I know I was running a little bit more in a Good morning
I'm usually here, I know all right. Well, yeah.
All right. Good morning. Everyone.
Let's assume for man.
I'm sorry. Okay.
Good morning, everyone. I will now call to order our formal session for Tober Fest this year. Unfortunately, we're not going to be able to say to the back of the interpreter or okay but we shouldn't be able to hear them here. So if our IT media services can correct that before we begin.
All right, we'll try again. Good morning. Good morning. I will now call to order our formal session for October the 11th. Mr. Clerk Would you please call the roll.
Councilmember Scott Benson. Councilmember Fred Gerhold. A
third present.
Councilmember Leticia Johnson present. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero present. Councilmember Mary waters. Present councilmember Angela Whitfield. Callaway
present.
Councilmember Comey young second.
Here. House the
President Pro Tem James Tate. Council President Mary Sheffield present. Madam President, you have a quorum.
All right. Thank you there being a quorum. We are now in session. I do just want to let the general public those who have come down to speak this morning that the auditorium is open. You can view the console session you can hear the console session and also wait there until it is turn your turn for public comment. So I just want to make sure everyone is aware that the auditorium is open to sit listen to counsel until your name is caught for public comment. We're going to now go to our invocation for this morning. We have joining us Pastor Jason Mosley. Good morning.
Good morning, council president. Thank you all for this privilege and opportunity. Let's pray. Oh Lord, How excellent is Your name and all the earth Before the mountains were formed before the sea was made? Before mankind created you are God? You are God. And no doubt you will continue to be gone. Throughout ceaseless ages. We come to you in humility thanking you for hearing us when we pray and as we pray. As we continue our day. We pray for peace, protection and proficiency in every area of our lives. As the city council opens up to hear the hearts and minds of the constituents of our fair city, and to give a voice where there is no voice to assist in bringing order where chaos seems to be the order of the day. To bring resources to everyone and not just to some. We ask that you will cultivate a sense of grace amid the urgency to provide solutions to the myriad of problems and issues that plague our city. cover our city council President and members as they lead, lift and leverage all possible to correct and change principles and models that serve only a select group without providing for the whole group, no matter the age, no matter sexual orientation, no matter color, religion, and whatever else that diversifies us as a people mature within us all pure motives that stand up for what's right, that continues to fight against injustice that continues to fortify our city that continues to bring unity, positivity and builds faith for the journey. I believe everything we need has already been supplied. Help us to handle what we've been given with integrity and morality continued to change the trajectory of our city for the better, better for our families, better for our communities, better for job infrastructure, better for educational pursuits, better for advancement and success in all areas. Touch all of our governmental officials from the mayor and his cabinet to those who serve the least of these in many different areas and communities across the city of Detroit. Cover us now. In Your name, amen.
Amen. All right. Thank you so much for Mr. Mosely, we appreciate you joining us feel free to hang on. If you would like to see us in session today. If not we do understand if you have to drop off. Okay. All right. If you are joining us virtually and would like to make a public comment, please raise your hand at this time. We will cut off public public comment after our first presentation. And we have several presentations this morning and we're going to start with councilmember Callaway.
The floor is yours. Good morning Madam Chair. And thank you and good morning to everyone. Thank you. First of all, again, good morning. And it's truly an honor for me to make this presentation. I've known this woman for a number of years. I've had the honor of working with her in the public school system. I've had the honor of being her sorority sister.
And I have the honor hopefully of being her friend.
And you've been a confidant you're praying woman. Little did we know our mothers would be in the hospital at the same time in 2018 Her mother was two doors now.
But my mother fighting for their lives.
I want to thank you that you were able to uplift me at that time while you were going through what you were going through with your own mom. And I never forgot that. And I see your family here with you but I want you to know that it's truly an honor for me to present this testimony a resolution to you soar war friend and confidant and I'd like to read it. Lisa Phillips has been the principal of Cass Tech High School in the city of Detroit. I'm gonna take a little sidebar here for a minute. How can anyone ask
what you have done in the city
and understand you should be at the table so I'm going to ask you to come to the table.
Thank you so are blessed man
and your husband and I think your daughter is here with you because your three seats available. So if your husband could join you and thank you sir You're welcome and our sorority part of our belief is that we help each other. So thank you for that. So again, I'll start over. Lisa Phillips has been the principal of Cass Tech High School in the city of Detroit and nationally recognized college preparatory school of excellence since 2010, and no one should ask, What have you done in this city? You've touched the lives of countless numbers of students some
were the parents and I want to thank you for that.
Lisa Phillips has the largest student body in the city. And I would submit to you probably in the state. I don't know if there's a larger high school if it is let me know Sora Phillips with over 2400 pupils and someone asks, What have you done in the city and her goal has been to create and expand and valuable programs and partnerships that will enrich the lives of Cass Tech students and alumni. Because they come from all over the world. My brother makes sure he's here every year. He lives in DC has been there for 32 years, but he never misses a Cass Tech alumni reunion. And it's because of your leadership. Lisa Phillips brought the first International Baccalaureate program in the city of Detroit to Cass tech. She was instrumental in implementing the STEM education project and the Cass tech green house. She was hit she has fostered a partnership with global design house Gucci, bringing a mentorship program to the school as well as as well as scholarship opportunities for her students. During her time as principal. Over 100 students have graduated with their associate's degree with CASAS participation and the Wayne County dual enrollment program. I'm gonna say that again, because that's so significant.
100 of her students
have graduated from a high school
with a college degree college credits.
I'm gonna say that again, because that's significant. Because a lot of people say we can't read we can't write. You're showing us otherwise. That our high school students can not only graduate from high school with a high school degree they can graduate from your high school with a college degree. And I want to say thank you because that took coordination that to partnering with Wayne County and that took sheer leadership and students have received almost a billion with a be a billion dollars and scholarships during her tenure as principal. Yes. Our students don't pay for college. A billion dollars with I'm gonna put a capital B on that. A billion dollars. We're talking about mostly African American as some considered disadvantaged students. Once you've proven otherwise Lisa Phillips. You received the Coleman a young Educator of the Year award in 2021. She was named as the state of Michigan Principal of the Year and this month for those of you don't know is national principals month, so happy principals month. So make sure you reach out to your kids principal today. And thank them for pouring into your child's life or your grandchild's life, but again, it is principals month, and she was named 2014 National Principal of the Year by the National Alliance of black school educators. That deserves a round of applause as well. And she received the 2014 Michigan chronicle women of excellence award also in 2014. And in 2016. She was the Michigan Lottery honored principal, with a radio and television tribute for her excellence in education. Thank you. And she continues the legacy of Cass tech as a jewel and beacon of light for this city. Your students in what you do or there is a beacon of light and the Bible talks about the beacon of light on a hill and that hill in this city is all that you're doing at Cass tech. Principle Phillips is an exceptional leader whose vision and fluids and zeal have made a tremendous mark on the landscape of education. Now therefore, be it resolved. Councilman Callaway and the Detroit City Council and all Detroiters hereby celebrate you, Mrs. Lisa Phillips, a premier educator, leader and mentor. We celebrate and honor you for all that you do in the city, the state and in this country. And how can anyone ever ask What have you done for them lately? Thank you Lisa Phillips Lisa Sarwar if your husband can remain seated, if you can turn on your microphone and my colleagues will allow us to have her say a few words Madam Chair.
Thank you, Lisa. Wow.
Council member Callaway and to the entire council. President. I'm speechless and normally I'm not I'm not speechless, but I'm to be honored in your city and to understand that as educators what we do for students, we produce productive citizens for the city, for the state for the nation and for the world. Not just a cast. This is not just for Cass Technical High School. I'm a former principal worked at purging, same thing. Oak Park, same thing. Denby, same thing when you love students. There are no boundaries. I have family here. I have sores here link sisters, cousins. And I have one person here which means so much to me. She's my first student that I ever taught. She's only 10 but that I ever taught years ago about 30 years ago, and she's in this audience, and she's an outstanding young woman and for her to still be in my life. After years and years and years. That's the testimony to me of what educators do not just me, but all educators should
we just have her stand we just want to see, oh, Carter, Ethel Carter,
well, well, years old. Um, so to the city.
We're just going to keep doing it and making sure things happen for all students. Whenever I do anything for Cass Tech students, I try to share with all principals to do for all students in the city of Detroit, not just a cat stack, but know that at Cass Technical High School, we're very diverse.
We're very diverse and we look out for all students we miss you miss waters, but she's coming back soon. But my first lady is here. Robin Kinloch, and I want to thank her for taking from Bible study to come over here to support and the support that I have behind me the counselors from Cass tech, it says a lot and it means a lot to me. And my administrators are here.
Can we have them stand in administrator First Lady, can you wave at us? Yes, yes, there you go. Yes. Wow. And I see Stephanie character Hey, Stephanie. Yeah,
it really quick remember Callaway. We can also please recognize Myra and I was getting ready to have one of my
passions my she's my girl. My
foundation. Shawn's mom,
my friend naira. Yeah, there's so many more my nieces and nephews are over there. There are people in the overflow, because you told me to invite everything I did. But this is a great opportunity for educators.
This testimony.
Testimonial is for all principals. Everybody who's sitting in the schools right now. I share it with everyone. And I have to say to my board member, Deborah Harville Hunter who's right here. She came out and she has a board meeting today and she always supports me it doesn't matter what I do. So thank you. So much.
Miss Galloway,
thank you. Thank you and your team. Thank you. And if I left anyone out, blame it on my age and not. Thank you.
Thank you. Miss Phillips. Please remain seated. Does any of my colleagues want to say anything? Remember Dr. Hall. Thank you Madam Chair. Thank you, Madam
President. And I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge some words that member Callaway said about affecting students lives she affected my life. And not no no hate towards Cass tech. But as a proud graduate of Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts was the first time I met Miss Phillips who was just more than an administrator more than a teacher just really cared about the kids. I could share some stories about us in the hallway and her yelling up and down the hallway first to get the class but it just really meant so much at that time for so many Detroit students to see that someone actually really sincerely cares for them. And this is back in 2002 1002 And so we have watched you over the years and you have moved to schools and may impact and every school that you have went to and I am really appreciative of what you have done for me, my peers, but the rest of the students are the city of Detroit and I'm so glad that we could give you your flowers today. So thank you, we love you, God bless you and keep keep doing the great things that you do.
So, thank you, Madam President. Thank you member Callaway. We certainly know I personally know that this this honor is certainly so very, very worthwhile. You know that I love love our babies at CASS I love all of our babies but you know, I work very closely with the with the students at Cass tech and everything that you mentioned in terms of the scholarships that they tell you. They go and get them they they do a million. Yeah, I know I just I'm at a loss for words because it is so special for me, as well. You know, to be able to have spent so much time with the students at Cass tech and just watching Miss Phillips in action. She loves her baby so much. Yes, she does that I do now and I know that new innovation center this is going to be built pretty soon. Right? Right there near Cass tech is going to be something fantastic as well. So Miss Phillips you know that I you know I'm going to be coming back there to visit if nothing else. You know, but but for sure. You can consider me a partner and obviously member Khaled, just just call on us whatever it is that you need for procast Tech and we'll be there and thanks and thank you. Congratulations well deserved honor. Thank you.
You're welcome. Any other additional comments? Member Callaway?
Yes, I just received a text message from Gil Fulton Is she in this room in virtual office? oh two. Okay, so Miss faltan if it's okay through the chair, Miss faulting just sent me the nicest text message but since you're on the screen, I believe you should say to miss Phillips, if you don't mind, Madam Chair. Miss Bolton.
Thank you Madam Chair to this animal body. Good morning, through you, council president to miss Phillips Malik. And I just want to say thank you for providing us an opportunity to grow and receive our associate's degrees in 2016. That that's led us to such a wonderful career and we're just grateful for you take care.
So, silver Phillips, that is Gil Fulton and Malik, Washington. And we they work with us directly. And they're here because of your leadership. And they have associate's degrees, and they both have master's degrees. So no one should ever ask, What have you done in the city of Detroit, because you've done so much. And if you will allow me Madam Chair, I would like for all of my sorority sisters to come up our sorority sisters because we have some pink roses and then if we could take pictures, so if all of my sorority sisters our sorority sisters, please come up. Maybe and take a quick picture because we also have flowers. Thank you.
We can join in the middle was Oh, absolutely.
After after this after our soul wars. Absolutely. Anybody else
wants anything else?
Okay. Lisa, I'm sorry, member Barcia. Do you have any final words?
I think should we allow her? Yeah.
Where are you fine.
Work. Madam president All right, here we go. Good. Morning. That's all right. I might have to stand on this on a chair today. Or something sometimes like this. Alright, everybody. Everybody's got it. Right here. Three, two and one. And then one more three. So perfect. Thank you sir. Actually think
it's okay.
Three Two and 11432 totaling 30.
Nice and everything is good in
the world. Good.
Everything is good and as much as possible. Perfect. All right, everybody right here. Three, two. And one. One more 32 Perfect. All right, everybody right
here. One more. Time three, two
and everybody okay,
the city of three to
perfect over here again. Oh yeah. All right.
Public comment our virtual public comment is now cut off. In person public comment is now cut off.
Madam President,
yes, ma'am.
Loriann Sabatini LPD. Before principal Phillips leaves the rural as a legacy parent, I just wanted to share with this honorable body and the group that miserable Phillip started a program. It's bridging the gap between high school and college and she gets donations from her staff, businesses.
We have someone from our LPD team that wants to say something to you. Go right ahead and Sabatini. Yes ma'am. Loriann, Sabatini,
LPG. I love you principal Phillips. I have three children that graduated from kiss under principal Phillips but principal Phillips there's one more thing that wasn't mentioned that should go mentioned. And that's you're bridging the gap to college and the program that you started with your staff as large contributors, businesses around the city. Alumni from all over the world contribute to help students bridge the gap of the things that they need to go to college. They get laptops they get full outfits for their own dorm rooms and and cash for their books. And it's it's out of the love in the heart of the loving your heart that you pull this together. And I just can't let that go unnoticed and we love you as alumni. We love you as our principal and we look forward to many, many more years of you, serving our children and being the beacon of light that Councilmember Callaway described. Thank you, principal Phillips. Thank you.
Thank you Miss Sabatini. Thank you. Thank you so much, principal Phillips. We love you. We appreciate you and thank you member Calloway for that presentation and honoring her. We appreciate you for that. And we're going to move now we do have a heavy agenda today. So we appreciate everyone's patience. We have two presentations. We're going to start with our state lobbyists update. And so those who have joined us virtually we can please bring those individuals over for our state lobbyists update
they're here. All right, Miss Bolton.
Do we have all of our individuals present for our state lobbyists update? Thank you, Madam Chair.
We do have Stephanie Washington in person along with our lobbying firm I believe Miss Berg fairs in the audience. And then we have Mr. Steve Watson online and I will be sharing my screen.
All right. I do not see Miss Washington here. We can my TV does maybe check in the hallways and see if we see Miss Washington, Stephanie Washington.
Miss vol two
you can come back on the screen. They're here. Okay okay.
Good morning
so good day to
President Sheffield pro Tim Tate and this honorable lady. Thank you for allowing us to present to you and the public the state legislative update. I am Stephanie Grimes. Washington, director of government affairs. Joining me today and some of us are virtual and some of us clearly are in person Hassan Bay do I think he's going to join us in person he is our policy. Guru. He is the council to the mayor, Amanda Elias. She's policy advisor for infrastructure. She's going to join us virtually Malik Washington government affairs member and of course our lobbying firm G CSI governmental consultant services. I have Barb Farah partner, and desmin Miller lobbyist. So this is our mean and lean team and these are my partners at the state level. So additionally, due to the heavy concentration of funding legislation this year as a result of the ARPA and the infrastructure money from the federal government, I asked Steve Watson to join us. He will probably be joining us in person or virtually I don't know but he will be here as I'm sure. Chair of Budget Chair der Hall and Mr. Corley will have tons of questions as it relates to the funding that we receive from the state. Now to level set. I'm supposed to have a presentation of
the I don't see nothing. Yeah, there we go. Yeah.
So yeah, we're on slide three. So to level set in our advocacy efforts, our goals and objectives are always to improve the quality of life for Detroiters through favorable state policy and maximizing funding to help facilitate jobs, training, housing, public safety, social programs, educational advancement, and economic opportunities. So how we do this is we educate legislators on the City of Detroit's needs, challenges and accomplishments. We build initiate coalition's alliances and collaborations with the Detroit delegation, outside legislators, urban core mayor's business, philanthropic community sectors and other key stakeholders. Now, one point I'd like to make that's very important is we are always mindful to the concerns initiatives and priorities that are key and specific to each member of this honorable body. As we navigate the state terrain and the policy and funding efforts that are taking place there. Your priorities are key in our mindful Top of Mind with us. So, moving forward, this presentation will reflect the highlights of this year's legislative cycle. So I hope you find this presentation informative, and it is not too redundant to the members who served at the state level. And that's member young member waters a member of their halls. I hope you find it informative. So next slide. Just to level set, the current environment and composition of the legislature has consists of two chambers so there are 148 members total. The upper chamber is the Michigan Senate, which comprises of 38 senators. Now keep in mind it is Republican controlled. Each member can serve two four year terms. There are 22 Republicans 16 Democrats and of the 16 Five or Detroit senators. Now in the lower chamber is the Michigan House of Representatives. There are 110 members there. It is also Republican controlled. The term limits are three two year terms. There are 56 Republicans currently one independent 53 Democrats and of the 5310 are Detroit House members. Next slide.
