreciated Absolutely. Thank you, Madam
Chair, thank you. And I want to thank you as well, and all of the members of the task force, it's been a long time coming, made a lot of changes and improvements to the task force. So thank you all for the work that you're doing and looking forward to the final report. So All right, thank you. Thank you. All right. Is there any objections to 17 point 17? Hearing, no objections, the one resolution will be approved. Madam Chair, can you attach a waiver please? Okay? Hearing, no objections, a waiver will be attached to 17 point 17 for the planning and development committee from Office of Development and grants. Actually, that's not correct.
Okay? Yes, it is Office of Development
and grants. Yes, you are correct, Madam President, council president pro tem James Tate, a resolution noting that this line item was postponed from last week formal session.
All right, thank you so much. Pro Tempe, Madam
President, I move approval of line item 18.1, noting that I do believe there's still a few questions from colleagues that will be posed to the administration.
Okay, we can open it up for discussion. Do we have someone on mr. Washington?
Yes. Madam Chair, we do have Rebecca labo. Member waters,
all right, thank you Good morning, and I will start with council. Member
waters, all right, so thank you law Madam President. I just have a couple questions regarding the loan. We did upload something in the East Grand asking that you approve $10 million for the purpose of rehabbing some of the 700 occupied land Bay homes. And through our knowledge, based on our research, there's nothing that prohibits HRV from doing that. So maybe you can answer this question, does that the federal government prohibit the city of Detroit from using HUD 108 loans to start housing ownership programs.
Rebecca love HRD and through Madam Chair, may I ask a clarifying question council member waters is the your question is regarding single family structures for home ownership, specifically that are land bank owned.
I can't hear. I didn't I'm sorry, I didn't hear some sort of structure you said
we thank you. Is your question regarding whether the 108 funds can be used for single family, land bank owned properties for home ownership?
Well, yes. And you know, we use the dollars to rehab those homes, and, of course, with the understanding that you can set up the program so that the people are able to repay the loan, we understand that they have to be repaid. But that's, that's the idea,
understood. Thank you. So through Madam Chair, Council Member waters, there is no prohibition in the HUD regulations against using the 108 program for land bank owned properties, as we've currently proposed the program it is for. It's aligned with HUD's guidelines for underwriting, and their guidelines for underwriting are for specifically income producing properties, so where there is rent to be paid and that rent can be used to repay the loan. So we would have to look into with HUD, whether they would approve underwriting for home ownership using a different set of underwriting standards than what they typically use. But there's no prohibition against homeownership specifically, or, you know, land bank owned property being supported with 108
No, no prohibition on rehabbing the homes or anything like that. That is, that is up to you all, are you able to look into that? And because it is really important, we have about 700 occupied land bank homes, and I'd like to see them end up with the home ownership as you know, there are certain criteria they have to meet in order to remain in those homes. And I'm not sure where some of them are, but I think this is a unique opportunity to at least extract 10 million of those those dollars and allow it to be used for rehabbing those homes, or 700 homes.
Yes, that's something we can certainly look into with HUD. I will say the transaction costs of doing the 108 loans are high, because every loan is really two loans. It's a loan from HUD to the city and then the city into the project. So it can get very expensive to use for small projects, which is why we typically see it used for, you know, a larger commercial or multi family. But I think we're open to being creative and working with you and HUD to see if there's a way for the program to work for home ownership,
you're willing to take a look at it, right? Yes, yes. You know, I just don't want to see all of these people end up, you know, homeless or whatever. I don't I want to go forward. You know, of course, we could certainly use more dollars for the other habitable ones that it's about 1400 of those. But I'm willing to say at least if we can do the 700 occupied ones help them to become homeowners with the understanding that they have to repay the loan. But I believe that's a program that HRD can set up if you're willing to do that, if you have it, you know,
yeah, I think it's, it's something we could discuss with HUD and look at more, more specifically. So there's, you know, to your question, specifically, there's not any reason why they couldn't be used for that legally in the program and how it's set up. It's really just a practical question of you know, whether it would be overly burdensome to those residents. But we're open to looking into the solution,
right? Well, I look forward to further discussions regarding this, and I hope that that we can come up with a resolution for that. Okay, thank you. All right, thank you.
