All right. Good morning everyone. We will now call to order the regular session of Tuesday March the 14th. To order and Madam Clerk if you can please call the row, consumer Miska business constantly referred to customer Leticia Janssen customer Gabriela Santiago Ramiro constantly waters rising customer Angela Whitfield Callaway customer Coleman Young the second customer supports him James Tate and Casa present Mary Sheffield president.
We have a quorum present Madam President.
Thank you, Madam Clerk. There being a quorum. We are now in session, and we're gonna go straight to our invocation for this morning. We have joining us Minister Keisha Ward from third new hope Baptist church located in district seven. Good morning.
Good morning. Thank you so much for this opportunity. Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we bless you and honor you God for this being the day of God that you have made. Lord as we gather for this meeting to conduct business for the city and the citizens of Detroit. I pray that you would establish and set the room in order that you would bless our council president and the city council president pro tem and all of the council members oh god and the districts they represent. Bless our city council members at large bless their families. Oh god that have to sacrifice Oh God, while they are in the room making decisions bless all of the staff who work diligently behind the scenes with a spirit of excellence. Bless Mayor Duggan Oh God and his staff. Now God bless this agenda and all the matters to be discussed. Bless the council as they stand as a liaison between people and politics. Charters, constitutions and citizens. And as they bridge the gap between problems and solutions, we ask God that you had breathed on us revive our city and let it begin in this room. Let the divine decisions make made in this room make a definitive difference. Oh God let every voice matter and that every voice be heard and respected. Let progress be made. And when we leave this room, man we feel empowered and encouraged and engaged to be the city that you have called us to be oh god and let us be the best that we can be and we know that this is possible with your power. In Jesus name. Amen.
All right, Minister ward. Very powerful. We appreciate you for blessing us this morning. And feel free to hang around if you can during our session. And if you have to drop off we do understand but thank you so much for the beautiful invocation this morning. Thank you God bless you all. God bless you as well. All right, we are going to proceed with our agenda. The Journal of the session of Tuesday February the 28th 2023 will be approved. There being no reconsiderations or unfinished business. We will proceed to the budget Finance and Audit standing committee for the budget. Presents. Yes, yes, Mr. Quarterly.
Yes. Yeah. Thank you so much, Madam President. Sorry, interrupt the line item 8.5 which is a neighborhoods Would you please refer that to budget finance? And audit? That's a bfma. Item. Thank you.
Okay, no problem. Thank you, Mr. Corley. So Mr. Clark, you want to continue with referring budget first?
Sure. Madam president eight reports from various various city departments noting the addition of line item 8.5.
All right. Thank you. For the public health and safety. Do you have a
question? Yeah. Okay. Go ahead. No, I was saying no. Once I get to the clerk so go,
oh, no, yeah, it's right. You see on the quarterly is still there? Yes, I am, sir. You saw my line out of 8.5? Yes. I had no problem with it. But uh, you know, did you I would just have liked to like to receive some sort of, you know, info that that's what you were doing. That's what you want to do. Just so I know, because coming out of my community going to that can be.
Madam President, thank you for that. This item has been in my budget passes audit for a couple of weeks, and in fact, it was coming back next week. But since this line item 8.5 is a response from the administration. To your memo on this issue. That's why I thought it was prudent to have it referred to budget functionality.
No, I'm not saying is not approved. I'm just saying just you know, send me a letter should have a store, go shoot a signal, you know, just just wanna wear Oh, okay. Yeah, you know, just show me some TLC man. You know, I'm saying that's all I'm
saying. All right. Okay.
Okay. Thank you. All right. Are you okay? Okay. All right. Cool. So we will continue to the public health and safety standing committee.
Madam President, I apologize. This actually is internal operations and this should be six reports from various city departments.
All right. Those six reports will be referred to the internal operations standing committee for the Neighborhood and Community Services standing committee.
Six reports from various city departments noting the removal of line item 8.506 reports
will be referred to the Neighborhood and Community Services standing committee for the Planning and Economic Development standing committee.
Three reports from various city departments.
The three reports will be referred to the Planning and Economic Development standing committee for the public health and safety standing committee
nine reports from various city departments and nine reports will
be referred to the public health and safety standing committee. We will now move to the voting action matters. Under other matters,
we are no I was reading president
under communications from the mayor and other governmental officials in agency there are no one was mental president. All right. Thank you. We will now call for public comment and we have a 20 in person and how much online 30 Online Okay, so everyone will have a minute for public comment a minute and a half. I'm sorry, I'm going to and a half for public comment. And we're also going to cut off public comment as well. All right, we're gonna start with Bishop egg revanche, followed by Attorney Bert virtual marks. And then chef Gabriel. Good morning.
Good morning, council president Sheffield. President Pro Tem Tate and the members of this honorable body. The Detroit City Council I come today in person to declare my strong support for the district Detroit development and to urge this honorable body to do the same as a pastor community civic and business leader in Detroit for over 46 years. I support this for many reasons. Equitable impact in housing, equitable impact in skill based innovation and education, equitable opportunity and job creation 18,000 jobs 6000 of them will be permanent. Let's break the cycle of poverty. With this for all Detroiters, the largest, most comprehensive community benefits agreement in history. I respect those who may have different views, but this honorable body must do the honorable thing and vote yes for the district Detroit development. Let's move this forward. I come in peace. Let the future began.
Thank you, Bishop man.
Good morning. First of all, I think that this council has done an extraordinary job of hearing the citizens out. You have been patient you have been respectful and as a citizen of the city. I appreciate the very difficult task that's before you and you've done it extremely well. I support the district Detroit development because we have an existential crisis. In Detroit. That existential crisis is born out of apathy. It's born out of violence is born out of a lack of jobs was born out of a lack of education. We have to do something. This isn't about what the developers are going to get. This is about what the citizens are going to get. And the citizens in Detroit voted and created a community benefits ordinance that allows us to hold developers accountable. It's up to us to hold them accountable. We need something to move our community forward. This is it. Let's hold them accountable. Let's make sure that the citizens who should benefit actually do benefit. And I just want to say that again. I think that you've done an extraordinary job. You've been patient and respectful to the citizens and I understand their frustration. I understand their skepticism, but we need to move forward. Thank you.
Thank you.
Jeff Gabriel.
Yes, good morning. So I also support this district proposal. I represent the food service right. I believe that this is going to bring more jobs for the people that are in the food industry as well as other brothers that are here. That's behind me. There's a lot of things that I see with this district proposal that's going on. I mean, I got this thing here. That's Potter, my neighborhood. I don't know if this money is going to everything that I hear. I still get bits and pieces and I'm still learning all about it. But if it has to do with sidewalks, lawn cutting, and everything else that make this city operate on foreign soil I have to say,
All right, thank you. We appreciate you. Dara Lewis, followed by Malik Shelton, followed by Bob Carmit. Just press the bottom of the microphone. There you go.
Good morning, Darrell Lewis. I'm an electrician for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local
58.
I live in district two. Let's put Detroiters to work in our city. Let's put the chargers to work in our city and construction projects.
We love our city we want our city to thrive. And I believe that this would be a great opportunity to do so. So we support the district of Detroit and we hope you do as well.
All right, thank you. Thank you Dara. Malik Shelton. Good morning.
First of all, I must protest that we're still having these meetings. And this is a very important time but your time and the council has seen fit to continue to have these very important meetings which are supposed to be open to the public in this small chambers. I don't believe that this great city can have that type of technical difficulties which caused the army Henson auditorium to be inaccessible to his residence but does matter but isn't at that time. Also regarding the district, Detroit, in the city charter, section two 113 there's a provision that anyone who was in violation of an agreement with the city can not continue to do business with the city or have contracts with the IRS corporation or company is in violation from previous agreements with the city surrounding the affordable units that were supposed to be built around Little Caesars arena. So I just want to know is city charter section two 113 which prevents contracting with someone who has broken a contract with the city. You didn't put that in the charter just for decoration or to fill up the page or just posted the follow up and initiate it. Also we have to I'm glad you showed up Mr. Doll, not only do revenue bonds, required notices by law but also bonds by these authorities like the Detroit land bank and Detroit building authority. They also required notices. I have copies of them for you. President parish Sheriff you're always our rehabs are three
All right. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Shelton.
My name is Bob Carmack, there was investigation done by Mr. Whittaker. Did you do this investigation? Mr. Whittaker it was Mayor Duggan of bringing false charges on me. These are lies and so forth, do need to be investigated soon by the Inspector General on his thing, because these are this is fraud. He's an attorney. He could lose his law license for putting this and put his name on there. You need to have the Inspector General. investigate this. The only reason why I was brought charges on because I caught him cheating on his wife. That's it. That's the way that you discharged was a Smith. They were no charges. They were false. A deed is a deed. There's no false deed. It was done by the city, Detroit. It was in 2007. I served the subpoena on him. He says he knows nothing. What happened 2007 either does Ramey Lawrence Garcia Butch Halliwell, no Sita Bruce Coleman. Chidi, Nietzsche, so forth. So who brought these charges on me? And nobody knows what happened. 2007 which most of them weren't here, who signed the authorize to warn the mayor, Detroit's the boss. He oversees everything at the city. And guess what he authorized Lawrence Garcia to do this. You need to investigate what Mr. Wood curious. Have the Inspector General. Come here investigate everything he wrote in this thing. And I have documentation prove he lied to you. Yes.