Now,
the talk of the town has been redistricting and as you know, this time will December of last year, the Michigan independent citizens redistricting commission Commission created new maps for the state of Michigan. So these maps will be used for the next decade. So the elections November 22 will really level set and let us know who our elected officials are moving forward in January. So all of this impacts January 2023. So what this means to Detroit, this is very important. There will be 23 Total representatives whose districts include Detroit and that's up from 15. Now, how that breaks down is there'll be eight senate districts that include Detroit. Currently, there are five there will be 15 House member districts that include Detroit Currently there are 10 So in short, you'll have more legislators who will represent Detroit entrust but less less exclusively, since there are more districts that will be shared with the suburbs, very important. So another highlight that occurs every year is the state budget. So in February 2022, the governor released her fourth budget recommendation for fiscal year beginning October 1 2022. Her proposed budget total $74 billion, which was a record for the general fund, because it was up from 11 point 7 billion. So in March 2022, Governor and the Legislature agreed to a $4.7 billion infrastructure supplemental which is known as public act 53. Now this $4.7 billion transformational spending included funding for water infrastructure improvements, parks and recs, broadband which we know is a key priority to member, young homeowner and rental assistance, which is a key priority to President Sheffield and COVID-19 recovery efforts as well as local government. So in May 2022, the census revenue estimating conference consisting of economists from executive and legislative branches projected a $6 billion surplus of funds to be appropriated. So in July 2022 The final passage of the fiscal year state budget that runs October 1 through September 30, was passed and it left a $7 billion in surplus that needed to be allocated. Now if you look a couple of weeks back, October 2022, maybe the first week of October, the state budget approved a $1.8 billion supplemental which was really highly economic development driven. So as I break down each of the legislation that I talked about, what does public act 53 mean to the residents of Detroit? So it was signed into law in March of March 30. And just before I break this down, as you can see the highlights I just want to thank the entire Detroit delegation for all their hard work in advocacy efforts, and most importantly, thank Representative Joe tait, the vice chair of House Appropriations for his leadership and really lifting up the ass that we had for the city of Detroit. So as you can see, I won't go through the entire list, but the highlights most significantly are the 7,000,070 5 million for LED service line replacement 60 million for Joe Lewis Greenway and the 15 million for Home Repair and I would be remiss if I didn't lift up the Detroit delegation in that but there were five members who really champion that. So I want to thank state reps Tanisha Yancey Karen Windset tree Tana dar Stephanie young and Halina Scott,
next page.
So what does the state budget mean or state budget fiscal year 23 mean? So I've listed the earmarks. It was signed into law July 20. There are there was 70 750 million local pension funding, which works for the Detroit general Retirement System legacy plan and may and we possibly eligible for 24 million of that 6% was increase in state revenue which we're very excited about because that was a 7 million ongoing boost for Detroit. And then we got additional funding for the 40 million for Joe Lewis Greenway. What brings that total to 100 million. If I want to skip down to our cultural facilities, we received 12,000,001 Time for Eastern Market and 4 million for the historical Charles H. Wright Historical Museum. And I just want to lift up and thank Senator Bullock and member Benson for all their hard work and advocacy, advocacy for our culture facilities. And we'll just keep fighting to continue to get these facilities funded. So thank you. Next slide. Now, this is the supplemental that just passed a October 4, and as I said it was more economic development driven but here are a couple of highlights. Most importantly, I just want to lift up the Strategic Outreach and attraction reserve which is the sort of fun that was created last year, and it really is trying to bring forth new investments to the state as well as the three 350 million site preparation for various projects. So as you can see, this supplemental that just passed a couple of weeks ago, really is to push for for state incentives for large development projects that provide tremendous jobs and in strengthens the state's tax base tax base. So moving forward. Now, as I mentioned, there's a lot of funding that we did receive we all work very hard, and we were very excited to receive the funding. But again, there's still more to do. So we continue to advocate advocate for industrial land assembly street scapes and road improvements, which is lends itself to the beautification efforts that we are taking place in the city. And of course, electric infrastructure and broadband access, which we know is key and is a key priority to member Yang as he's very much involved in innovation and technology and transportation, of course small business support workforce pre K. And of course one of the biggest initiatives that are key to Mayor Duggan with his partnership with member waters member Callaway member Johnson member romero. Is housing so we were we are always focused on you know, just anything that we can do to to provide affordable housing to our residents. Next slide. And so they're here a couple of other examples, although we've been very funding heavy. The other examples of policy that we are hoping to secure when the legislation or legislators come back in lame duck is blight. So we are hoping to tackle blight. We have House Bill 6416 legislation to you know just increase in enhanced penalties to repeat offenders and House Bill 6417 to make improvements to the fire insurance escrow for more funds to repair and demolish blighted homes, and I just again want to lift up the efforts of representative care Windset she is the sponsor, but I know it is equally important to remember dirt Hall as they tag team together on this effort and we thank them. Additionally, we keep working on legislation to expand our criminal expungement eligibility for a project clean slate and then legislation to promote and encourage social equity participation opportunity in the cannabis industry. And you know, just really to make hold those people that have been disproportionately impacted by the marijuana prohibition and enforcement and championing that IS rep dotate at the state level. And of course we all know pro Tim Tate here locally, is that his key priority. So we thank them both for that. Moving forward to the next slide. So at this time, I conclude my remarks and we are all available to address any questions you may have. So again, I thank you and we're available for questions. Thanks.
All right. Thank you. Barbara, do you have anything before we move to question? Nope, go ahead. Okay. All right. We appreciate you all coming down. I'm colleagues. We do have a heavy agenda. So I will ask that we limit any questions to two per member? If there are any questions at this time. And then of course, Additional questions can be submitted via memo as we continue to reach out to our gcsaa agency Member Santiago renew. Thank you Madam President. I have one brief question. We may not have the answer to this today. But it's definitely a priority that I know myself and other people have which is a split rate tax. Have we discussed this? What does this look like the possibility of this happening?
Well, I know they're still and I'm gonna let my colleague because some they do speak to it, I guess in more detail, but there's still a lot of work that needs to be done to make sure it's constitutionally proof and just that we're going about it and messaging it in the right way. So I thought,
that's spot on.
So currently, we're navigating the legal issues and trying to come up with the right framework that can make it work but rest assured, I mean, this is the top of our legislative priority list for the coming term. Great. Thank you so much. Thank
you, Madam President. Thank you so much, member Doha.
Thank you, Madam President. And just more more so have a comment. You know, as we look at these numbers, and we've gone over some of this information, obviously in BFA, our budget financial audit committee, just want to commend advocacy on the state level obviously served as a legislator as well as member waters and member young. And this is one of the biggest budget allocations to the city of Detroit in the history of the state of Michigan. I think that has to be noted, relative to infrastructure, as well as an increase in revenue sharing, which is huge for the city. And so, I will hope that we keep up that that great work and advocacy, I would hope that we now connect to the new legislators that we have, because they represent other communities. At one time Detroit had its own legislators 10 districts, and now those districts are spread across metropolitan Detroit. But we want to ensure that the priorities of those legislators legislators still remain here for the residents in the city of Detroit. And so I look forward to having further conversations with you on how we improve on those relationships and strengthen them and let them know that we are focused on the city of Detroit here and we want to get what we deserve from Lansing as well. So please keep up the great work. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. I just want quick question before I go to member Johnson. Can you speak to any efforts on the state level regarding property tax reform and or the ability for cash compensation and or tax credits happening from the state level? I didn't see it in your presentation just will be a good good idea to provide an update if they're already efforts.
So President Sheffield, we know that's a very important issue. We have not Well, we've always paid attention to it. But what we're I guess at this point waiting for is the governor to chime in and you know, just kind of find out what the plan is moving forward before we advocate because, you know, we know it's a priority. residents want to be may whole I've had this conversation with member Callaway. So anything we can do and lift up to help that effort. You know, we'd be more than happy to.
Yeah, I'll just say, and Stephanie, and all of you who have made us aware of this and have brought it up in our conversations. It is on our list and I'm sorry, because I'm a little under the weather. I don't have COVID but the you know, it's been a little bit of a weird session and the rhythm has been a little bit different than what we've been used to. On the policy side of things. It's really been more budget focused because of the influx of money. Like Stephanie had mentioned, there still is probably about $6 billion that we are targeting for a lot of projects here in the city of Detroit and hopefully we'll get some of them in December in an additional supplemental, and if not, it'll come next year. But because of the weird rhythm, it's been slow on policy. And so we hope to really kick that up next year with all of the new lawmakers coming in and people being a little more settled from being back in person more regularly and all of that so that definitely is a priority. We know for you guys will stay on top of it
and through the chair. Additionally, you know, we're working on funding to and I know we can never make anyone whole but working on funding to fund the initiatives that you guys are bringing forward you know, for affordable housing for home repair as much as we can so that those programs can help people that were impacted negatively with the over assessment.
A member Johnson
Thank you, Madam President. I know we speak a lot about affordable housing but I just want to make sure that we are focused on deeply affordable homeownership for Detroit residents. And I know that we will have to identify some creative solutions in order for us to get there but look forward to having your support and and focusing on deeply affordable homeownership for Detroit residents.
So thank you through the chair to member Johnson, thank you for that. And I'm sorry I did not say because I know you are home ownership driven. But I know that it's a it's a net or a national conversation, but at the state level, it is definitely much a bipartisan effort to you know, making sure that there is affordable housing for the working class for you know, those that, you know, are the vulnerable community. It is an effort I can honestly say with the Republican legislators as well as the Democrats. So I think that's one thing we were all agreed. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam President. Thank you.
Alright, there are no additional questions. Okay, two questions for Carson. Yes member young
Good to see you guys. How you doing? Utah my legislature. I think that's Oh, yeah. He's almost they realize well there too.
Um,
I have a couple questions. One, I
want to ask you very quickly about the issue of residency. Do we know where we're at with that? Exactly. I mean, I remember every time we used to introduce that it was just something I was staying committee and die. Has there been any real discussion? Or energy around that discussion on particularly after the auto insurance reform that passed recently? I think that's kind of the next step potentially with everything we have going on right now. Has there been discussion about that?
So through the Chair, I mean, remember young it's, it gets brought up but it also continues to die. So nothing's really changed there. One. Yeah, unfortunately.
And then secondly, has there been any discussion at all involving the fact that our tax revenues are frozen? It turns the tax rates? Because there are felt? Well, it was it is it's a couple of days one, the fact that our tax rates are frozen, so our income tax rates are frozen. So we charge more for resident income tax, we do corporate tax, so it was what we call it a regressive tax. If I wanted to flip that or have that discussion, I can't even have that because we're frozen. Part of that was because of the public lighting authority. And what happened with that legislation was part of it. Has there been any discussion at all in terms of changing that in terms of providing more flexibility towards that? It has there been a discussion about land value taxation, so where you tax where you have a tax that are higher on the land, then on the property because we have a lot of questions in the city tree about property taxes and how high they are and people being over assessed. And so I think that land value taxation is the way in which we get lower property taxes, it actually bring more money into the city. But I think there was some constitutional concerns with it last time I was there, and so I just want to know how that is. There have been discussions without that at all.
So through the chair to member Yang yes, there has been and as we address member Romero's question earlier, Hassan they do and is really leading that effort, as well as with our CFO, Jay rising, and again, we're still working on the constitutional efforts they're making, making sure its message right, but is constitutionally fit. Was anything
more. Yeah, that's right. Just adding to that Councilmember is, I mean, we're very, very close to having a structure of a taxation scheme that that does pass constitutional muster and brings significant relief to the residents of Detroit. So I think we're very close and I think it's going to be very appealing to folks on both sides of the aisle in Lansing. Frankly, I'm I'm as hopeful as I've ever been, that we can actually get some reform on this front and things are looking really good on
it right now. So do the chair. It's a high priority. So as soon as sun works is policy magic. You know, we're excited to move forward because I know there's an expectation from residents, you know, as we deal with tax abatements That that will help that situation out. So there's, we know it's a key priority. We just have to make sure everything's good to go.
Excellent. Has it been a discussion all about
being fair to everyone? Sorry.
It's about free ocean.
Yeah. Thank you. No problem. I just want to be the person questions per person. Thank you so much. We appreciate you all Miss Barbara. Jake.
You know, I just wanted to say thank you to everybody. And as you know, you see, I mean, obviously Stephanie and we love working with Stephanie and the team and things are turning and there's always something going on. But anytime anybody has any questions, as you know, you can just reach out and we'll definitely get you the information back. Thank you.
We do have a couple of more questions from colleagues, member Robinson. Thank you.
Thank you, and thank you all for being here today.
The historic museum authority Senate Bill 653, I believe, what's the status of that and
we think we can get it in its hole, not parsed up through the lame duck session and I know that Senator Bullock is committed to doing that. I'm hoping that we optimistically and pragmatically can get that through.
We are definitely going to make our best effort on that councilman, but are preparing for next session if we need to do it in the next session.
It doesn't seem an optimist. I
know. I don't want to be I'm probably like a Debbie Downer today too. So that's bad. But I just with the limited amount of days that are laughs It just is. It's a tight squeeze for when they're they're going to be in they'll come back and they'd be in the legislature. They'll come back in after election. For maybe a day or so. And then they'll break and it'll come back for maybe six more days. In December before the end of the year, is what we're seeing. So there are limited amount of days. So I just want to set expectations realistically, that if it doesn't, but definitely we you know, it's on the table and we're gonna make our best effort to get it done. So we don't have to start again and Senator Pollack has been such a huge advocate for it and has done an amazing job so I think it'll be the one of the last things he could do before he was done there. So
okay, so giving hopefully we can get it done. So you can't please do what you can. And then just to concur with remember young, just the preemption at the state level is so debilitating to us in our ability to get things done around so it's really important issues like gun violence number one, some some of the other items. So it's hopefully working to allow the city to determine its own future and not have the legislature tell us what we should or should not do. Back in the city of Detroit. We
know best what's good for our residents,
and what's good for our local politics. So just please keep that message going as well. Thank you. Thank you.
Mr. cabling. Thank you, Madam Chair. And good morning to you all. Has there been any movement around overly punitive child support laws? The AC value has reported that this greatly affects the black community. If someone doesn't pay child support or gets behind, they they're worn out for their arrest. They're placed in jail. Their license is suspended. And of course, it's just a vicious cycle. Because if they don't have a license, they're in jail. They can't pay child support. So we know that some states are advocating for these laws to be less punitive. What are we doing in the state of Michigan with respect to our child support laws, and thank you? Yeah, absolutely. I
can speak to this. I know as Barb mentioned, there are limited days, session days, as the year unfortunately comes to the end, but this is a conversation that will move forward. The next legislative term I'm hearing from both
House Democrats as well as Republican Democrats. So it does seem like to be a bipartisan effort to really tackle this issue.
The next session.
Yeah, and I was just add, Councilwoman, that it has been a big discussion in Lansing childcare in general, right, because it really came to light during COVID This issue that we I think we all knew we already had, but that brought it to the forefront. So there are large discussions going on, like Jasmine had said and so we'll make sure that we continue to advocate for that and get you what information we have a little look and see what what bills are out there and get them to you right now.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Member waters.
Thank you, Madam President. And so good morning to all and I certainly appreciate the challenges that you have before you getting things done in Lansing. I know all too well, what it takes and so and I know that you've been working very, very hard. Sometimes we hear at the local level acts for things and it's not that easy to get it done. You know, even with Governor Whitmer. The things that she wants to do for this city has to be approved by the Republican legislature. So I want all of us to keep those kinds of things in mind. It is a continuous fight for all of us. But having said that, you know, and I'm willing to go there anytime that you guys need us to, to help lobby on behalf of the city. In fact, I plan to do some things myself, as well. So I'll be calling on you. But I do want to know the status of the bill that Representative Karen puts it in I introduced and I say that, you know I'm not there to introduce it but she did how's it been 6281 that will allow property tax exemptions for senior citizens maybe it'll get passed in lame duck that's that's what I was, you know, represented with that says as possible. So any any idea
through the chair to member waters so representative with said is very confident that that will move along and lame duck Okay, so I'm just gonna go by her, her her enthusiasm that it'll get done, but she works very hard and has excellent relationships with the speaker and they really do lift up her priorities as it is a priority of the city. So we feel good about it.
Fantastic. Thank you so much. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you member waters. Alright, there's no additional questions. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. Yes, Mr. Corley.
Thanks so much, Mr. President. I'm Miss Washington indicated that the Detroit general retirement legacy legacy system and may receive an infusion of $24 million. Is that a one timer? Is that is that firm? And is it also eligible for the police and fire retirement system? Thank you.
Through the Chair, I'm going to refer or defer, I should say to Steve Watson, our budget director to address that question.
Mr. Watson.
Thank you, Madam President. Through you to Mr. Corley. On so it would be a one time infusion. These are one time dollars in state budget. The goal of this local pension funding program is to help local retirement systems get up to 60% funded. So that is the criteria for being eligible to apply and this will be an application process that the state treasury department will open up sometime in 2023. So still a little ways out. But they're going to use though to determine that 60% ratio is the local retirement report that the city submitted to the state last December. And as of the data in that report, the only the general Retirement System is below 60 was below 60% funded and would be eligible for this program. The police and fire Retirement System was over 60% funded and thus would not be eligible. But again to Mr. Kelly's initial question, this would just be one time money which is fantastic but doesn't provide an ongoing source of pension funding.
Mr. Correa, thank you.
All right. Thank you. Thank you all for being here. We appreciate your update, and we will be in contact with you all moving forward. Thank you, Washington. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. We have one more presentation and that is for Halloween and the de novo our general public has been waiting. Thank you for your patience. We have one more brief presentation and then we'll go straight to general public comment.
Good evening, through the Chair. My name is Aaron Harris, and I'm speaking on behalf of the Department of neighborhoods on behalf of Ray Solomon, our Director. Thank you for having us. This morning. I wanted to introduce our chair and our co chair for this year's Halloween and D and we'll be doing the presentation. So we have Carla Williamson, who is our director, and district one. And we have Alexia Davis, who is our deputy director in district seven.