Thank you, Alex, any additional member? Young,
yeah, um, you're just kind of telling me, like, what this program means in terms of the overall portfolio, because look, roughly, it's like 266,000
households. Okay, it's like 242,000
homes that are available. I think it's like roughly 24,000 it's like a 9% gap. Forgive me, Beth is like, not my strong suit here. So I am not a math leader, but it's 9% now, from my understanding, from the investment that we made, that number has gone from roughly 24,000 to roughly 20,000 so maybe about from 9% that gap to 7% can you tell me how this program kind of works towards closing that overall gap between the houses that are available and the houses that are needed For the people who need them the most. And what would happen didn't have this program available towards you meeting me that goal in your 510, 15, you know, 20 year, you know, whatever you know, years you have, nor hit it. Yeah,
through madam president to council member young, we are working towards
two simultaneous goals, to preserve another 10,000 units of affordable housing and to create 3000 new now by 2030 and the preservation is equally important, because the goal is to make sure that we are Not losing more homes to building quality issues or foreclosure then, and
that's what you mean, and that's what you mean Preserve. You mean making sure those houses are habitable. They might not have been habitable before, but now they are having so you need preservation. You talk about people actually being able to live in them because they're habitable now,
correct, correct, both habitable and continue to be affordable if they are restricted. So we currently have
close to 24,000
affordable units in the city, and we are, you know, we've set these goals based on market analysis that was completed by external consultants with lots of input from the, you know, census data and the development community about what's a feasible pipeline. And so this program in particular, although it's the funds, are not equivalent to the other types of funding that we have, because they are loan product and not gap funding, we're talking about more than doubling the total resources that we would have available for affordable housing and expanding what's possible to support through the pipeline from an estimated 1200 units to 2200 units that we can support using these sources over the next five years. So we do see this being a tool, especially given uncertainty around other funding sources. And right now we're seeing, I should mention that HUD seems to be continuing to support this program in particular, even under the new administration. And so we see this as a really important tool that we want to take advantage of, that can make a sizable dent in the goals that we have around housing production and preservation.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Member Johnson,
thank you, Mr. President. So can you speak to you said preservation of 10,000 units? Are they all apartment complexes? I
Yes, Madam Chair, the 10,000 unit goal is based on largely multi family that we know are in need of preservation, but it does include some affordable units of other types, like town homes or even single family affordable rentals like scatter sites that are developed throughout the city. So we're looking to preserve the affordability of you know, any affordable unit that is is serving low income Detroiters through that goal.
Thank you. Can you share where those properties are? I'm sure you don't have that now, but if you can share that and my question, my other question to you is, does HRD work with BC on quality of the product when it is being developed? I feel like we are continually providing resources for the preservation of more, I will say, newer properties that have been developed in the city. And so it makes me wonder what the quality of the product is when it is developed, and do we monitor that? Do we have any input, any involvement in the quality of work that's being developed throughout the city on on new construction, correct? When the city is providing some resources,
yeah, when we are funding
the construction of new homes, we do have a construction team who will review all of those plans really specifically for alignment with has requirements, because it's it's most often HUD funding that we're putting in, although they'll review things that we may be funding with local funds or ARPA funds in a similar fashion, using those same standards to ensure that They are compliant with accessibility requirements and unit size and overall quality. You know that they're investing a sufficient amount into the units, and that their trade payment breakdown of what they're saying they're going to spend on aligns with the plans. So we do have an additional layer of review in HRD in addition to be seeds review when we're funding.
So the challenge that I have with continuing to provide funding for these types of properties is I have several scattered site development projects in District Four that if I drive through an area, many of them are have been they've had a fire. I will say that I've had constituents reach out to me addressing the issues within their properties that are essentially challenges from the way they were built. Um, we, any of us, could probably drive through a scatter site housing project and see that the roofs need to be replaced. So it makes me wonder if we're using low quality material to quickly assemble something that will not last very long. That then brings us back to this position of having to invest additional dollars as opposed to building something that is more quality, and in the long run, investing fewer dollars, but still having the lower AMI rental units provided and available. So I think we need to, as a city, have a higher standard for what we provide financial support for, and then I do just want to say thank you for responding to my emails relative to utilizing the dollars outside of the greater downtown. I say greater downtown and midtown. I should have also included cork town, to be honest. But I'm not altogether understanding the point system that you're looking to assign. I just based on the information, there was not enough information for me to feel comfortable with moving forward in support of an application that appears to support neighborhood development or preservation, because it it could just be one point out of 100 that they receive because they are in a neighborhood. So it wasn't specific enough for me to be able to say, okay, that answered my question, or resolve that issue that I had, relative to encouraging and providing more support for neighborhood commercial or, I'm sorry, neighborhood residential development or preservation.