Thank you. One thing is when we've said this several times. We're not going to allow anyone to disparage the reputation of our staff. I cannot tell you what to say and what not to say but what I can do is advise you and there's inflammation already that you know Mr. Carmack, anyone can file a complaint with the Inspector General's Office. So if you choose to believe that there is some type of infraction that Mr. Whittaker has, has committed by providing a report that was requested you, along with anybody can take themselves to the Inspector General's office and file their complaint. So you're free to do so it does not have to come from anybody at this body. It can come from the citizens and that was part of what was built into the operation of that particular office. I welcome you to make that that trip to the Inspector General's office.
I did do that.
Alright, thank you. Thank you, President potentate cuantas Presley
Good morning because it's honorable buddy. My name is cuantas Presley. I serve as lead pastor third hole Baptist Church here in Detroit. I'm a lifelong Detroiter had been for over 35 years now. And I am here to state my enthusiastic support for the district control project. For me, I believe that it's an amazing opportunity for the citizens of the city of Detroit. And not only do we see that $0 from the general fund with us for this about we will recognize over $750 million in tax benefits as a result. And then on top of that to be able to witness the amount of jobs and housing that will be made available, as well as the opportunities for education for our students in both the Detroit Public School District as well as Wayne State University. And so all of these benefits I believe that it would be a great deal of for the citizens of Detroit to see this project approved. And while I understand the challenges that are necessary regarding the history of the past, I want to inform us that we must not allow a problems of the past to keep us from the prospects of the future. And so I hope that you all will make the decision to support the distributions project. Thank you.
Thank you, Crystal green.
Good morning. My name is Crystal green co founder of off grid Detroit with my husband Corey green. Our organization stands for community building engagement and empowerment to come against social isolation and to represent community. My family and I enjoy downtown Detroit and we think that the district Detroit plan for development will add value to our entire city. My husband and I have five children who range from ages 17 to one we have a large family and we must be intentional about how we spend our time and our money. downtown Detroit always affords us something to do as a family we really enjoy the waterfront, the walking past the self directed activities to keep it short. And we're in good company because we're always running into somebody downtown that's enjoying and utilizing our space in the same way. When I met my script, we had our wedding downtown at Millikin harbor and I'm pleased to say that it was affordable and it was beautiful. We also stayed downtown for our honeymoon. Now I wasn't impressed with you know, the hotel selection and whatnot. I'm like, you know, I can't wait till we can do better. So I'm really excited to see that the district was this plan cut. The district Detroit plan for development includes hotels, it supports our green space in our retail space like you know, yes. All right next. I love being outside and I'm pleased at this point. The plan supports our green space. I already said that. My prayers that downtown Detroit stays an affordable place for our legacy Detroiters to live and enjoy with their family. And that plan. This plan seems to make that a priority. Thank you. Thank you. Dante weathers Dante, vocal 50 IBEW
from Raven Delta community
and I first one to say I want to say that I support the District Development. But I also want to add a caveat that I would like to see more involvement in the black Detroit community from from Olympia entertainment. As opposed to just developing and kind of pricing out the current residents. Like another thing I don't want to deviate, but only in black American communities. Do
you see the majority of the businesses owned by people
that are not black? So I would like to see more effort put into like black infrastructure and black communities.
Right, thank you. Paul Palazzo followed by Mike sand, followed by Jeremy Stevenson.
My name is Bob Elizondo, I'm president of the Vietnam vets of America. We've been down here for some 46 years. We actually cleaned up the areas of documentary by more Crim, how we pushed all of the pimps and prostitutes out of the cast corridor. Now we have all this development going on in downtown Detroit. It's great 1984 Coleman Young senior Pick Me to bring the casinos to Detroit, and I went to Vegas in Europe, and came a 600 page development how to bring gaming to the city of Detroit. The reason why Coleman asked me to do that is to bring the hotel rooms to Detroit. Detroit still lacks 2000 hotel rooms downtown. We can't get the big conventions. We can't get the final for the final 16 They're coming. But we still need those 2000 hotel rooms in downtown Detroit. This project by Ross and the villages will bridge the gap from the riverfront to the business community. To Midtown all the way up to the boulevard will afford hospitals may having a $1.2 million billion dollar expansion. It will help the Woodbridge area they help Eastern Market it'll bring people into the city. So I support this highly. The villages have been supporting people with people working at the casino working at the two stadiums. They've done their diligence, they've given people an opportunity to work especially Detroiters. They will also support if you want to open up a business in Detroit. They'll give you the money and have a franchise. So they've done their due diligence. They've done a great job. I support this highly. Thank you.
Thank you for president. Yes, I just want to acknowledge an American hero and so Mr. Pozo, he has come heavy with chest metals today. It's heavy with armor today. And so what most people don't realize is that to those medals, the minis, one is a Silver Star, and when it's a Bronze Star, he has two of each, which means instead of having four he has two but in lieu of a second there's a star designator their silver stars are typically given posthumously. And so that means that that's someone who has braved enemy fire and come out twice and a purple heart which means as he likes to say he didn't duck fast enough. That is a true American hero. Just wanted to make sure that was recognized. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you remember. Mike says, Hello, yes. Good afternoon. Good morning, Mike
Zahn, chapter nine Vietnam Veterans of America and Metro Detroit Veteran Coalition. I've met most of you over the years and it's a pleasure to be here and I just want to reinforce what Mr. Pella Zola has stated that we're here committed to the city of Detroit. I'm old enough I just turned 75 years old. And I can remember the heydays of Detroit when the JL Hudson building was going strong. I remember my father being a world war two veteran marching me down the street at the age of 10. With people clapping and roaring in tears in support of our veterans, and I've also seen the city deteriorate over the years. I remember the Detroit riots. I remember coming home from Vietnam and being rejected. I remember students starting at Wayne State University in the veteran committee and organizing a group called Vietnam Veterans of Michigan. We made a commitment to come into the city and help to rebuild from where we left off, and we've been at the corner of Woodward and temple since 1981. With the help of Coleman Young senior, he enabled us to get grant monies and we brought in the skilled trades. We brought in the Seabees. We brought in volunteers, and we've made a mainstay there that has been strong for many years. And we want to continue to do that. And I understand through the CBO meetings that there's green spaces that need to be brought into artistic, historical and musical events. And we couldn't respond to all of those and we hope to continue. And my three seconds we support your 1500 Junior ROTC cadets intended for public schools. Thank you very much.
All right. Thank you, sir. Jeremy Stevenson
Yes. Thank you for allowing me to speak. My name is Jeremy Stevenson. I am a district one resident and also a union carpenter here in the city of Detroit. I wanted to speak to you in support of the district Detroit project because, myself specifically I am also an individual who has recently released from incarceration. I've made bad decisions in my life. However, the UPC and MRCC have allowed me opportunities to better myself to provide a future for my family to put food on the table and to do so in a way that is conducive and also productive for the community. I thank you all for allowing for the development that has gone on in the city that has really changed Detroit and the environment around Detroit very much making Detroit a Center for Learning and a center that people want to now visit and actually spend time in this project as I feel provides all of those things and then some this gives us work for years to come. This provides a means for us to provide for our families, as well as to take pride in the rebuilding of the city of Detroit that some of us myself included have actually helped to, to take down. So this is a way for me to repay my debt to society as well as to give my daughter to get to give my family things to look on in pride and I thank you all for considering this matter and I hope that you all do vote to support this project. Thank you. Thank you.
John Perkins.
Good morning. My name is John Perkins and I'm a representative for the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and millwrights and I stand before you today with my brothers and sisters and for support of the district Detroit project like my fellow colleague, Jeremy Stevenson just mentioned earlier today. This project allows individuals to put food on our table. This is how we provide for our family and give back to communities. When we talk about opportunities, we talk about these types of projects. You know, we want to make sure that we are assets to the community not liabilities. And how we do that is providing is by providing opportunities for the men and women like the ones that standing in this room so that way they can pursue those opportunities. When development happens Detroiters go to work. When development happens Detroiters go to work, we want to make sure and we urge you all to support these projects because we want to make sure the men and women that we serve on a day to day basis, get those opportunities and go to work. Thank you so much.
Thank you. Thank you. And so all of you are thank you so much for coming down. Appreciate the work that you all do. And just kind of a FYI, the district the trade project is currently in the planning and development committee. And so we will be taking that up soon. It's not on the agenda today, but we do appreciate your comments and we will make sure we can note those. Okay, thank you so much for coming down. We will continue with J jurgenson.
Good morning. Red lines on a map and any number of racial slurs in cartoons and those spoken against us in Eastern Europe against Arabs, Latins, and people of African descent all demonstrate that words matter. When a drawing cause Fox Creek, the Ashland sewer. And when executives and agencies responsible for our water giggle about it in public words matter. The EPA suggests the standard for surface water quality is fishable and swimmable. I invite any one of you have to come cast the pool or take a dip off my backyard. And while it seems nobody is responsible for understanding the threat this causes to the health of our citizens throughout the reason that visit visit our community. This afternoon. I'll be meeting with the next generation of scientists and MLK High School as we mobilize to sample water and pay over $1,000 to have Eagles sample it while I'm here every week and folks maybe think I'm only whining about what happens in Jefferson Chalmers please know that the issues we're addressing in my community cut across every neighborhood and every District you represent, whether it's the equitable distribution of disaster recovery resources, or the environmental impact of things like the bridge or concrete Crusher. To that end, an important agency for this body the City Planning Commission is hosting the water project on Thursday evening, I invite you to join us or a dial in Thank you. Thank you.