All right thank you. Go right ahead.
Good morning. Morning resolution
honorable body. Thank you for allowing us to share Halloween in the day with you this morning. Alexia, if you could have if Alexei could have the right to share. We can move through today's presentation
she does have those privileges.
Thank you. So Halloween in the DEA is, as was already said, I'm the chairperson this year. Alexia Davis is the co chair. And we're really just starting and building momentum on how we celebrate here in the city of Detroit. So let's talk a little bit about the history of Halloween and today. It started in 2018. And it was previously no one really is angels tonight. As we canvassed you may remember us going through neighborhoods having to flash in light and really was a safe type of opportunity. Through angels light but as we we have progressed, our goal really is to give this particular holiday back to families. We involve our city departments. We involve our radio patrols, and this particular initiative is funded solely by donations both monetary and in crime. So Halloween in the DEA is a shared application of family fun through our recreation centers, as well as our police precincts. We will activate one fire engine house per district. Usually we serve about 30,000 kids through this initiative, this one day initiative on October 31, which will be on a Monday this year from five to seven o'clock. In the past, we have bagged candies especially amid COVID We just simply had drive up locations for safety. And these are the photos that you see where we worked as a team to bag candy and then distribute. You also see in the photo as we will be bringing on board again is any contractors businesses that would like to donate we'll have a specific day in order to receive those donations. This year for Halloween and the D we have received 2000 costumes that have been sponsored and we will be distributing those and each district. Our goal this year is to have 18 sites which are inclusive of the precincts and wildfire engine house. We will provide some safety guidelines and other literature from our departments. Volunteers who packed the candy we still will be very cautious and paying attention to how our safety how we are being safe when packing again 30 Not again we have collected right around $30,000 through sponsorship and still are accepting sponsors. Our fliers will be circulating in the community. So this year as we stated, the recreation centers except for two will have activities in person. Those sites are Adam bustle, bustle, Family Center Clemente crow will Heilmann Lasky and Patton. We also are asking for departments to assist in our trucker treats that are going to be taking place at the precinct. police precincts. So some departments have already signed on if there are any additional groups, especially the council. If you'd like to participate in our trunk or treat then please let us know we can assign you to a precinct or if you have one that you would like to participate in. Just please let us know. We ask people to decorate so that it's real fun and festive as parents and children walk through with their costumes and then are given these wonderful treats. This year we are so happy that GSD will be partnering with Halloween in the DEA are really setting the tone starting on Saturday, October the 29th with a Fall Fest at Pingree Park, and then they will also have a scare Fest on October the 30th which will be at Palmer Park what I didn't say at the beginning is that we are going to really thank our radio patrols and DPW as they will kick off Halloween and a D with a blight drive that will allow us to see areas that we have illegal dumping on that needs to be removed for staff safe passage for our families and trick or treaters that will begin October the 17th. They will identify areas they'll take pictures and they will forward that to DPW so that we can get those areas picked up. So we just encourage and invite everyone to participate in Halloween and the DEA 2022
giving it back to the families encouraging people to dress up and really be safe here in the city of Detroit. So I welcome I thank you for this opportunity and welcome any questions that anyone may have for us this morning.
All right. Thank you so much for that presentation. And we are looking forward to partnering with you all for another successful year of Halloween in the DEA looking forward to all of the promotional materials that you all have so that we can get out to our respective districts and engage our black clubs as well. So we appreciate the presentation and look forward to seeing you all soon. There's no pressing questions. councilmembers I would like to move straight to our general public comment. We do have a lot of people here. So thank you so much again for the presentation. Thank you Thank you. All right, so that is our presentations and we're gonna now turn it over to general public comment. We appreciate your your patience this morning. Everyone will have one minute for public comment and we will start with Bob. Bob Carmack, followed by Chanda Davis. Followed by Pastor mo are you doing man?
Good morning. My name is Robert Carmack. I'm just here on shots fired. There was a young man that was shot 38 times. There is no way that you spend this money on what they're trying to spit on. of shootings of shots fired. When when most people get robbed that takes 10 seconds. I've been robbed. I've had two people killed with guns on my chest. I was saved by Detroit police officer. The gun was on my chest cut and I should have died. But he killed two people back in 2000 with the guns on my chest. I've been dead almost 15 times. I died flatline when I was 35. I left my body and went up to heaven. This God sent me back for this to come back and tell you what is going on here. You have a 20 year old child that died. You have a kid that is no longer here. There needs to be money for mental health. There needs money for better training. And so forth. spend it on that
just real quick. I just wanted to man, I just want to thank Mr. Carmack for coming out to the prayer vigil for the young man on Sunday. Thank you sir.
Miss Calloway had a beautiful Thank you. Yep.
Miss Sandra Davis,
the morning City Council President Mary Sheffield. I am a member of Li P live in peace. And I'm here to say that I live in Harper Woods which is now known as Harper hood. A lot of those shootings that's taken place with the teenagers killing people is going on 24/7 And until you have a child's blood on your hand or is it still is your own child you don't know that feeling. I don't know if any of you ever had a child laying on the ground and a blood in their hand and they dying and there's nothing you can do. And it's not until you actually have a gun pointed at you. When you're going to take action to do something we see the names but it don't matter because it's not our family members. And it's not until they hit home and somebody that got a big name and can get recognition to being on TV that something's going to take part of it. You got teenagers out here with nowhere to go and he picking up the phone and they killing people left and right and it when does he want to stop? You know? When is it gonna stop? You know it can come any day now when you walk on the street and run up to you and pull the trigger.
And I support all right. Thank
you so much. Thank you, Pastor mouth. What? Turn your microphone on or your microphone on just press the bottom of your microphone.
your morning coffee when you're president. Well Tim Coleman. Do Hi my man. Patricia Benson. I want to say if I had a Mount Rushmore of cauliflower during Watson, modern Congress and bring the journalists and we moved three y'all will be the most brightest smartest Intelligent Office counsel ever. Got the Mount Rushmore Council? I want to say that I want to say I think it's very disrespectful and almost offensive to people to insinuate right now a special group to say that people's testimony about their pain, their real pain has been some kind of way of being manipulated, put, put a spa shatter. People, people should tell the truth, you have the right to their truth. And until you've lost somebody like that blushing, you see, to calm down with Mira. I want to say also social services need to be done the systemic issues, but when I was 17, we didn't want no program. We cared about controlling the neighborhood. We met you with innovation in the media box. So right now we need to have a spa shatter to be here the president of our people I want to say also that someone who people need six I say I got one to a job that don't make your district more popular than you. I'll take your seat because Thank you. God bless you.
Man wish man to turn on your random okay. Go right ahead. I'm
sorry. Good morning, Castle metal president. I'm destroying your random on the mother can I Ryan, the 14 year old that was killed at the riverfront apartment. This is the first time I'm speaking on my daughter's death. I'm hearing support a spa shatter because on that night of July time she was left for dead I'm here only to spur the future. My daughter and her honorary name. And the community that I serve are also black college friends that I represent here today. The college relatives of you guys who also can be in the same position of my daughter and a future sitcom. I have started a Canadian Brian foundation and I would love to share usually what I plan on doing in honor of her name, um, the community that I come from. Also, I would like to start a firearm energy injury training, which will offer emergency training for all of us as like CPR. So when someone is shot we can have enough response to say their lives because it's possible. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. Miss random. Thank you. We appreciate you and sorry for your Thank you. Thank you, Mike Larry. Followed by Jonathan Farley. Followed by Jacob more you all can please come take your seats. Mr. Larry. Yes, how you doing?
Oh, first of all, good afternoon, everyone. I'm a local comic from the city of Detroit. I'm with live in peace movement and the spot shot or program definitely needs to be implemented. The thing is, I have a program also, I'm a father foremost, but I have a program called 100% real fathers where every year we do a balloon release for for kids that lost their dads. You know, we do it on Father's Day. And the number of children that I'm helping as far as the kids that the murder in the sicknesses, the murder of far more awaits any sickness or any disease of people that's losing their fathers. And now if you look at the numbers as far as the kids deaths being murdered, is I'm gonna have to start another program for the kids is being murdered. You know, I'm saying for the for the parents that lost the kids spots, the spots shooter is definitely need to be placed.
All right. Thank you, Mr. Larry. Jonathan Farley.
Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Jonathan Farley. Lived in Detroit for 40 plus years. I'm a member of the Living Peace Movement as well. This is one of my daughters that I'm raising in the city. I have another daughter and anything that can bring safe into the city. I'm all for it. I have been shot in 2003. So I do know what it feels like to be a victim of gun violence. I have family members that has been a victim of gun violence. So anything we can do to add some type of awareness because I know spot shot is not going to be the one thing that's needed to stop the violence but me coming from the streets and understanding how the streets go. I do know that it will help to curb violence. And, you know, I think there's more work that needs to be done after it as well, as far as promoting it and maybe even showing scenes of it. happening and and Billy's being called to kind of curb some of the guys from the senseless violence. Thanks.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
Jacob more.
The morning awesome. Born. My name is Jake more from Detroit born and raised. I'm here with LRP movement. Tascam always the President I met here was full of supportive spouse shotter. I believe that spot solder can help people that get hurt you know police presence being there quickly. Um, for all of that on a Bible says in John chapter 10, verse 10. The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. But Jesus said, I'll come that you might have life, a life more abundantly. So I just believe that murderous spirit has been glamorized violence has been glamorized in our music and our entertainment and it's our duty not only to have spots shatter, because that will help but also to tell our young people to put the gun down, get in a ear when they ready to go slide on the up. You know, I'm saying and it's also our responsibility to let the police handle their job and not retaliate and take violence into our own hands. Detroit.
Thank you, we appreciate you, Gabriel McNeil to Mira Liberty Smith, and Alexander Hawkins.
Oh, okay, good morning, everybody. There nice to see everybody on the panel then I'm usually in my shift jacket. today. I'm wearing another hat. Okay, so I am in support. I got two parts first. I love the mere fact of the placard for the food service. Can't tell me that I can't keep a clean kitchen. All right, and then I'm also in full support. For the spot shatter. You could put the pole with the camera on my front yard, on my roof, or whatever. Because I've heard that I'm going to Geoff Chalmers area with Councilwoman Johnson and for is usually safe. But the other day, I heard 30 rounds. And I thought I was enough. All right. So yeah, you could put that thing on my property. I don't care. All right. So thank you for letting me shit. All right. Thank you.
Good morning, Madam President and honorable council members. My name is Tamra Liberty Smith, community activist wants to delay responder now a first responder as a staff member of ceasefire. Detroit. ShotSpotter is very valuable in our city because it saves lives. A few weeks ago, we experienced this city's police department responding to ShotSpotter finding a home shot up and a critically injured woman inside who was shot twice in the head and once in the abdomen. Medics came and transported her to the hospital and saved her life. She's alive today due to ShotSpotter. On Sunday, we experienced an officer responding without ShotSpotter officers responded to what was reported as a possible overdose, responding officer found a car crashed into a tree with the pregnant woman inside shot behind the wheel in the chest backtracking the scene also finding additional victim shot in the head if Shot Spotter had been in place like the previous incident that Sunday a mother and her unborn baby may have lived the technology of ShotSpotter can help the city's understaffed Police Department. Therefore my opinion ShotSpotter will change the mindsets of most shooters and reduce the number of senseless killings in our city. This city needs your help counsel, I asked you please. Can we please get help on this gun violence and ultimately save the lives of many people in our city. Thank you.
Thank you. Good afternoon. My name Aleksandr. Please start the Can we reset the clock? Okay. All right.
Hello, my name is Alexander Hawkins. And with the LRP movement, and I'm definitely supportive of the spot shadow. Been here 50 Year 52 years so I didn't experience a lot of depth and saying a lot so I'm very supportive of it. Thank you
Thank you. And Gaston alibi McGill.
Good morning everyone.
My name is Gaston I'm from District Six and I would like to show support for the chat spotters we really needed in District Six. I do know that some districts are using it already. I spoke to some of the city council member they mentioned that a bit crime went down they were able to take about 300 guns off the street. So I mean let's do the math. How many live those 300 You know how to save so please city council members help us support these because we really need it. I think that there is a great opportunity will make police job easier. And we'll have all of us safer. But you want to say that I do. We do support this so please help us. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning.
My name is Miguel maletto. I'm a longtime resident of Southwest Detroit just received also I am totally supportive of ShotSpotter being born and raised in southwest all my life I don't seen so many unfortunate events happened in the area. I am told to support ShotSpotter and please consider keeping it thank you so much.
Thank you right here
Hello, my name is Jerry Flint Gail. I am here as a member of live in peace with pass Tamale and I am totally in support of spot shatter. I had an opportunity to speak to Attorney Roma's this morning and I asked I took his finger and I said can you put your finger right here and his whole well was shot 29 years ago and left for dead. And he was very mortified when he touched a hole in my arm and I told him I reached in my pocket and showed him my medicine. And I told him I said I have to take these pills every single day for the rest of my life for the pain that I'm facing every day. As well as pastor mo know personally. Seeing in witness for my pain, I told him Hey, I gotta get up and I gotta walk around. And I didn't really want to tell him that. But a lot of these parents are burying their children. A lot of children glamorizing all this gun virus, it really has to stop. And that's all I have to say. Thank you.
Thank you. Stay read Cynthia Johnson are you here? I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you earlier. Just wanted to recognize you and then allow you to speak I know you may have to leave as well. Right ahead, Republican.
Well, good. Good morning, everyone. I'm glad that I'm here today to hear firsthand from all of the residents. It's very important to listen to our constituents. And as I I listened to the cases being made and nicely made with regard to ShotSpotter, but I want us to be cautious. I am in appropriations. And I see the hundreds of millions on top of millions on top of millions of dollars that many communities including the city of Detroit receive many times what we see such as the ShotSpotter you have to you're not going to buy into the product unless it's marketed correctly. So I want us to be very very, very cautious and then ask some very important questions in regards to ShotSpotter such as the young man who shot four people on liver noise. And thank you, Madam Chair.
We appreciate you and your service. Thank you for taking the time to come down. Last Name Gonzalez. Followed by Mark followed by Ronald Morgan. Lock and join us Good morning. Morning Council.
My name is Justin Gonzales. I'm here is post support. I got shots fired a couple of years ago my niece got shot by a stray bullet and I always make phone calls to 911 concerning shots fired you know, thinking one just days that will do I have names of other people that I know of. So right now I'm fully support of shots fired
Thank you. Okay, thank you.
One everyone. My name is Mark. I'm from District Six and support the spot shot or if the technology allows the police to arrive quicker at the scene, then we definitely need that technology for District Six and all of Detroit in my opinion. Is it going to stop crime? No, but I do think it will slow down. Thank you.
Thank you right here.
Good morning to the council.
I'm also from District Six I'm a current resident there I'm also insist in support a spot Schauder me I'm pretty pretty much lived in every district and if you hear like hopefully all these minutes add up to to get a positive result because if everybody's on the same page, but like the Senator said it needs to be promoted. You just can't pass it. And that's it. You need actually like real people out here that that's powerful that can deliver a message even take it to the neighborhoods like to do a lot of stuff, because it's gonna help a lot of people. It's also gonna provide jobs for the community, which is always a positive, but if everybody's saying the same message and support, it can't be wrong.
All right, thanks. Y'all have a blessed one.
Thank you you as well. Right last name Lopez. Hello, Andrew Lopes Abell Jones and James Smith
Hello, I live in the district six. We have all seen how over the years that was changed the city because Detroit have about fine little by little things of improvement. But part of what they have to keep improving is the street safety. I support all the initiative studies in the favor of avoiding crimes and racist those who committed them. I support those but we all have the right to be ours, but not to intimidate the other with fear. They are for our protection. Some believes that they are wild west I have neighbor who showed the air because they think they are funny with maybe they feel matches. I was shocked spotters in my community in my district on my city. That is why solicitation constraints been stabilizing. I like the toy of today. And I will like the toy of tomorrow much more from my perspective. ShotSpotter will be re held. Have a nice day. Thank you.
Thank you.
Hello and thank you for the minute
I'm a lifetime Detroiter at a district 6am in support of the ShotSpotter is benefits have been shown on a small scale. I think it's only right and fair that it's available abroad. However, I'm fair it is it's understandable that some people who sit in a position to make these decisions aren't residents of the city. So it doesn't hit close to home when something happens. And believe me what you see on the news is barely a percentage of what really goes on in our great city. So hopefully, those that are in position to make decisions will make the right decision to help keep our city safer and make it greater. Thank you so much for the time peace. All right. Thank you.
James Smith, lifelong District Six resident. I'm just wondering when are we going to reach into the next millennia here. I mean, Detroit is so far behind with the technology and everything compared to all the other major cities in the country. And those measures have been taken to help protect the citizens and we see in population growth in other cities. But here's the decline. It's like there's nothing here to protect us. Besides the police staff we call we lucky if they show up. You know, I can't tell you how many times I've walked out my house and try to figure out what year is it 1880 Because it's, you know, it's the wild southwest boys running around shooting guns out the optic car riding up and down on Werner. And you know, just gonna be the point of time where it's gonna be just, you know, irreversible. You know, we're getting to the point now where there's children being grown from elementary school to be gang members, you know, and that's because of the things they learned from the people around them. That are walking around shooting in the air, having a good time with it, showing it as a thing of leisure and not as something that has consequence to it. And that's the problem here in the city that people not seeing any kind of consequence. Run around lawless. Thanks for your time.
Thank you sir.
Samuel Garcia
Eric Williams.
In Valencia already here.
