If you look at Section 5102, that Corporation Counsel referred you to, you see that he's not he doesn't know what he's talking about, as usual. Also, I started with him before on the board of police commissioners and I also looking at possibly filing against his his law, his law license and to other people in the corporation council office. Because of the fact I personally found something. I forget information request over a year ago, and they never responded to it because they're trying to cover corruption in the board of police commissioners, you know, so I will take any and everything this corporation Council says with a grain of salt you shouldn't have this license. Thank you. Thank you.
The next caller is AJ Braverman
Hi, my name is AJ Braverman. I work with the Coalition for Property Tax Justice. I support the responsible contracting ordinance and the ceasefire ordinance and I urge you to pass them both but I'm here to speak today in support of the property tax reform ordinance. Mr. Lewis really beat me to it. This is the third hearing this month for this ordinance and I've heard dozens and dozens of heartfelt public comments asking Council to pass it. But I was thinking about it. And I haven't heard a single member of the public object to or oppose this ordinance. In fact, the only objections I've heard to this ordinance have come from a couple members of this council and an unelected unaccountable city official. So will the city council side with the clear and singular voice of the public? Or will it side with the abuse of power by the city official? We're watching closely to see what you all will do. Thank you for your time.
Thank you.
The next call caller is Raquel poku Doyle.
Good afternoon
Hello Can you hear me?
Yes, we can. i
Hello, my name is Raquel poku Doyle. I work with the coalition and I I stand with implementing the tax property reform ordinance. Thank you.
All right. Thank you.
The next caller is phone number ending in one two.
Good afternoon.
Yes, good afternoon. May
I be here Yes, ma'am.
Yeah, I'm a returning resident to the city of Detroit. And the way I got involved in all of this in the land bank, is that my friend elderly father was being overtaxed. He shouldn't have even been taxed at all. And I watched the emotional stress that he went through. And so I'm just appalled at what goes on in the city day in and day out. I have gotten incorrect information from Corporation Counsel. And you know, you seem to have money all over the place to spend that litigation like I noticed. $50,000 for board of zoning appeals matters because a lot of BGA people are doing stuff right. Except you're gonna blow our money and some litigation yet. There's been plenty of legal minds that have looked at this. This is long overdue. Otherwise, I think you have the national stain of overtaxing your residence. there any other city that has the infamous honor or dishonor of having done this and then dilly dally
right thank you
the next caller is Nabila.
Good afternoon
Good afternoon All right. All right. If we can come back to this caller please.
next caller is Toya Kelly.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon, Toya Kelly.
Madam President, the mayor stated in this new land tax bill passes, the money will be used to get rid of eyesore and your building instead of taking the money that the constituents were overtaxed. And he's still taking the homes by using the Blight code. So I want to know what what language and legislation have you guys worked on to hold the mayor accountable? We know the other elected officials.
All right, thank you, Miss Kelly. We are currently in the middle of a public hearing for property tax reform. So thank you so much for your comments. And we will go to our next caller. Please make sure the comments are regarding our 1020 property tax reform hearing.
The next caller is Joyce e Jennings.
Okay, Miss Jenny's Good morning. Excuse me. Good afternoon.
Good afternoon, council president and body. I'm in support of the property tax ordinance. I pray that you vote on it today. We must own the land that we live on and do business. We have lost too many properties in the city of Detroit through over taxation through fees that roll over to the county for collection fees that we did not vote on like the rainwater drainage fee. And I'm in hope that you all take action that prevents people from becoming homeless. We have too much homelessness. And Mark Matthew 25 and 43 says I was homeless and you gave Me no bed. I was shivering and you gave Me no clothes. If you vote against this ordinates How many of you whether it's the executive branch or the legislative branch, how many of you are willing to take the people that you're forcing into homeless and it's not by by not standing up for the people, please? Do what is righteous that bless you all.
The next caller is che Howell.