Miss Hitchcock.
Thank you. Thank you.
My name is Agnes Hitchcock and I was here last week. Scott Benson with watermelon. And the significance of that is we have an organization that works to hole black elected officials accountable to the people in the city of Detroit. One of the things that really rubs me is that the city of Detroit participated in the $600 million over assessment of property taxpayers, which cause many black people in the city of Detroit to lose their homes and 10s of 1000s of black people were driven out of the city of Detroit, creating black Detroit refugees. You can always find money for projects to improve the city that does not include black people or minimally. So I'm encouraging you this morning in your discussion to actually think about that. I want to get back to the watermelon part so that Scott Vinson understands that clearly. Some people could be offended by the term Nubra a Negro is a SAM a Sambo is a negro who serves the interests of his oppressor over the interests of his own people. That Benson who it has been inferred to bribes from the touring companies those correct touring companies is always a vote for Mayor Duggan.
Thank you, Mr. Stiles sits
on the council without going to jail. By the way, come back every week on the second
All right. We're going to continue amid dowdy followed by Miss Ruby Riley.
Your honorable counsel, thank you for taking time out of your day to talk to us. My name is duty. I'm a student at Wayne State University. I'm also an Internet Project destin and I am in full support of the developmental district of Detroit. Not only is it going to create $167 million, just total revenue for the city of Detroit. We're also creating several 100 $50 million in tax dollars that can be used to garner our future for students like me who are going to school at Wayne State University in Detroit and seeing what the city can become. I think that can really like incorporate what Detroit can be. I know in the 50s Detroit was booming and then obviously when a lot of people moved out the city you know, but I think with this new environmental project that not only will more people move to Detroit, more jobs and more wealth. I think it can create a better future for Detroit and make us compete with some of the top cities in the Midwest.
All right, thank you. Thank you so much. Ruby Riley.
Good morning. So I'm gonna talk about a couple of issues. One of them is when Mayor Duggan had his speech about giving people money to buy property, just sell it. I mean to rent it out or sell it and he was talking about putting money into it. Now, like I said, once again, I've been taking kids practice since 2005. It was first to city they did nothing. It was second going through a land bank, they did nothing. Now all of a sudden they want to send somebody over there to fix the house for somebody else. I want to pay for what I've done. I want the property and they get people over there working on and they still dumb and stuff and my life behind that house. Now either have that move it or put it in that ditch did they get that they did out behind that house? There? I don't I don't need no ticket. I reported to the building safety. Nothing has been done. It's been over two weeks that our current about that number two district Detroit. Now I hear about everything that's coming downtown. Was nothing mentioned about northeast had Detroit over there in Davidson County at area, nothing. So everything is downtown. We need somewhere in that area to you know, not just the other people taken over. I've been there since 1977. I don't matter people coming in. But the thing is like they say they get connect so why don't we can have connect now so I don't think is right. So anyway, distributed trade. We need some stuff in our area. I like to cook I got the best fried chicken in the world. Even in going to Dallas, Texas and Ohio. They have me cooking. But anyway, we don't have no black restaurants. Everything is is at rest now. I want to say one more thing. Those companies just doing these repairing all these cars. It's not right. You got all these open up already. I won't be around cars today as it was one over there now it's about 100
Okay, thank you so much. Miss Riley. And we're gonna have to try out the chicken. We'll we'll take you up on that and see if it's the best. Brittany McGee. Good morning.
Good morning. I know district Detroit isn't necessarily on the docket right now. But again, I'm Brittany McGee. With Wayne State and a Program Manager with Project Dustin. And I'm simply just here to get to state my piece in terms of the support of the project. It's important for my voices awaiting State students to be heard. So supporting the project is super important to me. It will bring jobs tax revenue and just general placemaking in the city of Detroit. I've grown up in the city my entire life. And so it's important for myself and others like me to have a future in the city. And so that is my piece there. So thank you very much
All right. Thank you for coming down. Ernest Johnson.
Thank you, your animals City Council. I'm here in support of district Detroit. I've been coming to the meetings for the last four or five weeks and attending Councilman Tate's town hall. Meeting on the casino and Councilman Benson's Last Night Town Hall meeting on the district Detroit and I've been hearing well, I mean, understanding that what we get is like a pipeline to cut down on crime. Because if we can train people with $100 million that we got to read, and to learn and to get skills, then we got these jobs waiting on them to work. The way we can get to the 51% is to help train what we got money to train our workers. We get the Detroit district we got jobs for the people that we train and they don't have to go to Troy or nowhere else. I think that the council people that's been coming to these meetings. The committee meetings been adding good stuff to like parking and how much residents would have to pay for parking they live there on affordable and I think it's important that we understand that we didn't What 249,000 A parking lot where we a year where we can get 21 million a year on parking lots that we convert into buildings and hotels. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Mr. Johnson. Evan Custer.
Yeah, my name is Ivan Koster with a recent graduate of Wayne State resident of the city. And I'm here in support of the district Detroit. My dad grew up down here and it's been taking me down since I was a kid I became infatuated with the developments and kind of city returning to its former glory. And the developments were a big reason why I chose Wayne State and was okay setting up my early 20s in the city. Me and my friends, my parents as well talking about maybe attending a final Florida we are a Super Bowl. And this is giving us the infrastructure to do so. I see the district Detroit is bringing jobs tax income to the city as well as more creative individuals, which I see is leading to nothing but future prosperity. For the city.
All right. Thank you so much. Thanks for coming down. That will conclude our in person public comment and we will go straight to our virtual callers.
Morning Madam President, the first caller on Zoom is Bishop Eric Mitchell.
Good morning, Madam President and city council. I am here in support of the district of Detroit program. That initiative that will bring economics and jobs to job opportunities to our cities. We just purchased a new facility in district five and we're very excited about the opportunities that are going to be made available. Thank you so much. Please push the initiative through.
Thank you so much. Bishop.
The next caller is Brother Cunningham.
Good morning Mr. Cunningham.
Good morning Madam
President. Good morning Pro Tem Good morning. City council in its entirety. Tonight. This is my second date with my mom. She was stuck in the building of the nursing homes for two years. And she wants to pray with and see who she has been praying for council president Sheffield she's been praying for when we come visit us on the list. Councilwoman Johnson and excetera. She wants to see these people she had been praying for so tonight. She's coming to the nightly meeting. And hopefully she get a chance to say hello. Her address besides being in the nursing home was 13475 Dwyer Street, which is under Scott Benson. His district and of course waters and yo. I want to give a big shout out to uh, Jamie Jr, the activist, disabled activist. They wanted to charge me $300 Just like for a cab back and forth. Well, for $100 a day for 100 Miles is only $100 And that's the handicap accessible van. I was wondering, why don't the other rental car companies, why aren't they required to have a handicap accessible van? That should be part of the ADEA or any rental car company in the city of Detroit. They should be required to at least have one handicap accessible van. So I thank you so much. Council president for all those hand warmers. The people are thanking you and I appreciate you and see you tonight.
All right. Thank you, Kenny. I'm See you later this evening.
Sorry. The next caller is Christopher Harris. Okay.
Christopher Harris Good morning.
Christopher,
was it Mr. Harris? Good morning.
Crowd it was Christopher Harris. All right.
Let's come right back to Mr. Here.
Hello. Can you hear me? Oh, there we are. Yes.
Oh, there we go. My apologies. No problem. Good morning. My name is Coach Christopher Harris and I am a Detroit born and raised. love my city cyber guy who actually moved to Philadelphia and 2020 for opportunities that I thought I would have inside of my own setting. And I'm currently in support of the district Detroit project. Not just because of opportunities but being back here in district five as a football coach and someone who's a business owner that wants to see my city thrive and continue to provide opportunities for these kids. I've been coaching for over 17 years and I do understand that sometimes for universities are not the best thing for them, given their situations and I still believe RCD can provide ways for them to be successful human beings and contribute to the city and to for it to continue to grow. The creation of jobs, both temporary and permanent, allows for people to be a little bit more easy and comfortable when it comes to being in our city. And hiring guys are bringing people on the team like Joshua Roberson And Keith Butler had been essential and getting our generation involved again, because they see people that look like us, helping to make decisions and push initiatives. So again, I love my city. I am so proud to be back. And as someone that was born and raised here that has lived elsewhere. I can tell you that people respect our city so much never even having stepped in Step Put here. And I wish and pray and hope that one day we do the same thing and put our city on a pedestal coast to where it where it belongs.
Thank you.
The next caller is El Canty
yo Canty Good morning
Good morning ill Canty. Alright, if we can come right back to this caller please.
Okay, the next caller is Miko a Williams.