Hi. I'm from District Six. And I totally support these ShotSpotter because you know, my wife and I are all dinner every night. Every night. We hear shots around us, and she's really scared and she's really anxious every time that she hears a shot because we don't know when a last bullet is gonna shit on us. You know, we're really scared about that. And we really think that this will help you know, even prevent that this will happen before. So that's all I wanted to say. Thank you for having me.
Thank you.
Morning. My name is Eric Williams native Shroyer attorney with the Detroit Justice Center. Let me be blunt, the city council votes to approve ShotSpotter you'll be in violation of the civilian input over government surveillance ordinance which specifically lists gunshot detection technology provides for a very limited number of exceptions. This does not fall underneath them. I would also add that it requires that there be a surveillance technology specification report placed on the city website for 14 days before procurement process even begins. If that were done, and it was done answering all the questions that are actually required to be answered in the ordinance. We wouldn't be having people here pinning their hopes on technology that does not do what they think it does. We would have that information for the public. I would also say that part of the reason that exists is not just to create an informed discussion about the technology but to make sure that this Council makes informed decisions based on cost benefit analysis. Thank you.
Thank you, Eric.
Good morning. My name is Jose Valencia. My family and I need to feel safe. I have children. I come from dyslexics. We support the implementation of spur which can be the difference between life and death. Help us in order to be safe in order to have different society and we can make a difference. We can use technology in our favor in order to live in order to work freely. Thank you very much for your time. All right, thank you
to one a petty Aaron key Nancy Gardner
Good morning City Council. My name is Juana petty. I'm I'm here. This disappointed that once again we're having a discussion about spending millions and millions of dollars on yet another surveillance technology. Detroit has surveillance helicopter surveillance drones, cell phone tracking, Project Greenlight facial recognition at what point and at what dollar amount do we stop? Apparently none of the technologies create safety is and we've been saying that for years now. The other last week the White House released a blueprint for a Bill of Rights AI Bill of Rights. We deserve safe and effective systems, algorithmic discrimination protections, data privacy, notice and explanation and human alternatives. ShotSpotter does not deliver any of that. I am a lifelong Detroit or survivor of violence and nothing in me says that ShotSpotter would have prevented any of the crime that I have experienced as a lifelong Detroit. Detroit. We need to invest into solutions. Please don't do this to the public. Thank you.
Thank you. And Aaron CI Good morning Council. I'm attorney Aaron Keith a born and raised Detroiter, I have lost friends to gun violence in the city. And I still do not support ShotSpotter why? Well, let's talk numbers $7 million. That's how much this council will be given a corporation based in California for faulty technology that the company itself doesn't even guarantee will prevent or reduce crime 40,000 The number of false positive ShotSpotter costs over two years when this faulty technology was implemented in the city of Chicago 91%. The number of ShotSpotter causes Chicago that turned up no gun related crime at all. You claim some residents want ShotSpotter but have they seen all the data and reports you've been privy to as council members? Do they actually understand it? Or are they just understandably grasping at straws because they want the violence to stop? Regardless of what budget the money comes from? I do not support this unreliable scientifically under vetted system with how much money this city has already spent on surveillance. We have proved it will not save us. Instead of giving our proverbial spare change to programming outside of policing. When we make $7 million investments in scaling, community based violence interrupters, hospital bedside trauma intervention, mental health services we can have a safe city Thank you
Good morning. My name is Nancy Viner. I'm a native Detroiter. I've lived in district two for the last 55 years. This is my third time coming before the Council in support of of the ShotSpotter. I think that this program has demonstrated we have evidence in its use in in precinct eight nine and what it has been able to do. We have an excellent police force. We need to support them and the job that they have to do and this technology will support them and doing a better job. They can go directly to where that shot is fired. They can respond much quicker and they can also be saved as in assisting the community and being safe. So I asked you to please vote today in support of ShotSpotter Thank you
great thank you. Miss Rogers followed by Joanna. Greetings Council I'm Shiva Rogers, a resident of District Four I'm asking the council particularly Leticia Johnson, to vote no on ShotSpotter just last week, an article from Cleveland, Ohio reported on major concerns with ShotSpotter including body cam footage provided by the city showing officers using the technology to justify unconstitutional stops and searches. When when we stop the perpetual cycle of expanding Quick Fix surveillance driven solutions for issues that are rooted in human needs not being met. I have five brothers and three sisters, and more than half have been incarcerated for a number of issues with an incarcerated parent. We were trapped in the cycle of poverty. We needed social services, employment and financial resources. ShotSpotter will not fix the deep seated systemic issues that black and brown people are facing that create the environment for buying lives. Your job is to address this unhealthy environment that we are living in violence is merely the symptom. We urge you to do what will take more time and more effort in exchange for lasting impact. Thank you, Lord Taylor and Taylor. Followed by Megan Douglas. Nancy Parker
Good afternoon console. My name is Lou Tolo salifu I am the director of neighborhood resilience, safety and business district services for Jefferson East Inc. I am also I'm not here in that capacity though. I'm here as an executive board member of the black slate Inc. We are opposed to ShotSpotter. I repeat, we are opposed to ShotSpotter. It is a tool that has not proven itself worthy of our time. And our money. We can reallocate those resources to other things that will help the police department. I have been in ComStat meetings. I have seen crime statistics. The major issue that we are coming across not saying that gun violence is not an issue. It is but property crime has gone up. We're not spending money on property crime. We're spending it on this tool that may or may not work and has not shown that it will work. We're asking that you not I repeat not get ShotSpotter Thank you.
Good morning everyone. My name is Meghan Douglas. It's well proven at this point that shots butters and utter and complete failure at preventing, detecting or reducing crime. Studies show one study in Chicago that 86% of Shot Spotter reports turned up no crime at all. It's a waste of police officer time and drains resources. I also don't think we have to speak too long and what kinds of activities actually create community safety and stop gunshots and given the long history of police abuse in the city. I absolutely don't agree that sending more police into our neighborhoods, who are gassed up about a potential crime creates safety for anyone I humbly and sadly and angrily invoked the name of 22 year old Porter Burks, who was recently gone down while having a mental health crisis. If we can't expect safety when we call How can we expect it when a test system that can't tell us from one another or fireworks from a gunshot calls for it? I wonder if people from communities where they're able to keep their doors open? Who over and again sell these tech systems in black and brown cities Please vote no on ShotSpotter do what's right rather than less easy.
Thank you.
One of the morning counsel Nancy Parker with the Detroit Justice Center managing attorney I am here once again been here every week to tell y'all to do the right thing. Do your job. You guys have the data and the information this thing does not work. Do not lie to these people. These people are pouring out their hurt their trauma and you are going to turn around and said because they call for something not knowing how it works. We are going to approve and waste money. I want to talk about what we need to be doing. We need to be at the forefront of a different type of policing, community based policing. You want us to give you alternatives and invest in community based alternatives as we see in Brahim and Cahoots on the West Coast right. People can take care of each other DPD comes and they execute people. Poor brother Porter Burke's was executed. That is what ShotSpotter would lead to more execution. Is that what you want for the people of the city? We're asking you to invest. Those are poor dollars, and that surplus of DPD into actual policing. If DPD is already overextended. You explain to these people how they will get deployed to all the ShotSpotter alerts. It is impossible. Do your job. Morning council thank
you for hearing me. My
name is Sophie Ordway. I'm the legal research analyst at Detroit Justice Center. The ordinance that this council passed the community input over government surveillance ordinance that my colleague Eric Williams mentioned earlier. requires that a surveillance technology specification report be made public on the city's website for at least 14 days prior to City Council's procurement period. I was unable to find that report on the city's website. I had to obtain it via email instead from internal sources. And once I did obtain it, the responses that DPD provided were vague, limited and simply refer to internal DPD policies that the average person would have to go searching for to understand how is that satisfying the need to give the public adequate information to weigh in on whether they want this technology to permeate their neighborhoods. My colleague Eric Williams has brought this point up repeatedly at public meetings. And we've received no response as to how the city is addressing this need to keep the public adequately and fully informed before making vital decisions that affect our lives. Thank you and please vote. No on ShotSpotter.
Thank you. Hey, come out
of district four resident. I'm not going to take up too much of your time. I mean, there's a lot of hurt in this room. And there's also a lot of data that you've already seen. So I won't say any of that. What I will say is that we should lean on the community programs and organizations that you are have in your constituency who you can trust when we're talking about a corporation that got their start in Afghanistan spotting snipers, and then they found patents in 2020 when George Floyd was murdered, are talking about a company that was very much aware of what was coming and very much aware of how they can make money off of it. They've confessed to this on their earnings calls, which I've talked about before, where they say that folk don't trust police anymore and that they can make money off of that opportunity. And so I think you have to you can't go with a corporation that's going to make 40% of the profit from this contract. You have to talk to the community organizations who some of them have shown up here. Some have not been able to show up here. There's a lot of folks that are doing work here in the city that can use those that funding and I think those are the folks that we can trust we can not trust a corporation that's not from here. Thank you.
Hi, everyone. Regina Sharma. I'm a resident in district five with the Detroit Justice Center. As a constituent I asked you to fulfill your expectation when we put you in office, that you'd be committed to true community safety and that you are fiscally responsible stewards of the city's resources including DPD s budget you open today on honoring principal Phillips at Cass tag and your admiration for our dpscd students. Please don't put them in harm's way when a ShotSpotter alert leads to DPD thinking they've committed a crime that was in fact a car backfiring or a firecracker, or any other random sound that faulty technology thinks is a gunshot. If we have not been successful with countless data and statistics over the last few weeks, including the fact that 90% of ShotSpotter alerts turned up nothing in Chicago if we've not been successful, appealing to your desire for safety for our children or to fiscally responsibly budgeting for our community then I appeal to the most practical consideration that the city will find themselves tied up in lawsuits by people who are unjustly accused of crimes. On ShotSpotter right, thank you.
Good morning, Jasmine Valentine with the Detroit Justice Center. Council you are the amplified voice for residents overwhelmingly and repeatedly Detroiters have shown up in person and virtually to speak against ShotSpotter. I ask that you stop and listen. Hear what we're saying? Saying hear what you already know. ShotSpotter is not safe. And the research shows that this is a bias surveillance tool. Be honest and transparent with the folks that truly think this will keep them safe. It won't. All ShotSpotter does is employ law enforcement in black and brown communities without their consent. This is a reactive tool that just doesn't work. Again, it has been said many times credible research is available to prove that ShotSpotter doesn't work. We're asking you to vote against ShotSpotter be the true amplify amplify voice for us. Thank you. Thank you. Hello. This is Jack Heiser speaking ShotSpotter is a wonderful waste of money on police who from my experience personally have no proper training on how to respond to people within the means of the law. I am still homeless being housed in a hotel after unlawfully being arrested and evicted from my house by the Detroit Police Department. And I've been thrown in a system in which I've never been dependent upon and I'm being treated as if it's my fault, and I'm in as if the city is not responsible. The outdate from my hotel room is October 31. But my case has been pushed not dismissed until April the 22nd 2023 which I'm under a bind which means that I cannot leave the city. I'm homeless in the city with my son and held under false charges in a bind. I need an ongoing voucher not an on site voucher, not a 12 month voucher and not a waiting list because I'm not responsible for the situation that I'm in outlier media has reported this situation and is much confused as to why I am as to why your detective is not being held responsible.
Thank you, Mr. Kaiser. And however we can support you please please let us know we appreciate you for coming down. And if you could just state your name as well. Good morning.
My name is Leila. I'm a resident of district five and I'm here to urge you all in particular my representative council president Sheffield to vote no on expanding ShotSpotter which would be a proven and date of act waste of resources. So regardless of where those funds come from, they will be a waste programs like ShotSpotter come up just like Project Greenlight. And they end up absorbing more and more of our money. And this actually undermines public safety because it leaves very little resources left for the things that actually do work for the services that actually do improve people's lives and address the root causes of violence, things like community based violence interruption programs and more. If you're for the public safety of Detroit, there's why expand ShotSpotter any further, countless studies show it doesn't work. Chicago tried it. They got rid of it. They saw it didn't work. We don't need to waste our time here in Detroit doing that. Investing in ShotSpotter will only lead people further astray when you have a no the data showing you that it will fail. You work for the residents of Detroit not for a for profit technology company. Please vote accordingly and vote no on ShotSpotter Thank you.
Hello, my name is Richard Moore. And I want to thank you all for to help you out. Did you okay. My My situation is still a problem. Y'all set up a heavy three month waiting for our house to be inspected. And when it got inspected, it still have failed. I still have electrical problems and I've been there but uh we have pumped up pull it off the wall, crack the crack, they end up in the frame of the woods. And I can look outside through my airport and she outside. That's not healthy, none of these things and I'm having a problem getting them out why I haven't inspectors to come out and inspect these places, but keep me in a shelter as long as I did and playing paying the money I would pay for storage and I'm still in the same predicament but in a house. I appreciate it. I'm in there, but put a hold me up and not gonna be in there and ship and told them the problems and let them come and do it. But otherwise with the whole purpose of having an inspector if they ain't doing their job right. It'll make no sense to me.
Thank you, Miss Moore and if we can get your information so we can know exactly what house you're referring to.
It does not mind my house was other people's houses. Sure. I have a daughter she
I don't want to go back and forth. I do appreciate you for coming down but whatever homes you are referring to, we want to make sure that we get them over to the appropriate department to to properly inspect so we appreciate you thank you for coming down and wherever we can assist you we'll get your information and also connect you with the at large members as well too. All right, all right. Thank you, Miss Moore. Ali.
Yeah. Good morning. My name is Lee and I'm a resident of district five. And I'm here hearing all the fears all the concerns and all the lives that could have been met us and to resolve these concerns. I'm asking you to vote against ShotSpotter we want safety we want prosperity and we want accountability and ShotSpotter will not get us there as those in power of yielding the city's funds you must take into account not a suppose outcome that is told to you but how what's your funding proposals to get us there? ShotSpotter is a surveillance technology it claims to make us safe by making us distrust one another to have microphones across neighborhoods. Adding onto the green lights that already signal you're in danger can only further distress and fear on the streets. Surveillance does not build conversations. It isolates people punishes people rather than recognizing that people are suffering. If you want to get a future without violence, you have to employ policies that do not centralize violence. Give money to community service organizations to urban farms give money to street festivals and rebuilding homes give money to green spaces and food and water. Focus on what prioritizes care but models how we want to live together. Thank you. Morning.
Good morning. My name is Rama dude. I'm an attorney at the ACLU of Michigan and a district five resident I'm here to urge you all once again to vote no on expanding ShotSpotter I know you've all seen the data from around the country and you can't ignore it at this point. Far too often. A ShotSpotter alert leads to no arrests, no guns recovered. Instead, far too often, police officers rushed to the scene and treat everyone in the area as a suspect in a threat that is not going to make Detroit more safe. The good thing is though, that there are better and more effective alternatives that the city council can fund. Things like who's out in the west coast, that passionate work do Rahim. There are so many better alternatives that the $7 million can go to. And I urge you all to vote no today to show your commitment to finding better, more effective alternatives that will actually make Detroit a safer and healthier place. Thank you
Thank you. What organization again? I'm sorry. ACLU of Michigan ACLU. Okay, thank you. Go right ahead.
Yep. Good afternoon Council. Tim Christiansen resident, a district three with Michigan liberation. We've been coming here for the past four weeks sharing that we believe that ShotSpotter does not work. And as many of our friends and colleagues here have said that city resources should be invested in neighborhoods, mental health care infrastructure, non police crisis response and housing. If you don't take it from us just wanted to share that we hit 7000 doors and council president Sheffield's district district five this weekend. And amongst the 369 voters we talked to 226 or 61% of those voters were against gunshot detection microphones like ShotSpotter in their community. So I asked you all to listen to the will of the community and vote no and ShotSpotter Thank you. All right. Thank you.
Hi, I'm Anthony Smith. I'm in District Four. I'm actually for ShotSpotter because I feel that any tech not if you save only one life and suddenly in dollars, nothing. I don't think you can put a price on something put a price on someone's life. To understand we make into a lot of other things. But without somebody speaking alternative, then I will have to say ShotSpotter works in my mind for many years I've been given by a ceasefire friend that I have. It's already saved one young lady's life recently by the police been able to respond so swiftly. unforce ShotSpotter I think you guys should vote yes. To expand it. Because if it'll save one life, then it's worth
it. Thank you. Are you Tim?
No. Peter Blackmer district 148235 and professor of African American Studies at Eastern Michigan University, urging each of you to vote no on the proposed contract with ShotSpotter this morning, as I'm sure you all have read a recent poll found that 80% of district one and 81% of district for residents favored spending 7 million and ARPA funds on housing relief over ShotSpotter but the real issue here isn't where that money is coming from. The real issue is spending $7 million on a technology that contrary to many of the propaganda comments that have come forth generated by ShotSpotter that is fed to elected officials. to community members, is a unproven technology that is proven to increase of more violent interactions between police officers and black and brown communities despite any claims that this is a race neutral technology is the technology that sends officers into communities on high alert, ready for violent confrontation. The switch to general fund is a bait and switch and we're not falling for it. I urge you all to consider your legacies as council members and vote on the side of the people. Thank you
Hi, my name is John Jay. Live in District Four, Vice President of the United block club and I support ShotSpotter 100%. And I just want to say that everybody that I've spoken to and my hood, you know, definitely supportive that's you know, trying to do something more positive. You know, even the police or police officers I've spoken to has told me how it's helped them. So you know, the only people that I know of that's against it, I believe our majority of them either come from the suburbs, or they live in nicer areas where they don't hear gunshots at night, or they don't have to worry about the troubles that other people are starting to area. So they come out speaking on behalf of what you know, what they deal with, which isn't as much, you know, as in certain neighborhoods. So I hope that's taken into regard. You know, maybe we can put it in certain areas where it has higher gunshots but it's a whole difference when you arguing statistics that you read on the internet, or when you get gunshots to your window. So I'm gonna just say that
thank you hi, everyone. My name is Alaska's. I'm a resident of district five index Ellenwood neighborhood and I am against ShotSpotter. I prior to live in in district five I grew up in District Six. And in both of those neighborhoods, I either frequently called the police myself or supported neighbors in doing so because not because of gun violence. Although sometimes it did lead into that the root cause of those calls were actually support and meeting de escalation, mental health resources. I myself live in a household with other undiagnosed bipolar, schizophrenic men that had frequent episodes. And so when I'm coming here today to say no to ShotSpotter, because I'm asking for actual long term solutions, like the patch network, or something that would actually allow for different responses to be given to community because that's what I needed grown up as a Detroiter, and that's what I know my neighbors need and a lot of the fights that I hear in my neighborhood simply need to de escalate or to come out they don't need the intimidation of police and they need to be seen as
human beings.