Thank you. Good afternoon Council. I'm a longtime member of District Two and very proud of my representative at this moment. I want to encourage the entire council to support this bill had this motion been in existence. My neighbor of 37 years might still be living in her home as opposed to having to give that home up because of illegal property tax assessments. This is a well thought out careful piece of legislation that should be supported. And folks who want to stand up and hide behind smokescreen should be ashamed of themselves.
right our next caller
the next caller is Renard munch on ski.
be hurt. Yes. Afternoon. Sorry. Hi, my name is Renee miszewski. I'm speaking purely as a resident of the city of Detroit. District Six out supports this legislation and makes sense and it would encourage people in my generation I'm 34 years old born in 1989 to buy a house in the city. Prior to this, I probably will not buy a house in this city because I don't trust the tax collection apparatus of the city. Or the assessors or the fact that the office is understaffed as well. So if this remedies those situations, then I would have more trust and paying taxes to the city in this criminal debt. people that own lower value property are being taxed higher, which shows that the administration is trying to squeeze blood out of Iraq, but can give handouts to billionaires without question as well, and then use Corporation Council as interference and I don't believe that that man represents the city of Detroit or residence. He's just there for the mayor and for the administration. And I'll say that as a private resident, and it's disgusting. Pass this Thank you. Thank you.
The next caller is Steven hollering
and me her yes, you can.
I don't agree with a lot of stuff with Renard but what he said last time about buying a house as a millennial. I totally agree with him. I mean, the taxation in the city is I mean, it's horrible. It's complete. You know, the reason why a lot younger people exceptionally younger Detroiters, younger black Detroiters do not want to buy a city in this house is because the taxation is ridiculous, you know, over taxation, for example, many middle class families, African American families, you know, they moved to Farmington they moved to South Hill because one of the biggest things is they don't want that taxation. You know, I understand the legal and all the legal language. But, you know, it is sad that, you know, the chosen end debate with this, you know, said they could have maybe done a resolution maybe to send a paper or something to the state on legislation to get this to be legal.
Right, thank you.
Next caller is Rebecca Anderson.
Good afternoon.
My name is Rebecca Anderson. I'm a 64 year resident of the city of Detroit 34 years in District Four and cities now. I've actually been on this line since 10 o'clock this morning and I'm speaking on behalf of the property tax ordinance. The City of Detroit is representative by the city council. If you guys don't support us, how can you expect us to support you?
Thank you. You're welcome.
Thank you man.
The next caller is Mark crane.
Hello, Mr. Crane, St. Germain Carrie from grim Craig, how you speak.
Yes, you can. Good afternoon.
Good afternoon. Yes, I'm just calling in again. In order this with your property tax coalition that you guys just go ahead and vote on that today without delay has been a big fight for us. And we look forward to those as in support of that to go ahead and push through and I don't see the type of understand why any pushback we be will be occurred when we know for a fact those who actually are in the field with the people understand that this assessment have caused Mandy to maintain in poverty and stay in poverty and the purpose of those who's doing service is to help us come up with one by one. So again, I applaud you guys who voted for it, and those who have not voted for it. Please reassess your thoughts and help us push this forward. Thank you.
Great, thank you.
We are back to Jim D are
all right. Jim ber. Good afternoon. Going once, twice. Here I am. All right. Hear me? Yes, we can hear you. Good afternoon. Oh, hi.
My name is Jim. Brunel. I live in District Six. Miss Santiago.
All right. My apologies. I accidentally muted him I will bring him back. Okay.
Good afternoon.
you bringing me back in again? Yes, we can hear you. Okay. I live in District Six and I have currently a squatter sitting on my other property. And your community benefits ordinance hasn't been the subject of any hours. For me.
Excuse me. Hello. Excuse me. Yeah. We are doing a public hearing right now on property tax reform. So your comments have to be solely about this particular topic. Do you have any public comment for this public hearing? Oh,
yeah. Land Bank. Property tax reform doesn't entail taking somebody's private property and giving it to some nonprofit.
All right. All right. Thank you. All right, or was that our last caller?
Yeah, there were two hands raised but they had raised their hand before out. I'm sorry. Excuse me after you would cut off public comment.
Thank you. So that will conclude our public comment. And colleagues is there. Dr. Paris, this needs to be moved to public to new business, correct.