Good morning Council. Wow. You know the same gatekeepers wrongdoers and bootlickers that come down there supporting position Detroit are the same people that voted against proposal P campaigned against proposal P and also shut down proposal P proposal p if we had enacted it in 2020 by the city of Detroit voters would have stopped chrysella Stephen Ross and others from disrespecting us coming in our communities and giving us false hopes and dreams. These are the same people that were around back in 20 in the early days, of the district, Detroit and nothing has materialized this weekend was an absolute disaster. We had the chem concert let us see concert. People couldn't even get in the parking lots because it was too much traffic. The Monster Jam going on. Downtown was a complete mess and all of this construction traffic, closing street closures and all sorts of things is going to make it worse. We don't have the capacity or the infrastructure. The images are bums. They are a corporate philanderers that are trying to steal our money and squander it. There is no accountability. The mayor going out there these the billionaires Mayor he made that known last week and council you are chicken so you don't need to eat it because you eat enough of it to already be chicken to given to Stephen Ross, Chris Hill is Dan Gilbert and all these false dreams and promises and then you look as stupid as soon as they start coming to fruition and nothing comes out of it for us. All right, thank you.
The next caller is ninfa n i n f
A All right,
Ninja. Can you hear me?
Yes, we can. Good morning,
city council and city staff. I'm calling I'm a lifelong Detroiter born and raised here. And I'm in support of Detroit development. And I think district toward development. I think it's time Detroit has the opportunity to shine with jobs, education, and looking at how housing can really make an impact for some of our low income families. So I chose to support it. I think it's time we we hit an all time low at one point and I think it's time for us to rise. And I hope that you support it as well. Thank you for the opportunity. Have a great one.
All right you as well. Thank you.
The next caller is surplus is our money repaid property over assessment
thank you for taking my comment. Good morning. Detroit affordable housing and homeless test for its is against district Detroit is the equivalent of stealing your money and here I'm gonna give you some of it back. Everybody had a job in slavery $15 An hour won't even pay the first month's rent, but any of these development apartments there is no affordable housing in the LH Ross district Detroit. We want to stop being bamboozled Council you know elige has squandered all of the money and efforts that you've given him opportunities to do what he says he's going to do. He never does it. Stop squandering our money you squander it and the people that's coming here talking about their children how to have fun downtown. Look, when these kinds of agreements go through your children gonna be playing paying millions of dollars for that they shouldn't be paying. We want you to stop squandering our money, give us our $600 million back we'll develop our own city. And the reason why we don't have development in Detroit is because we had a black mayor and a black city and the white people white supremacist, pulled all their money and development out of Detroit because of that reason. You people need to learn that if you know learn from the past you doomed to repeat it. They these people don't have to have no love for the choice. They're not trying to develop it. They're the ones that stole our schooling from our kids. All right, thank you.
The next caller is William M. Davis.
Good morning. Can I be heard
as you can. Good morning.
Okay. I'd like to start off by saying I'm very disappointed. You know, we have a multimillionaire mayor, the son of a Republican, the son of a Ronald Reagan appointee, that does not care about retirees. I mean, this man has given $2 billion away to me and isn't big enough, but at the audacity to cry about the our proposal to give city charge retirees $1,400 $1,400 Just to offset some of the COVID inflation that was came to less than $20 million How is it good for you to give, you know, continue to give over $2 billion to multimillionaires and billionaires but don't even give a crumb, not even a crime to say the chart retirees. You know, if you don't do something for the city, Trump retirees a number you should be recalled. And it would be very easy to recall a lot of y'all. Y'all need to do something this year for say Detroit retirees. You know, this mayor does not care. Y'all need to care. This man does not care. If you're not white and rich. Thank you.
All right. Thank you.
Next caller is Stephen hollering.
Hi, can I be her?
Yes, you can.
Awesome. So I'm like last time as a nap member and Detroit resident. I am speaking in strong supportive district Detroit. It is no secret younger people want to move to places like Chicago, LA and New York because they are dense international hubs for business and attract projects with developers like Stephen Ross. In my opinion any council member that votes down idea with Stephen Ross is anti business and shouldn't be sitting in this chamber. Most Detroiters as you've heard, want the development built and a vibrant downtown they can be proud of, in my opinion, the opposition like the Detroit people's platform why teach right back to the bait Brook wasteland they try that I've promoting proposal P the worst thing proposal I've ever seen in the years I've lived here, they nearly killed the Amazon warehouse but she didn't even use any tax incentives. And despite strong support from in pack residents and the AMC project, they tried to go after that. And also don't forget the DSA protests gave Trump all these votes by refusing to endorse Hillary and the misleading smear campaign they put against Hillary during the primaries. Listen to the people not professional complainers.
All right, thank you.
Excuse me the next caller is Jennifer Pasha.
Good morning. Can you hear me?
Yes, we can.
Great. As stated. I'm Jennifer Pasha, longtime resident in district five. And I want to thank you President Sheffield, President Pro Tem Tate and all the honorable body for allowing me this opportunity. I want to state and say that I wholeheartedly support this initiative for D five. This would be such a great initiative for revenue for the city of Detroit, as well as a great opportunity for the residents. I thank you all so much and I humbly ask city council to move forward with this opportunity and to act accordingly. Thank you so much for this opportunity. God bless you and continued success to the Council, to our mayor, to the city of Detroit and especially the constituents, the residents, and again, I wholeheartedly support this project. Thank you so much and God bless you all continued success. Thank you.
All right. Thank you.
The next caller is Raven McBrayer.
All right, good morning, Mr. McBrayer.
Sorry about that. Hello, can you hear me?
I'm sorry about that. Yes. Hello.
Yes. Hi. My name is Raven McBrayer. I'm a Detroit native and current resident from District Four. While I'm aware that we aren't voting on this today, it's important that I express my support for what the CBO and district Detroit will bring to the city. The initiative will bring employment opportunities for people that look like me, while also continuing to propel Detroit towards being a travelers destination with more developers coming downtown. I like to also add that it's incredibly ignorant to use too much traffic as a reason to stand between the advancement of a city that you claim to live. Change is something that's inevitable, and this will be a positive change for our city. So I'd like to urge all my council members to also be in support this vote yes. Thank you for your time.
All right, thank you.
The next caller is Vani Williams.
Finding good morning Can you hear me? Yes we can.
Oh good morning, counsel. Thank you for hearing me out. Again. I do know we're not voting today. But I would like to say I am a licensed Detroit. Electrician. I did go through the apprenticeship. I am with IBEW. I'm not a district one. I am a taxpayer. I have worked at Little Caesars arena for 18 months. I've done some of the affordable housing projects around there. They do exist. I know I've worked with mail. And I've worked on a little caesars headquarters. I've done a lot of work for the District of Detroit and because of it I've been able to put my daughter to college. Hopefully if this development passes, then I can use the next project to pay for the other half of her college. So I was just calling to let you know that I am definitely in support of the development in Detroit.
All right, thank you. Yes, one second ra President Pro Tem Thank you
ma'am, if you can please as the representative of district one, please give me a call in the office at 313-224-1027 I'd appreciate it so we can have a conversation again. 313-224-1027. You can always email us as well at council member Tate at Detroit. mi.gov. Thank you so much. Thank you, Madam
President. Thank you
all right. The next caller is Karen Winston.
Good morning. Yes.
Yeah. Hey, good morning. Morning.
Yeah, I'm the budget.
I don't recall seeing the seeing the five departments come separately and present their capital agenda at the start of budget, you know, budget season, and that would have given everyone an opportunity to find out what these guys did. All these departments did individually an opportunity as well. That's for Chara. Lighting, water. A few more departments are supposed to come first before anybody else presents there. And the agenda. So as far as one comment, that's crap. Oh, actually, there's inclusionary budgeting laws doesn't mean that exclude people you include them. Council President Jeff, do you know that so you matter of fact, you said you were working on an inclusionary budgeting ordinance. What happened to that council president, Jeff. So another thing, people comes from the foam that the firefighters use, I would suggest you send a hazmat crew behind the firefighters. So everybody doesn't die of cancer. We're already dying of cancer. I lost my mom, my sister, my niece. Can you please do something to stop this cancer ravaging the black communities?
All right, thank you Miss Winston.
The next caller is Nancy Varner.
Good morning Miss foreigner. Can you hear me?
Yes we can.
A good morning. Council persons. My name is Nancy Varner. I'm a native Detroiter of 83 years and a very active resident of district two. I'm calling again, I was here before to make this request in support of the district Detroit project. I think that I'm very proud of the progress that our Detroit has made. I'm very proud of our city. But I think we need to make sure that we take take advantage of these opportunities to continues to grow and improve our Detroit. So again, I ask that you move forward in approving the district. Detroit project. Thank you so much.
All right. Thank you.
The next caller is Colin user one.
Caller use a warm morning.
Yes. Morning.
Good morning, madam ship, field and foe Tim. Take. Thank you for the opportunity to continue tape. I would like to speak with you. Mary shipvio. I'd like to speak with you and pro Tim tape. I would like it if you can have someone I sent an email to you requesting to get on your schedule after the budget hearing. And I would like for you to have someone else to reach out to me from your staff. Other than was Karen, I would appreciate it I'd like to pitch some ideas for an upcoming line item if that is possible. Mayor Sheffield, thank you for the wonderful work you have done. I hope that you will start to introduce a bill that when people have to be required to pay their light bill. We should have opened key offices that take money order payments, which they don't they say they do but they don't in terms of dt. I think that's the least they can do for all the trauma they've called with the power outages. Is that something possible? You all can do? And if not, why? Can you please answered it. Pro Tim take I sent an email please follow back up with me.