Um, yeah, I'm happy to share that. So our we do have the map of greater downtown, which I believe I shared. It does include pork town and midtown up through new center, so that would be the area around which we would focus. And I apologize that we couldn't provide more specifics, because if I were you, I would have the same question, but we're just, you know, not even knowing if we are set to apply to HUD, we haven't developed a scoring system that will have to be developed, really, in tandem with HUD's, HUD's guidelines and requirements. So you know, what I can say now is that I think speaking with with this body last week, as well as individual conversations over the last week. I think we in HRD share those goals and believe in the value of trying to boost the tool outside of greater downtown. And you know, what we would ask is that, once we start receiving applications, you know, if we do move forward, we would be bringing specific projects to city council for for approval. And so, you know, hopefully, you know, we believe that's going to reflect a process that is addressing those, those goals that that we discussed about trying to to bring investment, you know, citywide and not simply downtown.
Thank you. And lastly, I will say that I think I would like to see this come to us, to have these conversations, to go through the fine details, prior to us having to make a decision on how we move forward. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. President, thank
you. Member Johnson, member Callaway, yeah,
thank you. I'm going to read my statement, and then I have a couple questions. The City of Detroit experienced a poor section 108 repayment record that impacted its ability to effectively use Community Development Block Grants funds. There's a reason to believe that future section 108 loans to developers will have a different result under the circumstances. I don't believe I can support the request and just a little bit of background information. Until recently, the city of Detroit have few tools to attract and support developers. One of the few tools available was under Section 108 which allowed loans to private developers. And these private developers are for profit, and they're not in our community. They're downtown. The Department of Housing and Urban Development would forward funds to the city of Detroit. These funds would be loaned to developers to promote investment in the city downtown, the developer would use the section 108 loan as a part of his project financing, allowing the project to proceed. And I believe, knowing that they would not have the money at the end, that's just my that's what I believe the developer would then make loan repayments to the city of Detroit, which would allow the city of Detroit to repay HUD, the section 108 loan between HUD and the city would be secured by the city of Detroit, CD, DG, the Community Development Block Grants. Unfortunately, not all developments were successful, and I'll give you three examples the Book Cadillac for profit development
one and two. Project loans of $18 million
were settled for $10 million
resulting in a loss of $8 million second example, the fort Shelby for profit development loans of $18,700,000
was settled for $2 million Now that's great, if you can get it, if I can get an $18 million loan, and I say I can't afford to pay it back, and I can settle for 2 million, I would take it. It resulted in a loss to the to us of over $16 million
and the third example, and I'm sure there are others. The Garfield for profit development got a loan, project, loan of 8,000,240 $100,000 it was settled for $1.7
million
which resulted in a loss of over $6 million they know what they're doing. They're taking advantage of the city and our resources. And those resources are meant for communities, for the community, not just for downtown. And this is my analysis. The past use of Section 10108, loans resultant and tremendous losses to the city. The problem does not rest with HUD or the city of Detroit, but with the development that failed to anticipate cost overruns and failed to generate the revenue needed to pay back the loans to the city of Detroit, and I submit to you, they knew they were not going to be able to come up with the money for those developments, but they had that cushion. They had those resources. They know they could count on because they had already made the phone calls. They already had the conversations, the negotiation to me, I wasn't here on the council. Those negotiations were taking place because they knew they were going to have overruns. But somebody told them about these dollars that were available or could possibly be available if they ran into any trouble, which they did. There's no reason, in my opinion, to believe that the future section 108108 loans will have a different success rate or outcome. That's just my opinion. Downtown, midtown, cork town and Eastern Market neighborhoods are hot real estate markets, and not a lot of families. Folks with children are moving into these neighborhoods. No, it's single. Maybe have a partner, but these are not family developments. They're not the Garfield wasn't the Book Cadillac. That's a hotel. I think they might have some living spaces. I hear they do Airbnb, I'm not sure. But those are not family types projects. So we are still pushing people out from downtown, and since we are pushing them out from downtown, they're moving they're forced to be in the neighborhoods these community block grant dollars should go into the community where families live. The role of government may be better served by avoiding section 108 loans to developers and concentrating these limited resources. And they're even more so limited now under the current administration in Washington, DC, we have to be real careful about how we use these dollars, and they really should go to helping people in our communities, and that's what they were originally designed for, but we've manipulated the process so these developers can benefit.