Okay, is there a motion to move this particular ordinance to new business motion? All right. Any objections? Hearing none, that action will be taken. And Mr. Clark we can go ahead and move it
was this for the Wii U Okay. prototype
for the President. I'm moved to take from the table an ordinance to amend chapter 44 The 2019 Detroit city code taxation article for personal property taxes, real property taxes and special assessments. Division One generally by amending section 44 Dash three appeals for excuse me the appeals from assessments, hearing by board of assessors signing and returning to the Board of Review of auxilary book, section 44 dash four dash five Board of Review section 44 dash four dash six review of assessment rolls. appeals to Board of Review section 44 dash four dash seven correction and confirmation of assessment rows. Section 44 dash four dash eight refund or vacation of taxes, unjust or erroneous assessments by amending and renaming section 44 dash four dash two notice of availability and assessment roll assessment notice to taxpayer and by adding section 44 dash four dash two notice of availability of assessment roll assessment notice to taxpayer and by adding 44 dash four dash 11 independent evaluator to advise City Council duties of assessment division 44 dash four dash 12 assessment factors City Council resolution and section 44 Dash for Dash 13 priority of state law and state tax commission requirements severability and by amending division eight homeowners properties Tax Assistance program by amending section 44 dash four dash 151 purpose section 44 desk for desk 155 guidelines section 44 dash four dash 157 Notice of homeowners property exemption outreach and section 44 dash four dash 158 decision letter and by amending and renaming section 44 dash four dash 154 application for homeowners property tax exemption program availability to provide for additional information and protections for residents for appeals of assessments. The Board of Review and the homeowners property tax exemption program laid on the table on November 14 2023.
Hearing no objections that action will be taken. Council President potentate
or President moved to the order ordinance be placed on the order of third reading and considered read.
Harry No objections that actually will be taken out so President Pro Tem take a move
that the ordinance be passed as submitted. There being
a roll call required with the clerk please call
the roll. Councilmember Johnson? Yes. Councilmember Santiago. Romero. Yes. Council President Pro Tem Tate No. Council member for the statement. Councilmember water?
Yes.
Councilmember Whitfield Callaway. Yes. Councilmember young? Yes. Council President Sheffield. Yes. Councilmember Benson? No. Council member. Darrell. Know what a statement. Think Shea's three nays the
ordinance is approved. Thank you, counsel pro President Pro Tem say no President
moved and the title of the ordinance be confirmed. Hearing no objections
that action will be taken. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Well, before we move more colleagues, are you do you want to do a break now or Madam Chairman? Can
I just say a big thank you to everybody who stuck around for four hours for this hearing. I want to thank Council president for leading this ordinance. And I want to thank our she rose on city council plus, you know, young came.
Oh,
thank you. We appreciate you. Thank you all thank you to the coalition. Thanks to my colleagues. Thank you to everyone. What is wrong? Okay, so you are do you want to take a break now?
We discussed voting on the ceasefire resolution prior to a break. So we'll have been waiting for us to go on in as
well.
Please give me let me just be very clear. What we discussed was that it was three different topics. It was property tax reform, responsible contracting, and then ceasefire in that order. And I said, depending on how long the discussion takes place, it's just a little the body we need to do it before we take a lunch break or after so it's up to the will of the body. If you all want to take those up now or if you'd like to come back and do a quick lunch. Break. Madam President, yes, Member Santiago Romero.
May I suggest that we vote on this ceasefire resolution now take a break and come back to conduct the rest of our business.
Colleagues, do you all like to move forward now or take a recess?
Take a recess? Okay.
I see someone said a recess and you any additional all those in favor? We're taking a quick lunch pause at this time. Please raise your hand okay to two people. So we will move forward with what I wanted to say property fix and reform that was that okay, if you do probably take the form
okay, okay. What line item
madam president in line item 19 point
43 19.3 4319 point 43.