Okay, yep, thank you Miss Shea President Pro Tem.
Thank you ma'am. Again, I'm asking you to please leave a phone number. So give me a call back. I'm asking again verbally publicly. But I know my staff has asked for that as well. You can always leave your phone number so we can give you a call back. That's very important to understand the details of what the meeting is referring to. I very well may be the one making that phone call to you but just asking for you to meet us halfway and gotta give us a phone number. Thank you so much.
Thank you, Michelle. We will continue to work with you on a lot of the issues and ideas that you have proposed. So thank you for calling in. All right, our next caller.
The next caller is phone number ending in 181
All right, caller 181 the morning.
Caller 181
All right, if we can come back to this caller please.
The next caller is over with
me as the day after 313 days up here in the city of Detroit, the city I love and all the BS blackface political figures which are blackface political figure who sugar honey iced tea. Let the record reflect that Commissioner Coleman did not shoot itself physical impossibility and because of an accent on parts of the city of Detroit, Detroit Police Department officers, chief investigator, boy the police commissioners, the mayor's office and city council that's why you hear me talking about this illegal issuances of hundreds of millions of dollars of municipal bonds. That's why you hear me talking about the false charges filed against Robert Kamek. That's why you also hear me expounding on what Malik Shelton had just said about authorities and as Miss municipality contracts are subject to notice notice notice has to be given for contracts with the city and any authority here in a city. Not to James take you it's founded on what Robert Carmax said but to ignore Billy Shelton and now we just heard the fraud. Edgar van. He didn't have a Trick Daddy with him today. But Mary says do I want to know the answer to what's the status are they requested a hearing?
Thank you, Mr. Crowley. I'm not sure what hearing you're referring to. But we will continue to address the issues that have been raised. Thank you. Our next caller please.
next caller is Betty a Varna. Good.
Good morning, Madam President and honorable constable. This is Betty Barner. Born and raised in the city of Detroit, proud resident of district seven, president of the soda Ellsworth black Association, and I'm here again this morning just to ask the council to end Madam President. To please as you go through this budget process, think about the singers and people with disabilities in regards to us helping to make our homes you help me to make our homes handicap accessible. I have sent emails out I've also sent an email to Mayor durkins office in regards to this matter. We appreciate what is available now for seniors. And for people with handicap. I mean with disabilities, but in reality, we need more. And so we're just asking for help. A lot of us because of our income we can afford to pay for a lot of the items that are available. And we made too much money to get Medicaid to get that type of assistance. So we just I'm reaching out asking for your help. Thank you for this time.
All right, thank you.
The next caller is Dennis Hudson. Yes, good morning.
I am a member of council district one. I am also a member of IBEW Local 58. And I'm interested in putting Detroiters to work on these construction projects. In Detroit. And I would like to ask the city a city council to approve the district, the district Detroit
All right. Thank you.
Next caller is phone number ending in 534.
Right Good morning. Caller five three for.
The morning caller 534.
Alright, let's come back to this caller please. Okay,
the next caller is Bobby Johnson.
Morning named
one thing I want to say is, God said many will come saying that they know me but know me not ask them pastors. How many of them live in the city of Detroit? The district of Detroit is excellent and theory. This is like everything that comes to Detroit. A bunch of promises. These promises never come true. Face to never comes through these jobs you promised we'll never the people in the communities will never get skilled trades jobs that to say our skilled trades are fighting to get paid equal to their white counterparts winners. I want development but not on the back of our children. We are losing millions of dollars of tax dollars in our libraries and for our children, skilled trades jobs that will not be filled by blacks. What I want you to know if you vote for district of Detroit and Rouge Park does not get a pull covering. You don't put something in the budget for youth and seniors and city retirees and you vote for district of Detroit and it comes down to that five to four like it always does. I will tell you spring will bring new life to city council. So you can take that how you want it. But what I will tell you is that you better put something in there for you will depart better get covered. The seniors better get help and the retirees better get some kind of benefit.
All right. Thank you
the next caller is phone number ending in one two for
the morning caller 124.
Yes hello. Can you hear me?
Yes we can. Okay,
firstly, I'd like to say the religious people do God's work but it would be nice if they stay and listen to the residents. City council you're supposed to represent us and do the people's work. Now many of us we are pro development, but without displacement. There's been a lot of displacement down in downtown and lower Midtown, the district Detroit supporters who read your script. Do you know the full history of what's going on? When development happens, do Detroiters go to work how many Detroiters will go to work? We've already created a parking nightmare. Some of the city narrative is that they haven't spending a cent on this. Well, city council spending an awful lot of time on this. And Ryan Friedrichs is working for Steven Ross's are the people he was working in public private partnership for the city prior to getting paid on the public dime to help hook this up. And Ruby Riley people dumped on her land developers dumped on my land I got ripped off they trust Pat and Mary Shepherd, you're gonna take her up on having some of her chicken How about take me up, an in person meeting with the impact residents of the secretly planned North End landing. I second the emotions of Agnes Hitchcock words matter and the words of the Detroit city charter should matter also. So please, we can develop the trick we can do.
Thank you.
The next caller is Renard ski. Oh, my apologies.
No problem.
President need to address this and so today, we heard once again old racist stereotype tropes brought out by black people against black people. As an elected official. It is my job to take the slings and arrows but as a civil servant, it should not be your job to have to stand by while someone a white woman would call you that same racist trope as a direct result of the hate given by a black person to a black person. So if you look at the history of the word Sambo that was established during the Jim Crow era as a way to demean black people by white people. If you look at the old racist trope around watermelon, that was also established by white people to mean black people. And so what you have if someone who was proud we come down, providing those same racist tropes given by masters to their slaves, who are perpetuated those for the last 200 years within America that gave that same white woman who just spoke the thought and power that she could use that same racist trope against a an esteemed member, black member, senior of our LPD staff. So when we don't address those types of racist stereotypes and Trump's it gives people the thought that is okay. And so she has empowered they might want them to come here, the blackest city in America to call someone a Sambo at their job. Now I want you to imagine if you've worked at McDonald's, and a customer came to the table and said I want to hamburger and darky you better give me a some watermelon flavor toothpaste as well. Sambo, how do you think that person will feel that work to be demeaned in that manner? And to come here and think that it's okay, and be empowered by a woman of my community to have that happen right here. It's shameful and it has to be addressed. And so while as an elected official it is my job to take slings and arrows. It is not my job to allow my staff to be demeaned, nor call out that type of hate that haters taught. Now public giving you call that out sometime we've got the haters taught hate that's why we gangbang and to come here to this city and see that happen here in front of my face in public comment for the entire world to see it's shameful and it needs to stop. You can call me all the names you want. But what you will not do is not be called out for your hate and your racist tropes that have empowered that same level of hate and racism to be directed towards my staff. And the next is today is a woman who just spoke and a woman who once again came down here proudly spreading hate. And so I will call it out and I'm going to do it today. Thank you.
Thank you remember Benson All right. Our next caller please.
The next caller is Renard munch on ski. Good morning,
Madam President and members. Can I be hard?
Yes, you can.
Where's the
economic justice and equity for majority black Detroit and I mean, seriously, I'm speaking as Renard resident as an organizer and someone who has grown up in the city and went to all public schools in the city of Detroit in the city that I was what I resent all these projects that we've had this robust development that we had for all this August time this whole decade and some change offer downtown. I have failed to see I don't see any black workers down there. I don't see black construction workers. I don't see anybody on the high lows on the cranes that look like the majority of the city. I don't what I do see on these projects that are over promise that don't deliver what they're supposed to deliver me downtown, empty because of COVID and office spaces on a demand because people are still working remotely and they're going to they said we need all this hotel and office space is BS is BS because the black workers are not going to get the jobs here in the city. They're going to go to the suburbanized. I mostly see white workers working on the LCA construction fight when that was happening, and the same is going to happen Daltile were being played flows for it. And I'm sick of it because we're not getting the jobs were to black and brown workers in Detroit. That's the thing. So I'll close with this. Where is the economic justice and equity for majority black Detroit when people want to harken back to segregationist era Detroit in the 50s Are you serious?
Right, thank you.
The next caller is Marguerite Maddox and Scarlett
the movie may have been
yes you can.
No no one last week, unless they come in about I'd be a good boy. Police can listen meaning they do not give me time. And I I would like to be addressing the when they can come up for the Virginian and members this
opinion who wants to know more? Leg to be repaired will include new and number three I am concerned about the downtown
I can do about that. Making it you can fly complying.
With this we ingest in is okay. Thank you, I'm guessing
right thank you Miss Maddox.
The next caller is Carol Hughes.
Right Good morning Miss Hewes.