And the primary mission of supporting community based programs and neighborhood developments. If we would decline these types of negotiations or these types of agreements, then we'll be forced to use these dollars for their original intent, for community development, and not just for those million dollar developers who know that they've been offered. And I think the negotiations, negotiations are going on right now. That's what we're trying to push it through real fast before we get a new administration. That's my take, and we have this July 1 deadline now. Well, why wait now?
Now our backs are against the wall. We don't have a choice. I can't support it. We never did get all our money back. This is the people's money. And I believe again for the third time, negotiations are occurring and have occurred, and they know these dollars are there. So you know I cannot support it. I thank you for all of your reports. I thank you for answering my questions, but
we always are concentrating on downtown Midtown, cork town, and we know that's not where families are living, maybe one or two kids, but most of our families live in neighborhoods, and I'm hearing on the campaign trail from our mayoral candidates. They're going to do this and going to do that, and they're going to build in neighborhoods. So if that's what they want to do, I think we should just give the new mayor an opportunity to build in our neighborhoods, because for the last couple decades, we've developed downtown. We've developed downtown. We've done a marvelous job with developing downtown and the surrounding communities, and we have failed miserably in the neighborhoods. We have is sprinkle in some particular districts not mine yet, sprinkled very little, and people want to not live in an apartment with children. They want to live in a home with a backyard that's not asking for too much. We used to have all of that before we lost $600 million worth of our properties to over taxation. We used to, and people like to say this, and we were, we had the largest number of home ownership in this city, and now we are renting. And I'm not saying it's intentional. I hope it's not, I hope it's not by design, but we are losing a lot of properties, and I just cannot support this, because we lost and we cannot afford to continue to lose and I want these grant dollars to go into communities and to benefit people families. Thank you, Mr. Chair, thank you, ma'am.
Thank you. Any further colleagues,
it has been moved. Any objection.
Objection. Manager,
objection member Johnson,
Madam Clerk, noting the two objections on line item 18.1, is approved
motion for waiver
request for waiver on line item 18.1, objection an objection Senate waiver request fails. Discussion, further discussion, remember Santiago
Romero, thank you, Mr.
President, just to confirm if we objected the waiver, we will not make it on time to submit this application,
waiting for
that was the case, which I believe is the case?
Yes, I can confirm that. You know that would not allow us to submit prior to the deadline. But what we will do in this circumstances, reach out to HUD and request order, speak up, please. What we will do under that circumstance, given that we won't have the waiver expired before the deadline is we can reach out to HUD and let them know about our council timeline and request a one week extension and await their response.
Should I repeat I apologize?
Yes, I said we would. I apologize. We will reach out to HUD and let them know about our council timeline and the waiver period and request a one week extension through the chair.
How likely is that to happen? Do they usually knowing that it was approved without a waiver, that it's coming? Would that be sufficient?
I believe that that will be sufficient, is my hope this the section 108 team has been very responsive to our questions and worked with us over the last several months to design the program. So I, I think it's, it's likely Okay. All right.
Thank you for time. Thank you.
All right, that wraps up that particular
item. President member waters, so is this going to hurt the opportunity to get that that money?
Yes. So through the chair, it is possible, given that we are competing with other grantees for these funds, that by that time, they will have less funding available for Detroit compared to other grantees.
I mean, given the fact that that, I really want you to rework this this money and try and help some people become homeowners in those land bank homes or 700 homes, I would ask my colleagues not to oppose the waiver, even if they voted against it. Please.
Discussion, further. Discussion.
Member Durrell, thank you, Mr. President, and I was going to ask the same thing, you know, noting that again, this has been passed now by a majority of Council, and it is something that is to happen. I think we don't want to have, you know, funds jeopardized, and then the particular climate that we are in right now with HUD could be very volatile and allow us to get less funding for our residents. So I would ask, humbly the same request that a waiver be allowed to be attached to this. You know, if your voters know, your voice vote is no obviously, on the actual item, but noting that it is a very time sensitive matter, and we are dealing with another entity of government, I think if we could have the ability to move it along without jeopardizing any funding to the city, that that would be great. Thank you, Mr. President, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Member Callaway,
thank you, Mr. Chair. If this was this important, why are we just getting it? Why are we always getting important information at the last minute, and then we're expected to make a decision, and then my waiver is question. So that means you have to work really quickly to do what you have to do. But I don't appreciate not not you. I'm not talking to you personally, but overall, since I've been on the council, we get very important matters, not leaving us very much time to read it, to research it on our own, to do our own due diligence, so I can make an intelligent decision, because I go beyond what you give me. I have a I have an attorney on my team. We go beyond what's given to us. We do our due diligence and then some so I may have some information. Maybe somebody else doesn't have I don't know that. I can only say that for my own self. But what is not the best for me operating under such pressure and strict timelines? If we know we have a July 1 deadline, then why are we just getting it
last week. I
mean, I just don't understand. So I can't function like that. I'm not changing my mind. That means we just have to move a little differently. We're getting the application in, and then maybe in the future, we won't wait to the last minute to bring these very serious matters to this body. I don't function under pressure like that. I've been saying that since 2022 give us an opportunity, not, not, not talking to you personally, you've done an amazing job just saying, overall, generally speaking, that it's just not fair to me when I'd like to read and take my time and understand section 108, which I've done. So thank you. Let me just finish. Let me finish. Mr. Chair, and thank you so much. This not is not directed to your persons, just generally speaking, and that's why i i will not be changing my decision to put a waiver. Thank you so much. Mr. President.