I need to be seen as a human being so please
don't know what ShotSpotter right, thank you.
Hello, everybody. My name is Ray mo Vinson and I'm a resident here born and raised in Detroit Eastside where crime is a crime is heavy, and but also believe that ShotSpotter is not the solution, because it has no impact on stopping crime in our city, and revenue after general funds or ARPA funding this posted becoming throughout think more money should be allocated and invested in the past network and more health issues mental health issues, more more mental health solutions should be thought about and also think that more police de escalation tactics should be implemented because you need less police brutality in the city. And I think public surveillance is not the answer. That's why I vote no. On ShotSpotter
All right, thank you. Yeah, I'm at the end here already. Hi. Good morning, Detroit
City Council. My name is Denise Robinson. I love Detroit so much because God gave life to me on 313 I love my city. I love my entire city and I want us to vote no on ShotSpotter I had to do my own research and I found the information to be very disheartening to say the least. It's fascinating that the people in Chicago care about their resonance enough to vote it down. But people in Buffalo New York care about their residents to hold it down and other major urban areas. So let's not let Detroit be left behind in that
in that endeavor.
So let us try to get more positive things out there, but vote no on ShotSpotter. We really need to encourage our constituents and residents in Detroit to do their own research, to know where they stand and not listen to people who go by positive things that make certain things look good. Even immediate in Chicago due to background on the ShotSpotter so please vote no on ShotSpotter Thank you Hello, everyone. My
name is domine Burton engineer with Detroit action. I'm here to ask you lots about know on ShotSpotter. Not only is it not, has it proven to not be effective in other major cities. We definitely don't need to use ARPA funding that's supposed to be for helping people recover after the pandemic to go towards over policing and
threatening our communities. It's a waste of money no matter what funding gets coming from.
And not only that, it's reactive versus proactive. We need more proactive measures. Once your
loved one has been
has been what happens I don't want to use the word shot but like after your loved one has experienced that. What is this oversight missing technique technology actually going to do? We need more proactive measures that are going to solve the problem before it becomes an issue like ProAct like mental health intervention like patch. We need more de escalation techniques. And more diversity training our police officers need more de escalation that's something that's actually
understanding. Sorry, desperate time. Thank you.
Good morning. City council. My name is Robbie Riley. And I'm down here once again to complain about what the land bank is doing. I haven't been kid is one particular property. And my action has been more than one but I'm talking about this and where they keep wanting to come out there and say they put it on land bank list tell calls me and tells me that is the house that you was interested in is coming up for auction look it up and twin when about two years ago when almost three years ago my neighbor bought the house cross street. But anyway, I want them to stop on 135 to seven Finland I've been taking care of the house 17 years, not in and came out there again and dug up the bushes than actually it's been like the first it was the city didn't winterland back. The part of the roof has failed and I got pitches on my phone. I need you to come out there because I'm serious. I want that property. I actually had to pay for I think I paid for them my labor taking care of the grass. The putt using my gas and alarm was cutting out bushes. I don't even have a tree in my pocket. So I need you to come up here and take a look at that from a clean because I wouldn't want to have the car help me hang
out. Come on. I'm sorry, Councilman Coleman Young at large he know because he'd been to my house. I worked on his campaign when he ran for. Thank you. Thank you so much. You are coming out to so you can see what I've been doing. I don't want them to have taken away your property. Thank you so much. We appreciate you and I know the address right quick we want to do that publicly. I think
she she said it. I mean she's just that's the vacant properties.
You want to repeat the address 13527 film Okay, thank you Miss Riley's got miss a minute to my counsel first. Thank you so much. Mr. Crowley. Thank you.
My name is Reuben James Crowley Jr. and being a resident of district seven. District one district to district five, District Four. Previously, there had been a 1905 by mall Dr. Palmer woods, Mac B wick field iMac. I'm well versed. In what goes on in precinct 897 12.
And three
ShotSpotter is needed in the city of Detroit for one reason. Bullets are raining down on Detroit now if you have to go into the rainy day fund to get the money for ShotSpotter is needed to be proliferated throughout the whole city of Detroit. I'm just going to ask each one of you nine council members to dig deep within yourself and ask yourself When have you ever seen a building come out of the garage?
Thank you Mr. Crowley. Gonna have to know
my name Alma Smith. From the LI P movement sponsored by Pastor Mo and I think ShotSpotter is good for us to have it will only it will only protect us but it would protect our youth and our babies. Because shots has been fired like randomly. Every night we look at the news we see shootings and I think ShotSpotter is needed and it is about money. These are lies we talking about shouldn't be about money.
That's all right. Thank you sir.
Hi, my name is Tanisha Sanders. I'm
here with Detroit to action but I am a resident of district one. And I am against ShotSpotter because I've lost so many family members to these shots and then there's no police there even to investigate afterwards. Like literally, I don't understand is this crazy that, you know, this technology is up but really the statistics not showing what it's doing. Let's be real. Let's put into other things. I'm looking into the patch network. Yes, I am looking into mental training for police officers to dispatch that make sure they haven't doctors out there and make sure they have a social workers out there at the same time. That could be also police officers if they're trained, right. I'm looking more for my nephew is autistic and he would act up if y'all wouldn't the kids who have killed him. This is serious for me because at the end of the day, you got to know and understand what people are going through. He Troy has his own story. So we need to run with that story. I'm against ShotSpotter and I'm asking you to dig deep into putting it into the police department that's going to help our police officer help the city. That's all I got.
Thank you.
All right. I think that ends our in person, public comment, and we will now move to our virtual public comments. Are you how many hands do we have raised for virtual public comment?
Good afternoon, Madam President. We have 33 Hands raised in the first caller is madder than a mother. Okay,
good afternoon. Good morning. I'm calling because ShotSpotter will bring the police into our neighborhood and many of them are trigger happy. A case in point a young man that was murdered in front of my aunt's house 80 years old and she had to witness that and is traumatized for the rest of her her life. The Police shot a young man with his hands up running from a crowded police sound spider will only bring these type of crazy police officers. All of them were white. There was someone next door getting their tow their car towed six police officers were out there. White police officers
taking this lady's car away.
I want your people to think about that. Then on my street. The address is 95 363 that houses being destroyed and torn down. Thank you.
The next caller is Sandra Turner had handy
Good morning honorable body and residents of the city of Detroit My name is Sandra Turner handy. I'm a resident in District Four. I am in the ninth precinct was ShotSpotter has been for over the past year and a half and I am in support of ShotSpotter I see that it has taken a lot of guns off the street in our districts. And we are the most we have the most violent zip code in the city and they hear people that don't live with hearing gunfire every day every night and our kids believing that this is normal. That should not be a normal thing for our kids. To hear gunfire and okay with that ShotSpotter is taking guns off the street so well that our commander has been moved over to the eighth precinct that has now experienced high gunfire. That is how much ShotSpotter has done for our community. One last thing is more than $7 million
the next caller is Michael Lamont Cunningham Jr.
Everybody at home, can you hear me?
Yes we can. Good afternoon.
Good afternoon, Honorable President Sheffield. And everyone at home. The hotline number 31344491143134449114 on Facebook force subservience Cunningham. Now I'm asking everyone to look at that page. My mother's situation is on that page. She's in the nursing home and what the other nurse woman did to her. And I just want y'all to pray, pray for myself. Speak out loud. PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT chant. Cunningham, and my mom Sharon Marie Lyons. She's currently at the rivers of Grosse Pointe. And Rick that I really ShotSpotter I've been watching the police get whatever they want for over 10 years and that's not a good or bad thing. I stay neutral. But it's always rubber stamped. So everybody's pretty much wasting their energy. If they're against it. It's going to be rubber stamped. So that's how I feel about it. Current situation Thank you. All right, thank you.
The next caller is Christina Hello, can you hear me?
Yes, we can. Good afternoon.
Good afternoon. I'm here today because I've been going across the city talking to different churches and different communities. And it's clear that a lot of people are unaware of what's going on with Prop three what's going to be on the ballot and are unaware of the fact that it will give a right to also minors for the reproductive freedoms which include abortion, sterilization, and even sex. It does not have anything about parental rights in it. It doesn't say anything about needing parental consent and it but it does give rights to anyone who traffics in something like an abortion. So if an activist wanted to help a child have an abortion, the state can't penalize or prosecute or seek any action against it. There's also some other radical stuff as far as abortion fraud on it, but if we could, if people wanted to just repeal the 1930 abortion ban, we could have done that but this is really radical and I just don't think a lot of people know and if you go to the ballot and read the proposal, you won't be able to understand it's not all this stuff isn't in there. So please look it up yourself and God bless everybody. Thank you for your time.
Thank you as well.
The next caller is Robert Palacky.
Good morning Council.
My name is Robert Pulaski. I'm a Wayne County Youth Council Member for district 15 and I'm also an advocate for public transportation all across the metro Detroit region. I'm calling in regards to the presentation today for Halloween and then the deed it's I'm pretty sure everybody has been waiting for this and it's a great thing for the city of Detroit. And I just want to thank the team that presented the presentation today for all the great work they've done and city council support for it. I look forward to being a part of it at the end of the month and I look forward to seeing a bunch of happy residents and a bunch of kids enjoying Halloween this season. Also I want to touch on representative Johnson's speech regarding ShotSpotter. I just want to thank her for coming down and clarifying a couple of things but also representing the people of Detroit. So I want to thank you and thank City Council for all the great work they're doing. I yield the rest of my time. Thank you. Great, thank you.
The next caller is Minister Eric blank.
Can you hear me Council? Yes, we can. Yes, this is Minister Eric Blanc from Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Detroit and I'm a lifelong Detroiter. So valence is not safety. The promotional flyers falsely claim that not using ShotSpotter creates missed opportunities. It's just not true. ShotSpotter is a week after the fact non deterrent surveillance tool only shooters do not stand still and wait for the police to come. ShotSpotter has not been proven to stop or reduce crime. Any statistical analysis that only uses one year comparison is designed to create false narrative. Any database analysis requires at least five years worth of data contrary to the statements made by the mayor and Chief of Police ShotSpotter does record conversations as stated numerous times by Assistant Chief Fitzgerald in the June 16 2022 border police commissioner's meeting, please review this meetings transcripts pages 49 and 50. With over 30
Right, thank you,
Madam Chair. Yes. If the individual prior to Reverend Eric Blount yielded 11 seconds left on the clock would Eric Blount be entitled to those 11 seconds or not? No, no. Okay, thank you, Monica. Awesome.
All right. Our next caller please.
next caller is Virginia park one.
Good morning Virginia park one. Virginia park one.
All right. All right. If we can go to the next caller and then come back to Virginia park one
Okay. The next caller is Annie boubyan.
Morning Council.
I'm here today to ask you to vote no on ShotSpotter as Minister Blount said there is no data to support that ShotSpotter reduces crime or has a positive impact on communities. It is more surveillance that Detroiters do not need Detroiters need real solutions you have heard over and over again the stories of people whose lives have been awfully affected by gun violence in the city. Everyone in this city wants solutions we want safety. However, ShotSpotter is not the solution that we need. We need community based solutions. We need preventative not reactive solutions. And we need solutions that have actual data to back them up instead of false analysis and
poor results.
Please
vote no on ShotSpotter Thank you. All right, thank you.
The next caller is Yvonne Everett. Good afternoon. Good
morning Council. My name is Yvonne Everett. I am a resident of District Six and I've been living here since I was two years old. We talked about Cass tech today I'm a cassock alum as well, where we were funneled through metal detectors every single day reminding us that our schools see us as threats of gun violence as well as like a young person. My parents house growing up still has bullet holes from senseless gunfire in my neighborhood. I want real solutions to gun violence for my neighbors and I but I know that ShotSpotter is not being pushed because Council or the mayor has vetted it. I believe in it. This is being pushed because Mayor Duggan made a promise to Biden that he would implement it and Biden is has is campaigning for ShotSpotter not because he has vetted it or believes in it but because he's received hundreds of 1000s and campaign finance from ShotSpotter billionaire investors and ShotSpotter executives we know that ShotSpotter will pocket 40% of the contract so I urge you to vote no.
Right Thank you.
The next caller is William M. Davis.
Good afternoon, counsel.
I think that the police department and the city should be using those type of funds and law to help make the city safer for our mentally impaired people. It's tragic that today, the city of Dearborn has a better response and dealing with mentally handicapped people than the city of Detroit. I was part of the US just as a primary task was looking at Dearborn.
How could you have
people being killed in a safe Detroit this myth that has mental challenges, and we spent millions of dollars on tasers we spent millions of dollars on all sorts of equipment and training. Sometimes you think that you know something else is going on also if this is in Odessa started up I proceed a lot of lawsuits. I you know, I'm old enough to remember when the big four used to stop black people from just walking down the street. Maybe some of you on that. Thank you.
All right, thank you.
The next caller is Karen hammer.
Hello. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. As a 40 year resident who's lived in the neighborhood with gun violence, where our children could not go into our living room to avoid gunshot. I understand the voices today. Calling for relief from crime and grunt gun violence, but they want to be safe. But ShotSpotter is not the answer. You have the data. All is concluded that ShotSpotter is neither prevented crime nor led to convictions. Because this profit making company will not reveal its data and even allows changing and erasing it. They have skin in the game to make sure police departments want the technology. Vote No.
Instead permanently fund the right to counsel for renters and homeowners and vote for stable neighborhoods and funding Home Repair and all income housing. Thank you.
The next caller is crystal Nicole Nicole Nicole
My name is customer call and I'm here to implore you all, especially President Sheffield to vote no on ShotSpotter regardless of the funding source, according to DPS own reports, they have experienced most success in policing when working with citizens, not cameras. Not green light citizens. So build the relationships build those relationships, even those in support of ShotSpotter know potential community programs and resources that could be that could use that funding fund those fund the gun safety first aid program spoke about earlier. Fun to continue dpscd Community College partnerships for housing in a city where rent keep rising infrastructure keep failing companies keep running off without paying their fair share in taxes while citizens make up the difference. And seniors are not receiving pensions, unemployment or sufficient health care is hard work to build relationships are harder when resources are delegated to private companies know One Shot Spotter and let me know how I can we reach member Benson because I need to talk to him about grandma unemployment. Thank
you. Thank you.
The next caller is Pastor Robert Preston Harris.
Hey, thank you grace and peace upon the council and the Honourable members. A Good afternoon. Good afternoon to the honorable members of council. Grace and peace to all of you we celebrate council president or district representative district five, as well as the enlarge member Coleman Alexander young member of the church. St. Paul church, we we've been around since 1950 72 years. We've never been disenfranchised in terms of access to our building, but we're impacted this Sunday because of that newspaper marathon they changed the route, the route for 2022 and it's coming right along both the Sheridan Street and the Agnes street of our church. We've effectively been island off I think Island View. West Village and Indian village is pretty popular for that race. It'd be great to understand who approved that permit on council when it was approved and did they knock on all the doors to get majority of the impact that residents sign off. Thank you.
Thank you so much. You can say this, you can give them a shout out to your past in the past so give me two seconds.
That's all I need. I think doesn't it thank you pastor, good to hear from you. I just want to give you my number. You call me at 2244248. That's 2244248 asked for a Deputy Chief of Staff. Miss Jackson and she will take care of you. Thank you so much good to see you. That's my pastor everybody. So appreciate you sir.
We go. Let's call the police.
next caller is Peggy Goodwin. Good morning.
Good morning City Council on everybody watching in person and online. I'm here to talk about something of public benefit coming up for Thanksgiving. The Detroit towing Association and Second Avenue. These are church are teaming up for the second year to bring a very large Turkey drive to the citizens of Detroit. It is Thursday, November 10 9am until all trophies are distributed in the parking lot of second Ebenezer which is at 14 601 Dequindre.
This is especially important to both Detroit towing Association and second avenues are in these inflationary times to be helping and new this year. We are making a proactive effort to reach senior housing in Detroit. So if there's anybody listening, who would like a turkey either delivered or is able to pick it up the day of the turkey drive on November 10. We would love to hear from you. You can reach out to us at Detroit towing association.org or call Second Ebenezer at 313867 4700 Thank you so much.
next caller please.
next caller is Frank Hamer.
afternoon I'm Frank Hamer represented by councilmember Callaway and district two. This is my third time urging a no vote on ShotSpotter. I reported last week on research by the John Hopkins Center for gun violence conducted over 17 years and 68 urban counties. I quoted their conclusion, quote, There is no evidence that ShotSpotter significantly impacted firearm related homicides or arrest outcomes unquote. It did not cut down murders in cities the state went one step further recommended quote, policy solutions may represent a more cost effective measure to reduce urban firearm violence. Pastor Jason Mosley this morning prayed that city council do what is right, rejected Duggan administration's push for ShotSpotter the evidence the evidence demands a no vote reject ShotSpotter adopt policy solutions.
Thank you. Next caller please.
next caller is Tiffany Jones. Good afternoon.