Good morning honorable body and council president and council members. May I speak? Yes, you can. But the CBA is a legal document that many speakers pointed to today that would hold people accountable. Well, the charter is also a legal document. And Mr. Shelton has mentioned to you that it is in violation of the charter going into another contract with the religious when they have not fulfilled the prior charter. See, that's why people feel like there is operate outside of the law. That is a legal document the charter and we should follow it. I mean, if he hasn't held true to what he said he was going to do. He has defaulted. So that means you can't go into another contract with them. And if you look around at what's going on around you banks are failing. Everything is and you're gonna go on a two a $2 billion contract and I know people say oh, there's no money coming out of this it yes, there is. We have to pay for roads. We have to pay for a lot of the things that are going on and let me tell you the other Snazzle that they're doing to you. They're saying sidewalks for $2 million. We got to kick in a million downtown sidewalks that that didn't miss a lawan counts tell you that the sidewalks were the reason why they were delaying all of the proposal in out money bond money they had to delay it because sidewalks were not available. And now they're going to come to you and tell you they got this big sidewalk project, stop being snoozed by them and Please vote no on 25.6 No.
All right, thank you.
Actually, next caller is Chris Gilmer Hill. Can I be here?
Yes, you can.
Hi, my name is Chris glimmer Hill. I'm a lifelong DC resident and a member of the Detroit democratic socialists of America. Firstly, I'm here to speak against the alleged tax break deal yet again, because the current agreement isn't good enough for Detroit. And I'd like to highlight that even the most optimistic figures from the BGC prove these benefits aren't actually going to trigger specifically by their own figures only 35% of the 6300 they created jobs would go to the triggers of the temporary jobs. Only 25% of those indirect workers will be city residents. Only 25% of construction workers will be in city residents, and only 30% of the residents in these new buildings would be new Detroit households. But I'd also like to address the elephant in the room this tax break proposal isn't even on the agenda for today, because Duggan wasn't able to bully you our city council into rubber stamping yet another public money giveaway for billionaires, but DDA supporters are only here because Duggan waited too long to admit he couldn't force his agenda through before budget season. That means we're not hearing support from real Detroiters who have seen the mayor's billionaire friends loot the city at the same time as their own homes are illegally taxed. We're hearing from the same groups that crawl out of the woodwork every time Duggan and the officers want to pack a meeting. They have to support them out of city carpenters suburbanites who left 20 years ago and real estate trainees were hand picked by the same billionaires trying to cheat their way out of $800 million in taxes. That kind of lazy PR campaign might work in Livonia. But Detroit is smarter than that. Thank you.
All right. Thank you.
The next caller is Francis Grinnell.
Hello,
yes. Good morning.
Hi, my name is Francis Grunow. And as a resident of Cass Park in 2014. I was elected to the original neighborhood Advisory Committee for what would become district Detroit. The group predated the current CBO and it served as a precursor for current legislation and a lot of hard lessons. In this role, and with prior advocacy efforts, I've been watching for development I've been a watchdog for development in the lower caste corridor and downtown for the best part of 20 years. I've also been watching for development, frankly, with ODM I've been a loyal critic, regularly raising concerns about lapse timelines broken promises, the use of public funds and the impact of prolonged blight. I've always approached my role in the spirit of hope for better outcomes in this neighborhood. And that said, I've also can say that many of the elements of the most recent proposal are in line with what I believe the community wanted to see and district attorney when was originally presented. And now again, is where the rubber hits the road. But today, I'm less concerned about why it's taken so long and about whether you use the power of your position to assure us that what is proposed actually does happen. Built into these abatements are important triggers and timelines. If you vote yes, please use your authority to see that we're not looking at extensions and delays, but rather new residents and businesses in new and restored buildings. Something I think we can all support. I will continue to monitor conditions and I urge you to join me to do that more.
All right, thank you.
The next caller is Rodney. Hi. Can you hear me? Yes.
My name is Rodney Seibert. I'm a proud member of Local 58 Detroit electricians union district one and I'm very in support of the district Detroit project to put Detroiters back to work and I would like to see and approve and thank you.
Thank you.
The next caller is Yvonne Smith, ce o n e Smith.
Right see ed on E. Smith
Good morning
right.
Can we come back to this caller please? Okay,
the next caller is Lee Moore.
Hello, can you hear me?
Yes, we can. Good morning.
Good morning Council. My name is Lee Moore. I currently reside in district seven and I am representing the IBEW Local PTA right here in this great city. And I've worked on many big construction jobs in the district Detroit says as the old train station that Little Caesars arena, Detroit Pistons practice arena though Detroit Free Press building among others. Those jobs gave me the opportunity to invest back into this great city, especially the inner city. And, and I know that this if the district trade development is approved by this council, then that would give others like me the opportunity to make this city any even more great. So just this less put Detroit has to work on these construction practice in the district and we asked the City Council approved the district Detroit development and that's all
right, thank you.
The next caller is Larry Donald verse.
Good morning.
Our council members may I be heard?
Yes, you can. Good morning.
Oh, good.
I have two issues. One My name is Larry Donald birth and yes, I'm a member of two choice people's platform camps and justice team. And I hope during the budget process that additional funds will be allotted to the VA Detroit transportation to enhance and bring public transportation within the city. And the second point I'd like to address is the district Detroit issue. I thoroughly oppose it. I'm a almost 80 year resident of the city of Detroit and I've watched it go up and down and up and down. And I know this residence where I live, receive nothing. And I live in the McKenzie subdivision of district seven down by Grand River in Wyoming and we get nothing we will benefit nothing by it nor will most members of the city the reality is that is to give away and I have to ask this when I start my new business again. As a tax preparer and an accountant will I be given a 30 year tax abatement? Thank you. And I yield whatever time is left.
All right, thank you Mr. Virus.
There are two more callers who raised their hand before you cut off public comment and this is we're going back to people who are at the end. This is phone number ending in 181.
All right, call 181 Good morning.
Call our 181.
Come on Cindy. Here
finish it. Okay.
The government project project violates the Sherman Antitrust. Madam
president we were still waiting for.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Miss Daraa before you begin ra Cindy Daraa is caller 181. So she's going to speak in person. My call is no problem if you can just start her time when she begins
if agreement, right. This government project violates the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1907. It continues the violations of this Act have helped the continued violations of this act of help create billionaires out a Gilbert Gil LH, maroon, Penske, et cetera, unfair competition and a capitalist system. The City of Detroit Ron Hewitt, Director of Economic Development under Mary Young convinced LH to relocate its corporate office in Detroit by giving him the Fox Theater building after rehabbing this historic building for X amount of dollars. We he declared 30% of this cost whatever he claimed, as a tax credit deduction for the taxes he would owe not just an expense deduction. How much did he claim to have spent when LH convinced the city to tear down Tiger Stadium which the city owned and as for the city to give him city owned property on the west side of Woodward so he could mortgage it for Comerica bank's financing of Comerica Park. This is written in that original Metro times owners wrote that you can look it up. When LH was at Joe Louis Arena. He he that way built further Red Wings by the city after they tore down Olympia stadium elige sign agreement in the 90s to share TV proceeds from the Red Wings games with the city he broke his word during the bankruptcy, banquet and rent and also
thank you Miss Daraa Thank you Mr.
Alright, thank you, Miss Mystara Mystara Ms. Daraa we let you speak Ms. Daraa. We gotta give everyone the same amount of time. Ms. Daraa.
Mystara Mystara. We will we will love to hear your comments. You can still submit them for us in writing. Okay. All right. Yeah, that's what I said she could submit her questions if she couldn't get it in the minute and 30 seconds to us in writing as well. All right, we'll go back to our virtual callers.
Madam President, there are no more hands raised before you cut off public comment but there is one that was emailed that was they requested to be read during public comment. Okay. Dear council members, we respectfully request the following statement be read during the public comment period that your council meeting. Greetings from the Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit. for over 40 years, the Fair Housing Center has served the citizens and community of Dearborn in Fair Housing complaint intake, investigation, testing and complaint resolution when necessary. We assist citizens and filing complaints in federal and state courts and with HUD and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. We are also available to answer questions from residents, housing providers, city staff and others regarding fair housing and general housing related matters. We have also we also have a variety of Fair Housing brochures informing citizens have their fair housing rights on various topics. All these services are provided free of charge. Each year the center trains housing providers, management companies, real estate agents and brokers, private municipal and legislative services, attorneys, municipalities, tenants and homeowners We also engaged in a variety of education and outreach activities and plays fair highs, fair housing advertisements and electronic and print publications and on social media. We look forward to continuing to serve citizens of Detroit to ensure that the municipality remains a vibrant, inclusive community for all please visit our website at WWW dot fair housing detroit.org For additional information, sincerely, fair housing specialists.
All right. Thank you. All right, that will conclude our general public comment thank you to everyone who joined us virtually and in person. Before we proceed with the agenda, I did just want to quickly address I know that our office and I'm assuming other council members have received calls and emails regarding the lawsuit against perfecting church and a lot of those emails to our office is really what counsel can do to support and or help and I know councilmember Callaway we have talked now this is your district and you are in contact with the church but wanted to allow Mr. Whittaker just to speak on counsels ability, if anything to intervene. I know there's pending litigation and so just kind of wanted to set the record straight as it relates to what our role in that particular lawsuit is and how, if any, we can be involved in it at all. Madam President, yes. Is your microphone on Mr. Whitaker? Okay, because it's kind of hard to hear you. Speak a little louder. Okay.