Member not member but Mr. CART, Council
Member Santiago, Maryland resolution line item 19 point 43
As a member Santiago Ramiro,
thank you Madam President. I motion to approve this resolution and I want to let everyone know that. As you all are aware, I have been working on this resolution with my team. For weeks we have been researching following developments in Israel and Gaza, speaking with impacted communities, people of faith and social justice organizations, and I have been in communication with all of your offices. After several iterations I have introduced the wine. The final resolution that is before you today. This resolution state facts and quotes the cabinet of Israel and various divisions within the United Nations. This resolution is not based on opinion and does not favor anyone and I am not going to entertain ranking the depths of last on either side because both are suffering. I am focused on the solution in the immediate and that is the immediate ceasefire and release of off hostages and allowing for the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. It is calling that all parties work towards peace. And if I am or if we as a body should pass this resolution. And if we are accused accused of picking the side, surely we are picking the side of humanity. We can all agree that providing people food, water and basic needs is on the side of humanity. I believe that we can agree that allowing urgent humanitarian aid along with fuel and medical supplies is on the side of humanity. We can agree that taking hostages is wrong and that calling for their release is on the side of humanity. A ceasefire will save lives both Israeli and Palestinian. And there is nothing controversial about these basic needs. I condemn the violence caused by Hamas, which has tragically killed 1020 innocent Israeli lives. And I condemn the illegal response by the Israeli government which has taken more than 13,000 Palestinians and counting 5000 of them in counting children. Governments have the right to self defense no one argues that, however self defense does not allow or justify the violation of international humanitarian law. With this understanding, let it be abundantly clear. This resolution was prompted by the initial actions of Hamas and the subsequent actions of the Israeli government. This resolution is to stop the endless cycle of death and violence. I want to recognize what has been built locally through this process of bringing the resolution up for votes. There has been an immense wave of grassroots organizing on the people that are on the side of humanity who are willing to do the hard but necessary work of prioritizing people in peace over power. There has been encouraging connections with people across the city and you'll coalition's have been formed. For me this has been an always will be a sort of remedy to our collection to our collective sour sorrow and an antidote to the violence. Beyond these new relationships and meaningful connections, people have become more politically engaged, including many people looking up who their councilmember is for the first time. These are incredible small wins, and I have no doubt that these will plant seeds in people across the city and one Levy's will flourish and bear fruits of peace, justice and change to everyone that has organized around the support and fight Thank you. You have inspired me and giving me hope that one of the blackest one of the blackest and most beautiful cities in America, a city where movements or birth, where we have stood and continue to stand on the side of the oppressed. We must unite with all people of goodwill around the world that are calling for a ceasefire, as their siblings in the labor movements at the American Postal Workers have said the cries of humanity demand nothing less. I hope that with you, my colleagues, that you will join me in this spirit and vote in favor of this resolution. I have shared in the past that I will pull the resolution if I did not have the support needed to pass it. At this point, regardless of our outcome. Residents are asking us to pick a side and my hope is that the majority of us would choose the side of community. I know where I want to stand when future Detroiters look back at our history. Thank you, Madam President. I am requesting a vote and a roll call
All right. So yep. So we're going to do discussion. Councilmember waters.
Thank you, Madam President. On yesterday in committee, I made the motion to move the ceasefire resolution to formal were correct with a recommendation to approve. I still stand strong on the ceasefire resolution. I just want to point out a couple of things that I mentioned to do over about a week ago as I did in committee on yesterday. I in the course of one weekend, one. I went to the Arab Chamber of Commerce to their 30 I'm gonna say the 35th annual dinner. I also went to a to a fam showing on Gratiot Avenue and Detroit that talks about that gave some provided some history for on Palestinians. The same weekend that Sunday I went to the 30 knife dinner, Holocaust dinner down at the Huntington place. And so I did those things you see because we need to listen to each other. We must call for a ceasefire must appear directly to President Biden to stop the slaughters in Gaza, using our taxpayer dollars is killing our babies now. Now. You really want to get me riled up do something to the babies. So this is killing our babies. So many of the babies there have been killed. Hamas and Israel must immediately stop the killing Hamas must safely return all passages. Israel must allow all humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. half stepping is on the wrong side of history. And it's not an option for those who respect the history of majority Detroit. And yesterday I also pointed out the fact that you know it really takes me as a as a black person, understanding the history that I've gone through that we've gone through as African Americans. I can't justify people killing all of that killing. See killing is wrong. I don't care who's doing it is just wrong. So that's why I stand strong and this resolution. I saw a letter that came through today from representative I ash, and I thought, Well geez, oh, PS I really wish he had asked me to sign on to that letter. To President Biden, because I certainly would have that letter went to President Biden there was not a single black person on that on that letter. Had I been asked I would have been happy to do so. I say stop the killing and ceasefire. Now Thank you, Madam President.