I want to let her give a response as to why it's just coming at this moment, and just want for the record, for those who may not be aware if there's any there's a request for a waiver of any member of this body objects that waiver goes away and it is not allowed. So just some folks may not understand the rules.
So through the chair to council member Callaway, I do understand the frustration with having the item on a timeline in front of Council. You know, we did try to share information, you know, a month or so prior to knowing it was coming. But, you know, I I can understand there's a large volume of information that you are all presented with on a given agenda, and it's quite a lot to process. All I can say is, you know, we, over the last few months, prior to the bringing them to our monthly meetings to socialize, we had been vetting this with folks at HUD and also with other folks outside of the city and people in other departments, like in ocfo and the Treasury to get their feedback, because we did want to bring Council information that had had been vetted and sort of checked against, you know, our debt metrics or underwriting standards and assumptions that we've made. So, you know, we made the choice to get all of that feedback before we brought it to council. But I think, you know, I understand your question, and I think you know, in the future for for decisions like this, and to council member Johnson's point earlier, before we have loans in front of you, I think we can commit to through this program to bringing you the concepts a bit earlier, before the vote, so that you have a bit more time to the process.
We've had this conversation not just with you, but with the administration in the past, about last minute submissions and questions you're hearing today are not new questions you heard from my office as well. So I'll go to member Durham, thank you, Mr. President, noting that time is at Essence why I do respect my colleagues decision. I would like to make a motion to reconsider
the vote on the waiver.
There's a motion to reconsider the vote for the waiver. Any objection to the reconsideration of that vote action, there's an objection. Dr powers with that objection, because we're now now so like Inception, the movie Inception, because we're now in the reconsideration of a waiver, and it's not the waiver itself. Is that majority, majority, okay? So that means that the the the Rick let the reconsideration is approved,
the reconsideration is approved, and now he wants the weight
I'm Mister President, wait until someone makes that much. Mister President, I
have to wait now to allow for someone to make that
request to reconsidering the vote. So now you deal with with the waiver
discussion. I thought so member, thank you. So we did not reconsider the vote, because we reconsidered the vote on the waiver. So now the waiver is open. The item has already been approved, but the question is now the waiver. So my subsequent motion after that is I moved to suspend the rules section 10, dot 14, dot 2.1,
on the waivers. That is my motion. Dr, powers. And for the record, that section touches on what? Again, that's appropriate. You need this for the audience, so that my audience can hear. So this is something new, and everyone
Yes, with two thirds vote, you can suspend that rule,
okay? And that will be what number with the bodies that we have. Thank you. Thank you that section 10, dot 14, dot 2.1, that's the motion to waive, waive reconsideration. Suspension of that motion would allow us to not to for one objection, not to preclude the waiver. So that is my motion to suspend the rules.
Okay, so there is a motion to
to suspend rule 10 dot 14. Dot 10 dot 14. What is it again? 10 dot 14.2, dot 110,
dot 14, dot 2.1, correct
any objection,
seeing none that action shall be taken. Thank you, Mr. President, I request a waiver for line item 18.1.
There's a request for a waiver in line 18.1,
any objections
Seeing none, a waiver should be attached. Thank you, Mr. President,
Madam Clerk from the City Planning Commission,
Council Member durhall, on behalf of council president pro tem James Tate, a resolution noting that this line item was postponed from last week formal session. Line item 18.2,
member deer Hall, thank you, Mr. President, I move to take I move that the excuse me, I move that ordinance be read twice by title order printed and laid on the table here are no objections that action shall be taken. Final clerk
from the City Planning Commission,
Council Member der Hall a resolution set in a public hearing noting that this line item was postponed from last week. Line item 18.3,
thank you. And I know that was set being planned for July 25 July 25 member, durho, thank you, Mr. President, moves for approval for line item 18.1, and set a public hearing for the date of July the 25th
Mr. President, through you. Is there a time
or just a time TBD,
or I'm sorry, pardon me, Mr. President, to you.