Generally speaking, when there's a lawsuit has been filed by the city council really didn't have a role to intervene. In an active lawsuit. You can get in more information about what the city's underlying theory is and information about it by simply requesting a written opinion from the law department to explain the position in the lawsuit. And, you know, basically you should go from there base basically what I'm asking is as you seek more information from the city, about the city's theories against the the church and and then based on the information to lawsuit that the law department provides relative to the suit, then you can you can get further information from the law department, but you shouldn't be doing it in that matter, as opposed to engaging in any public discussion.
Okay. And I just wanted to make sure that that was clear as well because I know that there are members from the community that may want Council to discuss this publicly here at the table, but I wanted to hear directly from Mr. Whitaker on how to respond. Yes,
you should get advice from the law department. Okay. The law department has a has a theory that is pursuing and you don't believe that is valid, you can certainly raise that but you should do that in the context of of a close given that is a lawsuit. You should do it in a closed environment, I would think.
Okay. And then before I come to member Callaway, did you have anything from the law department
or the chair Graham Anderson law department just wanted to reiterate what Mr. Whittaker said and if there is a question submitted in writing to the law department, and we'll make sure to get a response and if a closed session is necessary to explore the topic further, we can organise that
Okay. Mr. Callaway on Thank you Madam Chair. And thank you to the law department and Mr. Whittaker from LPD. I have been in touch with the church and I've also been in touch with Corporation Counsel Conrad mallet over the weekend. So this matter will be in court officially tomorrow. The church is aware of the of the lawsuit, and we'll just have to wait until the process works its way through the court system. So thank you, Madam Chair for your for asking Mr. Whitaker to speak to this issue. It's a very important issue for our entire city, not just District Two is for the entire city of Detroit. And I would ask that all of us began to just continue to pray for this whole situation. So there is a healthy and I'm resolution to this issue. We want the church finish. Of course we do. And we support Bishop weinan in his incredible congregation that is now on the east side of Detroit with a property on the west side of my district. So thank you, Mr. Whittaker. But again, I would ask that all of us begin to pray for the situation. So there is a resolution that is mutually beneficial to the city and the church. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you remember Callaway. Alright, and thank you, Mr. Whittaker into the law department. All right, we will proceed to our agenda under standing committee reports for the budget Finance and Audit standing committee from the City Clerk's Office City Planning Commission,
Councilmember Gerhardt, a resolution line item 16.1.
Councilmember Doha?
Thank you, Madam President. I move for approval for line item 16 16.1, which is a resolution of authorization for neighborhood enterprise zone certificate application for the rehabilitation of a 139 unit residential apartment building located at 5440 CASS Avenue, the bell crest apartments in the bell crest neighborhood enterprise zone area, were recommended for approval by the CPC also come has come through committee with a recommendation to approve move approval of line item 16.1.
motion has been made for approval. Are there any objections? Hearing no objections the resolution will be approved for the internal operation standing committee from the law department.
Council member Johnson 17 resolutions line arms 17.1 To 17 point 17.
Council member Johnson Thank you madam president Move for approval on line item 17.1 through 17 point 17. These are various loss of settlement requests and I request for legal representation and indemnification.
All right motion has been made for approval. Are there any objections? Hearing no objections the 17 resolutions will be approved.
Madam President, may I request a waiver? For line item 16.1. I neglected to
write a waiver has been requested. Any objections? 16.1. Hearing none that motion will be approved by the Office of the Chief Financial Officer Office of Development in grants.
Council member Johnson and resolution line item 17. Point 18.
Council member Johnson.
Thank you Madam President Move for approval.
motion has been made for approval and this is for a grant application for the Simon fire foundation for fiscal year 2023 To support project clean slate. Any objections? Hearing none, the one resolution will be approved from the legislative policy division.
Councilmember Johnson a resolution 17 point 19.
Council member Johnson
Thank you madam president Move for approval this is to reestablish the equitable development task force.
motion has been made for approval. Any objections Hearing none the one resolution will be approved for the public health and safety standing committee from the Office of contracting and procurement.
Madam President, there are eight contracts up for vote today from the public health and safety standing committee. First up we have contract number 30625251 2% major street funding to write computer aided design drafting CAD engineering software for road design via General Services Administration supply schedule. Contract is Bentley. Systems Inc, total contract amount $171,527.08. And this contract is for public works. The next contract is contract number 6003852. A one 100%. City funding amendment number one to provide an increase of funds and amend the scope of services to include sampling and analysis of field material for environmental supportive services contract this ATC group services total contract amount $1,375,000 And this contract is for city demolition. The next contract this contract number 30631501 2%. City funding to provide an emergency demolition for the residential property at 1496 for Kilbourne contractors to inner city contracting LLC total contract amount $15,000 And this contract is preceded demolition. The next contract was contract number 6003321. A one one 2%. bond funding amendment number one to provide an extension of time for proposal in residential demolition release. A group A 21 contractors SC Environmental Services LLC original contract amount $1,646,804.25. This contract is supposed to be demolition. The next contract is contract number 6003322. A one one 2% bond funding amendment number one to provide an extension of time for proposal in residential demolition, release a group a 22 contract as SC Environmental Services LLC total contract amount $1,568,974.05. The in that is facility demolition. The next contract was contract number 6003305. A 100%. bond funding amendment number one to provide an extension of time for proposal in residential demolition, release a group a five set aside contract is SC Environmental Services LLC. original contract amount $1,828,271.55 of this contract is preceded demolition. The next contract is contract number 6005068. revenue to provide Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance classroom instruction and training from the Detroit Health Department contract is Henry Ford College. Total revenue amount not to exceed $190,000 that this contract is for the health department that is contract was contract number 60049731 2% FTA funding to provide repair and replacement services for plumbing related items on an as needed basis at DDOT. Facilities. Contract decimal LLC total contract amount $800,000 And this contract is for transportation. Councilmember Santiago Romero eight resolutions, land EMS 18.1 to 18.8.
Thank you, Councilmember Santiago Romero. Thank you Madam President motion to approve line items 18.1 through 18.8. All right motion has been made. Any objections? All right. Hearing no objections. The eight resolutions will be approved. From the Department of Public Works city engineering division
councilmember Santiago remail two resolutions 918.9 and 18 point 10
Councilmember Santiago Romero. Thank you Madam President motion to approve 18.9 and 18 point 10 motion has been made for approval. Are there any objections? Hearing no objections the two resolutions will be approved. We will now move to the new business portion. of the agenda from the Office of contracting and procurement.
Madam President, there are three contracts of we're both today from the Neighborhood and Community Services Standing Committee on today's new business portion of the agenda. First up we have contract number 6004806 A one one 2% grant funding amendment number one to provide an increase of funds and amend the scope of services to add 10 Additional amenities for HECO Park renovations contract is Michigan recreational construction total contract amount $741,352.63 And this is for general services. The next contract is contract number 60051 to six once you present capital funding to provide for renovations for P Wewak. Park, contractors, contractors Michigan recreational construction total contract amount $506,700 And this contract is for general services. That is contract is contract number 600-512-0812. Present capital funding to provide playgrounds and shelters at Channel apart contract is Michigan recreational construction, total contract amount $1,198,474. And this contract is for general services. Councilmember young, three resolutions, line items 19.1 to 19.3.
Thank you, Councilmember. Yeah,
thank you, man. Thank you, Madam President. Move to approve line items 19.1 through 19.3.
motion has been made. Are there any objections? Hearing no objections those three resolutions will be approved. From the Office of the Chief Financial Officer Office of Development in grants
councilmember Santiago mero for resolutions nine line items 19.4 through 19.7
Councilmember Santiago Ramiro. Thank you, Madam President motion to approve line items 19.4 through 19.6. All right, motion has been made for approval and these are all grant applications. Any objections? Hearing none, the three resolutions will be approved in councilmember Santiago Romero. Thank you, Madam President. I was informed today that there is a request to remove line items 19.7 So I motion to remove line item 19.7. motion has been made to remove 19.7 Any objections? All right, hearing none that line item will be removed from the agenda. And the Office of the Chief Financial Officer Office of Development and grants.
Councilmember young a resolution line item 19.8.
Councilmember Young.
Thank you, Madam President. Move to approve line item 19.8
motion has been made. Again, this is another grant application. Any objections? Hearing none the resolution will be approved.
Under resolutions,
Councilmember Johnson an amended resolution nine out of 19.9 Noting a roll call.
Councilmember Johnson
Thank you, Madam President Move for approval.
All right, and this is the scheduling of a closed session for Tuesday, March the 21st at 2:30pm. Mr. Clark, if you can call the roll, please call the roll call.
Councilmember their home. Yes. Councilmember Johnston? Yes. Councilmember Santiago Romero? Yes. Council President Pro Tem T Yes. Councilmember waters. Yes. Councilmember Whitfield Callaway. Councilmember young? Yes. Council President shift for you. Yes. Councilmember better? Yes. Nine yeas, zero Nays.
That resolution will be approved. All right. And before we move to our referrals Did you receive member waters? she I think she had a walk on. Okay, so we'll come back to it. All right.
Members, I do have one walk home from our office. Okay. This item was mistakenly omitted from today's agenda. It is we're requesting that it be walked on to be referred to public health and safety. It is for contract number. Contract Number 3061305.
Is there a motion to walk this on to new business or referral so moved? All right Hearing no objections that motion is approved to walk that on into refer to public health and safety. All right. And member waters you would like this memo to be walked on and referred as well to LPD
Yes, motion madam chair to walk
them out. All right. motion has been made to walk on this memorandum from councilmember waters. Is there any objections? Hearing none that motion is approved.