Good afternoon friends and Much love to all present I'm Stephanie Jones Detroit resident and with Detroit Justice Center, city council members I thank you for your service to our community. I urge you to continue servicing us by voting no on ShotSpotter as the tool is ineffective, non fatal shootings have actually increased in the preceding eight and nine where this tool is currently active. Not only is it ineffective, but we don't have the resources necessary to handle the increased faulty calls. Thank you council president Sheffield for previously raising the concern of VPS capacity and the discussion of the funding source for the tool and apart meeting a gentleman noted savings related to 252 openings and DPD an average salary of $98,000 coupled with double digit millions of dollars spent on overtime. The conclusion could be drawn that there is room in the DPD budget to pay for this tool. But this also points to the fact that there are not enough police officers to manage the current calls made by residents, let alone additional faulty calls. If this tool is implemented, police will have to be redirected from actual costume is constituents to guesses made by faulty technology. We have to vote no on this tool and work together on a better solution.
Thank you. Next caller please
the next caller is Carol Hughes. Good afternoon.
Good afternoon. honorable body. Can you hear me? We can. My name is Carolyn views. May I be hurt to hear you. Yes, ma'am. All in about 17 That one ShotSpotter I think people that have given us enough data to indicate to the council if you don't have your own research staff to find out how ineffective This is. People are crying out for your help and they're grasping at anything. This is not preventative. It's after the fact so it wouldn't save any of the people basically that you're talking about or have come and testify before you. So we say no to ShotSpotter from arbor or any other dollars. Thank you. I'm also calling on 1711 citywide COVID stamp staffing. I'm wondering what is that and what does that entail 20 That one $3 million capital budget to improve the mayor's office when you defunded the the senior probe and 22.3 and 22 that four who do the house
Thank you. Caller
the next caller is Jose.
Good afternoon. Can you hear me?
We can.
All right. I am a resident of district two. I'm calling basically to reject ShotSpotter. It's an effective tool that cities are rapidly rejecting. And effectively we just bring tuned up police officers who are ready for violence into our neighborhoods, a police force that's currently facing multiple lawsuits for police for police brutality. And also I do want to remind the Council of Chicago's use of ShotSpotter led to the death last year of Adam Toledo an unarmed 13 year old Thank
you Thank you. Next caller please.
The next caller is Michelle W.
Good morning everybody. First and foremost, I would like to say thank you to city council for having this meeting and for all the work and support that you guys give to the community. Secondly, I urge you guys to support ShotSpotter it is definitely an important resource that I think it will help equip our police officers to just have some tools necessary. I am a resident of District Four. And I just wanted to voice my support. Thank you. All right, thank you
our next caller please
the next caller is Evan Villeneuve. Hello,
I'm a resident of district one and social worker and community worker. I'm going to paraphrase and quote a metro Times article that was written on October 3. The campaign staff ShotSpotter represents a broad coalition of organizations nationally, who continue to voice deep concern about the impact of ShotSpotter on black, brown and poor people. The campaign's demands call for cities to cancel their ShotSpotter contracts and embrace the science which is clear that will most effectively addresses gun violence is a public health approach, not spending millions on flashy new law enforcement in surveillance tools. It's time for ShotSpotter to do the right thing. Stop selling product products that perpetuate injustice and start listening to communities calling for real solutions to gun violence. If Detroit is ongoing calls for deep investment in social infrastructure goes unheard by members of city council and the city and its communities will feel the effects for decades to come. This is a chance for Detroit's leadership to listen, listen to residents clearly defined recommended. Right, thank you.
The next caller is Marguerite and Scarlett Maddix. No. Good morning. Can you hear me? Okay?
Yes, we can miss Maddox. Good afternoon.
The afternoon.
I am using my text to speak up. Please vote your conscience when time to vote. Please presidents get filed you know how I feel about shots. poner because of how can we all tell the difference between sound from similar such as fire crackers and others? Why not use the funds for making the city safe with all other technology that we have now how many more funds are we going to waste? And yesterday during the technical issue on your end, my friend was left out due to the shut off time to make public comment. Thank you I am done.
All right. Thank you so much Miss Maddox.
The next caller is Alyssa Marie Bose.
Can you hear me? Yes we can. Good afternoon.
Good afternoon. Dear Council. My name is Alyssa and I'm a Detroit to disability power member. I'm here to talk about ShotSpotter and the United States. 50% of people killed by law enforcement are disabled. And more than half of disabled African Americans will have been arrested by the time they turned 28 years old. Double the risk in comparison to their white disabled counterparts. We know that what sits at the forefront of this struggle is racism and ableism within law enforcement. Detroit City Council has the power to support more than 128,000 disabled Detroiters and put anti ableism and anti racism into practice by discontinuing contracts with ShotSpotter and the proposed $7 million expansion. We know that ShotSpotter does not reduce crime it is not preventative as it proposes. In fact, ShotSpotter has been found to lead to more people falsely accused of crimes and more traumatic police encounters for community members, which puts people's lives at danger. Please vote no on increasing surveillance of Detroit errs and instead use the funds to cover the unmet needs of the Detroiters which we know are are many of the true costs.
Right Thank you.
The next caller is Virginia park one.
Good afternoon, Virginia park one you're breaking up Virginia park one. Hello, okay. We can hear you now. Oh, yeah. Okay, thank you. Now,
um, one of the concerns I'm wanting to bring forth is a residency of our police enforcement and shot fire plays a role with this. If you don't have people that live in the community, they're making decisions as to who the people that they are protecting or serving, then you're gonna always have a biased basis. Sourcefire will be a good thing. If the people that were responding to those cause were people in that community that understood the makeup and the environment in which that they were working in.
You have too many times recently in the
money and first reaction is shooting someone. Do we penalize do we actually penalize the police for responding in open fire on somebody that may not even been the issue, but in a situation where forest fires should have taken place? Do we penalize those police? So that's considered at residency is something we need to push? Thank you. Thank you
the next caller is Dez squire mi roundtable. Hi,
this is Doug square with a Michigan round table. I am speaking today because I'm asking the Detroit Police or shoot the Detroit City Council to vote no on ShotSpotter regardless of its funding source.
We've been hearing people today talking from their pain and talking about wanting to have safe communities that and to be able to raise their families and not have to worry that if they do reach out to law enforcement for
for assistants and that that they do not have to worry about harm coming to them or to the individuals that
they might be calling on behalf. We know that preventative measures that more effective crisis response measures need to be implemented
rather than having a reactive software system and that that just continues to create surveillance that continues to divide community and remove them from engagement and
that Please vote no on ShotSpotter thank you
the next caller is Malik Shabazz. Can you hear me?
Yes, we can. Good afternoon.
Good to know. Thank you City Council. All nine members and Councilman Benson being a me being a district three resident I'm calling in support of ShotSpotter Yes, it is reactive. And we should react when folks are murdered when folks are shot when folks are row. People are raped, we must react. There's nothing wrong with being reactive towards that. And we must also be preventive. It shouldn't be a choice of either or we can do on the front end work and we can do on the back end work and in relation to brother. Portis Burke's rest in peace. We must not only have some changes in DPD policy, but we must also go to the former Governor John Engler the Republican Party and ask our current governor to reopen the 17 facilities that were called down. Thank you.
The next caller is Sylvia l Greene.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon.
It appears she dropped off. Okay,
we can go to our next caller. She comes back when we can bring her back over.
Okay, the there's the only other caller who raised their hand the only a quarter left who raised their hand before you cut off public comment is Chris Johnson Wayne County. Okay.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon.
Honorable
President Smith Sheffield.
And council members at large and the entire honorable body. My name is Christopher Johnson. I am the president of Bagley Community Council. And I have a lot but I'm going to just be brief. I am in support of ShotSpotter one because the people that were killed in my community, if ShotSpotter had been available, the first lady would could may have possibly been saved and would have possibly saved those other people individuals. My understanding is the person even stood out there while with the young lady after he shot her has ShotSpotter Ben and voc they could have possibly caught this young man before others were killed and injured. Also the data. I hear people talk about the data and the data they're giving. People need to research that data even the Hopkins data and also ShotSpotter has actually been in the city a lot longer than people know.
All right, thank you. All right.
There are there are also two other callers that I didn't notice their hands raised. The next caller is James Jackson. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Okay, my
name is James Jackson. I'm
retired Detroit police officer. I'm chairman of Geoff Chalmers citizen District Council. And I do the neighborhood patrol and Jeff Chalmers. Our zip code is 40 215 We have one of the lowest crime rates in the city. We support ShotSpotter we need all the tools we can to help fight crime. Crime is something that changes it evolves and you have to be flexible and change and evolve with it. This year, we need ShotSpotter next year, we may need something else. But we have to work and fight crime. It's very hard to fight crime. And you need good stuff to fight crime and good stuff cost money so we say yes to ShotSpotter please vote for it. Thank you so much. All right. Thank you.
The next caller is Paul Jones The third Yes, we can. Hi, I'm so good afternoon,
counsel. I'm calling again in strong opposition to the expression of the ShotSpotter one one point that I keep hearing made that I really want to address is this idea that people oppose the ShotSpotter are not putting up with gun violence in our communities. I'm a lifelong Detroiter, I lost the first person in my life to gun violence in eighth grade. These are deep wounds that we all feel but we see a much bigger solution to those problems then you are doing ShotSpotter my first call on this focus on it and effectiveness and reactionary nature of the tool. My second really focus on the execution of Porter Burks and DPD is violent history of responding in our communities. I just hope you all are taking a big look at this fuller picture that we're being so it makes a rational decision to stop the expansion of this technology. We're getting strong emotional appeals, but we're not hearing any analysis or real theory of change or what's going to happen with this technology. What happens after DPD responds this is a department that we spend 30 $330 million on a year and has a 41% of resume for murder. All right, thank you,
Madam President. That is the last hand raised before you cut off public comment.
All right, thank you that will now end our general public comment. Thank you for those who have taken the time to come down and also join us virtually. We will now proceed back to our agenda. The Journal of the session of September the 27th 2022 will be approved. There being no reconsiderations or unfinished business. We will proceed to the budget Finance and Audit standing committee for the budget Finance and Audit standing committee.
One report from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
The one report will be referred to the budget Finance and Audit standing committee for the internal operations standing committee
10 reports from various city departments. Those 10 reports
will be referred to the internal operations standing committee for the Planning and Economic Development standing committee,
two reports and various city departments.
The two reports will be referred to the Planning and Economic Development standing committee for the public health and safety standing committee
for reports from various city departments.
The four reports will be referred to the public health and safety standing committee. We will now move to the voting action matters.
Under other matters,
there are no items Madam President,
under communications from the mayor and other governmental officials and agencies. No one was Madam President. All right, colleagues, if you I'm not sure if anyone objects, but we can move straight to the ShotSpotter contracts knowing that there's a lot of people who have come down and call it and so Mr. Cargo if we can move straight to that line item.
Madam president that line item is line item 17.1. It is contract number 600 or 3341 2%. ARPA funding to provide the expansion of subscription based gunshot detection location and forensic analysis services. Contracted ShotSpotter Inc. total contract amount $7 million. And this contract is for the police department. Councilmember Santiago Romero, a resolution noting that this item was postponed from last week's formal session.
We can move for discussion before you proceed. Just want to make sure whoever is joining us virtually for this discussion regarding this contract, if we can please move them over. I think the chief may be on with other representatives from law in DPD. This Fulton
Thank you Madam Chair. We do have commander Parrish on live from BPD and I'll allow him to introduce any other staff. Thank you. All right. Thank
you, Member Santiago Ramiro. Thank you, madam president a motion to approve and discuss lineitem 17.1. All right. So discussion. Yep. Discussion? Yeah. Madam President. Yes, the floor is yours. I want to make sure that I have clarity around what we're doing right now. We do have 17.1 that has the ARPA funds. We also have an updated contract that is being referred to the committee. So just want to make sure that I I'm reading this right today, we are simply voting on the ARPA contracts, and we are going to allow the new one to be referred to Committee. Is that the case? Not sure if the administration can clear up what they were hoping to do today. To miss Fulton if we can have the representatives from the administration. Please come over. Madam Chair, I
believe staff is moving commander parish over now. Thank you.
Commander Paris you're being promoted you just have to accept all right, command appears for my understanding. My team is promoting you. You just have to accept the promotion to be moved over as a panelist
Madam Chair. Yes, ma'am.
I do believe we are also being joined by our procurement
which will be Miss Sandra stall.
All right, we do see director star has joined us we're still waiting for the commander to join us director straw did you want to share anything with us regarding the new contract that has been referred showing as a referral using general fund dollars? Right.
Um, I can just share some high level summary. So yes, it has been changed from the ARPA funds to general fund dollars. There has been an area of coverage added in response to feedback that we received. That would be in
precinct five in Council District Four because we heard that there was desire for coverage there.
And and since the area has been increased, there is a modification to the fee schedule, but it is still the same amount overall.
All right, thank you and I know Mr. Corley, sent an email earlier requesting the actual source of funding the appropriation within the PDS budget. I'm not sure if that was ever responded to as well. And I see we've also been joined by Commander Parrish as well. I will
ask for that, sir. I will check and make sure through the Chair.
Madam President, yes, Mr. Corley.
Thank you, Madam President. So I did get an initial response by Mr. Watson. Budget Director and the monies would come from if council would approve the project contract it would come from preparation to 5370 which is criminal code enforcement. And within that preparation, it would come from call center 370500, which is homicide. Excuse me, so I set a couple follow up questions to Mr. Watson. I do see that there's about $70 million in funds available to October the seventh so of course, it's the beginning of the fiscal year just about so that's why you have such a large amount of funds available. But I did ask Mr. Watson. Why does administration and feel that the 7 million million could come from this appropriation that call center and this like it's now a four year contract? So that is the case with 1/4 of that 7 million the paid out of the current fiscal year if council would approve the contract? So be good to hear from Mr. Watson. Thank you.
Alright, thank you so much, Mr. Corley. And if Mr. Watson is on if we can bring him over as well through the chair,
per the fee schedule, it would be roughly 1.3 or 1.4 million that would be expected to be invoiced in the in the current fiscal year. Watson Thank you, Madam
President. Just hopping on as director stall was responding. But I think my remarks are pretty similar. As Mr. Coralie pointed out in his initial questions, this is a multi year contract. So the full $7 million cost is not all hit up all at once. Yeah, the initial cost is expected to be a little bit less than $2 million in the current fiscal year, with the exact cost depending on the timing of all the rollout. We are confident we can support the cost of this contract within the DPD is general fund budget due to the fact that all the way through the end of September, the department has accrued a certain amount of vacancy savings from not being fully staffed. Obviously, as the rest of the year plays out, we're hopeful that DPD will be able to fill its ranks. So that is a one time savings. I can cover the cost of this year. And then we'll be working that into this into dp DS budget and future years.
You
and we've been joined by Commander Parrish. Good afternoon.
Through the Chair, good afternoon to this honorable Council and I do believe chief White has just jumped on and Deputy Mayor Madison has just jumped on as well.
If we can bring them over and I think Member Santiago over Amuro asked a question regarding the two contracts that are before us in which way the department is asking for us to proceed for my understanding. It is to vote today on the general fund contract not the ARPA contract but if we can hear from the police department on the direction that you would like us to proceed
I'll take that question. No, the department would like council to proceed on the non ARPA fund that the general fund ShotSpotter contract
record we can also promote chief white as well to please. Alright, number Santiago Romero. The floor is yours. Thank you, Madam President. I do still have some questions regarding the contract. I'm glad that we got to Mr. quarterlies questions. But I do see that we've extended the time of the contracts and the footprints. But we are not raising the raising price for this contracts. So this really for me begs the question of what is the true cost of this technology? It seems a little arbitrary. So not sure if someone can can break this down for us. I don't believe we also received a cost benefit analysis. So those are my questions.
Someone from the police department? I will
try to answer that question. So the ShotSpotter coverage areas have been reorganized and re centered. With the help of OCP. The department has been in conversation with ShotSpotter with the ShotSpotter group. This included drafting a new contract that included the new coverage areas and also keeping the cost within the limits that we needed it to stay within so that was successful, but chiefs signed off on that contract last night and showed it and so did ShotSpotter so that we can proceed today
through the chair to add to that the original contract had an end day that was in keeping with the ARPA required timelines. That was enough money for was four year pricing. And so with an expansion of area there is six months less of the actual length of coverage time.
I hope that was clear enough.
Not really given the extension of time for two years, unless I'm not understanding correctly. The 7 million
so the pricing has not changed, but the date was a known typo that it was two years short. Of the actual length of coverage the 7 million covered
Okay
Madam Chair,
thank you just wanted to advise
the chief is connected however, he is having audio issues. We're working to resolve those now. Thank you. All right. Thank you.
Customer. We still have the floor. Are you. Thank you Madam President. So then just for clarity, this is going to go as the contract says right now until 2026.
Through the Chair, yes.
Okay, and then what we're asking for today is that essentially the referral item be walked on
through the Chair, I need help. From Gail on that question.
Madam Chair, through you
to member Santiago Romero. The proper motion would be for this particular matter, would be to move the item from new business from new business to the main session agenda for a vote. And you can take that up in conjunction with this item for discussion so that you can approve the appropriate item which will be 23.8 team.
So the answer is yes. To walk this on today to be to be voted
on today.
Madam President, I'm not sure if any of my other colleagues have questions. I am really just concerned with the typo. Which I do not believe it was a typo as has been mentioned, it was following along the rules of arpa. So now I just have more questions and answers really when it comes to the cost and what we should be doing, really when it comes to our funding, so I need a minute to think and would really like to hear from my colleagues if they have any questions now hearing this new contract and what it would mean. Thank you, Chief white, I know that you joined us I'm not sure if you've heard the response regarding a typo regarding this funding of $7 million. We have more clarity on exactly what that means.