I don't want to I know your team, but should we say time be to be determined. July 25 24th excuse me, July 24 at a time to be determined. Thank you.
Hear No objections that action shall be taken from the City Planning Commission,
Council Member der Hall. Wait a minute.
No, we're done with that. My
apologies, President, Mr. President, Madam Clerk, I'm sorry. I didn't
know this. No, you okay? It's me.
Madam Clerk,
Mr. President, would you go to office of contracting and procurement or
public health and safety? I'm sorry. I can't. We
are 19.1 I didn't hear you say, public health and safety standard committee, but
that's what we are, public health and safety standing committee. Council Member Santiago Romero, three resolutions noting that nine item 19.3 was reported out of committee without recommendation. Nine item I me,
Mr. President,
close yours. Oh, okay, thank you. Nine out of 19.1. Is contract number 3084267, 100% blight funding to provide an emergency demolition for the residential property. 13932, Monte Vista contractor DMC consultants incorporated total contract amount $21,294
instruction and demolition contract number 6005274,
dash, a one, 100% blight funding to provide an extension of time only for high quality instructional educational training requirements for various accreditation, accreditation, reaccreditation courses needed for demolition related activities, contractors, environmental testing and consulting Incorporated. Total contract amount, 180,000 construction and demolition contract number 6006862, Dash r1, 100% blight slash, prop N funding to provide a joint venture with geology, concrete for sidewalk replacement services. Contractor, major contracting group incorporated total contract amount 2,875,000 that's for construction and demolition. Council Member Santiago Romero, three resolutions.
Member Santiago,
thank you, Mr. President, motion to approve 19.1 through 19.3
motion to approve line items, 19.1 through 19.3
with discussion
number one, any discussion colleagues, are there any objections?
Objection to 19.3 waters.
Objection 19.3 Santiago Romero, any further?
Noting the two objections, line items, 19.1 through 19.3 are approved
from the
from the public Department of Public Works city engineering division.
Council member, Santiago Romero, a resolution line item 19.4,
member, Santiago Romero,
thank you, Mr. President's motion to approve.
There's a motion to approve line item 19.4 is there a question? Member, no, there's a motion to approve line item 19.4 any objections Seeing none, that action shall be taken under resolutions.
Customer Santiago Romero, on behalf of Council President Mary Sheffield, a resolution, line item 19.5
member, Santiago Romero,
thank you, Mr. President. Motion to approve. This is a resolution in support of striking nursing home workers.
There's a motion to approve, line item 19.5 any objections Seeing none, that action shall be taken. Mr. President, request waiver for line item 19.1 there's a request for a waiver in line item 19.1, columns. Any objections Seeing none, a waiver should be attached. We now move to the new business portion of the agenda from the Office of contracting and procurement.
Council Member Santiago Romero, 15 resolutions, noting that line item 20.1 was postponed from last week formal session due to time constraints. Mr. President, I will read the contract number and the amounts line
item 20.1 is contract number 6004632
dash a, two total contract amount, $2,131,261.81
cent. That's for public works. Contract number 6006489
dash a, one total contract amount, 682,300
construction and demolition. Contract number 6005686
dash a, one total contract amount, $5,073,875.93
cent construction and demolition. Contract Number 6006098
dash a one total contract amount $11,228,029
that's construction and demolition. Contract number 6005828,
dash a one total contract amount 3,135,000
that's for construction and demolition. Contract Number 6006015
dash a, one total contract amount 3 million. That's for construction and demolition. Next contract line item, 20.7 contract number 6006115,
dash a, one total contract amount $5,418,700
construction and demolition. Contract Number 6005662
dash a, one total contract amount 4,478,000
that's for construction and demolition. Contract number 6006215
dash a, one total contract amount 5,263,450 million, $263,456
that's for construction and demolition. Contract Number 6005659
dash a, one total contract amount, $488,100
that's for police. Contract number 6005660
dash a, one total contract amount, $2,025,600
that's for police contract number 6006464,
dash a, one total contract amount, 1,250,000
that's For Public Works. Contract Number 6007198,
total contract amount, 184,000
that's for transportation. Contract number 6005590,
dash a one total contract amount, $13,964,497
that's for construction and demolition. Last contract is contract number 6004040, dash eight, three. Total contract amount, 15 million. Desk for health. Council member, Santiago Romero, 15 resolutions.