All right.
Or the president's report on standing committee referrals and other matters for the budget Finance and Audit standing committee.
18 reports from various city departments.
The 18 reports will be referred to the budget Finance and Audit standing committee for the internal operation standing committee.
All reports from various city departments.
The four reports will be referred to the internal operation standing committee for the Neighborhood and Community Services standing committee.
One report from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer Office of Development and grants.
The one report will be referred to the Neighborhood and Community Services standing committee for the Planning and Economic Development
standing committee. Six reports from various city departments.
The six reports will be referred to the Planning and Economic Development standing committee for the public health and safety standing
committee. Eight reports from various city departments.
The eight reports will be reformed refer to the public health and safety Standing Committee under the consent agenda.
There are no items Madam President.
All right. We will move to member reports. All right. We will start with protein.
Negative report man.
Thank you, Mr. Waters. Thank you,
Madam President. Tomorrow, we have the skills Trey's Task Force, meeting from four to six and that's going to be Osborne High School. That task force is jointly chaired by watershed failing young, self less four to six tomorrow at Osborne, high school water waters in Callaway and Johnson putting in place there. They're doing our annual minor Business Summit, which is going to be April 22. At wine kind of community. College on the northwest at the Northwest camp. The Northwest camp is on West Ojai, and so that's going to be April 22. I just want folks to put that in their mind and stay tuned for additional information. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you member waters. Remember Benson. Thank you.
Just want to remind residents of the northeast side of Detroit tomorrow evening will be the first public meeting for the Joe Lewis Greenway North East section. And that's going to be held at Frontier International Academy which is at 13 200 Kona, this will be at 6pm. Please come out and get your questions answered. And learn more about the Joe Lewis Greenway and how he's going to impact the north east side of Detroit's community. And it will be at the corner of Conant and Charles, which is one tear to National Academy. Which is also co located at the recreation and the park at Lasky Recreation Center in Park and so hoping to see everybody there. You can come in person or there will also be a zoom opportunity as well. That's tomorrow evening 6pm and frontier National Academy 13 200 Conant to learn more about the Joe Lewis Greenway northeast in this is the planning study meeting. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Want to thank everyone for coming out yesterday morning to our monthly coffee and conversation was held at Detroit sip on West outage on West McNichols. Thank everyone for coming out. We had a great time and I want to thank the owner and the staff of Detroit SIP for sponsoring us next and next I want to mention that we are having our district to evening meeting at seven o'clock this evening. Renaissance High School which is located at 6565 West outer drive. Again our evening meeting will be held at Renaissance High School located at 6565 West outer drive at 7pm. Also we are having our virtual community meeting this Monday, Monday the 20th at 5:30pm and that number is for zoom is 811 3976 2616 and I'll repeat it zoom call and the meeting ID numbers 81139762616. You can also call my office to get the meeting link which is two to 445 35 and I am the guest speaker and I invite everybody out this Sunday at 10am at Detroit Unity Temple, which is located at 17505 Second Avenue under the leadership of Pastor Gregory Geiss. And it's in recognition of National Women's History Month. Thank you Madam Chair.
Thank you remember Callaway councilmember young,
Native Report.
Councilmember Santiago Amuro. Thank you Madam President. I just want to remind District Six residents that we will be having our office hours or we are having our office hours. Our next one is going to be Acklam at the Rec Center on Monday, March 20, from four to 6pm. We are celebrating reading month this month and I'm going to be at one of our local gems source bookseller books booksellers this Saturday at 12pm. Want to give a huge shout out to all of our volunteers and our staff. We have been out the last several weekends and we've been canvassing door knocking and we've hit 992 homes that were at risk of foreclosure in District Six. You let residents know of payment plans that are available and important deadlines that are coming up to prevent foreclosure. And just want to let folks know as you probably already know, this Friday is St. Patrick's Day. This past Saturday, we march with our cork town business and neighborhood associations we will with the neighborhood association, the cork the North cork town neighborhood association, cork town Business Association East End cork town black club, the central core time block club and the train station neighborhoods. block clubs so it happy early St. Patrick's Day. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, member Johnson.
Thank you, Madam President. Just want to share with everyone on the east side that I am joining Eastside community network in their housing fair on Saturday, March 18. from 10am until 3pm. They will have home repair resources eviction support, information around affordable housing and a variety of other things. So if you are looking for housing or in need of some housing support, please stop by 44 01 Connor that is at Eastside community network from 10am until 3pm. This Saturday, and then on Monday, we are hosting our monthly community meeting it will be held virtually. We have the housing and revitalization department as well as someone from Wayne Metro, joining us to share information about various programs that are available for residents that will start at 5:30pm. If anyone is interested in the Zoom link please contact our office at area code 313-224-4841. Thank you, Madam President.
All right. Thank you member Johnson member Doha.
Thank you Madam President and just want to congratulate all of the D 7313 de 2023 honorees, obviously, they do great work that embodies the spirit of Detroit and doing great work throughout the seven so want to tip my head off to all of them and say congratulations to them and thank them for their efforts and the work that they put in every single day. I want to also say thank you to all the seven residents who participated in our district Detroit presentation where they got to get information about what is before us for district Detroit, they were able to ask many questions. And so it was just a great informational piece to keep folks involved and so they can get their questions answered. I do want folks to mark their calendar we are doing our D seven policy session number two that will occur Monday, March 20. Doors opening at 5:30pm and again that will be at the Roy Allen senior building next door to Chapel Hill Baptist church located at 4924 Joy Road, Detroit, Michigan. Again, that is the Roy Allen senior building next to Chapel Hill Baptist Church and that will happen Monday, March the 20th at 5:30pm this upcoming Monday. I do want to say that our district virtual district district seven virtual community meeting is going to take place Tuesday March 28 at 6pm. Again, that's our monthly community meeting. That's Tuesday, March 28. At 6pm. This month we'll have DPD DTE Energy hot topics folks have a lot of questions for DTE, they will be on the call and project Clean Slate on the call as well. And finally, as we talk about Project Clean Slate on April the first Saturday April the first we are going to have the returning citizens job fair. That is going to be at the carpenters and mill right center in D seven. Again, this is the returning citizens job fair and I'm happy to be partnering with so many folks as the chairs as the chair of the returning citizen task force. So if you know someone who's a returning citizen, they need resources they need access to jobs and employment. Please have them come out Saturday, April 1 at the carpenters mineral rights center. Thank you Madam President.
Thank you, Mr. Homma. Go back to member waters real quick and then back to you never Yeah.
Never waters.
Thank you, Madam President. Because cart death is the number one property crime in the nation. Detroit Police Chief James White Jones with the Michigan House of Representatives Detroit caucus council member Mary waters marathon and Representative Tyrone Carter to provide residents with free Auto Theft Prevention items when March 17 2023 4pm Until supplies are gone. Where Detroit police the police Detroit police headquarters at 13 Oh 1/3 Avenue. That's March 17 4pm. Thanks so much, Madam President.
All right. Thank you member waters. And back to you member. Yeah.
Thank you about that. Sorry for that confusion earlier. Welcome. I'm welcoming the residents from my first community virtual meeting with Coleman Young the second at large. We're going to talk about housing and housing issues. It will be Wednesday, April 12. Five to 6pm so this is again my first community virtual meeting with Coleman Young the second Councilman at large, Wednesday, April the second. That's Wednesday, April the second five to six. So look forward to seeing look forward, you being there. And we're going to have a lot of great information, a lot of great guests and the only thing that's missing is you so I hope you show up there and we'll look forward to talk to you again. It's remember Wednesday, April the 12th five to six April to 12. Five to 6pm. Wednesday, April to 12. Five to 6pm Thank you so much.
All right. Thank you. And just one announcement for me and that is the reminder that the neighborhood beautification grant for round two will close on Friday, this Friday the 17th and so just encouraging is many black clubs, neighborhood organizations, churches, nonprofits, to get in your information before the closing of round to the neighborhood beautification grant. You can go to Wayne metro.org to submit your application if you need more information on how to apply. If you qualify or any additional questions, please reach out to our office at 313-224-4505. I also want to again wish everyone Happy 313 day I know that was yesterday I failed to mention that even though we did officially established that as a recognition from the city of Detroit. And so I know there were various events throughout the city of Detroit 4313 day. Just want to mention that our budget hearings will resume tomorrow. Our first one will kick off at 10am. I think all of the budget questions and analysis from LPD is one line and we are also working on making sure that all of the PowerPoint presentations are attached as well too. If any residents has any questions or like to access that information is having trouble navigating the site, please contact us and we will make sure that you get the analysis along with any PowerPoint presentations that have been presented to council thus far. And that is all I have for member reports. Is there anything additional from my colleagues?
Okay. All right,
seeing that that is it. We will go back to our agenda and under testimonio know under adoption without committee reference,
there are no idols madam president under communications from the clerk will report on approved proceedings by the mayor.
That report will be received and placed on file under testimonial resolutions and special privilege are known as Madam President. All right, there being nothing to come before us. Is there a motion to adjourn and I will see everyone this evening in district two moved to German right this meeting is adjourned.