It will be helpful. Yes.
Director that all
through the chair I apologize. I came in through, you know partway through a long way through the the the life of the ShotSpotter contract. And the pricing that we had in the contract was submitted to council in its entirety and it was for four years of service. The contract ended in early two match with the ARPA timeline. That contract pricing is the the underlying pricing is still the same and has been adjusted to account for, you know, a reduction of the time that we'll have the coverage with the expansion of the area.
I see it several hands raised. I will allow all the council members who would like to speak to speak at this time President potentate I saw your hand up first. Okay. Remember young Thank you, Madam
Chair, to chief or to Commander Parrish. Good to see you guys. Because I just had a question about efficacy. As we saw, we've seen a lot of studies or analysis about this networking, but from my understanding, I fundamentally disagree with that. I've looked at the United States Conference of Mayors and from what they show me a 36% reduction homicide year to year in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a 35% reduction homicide and three years in Miami, Florida, in Las Vegas, Nevada, a 26% reduction in violent crime during their pilot in Oakley, California a 66% reduction in gunshot technologies gunshot activity per square mile where ShotSpotter was implemented. Now some of these studies like the Philadelphia study, that was at ShotSpotter that was another technology. The issue in St. Louis was the fact that they did study on the entire county area, not the area where ShotSpotter was located. The Chicago study was a little bit different in the sense that they didn't have that police officers from my understanding there was a breakdown in the relationship between the police officers and the administration and they were not responding to calls at that particular time. Is that explains part of the reasons why we had those responses. The number of calls that happened that were not responded to you. I just want to ask you for your perspective, Chief. Is that something that you've seen in your analysis of your data? Because I haven't even talked about the 27% fewer fatal shootings in the 43% Decrease in shots fired in the areas where ShotSpotter is implemented in Detroit. I just want to ask you, is that something that you have seen in your data at all or collection way of looking at ShotSpotter? Sir,
well, that's absolutely the assessment that we did when you talk about the cost benefit analysis. That's the starting point. You look at the the efficacy across the eighth and ninth precinct, in addition to the layered approach that we use, the layered approach is what's happening absent ShotSpotter in other areas of the city, and we don't have the same impact as relates to non fatal fatal shootings in the use of firearms in general. So that's that's our starting point to look at. You know, does this tool assist us in saving lives? When you look at year to date, we've had 7121 Shots fired in progress in our city, and then somebody is shooting right now. In you look at the violence that we see daily, and we and we look at the incidents were shot expire. ShotSpotter allows us to go into those areas and identify either victims of crime, people who are committing crime in progress, or to recover evidence in those instances, and then use that evidence to find out who was shooting in this particular error. So So oftentimes what happens with with non fatal shootings, people give those a pass as if the non fatal shooting isn't in fact, an attempt at murder. So I'll give you some statistical numbers real quick. We've got a 13% reduction in non fatal shootings. But let's talk about exactly what that means. That means that last year at the same time we had 186 non fatal shootings 186 This year, same period of time, we have 768 768 times in our city, someone has tried to kill someone. Okay, and they were unsuccessful in doing so. And so And these aren't accidental shootings. These aren't people who shot herself but themselves. That category is carved out. And that's an independent dataset. This 768 represents 768 independent instances where someone attempted to harm someone by using a firearm. When we look at the eighth and ninth precinct and you've talked about the reductions, the only difference in those precincts is ShotSpotter. Those are the two those two precincts representing those reductions, and then impacting our overall crime reduction, not independently, but in addition to other things represent the biggest impact by virtue of having ShotSpotter. So to answer your question, Councilman, yes, we do that data analysis, we use data and every single thing that we do to inform our deployment. And one of the key contributors to ShotSpotter is the ability to have a officer in the area whose sole responsibility is to patrol that area awaiting those ShotSpotter calls so that that rapid response is in place.
Thank you for that chi visit. My final question because there was a there's a concern, legitimate concern about profiling, and about police conduct. And I think that's legitimate. I think the issue for me is the fact that when we're dealing with police conduct, whether you have ShotSpotter, or whether you don't have ShotSpotter, that's more of an issue of accountability. We talked about this. I don't I don't think we necessarily agree on this. But we talked about this in terms of erasure of misconduct records that had an issue with the terms of national recruiting standards. We have the right type of people who do truly represent Detroit's finest on the force. We've also had conversations about videotape deployment in terms of the the public being able to see the shooting at the same time that the officer sees it so you don't have officer giving 48 hours to look at the video before it's released to the public. We've had these conversations about accountability, which I really think that's what this is. We were talking about whether you have ShotSpotter what you don't have ShotSpotter. If you're trying to change behavior, that's the issue of accountability, period. But I just want to ask you for the issue of profiling. From my understanding the way the system works now and correct me if I'm wrong, but if there is a gunshot because 88% of gunshots go unreported. According to Brookings, nationally, I think it's like 90% According to what I read in your report recently So correct me if I'm wrong, but the way it goes now, if there is a garage or a police officer is alerted about a gunshot that takes place in area. What happens is he has to use his reasonable discretion or basically go out there and profile people that fit the description of the report that they received about the gunshot. So either way, we're really dealing with racial profiling in one way or another. Just kind of tell me Chief, what do you feel about that as a whole? Well, there's a lot right about that process.
Well, I'm not going to give you a blanket right about the process respectfully, because there's a lot there to unpack and I'll try to do so respectfully and will be will be obviously respectfully but briefly, through the chair, starting working backwards from the the assertion of profiling in our department, it is strictly prohibited to racially profile. But I have to add a little bit to that we have a strict policy on bias based policing, racial profiling. When I came over, came back, home to DPD from the state of Michigan Department of Civil Rights, I brought with me my number two, who took the role here and DPD as my Diversity Equity and Inclusion director and her role is to look at our reports to look at incidences of bias or something that could could look like bias to make sure that we have training, effective training, implicit bias training, some of the stuff that that lies underneath that some may not be aware of, has to be brought to the forefront, talked through and talked about, and she's done a really good job with that. But when you talk about ShotSpotter and the bias of ShotSpotter, I'm not putting words in your mouth, but I think that's generally what you're saying. In in this this racial profiling. We have a situation in Detroit, we have a robust black population in our community. That's that's a known fact. Right? Depending on what reports you read, anywhere between 80 and 90%. I've read some as high as 95%. That's suggest that we are an African American community. So a large part, the people that we interact with, will be African American. When you have a 911 call. I have a generalized area of shots being fired. We have to respond because this is a life and death situation. This isn't a cat in a tree. This is a situation where someone has called and said whether it's only 10% of the calls or not. Someone has called and said shots are being fired. So we go to that area and absent ShotSpotter what we do today in areas where there is no ShotSpotter we go to those districts and we respond and we drive in the area where the 911 call or reports they heard just shot and we look for a number of things. We look for people who are walking with what we call furtive gestures, looking around,
you know, looking to see if the police where the police car is going. Those types of things that our experience and training tells us perhaps is someone who has been involved in this activity. Emphasis on perhaps because sometimes we get it right. And sometimes we don't, but we still have to investigate it. We still have to say hey, excuse me, sir. Ma'am. Where are you coming from? What are you doing in this area? We just heard shots fired. Did you hear those shots being fired? And sometimes that conversation goes very well. And people say, I didn't hear the shots fired, or I didn't hear the shots fired. Sometimes those conversations don't go so well, where people say why are you stopping me? Why are you harassing me? Well, we're stopping it because someone reported shots in the area. And we want to know if you've heard them, and we want to know if you're involved in it. That's that's the general crux of the investigation. What ShotSpotter allows us to do, contrary to what's being said it's the opposite of that. It's the opposite of a profiling approach because it it narrows down to about a a 90 foot range, or 80 Plus foot range of where the shots come from. So now you've got an isolated area that you know within the bounds of this area I'm able to investigate the activity in this area. So it limits literally the unwanted contact by police because it's isolated the area in which we have had where we're going to have the shots fired and we're going to have that conversation. In addition to that we've built policy, we've built a policy around using ShotSpotter as the sole source for an arrest using ShotSpotter as a sole source for this investigation. Meaning Yes, I can inquire in the area in the range, but it cannot be used as a sole tool for profiling, arrest, submission of warrants. And we've got a really strong policy. We had a good policy but we we reinforced that policy after meeting with a number of members of our community, Mr. Darrell Woods who we've we've done some work with and continue to work with Mr. Fairey Brent was present. Mr. Nagus Vu was present. And we put together what we think is a really strong policy that's now before the board. But the the rules of that policy are in place now and we're waiting on final approval for the from the board on that policy, but it was it's a strong policy that requires the officers to have more than just a ShotSpotter notification to conduct these investigations and certainly make these arrests. It also emphasizes the the notion of racial profiling being unacceptable. In addition to that, it requires that the officers document user body camera and during that investigation and document all
elements that brought them to to that case, I was actually trying to look at the policy as we speak so I do apologize. So it's a very strong policy. And it requires that there are a number of things done, and we're going to continue to work with that group on this policy. It's already finalized, but to provide them with updates on what we've seen as a result of the expansion of ShotSpotter. We're also going to be providing the board of police commissioners with a monthly report as it relates to ShotSpotter. And I'm committed also to providing this council with a report on the crime and shooting specifically in your respective districts and you will know what I've already started to share a redacted version. Of course we have to remove names and things like that, but a redacted version, non inclusive of names of the shots being fired and the the non fatal shootings and homicides in your respective districts that will continue. I started doing that as a base to this moment in time so that you'll be able to track the effectiveness of ShotSpotter yourself. So it won't be what the chief said or what the police department said it'll be your own information based on reports that you've already seen. And as you see the performance of ShotSpotter you will be able to categorically make an assessment of if it's an effective tool for your district. Why and why not? So we've put a lot of layers in place that I'm proud of. I think that this is a tool that is important at an extremely important time for our department, but I don't want to conflate the issues of Officer conduct and ShotSpotter because they are very different. The Accountability metrics for officer conduct are in place. And that's that's something that I'm committed to have been committed to. And certainly something when this council selected me as chief that they require for me. If that's not something that I'm holding my end of the bargain up that's a separate and apart issue of a tool that's used to reduce crime in our community. I think they need to be evaluated and judged individually and not collectively. However, that being said, if misconduct is identified with any technological to this and other tools, the remedy for that violation of rules, determination, we cannot have any gray area in this issue of ShotSpotter or any other technology. It's just not acceptable. It's not there's no place in a police department for that. I hope that answers your question.
It did. Thank you, Chief. Thank you, man.
Thank you remember Yeah, remember Santiago Romero. Thank you, Madam President. Hello, everyone. Thank you, DBD for being here. Just follow up questions regarding what was just shared, and the data that we have seen. So DPD data shows a decrease in crime. In areas without ShotSpotter precincts five and six see a larger decrease and they don't have this technology. So I'm wondering how can we see that ShotSpotter is a solution to reducing crimes when we see it already happening without this technology
depends on a crime category through the chair which crime category you speaking of. I don't show that man.
This is gun related crime and this is directly from dpbs data on the websites. This is a decrease in gun crimes.
We're gonna go to another question. I'll pull that data set and respond to it.
Yes, absolutely. So you mentioned the process and what it looks like right now to go into an a site where you hear gunshots that you ask people whether or not they heard of the gunshots? Do you not still have that same process where areas that have ShotSpotter are right now, as far as I know, you might decrease the area that you're asking or that you're investigating in, but you're still going around and asking people whether or not they've heard a shot or that's where you still that's still a part of your investigation. Correct.
It's part of the investigation but what ShotSpotter allows you to do is go directly to where the shot was reported. And when you do that, oftentimes what you find is either a victim of a gunshot, or someone who's shooting and we've had instances where both were occurring. We've had an incident and I've talked about it before, where one brother shot another brother and the one brother was was laying there in the field dying a couple of months ago, just over a month ago. And then the shooter was getting in the car and driving off. As the officer approach he was able to pull the the suspect over recover the weapon making an arrest, get a bunch of fentanyl off the street and get help for the victim of the gunshot and get him to the hospital where he still remains in critical condition. So you know when you're when you're talking about being able to go right to the location of where shots being fired. That's a very valuable tool in addition to that, when you look at the idea of working your way through asking where a gunshot came from, oftentimes, depending on the caliber of the weapon, the percussion of the sound, it could sound closer than it is or further away depending on the weapon. Some weapons like a 22 caliber handgun, which is as dangerous as any weapon. It goes off like a pop and it's not it doesn't have a lot of percussion too. It could sound like a firecracker in some instances, whereas a nine millimeter or semi automatic gun versus a revolver. The rapid secession of the fire is very different. And so you can read a little bit more accuracy from a citizens ear here where the gunshot is coming from. So it takes into account or what it does with ShotSpotter is it pinpoints the percussion of a shot regardless of caliber and where it come from, as opposed to relying on someone who could you know be driving up the street someone who could be walking through their home listening to music and hear the pop pop of a gunshot? Someone would you know earbuds in which is like half the people you see nowadays. And on top of having those additional sounds and say hey, I think I hear a gunshot now remove the earbud and hope to hear it again. You know, it eliminates a lot of those types of things. And because of the severity of what we're talking about, and what we're really talking about here is life and death and a city that as I've already indicated, is looking at 768 non fatal shootings and then when you look at the number of homicides this morning 245 homicides this morning, as opposed to 240 last year, so there's an uptick of five prior seven days. 11 people have lost their lives in our city. And yesterday, three people have lost their lives in our city. So you know, that's what we're up against. We're upwards, up against trying to keep our community safe. You know, making sure we do so in a constitutional way. Which we do. And we will continue to do and manage, you know, complying with the CX ordinance, which we have done, and I think it's a very effective ordinance that I personally had the privilege of working on. But madam president to ensure that this layer of protection is there, and then coming back in and being transparent with our community and working with some of our activists and I liked it more call them ambassadors and activists because they they do activism, but they also hold us accountable work with us and look for ways of improving the police department which I completely support. Because let's face it, you know, we can learn from everybody and I don't have all the answers and being able to sit down with Mr. Woods, Mr. Brent and Mr. Vu and talk through ways of making up what I thought was a strong policy stronger and more transparent. I think it checks a lot of boxes. And and when you're looking at the fact that we're saving lives. That's that's what we're all about in the police department. I think that's what we all should be about in this community. ways of keeping people alive.
Thank you. Thank you, Chief. I appreciate the work and I completely understand what we're up against. I guess my final question is, if you are prepared, in fact, to respond to us if this technology does not work, are there any possible contingencies on the contracts and I I appreciate you sending over the data for us to be able to follow along to see a ShotSpotter works. But what if it doesn't? What if we see more lawsuits coming to city council? Where will the money come from in order to respond to these?
Well, that's I mean, I can speak to you know, a predictor of the future is is what we're how we're currently performing. And so, I mean, it's, it's, I can't predict the future. Certainly if I could, there will be a lot of things done differently. But as it relates to this, this issue, you know, a predictor of of what we think is going to happen is what's currently happening. And again, I think, when you look at the reductions, and I'll get you an answer on number five, I just, I don't I don't have it with me. But I know how it's performing an eight I know how it's performing and nine, particularly eight nine they were selected. Because they're the two most violent policing historically, my entire 27 year career number eight and number nine, particularly number nine, has just been ravaged with violence. Regardless of the layered approach that we use and nine we found ourselves constantly working against just the violence in those areas. Thank you. And we have a layered approach number nine is got a phenomenal community, strong community. Responsive community supportive of the police have a layered approach many different community engagement opportunities there, and that that support is not blind support. It's accountable support. It's not a blind support for the police. I just want to note that. So when I look at that, and I look at eight and eight with all of the unique characteristics, characteristics of the crime that they're dealing with in the you know, there's some gang activity there's some some some outreach necessary there with ceasefire. There's a lot of gang activity and nine we've been very successful with our and why do I not remember it? Boys and that Boys and Girls Club What is it call someone on call right now? What's the scream? The answer to me? It's an outreach program without get the name for you in a moment, but it's been
it's the brotherhood and sisterhood that Chief Thank you,
sir. I knew you were screaming in your head, that brotherhood and the sisterhood. so successful that a member of the Brotherhood is now a police officer, if you can believe that. And and the reason that that program is successful is because the officers have identify folks, young kids who were going down the wrong path but not bad kids and have pivoted them from that. redirected their work and gotten into some positivity with the police department, got them engaged in job opportunities, got it got their driver's license to drive to thrive, help them get their education through the GED program, all those things working together. After the SATs, Mater, we still had tremendous crime, those things, those ads, I call them ShotSpotter. And those things, we've seen a significant reduction. So if we can mirror that success, and in these various precincts in two and four, we got some issues and four and the Fourth Precinct is starting to see some significant uptick in gang activity. Yesterday, we had a situation where a young man who was part of a gang I'm not going to mention the gang name because I don't want to give them any credit, but a very familiar gang to this police department, a historical gang which means it's a generational gang, and from Friday to yesterday, broke into a house robbed the homeowner shot in a car. We think he's good for the two year old that was was murdered and number two or number four, or shot and number four she was murdered. And also, he came back on a DNA homicide hit. The gang that he's involved in, has been very active this last summer and you saw a lot of that activity and number four, putting a ShotSpotter in that in that district will help us we'll change behavior because I know how the games work. They don't want to interact with us, and they're not going to do those drive bys and do those drive bys on cars and homes like he did on the Occupy car Friday that he shot into? We also had an incident and number eight were a beautiful young lady and her unborn child was murdered. And 30 minutes later this weekend. Her boyfriend the father of that child was murdered 30 minutes later in the in the eighth precinct without regard for anything or anyone. So opportunities to reduce that opportunity opportunities to reduce crime in this city. I think we need to take the chance on doing so. And I'm confident that we'll be able to replicate what we've had in nine and what we've had an eight across the city and if we don't, then we'll certainly this council will not make a decision to renew this contract. Because I'm on record and you are on record saying to me, statistically it has to prove out but I think the test that we have is that it will absolutely do that and it will replicate what we have in those other two precincts. But if it doesn't, we have flexibility three years from now to say. We will not renew the contract and we will go in a different direction. But I'm banking on it's going to do what happened in eight and nine because it's an and for me it's it's those wraparound services if that community connection it's the layered approach and as ShotSpotter ShotSpotter isn't an it isn't an OR and it needs to be viewed as such. And with the layered approach to police response, the accountability and policing the the the cogs ordinance the seacocks ordinance the the policy provisions that makes it so it cannot be the sole source of the investigation. I think that the lawsuits involving ShotSpotter will mirror what they are right now. And as of this morning, I see zero. So I anticipate that that number will continue. I mean certainly people can fall off it for whatever they they feel and now that I've said this, someone probably will but because you have filed a lawsuit doesn't mean that there's a violation but I don't see the numbers of lawsuits associated with ShotSpotter in any violations that would suggest that we're doing something wrong. Okay,
thank you, chief. I really appreciate this and the overview. If this is to pass today, I look forward to working with you to see what metrics is what metrics we can have on on paper to see the success of this technology. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Council Member. Any additional comments, questions from colleagues? Yes, member waters.