Member, Santiago Romero, line times 20.1 through 20 point 15. Motion to approve
as a motion to approve the items. Alex, any objection, any discussion, seeing none. Those actions shall be taken.
Request a waiver. Mr. President, for 20.1 through 20 point 15.
There's a request for waivers for line items, 20.1 through 20 point 15. Any objections Seeing none waivers shall be attached the President's reports on standing committee referrals and other matters from the internal operations, standing one report from the law department, the one report will be referred to the internal operations, standing committee for the Neighborhood and Community Services. Standing Committee,
two reports from various city departments. The two reports
will be referred to the neighborhood and community services, standing committee for the Planning and Economic Development, standing
committee, two reports from various city departments, two reports will be referred to
the Planning and Economic Development, standing committee for the public health and safety standing committee, two
reports from various city departments. The two reports will be referred to the public health
and safety Standing Committee
under the consent agenda. There are no items, Mr. President, we now move to member reports, reports I'm hearing before we go memory force. We start here in the committee, in the auditorium with Ernie Anderson
for the chair. Graham Anderson law department, it's the law department's request that we remove item 22.1 from the agenda, not refer it to iOS
one more time. These mics are very
much through the chair. Graham Anderson law department, our request is to remove item 22.1 not refer it to internal operations.
We go to 22.1
that is from the law department.
Correct the settlement. All
right, is there a reason why
the negotiations fell through? Okay,
Alex, there's a motion. There's a request, I'm sorry, request to remove line out of 22.1 from the agenda. Is there a motion? Motion? There's a motion to remove line item 22.1 from the agenda. Any objections Seeing none the action shall be taken. Thank you, Mr. Washington, I see you joined us as well. Yes, through the Chair, I do believe we postponed item 17.2 towards the end.
Let us get through memory reports first, and then we'll come to that. All right. Member Durham,
thank you, Mr. President. Just want to invite everyone to join us this Friday, June the 27th from 4pm to 5:30pm for our ice cream social. This will be taking place at the Dairy Queen located on 9151, Wyoming Avenue. Uh, again, that is this Friday the 27th from 4pm to 5:30pm this is our ice cream social taking place at the Dairy Queen at 9151, Wyoming Street. We know it has been super hot outside, so please join us. Have some ice cream and fellowship with your neighbors. Also, we're inviting you to join us for our 25th policy session, which will take place at the Edison library branch this upcoming Monday, June the 30th, from 6pm to 7:30pm the topic of discussion will be our part two of redistricting, what it is, how it affects our lives. And so please come out and join us for this 25th policy session and have an opportunity to learn alongside your fellow residents. Taking place again, Monday, June the 30th, from 6pm to 7:30pm at the Edison library. That concludes my member reports. Thank you. Mr.
President, thank you. Do you have to be a resident of district seven to be a part of the ice cream social?
Now see through you to you, Mr. President, I thought you were going to ask about the policy session, but I see ice cream is on your mind, sir. It's hot, man, you do not have to be a district seven residents to join either. So we look forward to seeing you over there too. President Pro Tem for some ice cream. I will promise that I will not tell Mrs. Tate that I saw you there as well. I appreciate it.
Vegan ice cream is accepted as well. Member
Callaway, thank you, Mr. Chair, I want to thank Mr. Gulak and Miss Fontaine Hardy for joining me and our district two nonprofits yesterday for our neighborhood Opportunity Fund informational session, we had a tremendous turnout. Thank you. We had a great turnout, and look forward to assisting our nonprofits in accessing critical funding for their respective programs. So again, thank you to Mr. Bulaki. Was a wonderful, very, very knowledgeable and Miss Fontaine Hardy, my nonprofits in district two are very, very excited join me the office of contracting and procurement and Creole at Northwest activity center on tomorrow at 2:30pm for the Detroit supply schedule. If your business specializes in security, janitorial services, light duty, vehicle operations, printing or moving, this is a great opportunity to learn how to con contract with the city of Detroit. Registration is required visit the link in my Instagram bio at Angela for Detroit to sign up join me and my team this Saturday, June the 28th for the Free Community Health Fair at the DMC Sinai Grace hospital, located at 6071 West outer drive. My team and I will have a resource table there. We'll be there from 10am to 1pm and there will be free health screenings and grocery giveaways that again this Saturday, June 28 at the DMC Sinai Grace hospital, located at 6071, West outer drive from 10am to 1pm and this month we're shining a light on the halls of Bay salon and boutique located at 19, 146, James cousin freeway. This is owned and operated by Miss Erica Lane, and she specializes in hair care and beauty. And for more information about her work, you can check out page 10 of our newsletter, and you can get that newsletter letter by visiting my website, or you can call my office at two to 445, 35 and also, my office is partnering with urge development for a skilled trades job fair on Saturday, July the 12th, from 11am to 2pm at the Johnson Rec Center at 8550, Chippewa Street. And for more information about what's going on in district two, feel free to call my office at 224, 4535 Thank you, Mr.
Chair, thank you member Benson,
thank you, Mr. Chair, just want to acknowledge Miss Camille from my reparations Task Force appointee and member of HRD who was hoping to shepherd the wheels and estate planning program through when she was the one that had the idea to partner with library to host More state and wills planning sessions, and that has exploded the number of people who have applied for that program. We want to acknowledge her for doing that. Really exciting to see more and more Detroiters sign up for the estate planning workshops and now take this process through the full course. And it's not an easy process. There is a heavy lift, you have to get your documents, you have to be prepared to work. And now we're seeing far more residents participate in this program, looking forward to the next step, which hopefully will be dpscd partnering with the estate and wills planning program to ensure that our young families, small children, new families, also are able to protect their families, wealth and their estates via this free service as carried out by the city of Detroit. Thank you.
Thank you. And they actually came on to our d1 monthly meeting, did a tremendous job, so hopefully they actually helped boost the numbers as well.
And Mr. Chair, what I was remiss the numbers and the ones that direct result have skyrocketed, and so I want to thank you and your bosses for that support and buying into the program as well. This is critical for us as Detroiters, and critical for our families, both new and mature families, on how we protect our generational wealth. Thank you. Thank you
for the program. Member Benson. Member Johnson,
no report.
Thank you. Member Santiago Romero, thank
you, Mr. President. Just want to invite everyone to join us this Thursday, June 26 for our coffee Council and conversation at 11am we are going to be at the Michigan central in the study, so come with your questions and enjoy coffee and donuts on us. Also want to share that our monthly hours will continue in July. Please stop by if you have any questions or concerns for us. We're going to be at the patent rec center on Monday, July 7, from four to 6pm with the Office of ombudsman, and we are also partnering with the OCPs office for a Detroit supply schedule outreach event on July 9, at 4pm this will be virtual. We will have information on our social media and our newsletters, but this will be an opportunity to learn about how to secure long term contracts in things like security, janitorial service, vehicle supply and more. Thank you, Mr. President,
thank you. Member waters,
Thank you. Member Young.
Member Young. Thank
you. I just wanted to say, I don't have any report. I just wanted to say, is it too late for me to be able to join council president on line item 19.5 there's a motion. I like to make a motion to be able to join council president on 19.5
there's a motion for member young to join council president on line item 19.5 as well as member waters, any objections colleagues Seeing none, that action shall be taken. Member Young, thank you.
And I also want to thank member waters and the rest of my colleagues for a very successful evening council meeting. And I also want to thank member Callaway for letting us meet in her districts. Wednesday last week, in partnership with Eastern Market, we passed out food boxes at bustle, and they were out in 15 and we were out in 15 minutes. So I want to thank the community. I want to thank the funds of staff. I want to thank my staff personally for a great turnout. Thank you, Mr. President, thank you.
I have no memory reports, so we have now concluded memory reports. So let's go to that item that mister Washington was looking to bring back. What What line I missed that again,
Mister President, that will be line item 17.2
alright, line item 17.2
Washington, who do you have to provide us
information? Sir, yes, through the chair we have director R Thompson. Thompson online and just also noting, excuse me, that the correction letter was sent as well for this item.
Director Thompson, please introduce yourself for the
record. Good afternoon. Our Thompson, Chief Information Officer here at the city of
Detroit, the question
ask again. Or do you have information? You can
provide just information, as Mr. Washington had stated, There was a correction done, and that now reads that this will just be for extension, for time of time only, for computers, accessory, software maintenance and staging services, so there will be no disposal. And that is now in the revised document,
it has been sent to the clerk's office as well.
Yes, Mr. Washington, if you would just confirm that, too for me, if you don't mind, sir,