Thank you, Madam President. Just a couple of quick questions. Chief, how are you? Good. Thank you for all of your hard work. Um
Let's see the data I'm trying
to see how this has really worked based on on the on the pilot that you have an eighth and ninth precinct. Tell me about about false arrests. What's the percentage of that as it relates to ShotSpotter?
Zero, the percentage is zero false arrests. And I'm not saying that to be crass, ma'am. I actually checked in preparation for this question. It's, it's your zero. And again, you know, I told you earlier, or told the dishonorable body earlier that I was confident we had a strong policy. After talking to Terry Brent and Dr. Woods and Mr. Boo. We, we fortified it. And that fortification evolves around or revolves around having other aspects beyond the ShotSpotter activation itself to solidify that arrest. What does that mean and clean English additional investigatory tools. So it's ShotSpotter and some other things that has to happen during that encounter for the investigation so if I pull up in a person's holding a gun, obviously, you know, and Elena ShotSpotter hit we need to now start the conversation and by the way that has happened multiple multiple times. One incident in particular was a lady who was clearing her weapon. She bought a gun had her CPR jammed so she went outside and thought in Detroit, you can shoot in the ground, and we told her you absolutely cannot do that. And she she discharged her firearm in the ground, and she received some education on the fact that you you can't do that. We had another gentleman who was was shooting his weapon in the community and we actually was doing a ride along one of our border police commissioners and the ShotSpotter area. And he was so impressed with the technology that he actually developed the relationship with a young man who also thought he could go into yard and shoot his gun in the air. And that young man was not arrested either. So when you talk about false arrest, you know, we don't have any with it. And our policy will be followed to a tee and if there's any violation of the policy, as I indicated, there's no room for violation of policy with something such as this. So the remedy is clear on the violation of this particular policy, but I think the layered approach insulates us as well. You know, the fact that we're not pulling up on ShotSpotter runs and you hear Bowman, jump out the car and lock everybody up, that that can't be the way that we go about this work and it's not going to be the way that we go about it.
Madam President, alright, so I had someone who lives over in, I don't know, maybe an eight or nine I can't remember exactly where they are. But they call the office and they said well, the police came out to the house. I told them, the shots went off it at 12 o'clock. They told me that the shots went off at 9am. And she says, Well, I just want to know are they gonna believe ShotSpotter they're gonna believe me, who actually live here. How did you respond to that? Well,
that's a that's a lot of questions. A lot of questions I have about that call. They came at 12 o'clock or they came at nine o'clock and told her that so the are we saying that the 9am call happened at 12am or the 12am call happened at 90. I'm trying to follow what?
Well, what she said was that she called and told you all that the shots actually happened at 9am. And I mean at 12pm and ShotSpotter says that it happened at 9am.
Yeah, and that's a benefit of ShotSpotter. And I'm going to, I would imagine she was not arrested. And we can talk offline a little bit more in detail about this case, but I want to give you an example of something that happened that you that we encountered recently. So we had a call. Same scenario, where the officers responded to a child that had allegedly shot herself at a particular time. They get there and do an investigation and no strike that that was the crux of the investigation. Let me go backwards. We got a call that a child was shot, and that the call and that the shot came from outside and the officers do the investigation. And the time that the call came in did not line up with the ShotSpotter because actually happened in the ShotSpotter area. And so we have a call coming in and for the purpose of conversation please don't hold me to the this exact time because I don't have it in front of me. This is from memory. But let's say the call came in at 12 o'clock and using your example the caller states that the incident happened earlier, okay. But we didn't get it until a certain time or actually it was reversed. The caller said it happened at one time and we get it at a at a later time when she called. Well we were able to determine that the COC active shot actually was fired earlier than a caller call the police. What we didn't know at the time is that the call I had a problem with a neighbor, a neighbor that she didn't like I'm gonna be very careful because there's 164 People listen to me and I don't want to put too much information out but she had a problem with a neighbor did not like the neighbor to neighbor was a problematic young person in her mind. The she blames the neighbor for shooting into her home and the officers do an investigation and none of it made sense. So they checked the ShotSpotter and they were able to determine the exact time that the call came in. They go back to the house and they asked her Can we can we go in and see where the bullet came in and where the child was ultimately shot when they get in to investigate the area where the child was shot. You're able to see burn marks on the pillow. What the child had in the bed. Long and short of the story is this. The child shot herself with an unsecure weapon, the parent blame the neighbor, absent ShotSpotter we would have arrested the neighbor but because we had ShotSpotter we did not arrest the neighbor because we're able to pinpoint the time that that the shot happened and when it was when when the percussion of the shot was reported to us. And that enabled us to isolate the timeframe and not falsely arrest someone but actually arrest the person that needed to be arrested. And that case is currently being adjudicated now in court. But here's an instance where it worked in the favor of the community, in addition to other ways it works in favor of the community to change behavior and stop people from shooting in our community. And I can get you more offline on that case. But that's a case that we have pending right now. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you member waters.
Any additional comments? All right. Yes, member Johnson.
Thank you, Madam President. And thank you all so much for being here. Chi, I would like to ask you so I part of the ninth precinct is in District Four. And I've spoken with Sandra Turner handy. I've attended the ninth precinct Police Community Relations Council meetings. And I want to dig a little deeper in the data. I know that you provided some data to my office as it relates to the ninth precinct. I also hear people talk about crime throughout the entire city is down. So can you talk a little bit more about the data that you have for the ninth precinct as it relates to gunshots and also compare the reduction in crime in the ninth precinct to other parts of the city? Where we've also seen reductions where there were ShotSpotter does not exist.
Yes, and that's that's an extremely comprehensive question that will take me some time. And I'll be happy to do that. But I can speak on the datasets that I have in front of me and as we know, you know, crime changes every single day. But an important component to all of this is you can't simply just say you know that crime is down in other areas, or we're talking about shootings and non fatal shootings. But the the impact of a shooting on an outfit of shooting and the use of a gun also touches other crimes in that in that area. So in the ninth precinct. So we look at the criminal homicides we talked about, then I'll give you, you know, all of our crime really quickly, and then I'll have my chief of staff bring in the ShotSpotter data that we sent you so I can refer to that. Criminal homicides as of this morning and this is as of today. We're up 2% sexual assaults are down 13% At City why sexual or aggravated assaults were down 13% aggravated assaults very important number because that's that's an assault with a weapon. So you're looking at a change of 1297 aggravated assaults, down were down in 1297. One of the few major cities that report a significant reduction, and I'll give you some context with that and 2021. Around the time I took over we're looking at about 9637 AGG assaults aggravated assaults, and we're down to 8340. We talked about the non fatal shooting number, but here's a really important number robberies and how do you correlate robberies with ShotSpotter I think you do because if you got a gun, you might be testing it. If you're shooting up in the air before you go do a robbery. So we're down 8% 8% in Detroit and robberies is significant. That's 93 Less robberies. Than the same time last year. 11,000 or 1000. I'm sorry, 1195 2021 2022 1102. Now, let's go down to the ninth precinct. And look at those two categories that I just talked about. robberies, and AGG assaults and you want to talk about the impact of reduction in gun violence reduction and guns reduction and gun violence. Ninth precinct, ninth precinct has a 17% reduction and non fatal shootings. The ninth precinct and 2021 had 150 non fatal shootings. They have 124
as of this morning,
the ninth precinct aggravated assaults they have a 19% reduction in aggravated assaults 1001 1521 and 2021 1236. This morning, up to date. When we look at the robberies, well that's the ninth precinct chief. Obviously the robberies are going to be be up the robberies in the ninth precinct one of them 89 and 2021 160 and 2022 for 15% reduction. So let's look at an area where we're seeing an uptick throughout the city and sadly that's that's carjackings. carjackings are up throughout our city for a number of reasons. We've got some intel work being done on it, and I'm not going to disclose right now, but we It has our full attention and we are developing and deploying a strategy. And we have identified some folks that we're going to be speaking with very quickly as it relates to carjackings. Thank you.
I do want you to
carjackings in the ninth precinct are looking at a 0% reduction, which means the same number of carjackings last year, but remember we have an uptick now let me give you some context and attempts precinct we have a significant increase in in carjackings. They went from 20 They went from nine and 2021 to 24 and 2022 certainly not bragging on that that's a that's a bad stat and it's something that we have to do something about but I want to bring into focus the impact of reducing shots and making people think twice about having guns in a particular area. When someone walks outside and shoots in the air. Sometimes they're doing it for entertainment. Sometimes they're doing it. Test a weapon and if they know that the police are gonna come because most people think they're not. It's not a priority for us. If they know that when we come we're going to look for shell casings. We're going to we're going to try to find out who was shooting. We're going to do a track we're gonna knock on doors. We're gonna look for ring doorbells and see who's doing it. And if we get there early enough, we're gonna lock you up. People will talk and say don't shoot in this area. And when you look at the ninth precinct 15% reduction in robberies, that's pretty significant. The and I'll stop there and answers a time. There was another question that was asked about the data and Mike. I'm going to ask my chief of staff if he could have the authority to share the screen so that we can go through the comparison data and
talk it through okay be promoted to sharing my screen. Sure. Yep. One second please.
cheap way to your point. These are statistics that are specific to ShotSpotter covered areas and there are three graphs that I'll go over first is the number of ShotSpotter incidents by week running through March of 21 through September of 2022. And what we see here with obvious ly the exception of the New Year's spike that everyone is well familiar with and that requires a more specialized solution. We see the overall trend of ShotSpotter events going down it goes up a little bit down a little bit up a little bit down a little bit. But we see over the course of time, the impact that ShotSpotter is having in these areas that were as you stated chief, some of the worst areas when it came to gunfire. Now speaking specifically to crime going down. So what does that mean for ShotSpotter? Well, we don't have to guess we have data sets that help us compare overall crime trends and ShotSpotter covered areas. To not to non ShotSpotter covered areas. Now chief White is doing his job as Chief and he is taking active proactive measures to see to it that crime goes down. But what we see in the ShotSpotter areas is compared to non ShotSpotter areas is that not only is crime going down, but it's going down at a much steeper rate. So this is the ninth precinct and we're talking about Part One violent crimes. And we see that although the overall trend since it was installed, and when active is that crime is going down we see a much steeper decline in the areas that is covered by ShotSpotter. And as chief white indicated the ShotSpotter was put into areas that were the worst. So putting it in the worst has also in the worst areas has created the most significant and marked decrease in part one violent crime when compared to the other areas. Well, some may say, Well, that's the ninth precinct. Maybe that's just a fluke. Maybe we just got lucky well, but when we turn to the eighth precinct, which is on a different side of town with different factors, we see the exact same thing while we do see that overall crime went down because of the work that Chief White is doing. We see a much more noticeable decline in part one violent crime in the areas where the ShotSpotter sensors have been installed. So the fact that crime may be going down and other areas so we want it to go down in other areas, but what we cannot ignore, is the market, the even steeper decrease in crime in areas where the ShotSpotter sensors have been installed. Chief white Yeah, thank
you, Mike. And I want to just, if I may, respectfully honorable Council, just talk a little bit about the ads. And so if, if you, you know, we look at ShotSpotter and we say okay, well, what's working well, the ads are really working. We know that increased neighborhood patrols work. We know that getting out of those cars and walking in our neighborhood works. That's what we consider an and we talk about, you know, these little cliches, in our in our meetings with our executive team. That deputy mayor, who was in first assistant is well aware of, you know, we meet with our MPOs we talk about the importance of that program and that community connectivity, we talk about transparency, right, we talk about a time that we're in right now, and how it's very important to continue to transparency and to keep our community engaged and informed. And alongside of that there has to be real activity from the police department that our community can see, and that they can touch and that they can say okay, the police are here not to just lock us up but to to bring solutions to community and that's the ends. That's the Brotherhood and the sisterhood. That's the ceasefire initiative. That's the prisoner reentry programs that we're working with. That is the program that my chief of staff works on, where he expends his records in our community every Wednesday, and we look for jobs for these folks in our community that are trying to get on the right platform and their lives and have an opportunity to be successful. So we recognize you're not going to rush your way out of crime. I say it over and over again. We have so many different influencers to crime. We understand the poverty, we understand the lack of opportunity. We certainly understand if they failed educational system, but we can't ignore the fact that we have crime and that we must do something about it. It is all of our responsibility to recognize that we don't have to live in fear of stepping out of our front doors because someone is going to shoot and someone is going to harm us so we bring these ads with our programming our our five point plan which has been successful, we're going to, you know, modify this this winter, and make some changes for next spring. We know that our community engagement is probably our number one piece of our five point plan when we're on the ground. I try to lead by example on that I'm on the ground, I'm walking our neighborhoods, I'm talking to our community members. They're educating me on what I can do better. Some of the things that they like and some of the things that they don't like and that's part of it, but we also have to be responsible with crime, because the number one complaint I get is crime. That's it, that I don't feel safe in Detroit. And when I hear that, I take that personally, I feel that we're failing them if they regardless of how beautiful the community is, if they don't feel safe taking advantage of it, then I'm not doing my job as Chief. So I look at this data set and I look at all the other datasets and I look at how the ads are working and I say okay, well the ads are doing pretty good. But what else happened to make that steep decline appear? And what happened is ShotSpotter because it changed behavior and it stopped people from shooting and that person who said hey, I'm not going over in that area to shoot because the police come and when they come they bring the ATF and they look for for bullets or they look for shell casings, or they may come and and lock somebody up that I know I don't even want to be bothered. Well, then that's the same group of people that's going to make a decision not to rob somebody. That's the same group of people that's going to not have that gun on them when they see that lady who's who leaves her purse in the car and goes and pumps gas and says well, you know what, I'm not going to carjacker. So when you when you look at this steep decline, it tells you that your ShotSpotter in those areas are causing behavioral changes that make our community safer.
Thank you. Thank you so much. Chief member Johnson.
Thank you, Madam President. I believe that was one question. But I think that the chief or expounding on on the response. I he sort of answered part of my next question. I was just about to ask about the comprehensive plan. What are we doing as a whole and I think this goes beyond the police department to address crime or providing resources and support those wraparound services that we talked about. For residents in order to provide support and guidance for them to be to be able to move into a full time employment so that we can ensure that we're keeping them off of the street and committing crimes. Hi, this
deputy mayor and I just wanted to jump in real quick to support the chief and when we talk about just the wraparound services and when we talk about Detroiters, you know, and I listened to the public comments and definitely heard when it comes to the ARPA funding and investing in Detroit. And, you know, as council members you approve in with the administration. We send things before you but just wanted to talk about you know, what we've invested in what's programmed so we have over $480 million that are programmed into intergenerational poverty and education and employment support, you know, economic mobility, just the basic needs. So even when it gets to public health and safety you know, because we all here and we talk about when it comes to the root cause of violence, you know, you go back to those systemic things of poverty, racism, just, you know, inequity. So, you know, this administration I know this council was invested in making sure that all Detroiters you know, it just is yesterday we stood. And we announced together about our jumpstart program, which I'll touch on a little bit, but just to give you an example of some of the stuff in public health and safety $15 million in basement backup protection programs Detroit ceasefire $1.6 million. Our Victims Assistance Program 3.4 million and sister friends 1.2 In ally cleanup programs by point for meal and I have a one cheater that you know I've sent over the council so that we all have it in and this isn't it, we're making additional investments as well. When it comes to just the basic needs 17 point 6 million in housing development. What I mean 8.8 million in homeless service this and I can just go on and on and on. About the wraparound services and what this administration, the mayor and with the approval of counsel of how we're supporting Detroiters so when I hear you know about you know, or in the chief really nailed it when he talked about and we have to invest in wraparound services, but we also have to invest in tools like ShotSpotter to support DPD when they're dealing with an immediate situation when they're dealing with trauma because when that person is calling 911 I can't talk about wraparound services to the person on the other end of the phone that 911 call I got to deal with what's happening they're in get stabilized but wraparound services are key. Our jumpstart program that we excitedly announced yesterday that's going to be a 30 plus million dollar project where we're partnering with community organizations that are boots on the ground to deal with literacy in job training and reaching our long term unemployed our hardest hit. So this administration and I know that this council is definitely committed to our Detroiters to make sure that we provide and resource them and then we'll even we're just going to keep it coming. We're just going to keep on coming in investing in in Detroiters. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you, Madam President.
All right. Thank you. All right, colleagues, we have been discussing this for quite some time. Not sure if we are prepared not to move forward. Member Santiago Amuro. If we could move the contract that's on the referral first