I think the water. Jim, take it. Thank
you, Madam President. I have thought very long and hard about this resolution. I've talked to my colleague several times, and we've had numerous conversations about it. I do believe that. I mean, it's been stated several times that this resolution is symbolic. I don't have any doubt in my mind that this resolution is going to have any effect on the relations that are taking place in the Middle East. But also understand the importance of our words. It is imperative for me to ensure that whenever I'm putting out anything that I'm working as closely as I can to bring folks together and not create additional divisiveness or at least creating a pathway for distractions in the wording. And so I've mentioned that and I said I'll say it now publicly I cannot include the word ceasefire because I understand how divisive it is in this particular context. And I've also stated that I am in support of moving forward and again identifying how to work closer within our metropolitan community. It is the mixture of diverse cultures, ethnicities, and this is what makes us so great. And we have to identify how to address this crisis collectively, as a community. There have been some folks that have said, you know, this is the most important issue for us right now. There have been others who have said that we should mind our own business and deal with what's going on in the city of Detroit. I don't I don't share that sentiment whatsoever. But again, we do have to figure out how to address this internally here in Metro Detroit. folks have asked how I feel about it and I do not again, support this resolution, but I do believe it folks wanted to hear how I felt. I do believe that the State of Israel has a right to defend itself following the horrific acts that killed hundreds of civilians. On October 7 while also abducting hundreds of innocent civilians. I want to see an Israel that is no longer under threat of attack. I also want to see Palestinians be able to live freely in their homeland, with the opportunities to thrive, both at home and abroad. I want to see no more aerial assaults that kill innocent children and other vulnerable civilians in Gaza. I want to see all hostages released safely. I want to see the innocent lives of civilians protected and preserved no matter where they live, whether that's in Israel, in Gaza, the West Bank, or right here in Detroit. I want to see the lives of Israelis who experienced the horrors of October 7 to get the physical and emotional support they need to heal. I want to see the Palestinians not involved in active combat or have not or have not been determined to participate in the Acts of October 7 to be provided the opportunity again to move freely within Gaza without threat of violence from either Hamas or the Israeli military. This includes open fields, homes, hospitals, schools, and religious institutions. I want members of Hamas to stay clear of any area where there are large or small populations of innocent civilians where they're located. This includes open fields homes, hospitals, schools, and religious institutions. I want to see sufficient life saving food, water and medical supplies allowed and provided to help the people of Gaza, those who are not involved in conflict or had any hand in October 7. I want to see a world where it's clear that anyone who criticizes the Israeli government, they're understood that they're not criticizing the people of Israel, and that does not constitute anti semitism. I also want to see a world where it's clear that the support of the Palestinian people does not equal the support of Hamas nor the support of the horrific acts that took place on October 7. I want to see a world where the civilians are protected no matter where they live. And I have to continue to emphasize this yet again. And I want to see steps towards a two state solution where both Palestinians and Israelis can both coexist and live in long lasting peace. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you pro tem. Remember,
thank you, Madam President. Okay. This in this content because from us, broke into the barrier tree of Israel where 1400 people? Not Well, I have no support the underlying project that I afford it I reject. I reject that. Thank you.
Where women were raped were infants were beheaded. Were excused. Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me. were beheaded. Why?
were beheaded. Or children had their hands tied behind them and were burned alive. And that was praised. Where babies were pulled out of pregnant women's wounds. That's how they started. I also think that Israel has a right to defend itself. That's according to Article 51 of the UN Charter. I also believe that we need to have a two state solution. And I also think that the bombing has been horrendous in Palestine and my heart breaks for those family members. And for those children. But to not have a resolution in the language you don't want and I want to praise my colleague Romero for this great work that she's done because this is not easy to talk about. But for me, not to have in the resolution that I ran unless there's changes that does it talk about specifically what Hamas did. Does that condemn us? does not talk about a two state solution after the ceasefire. I think fundamentally, this is not something that we should be putting on paper. I think the fact that this has been a conflict that has been going on since Moses and Pharaoh we have to get this right. And we have to talk about the totality of the history and the people whose lives been affected. And I think the fact that we also are not seeking to put this to the resolution, but it also think for total contest. The fact that you have Hamas that is using people as human shields that hides weapons, in schools, in mosques in homes. The fact that they have weaponized the entire terrain of Gaza. That they built underground tunnels, comparable to the subway system of New York 500 kilometers if they have stolen the equivalent of the money spent on the Marshall Plan from their citizens, that they're sitting on $300 million on hand and have real estate portfolios of $500 billion that they have arrested their own people this is history that needs to be talked about. And this is why we needed to stay solution. Ellis. I'm not saying that I support the way that things have been done, or the way they're going about it. I personally don't think that it's believable for us to be able to destroy Hamas. I think that demand should be that we released the hostages. And right now there's conversations of during the humanitarian pause of doing just that. They're finalizing that. And I want to be careful not to pass legislation or pass a resolution that would impede upon that. Also, thinking belief, and I want to say this clearly. I am not a fan of what is a little bit different. I'm not a fan of what's going on in the West Bank. I don't think that the settlement pile agree with the settlement policies. I'm not a big fan of what Netanyahu tried to do with the Supreme Court, particularly when he tried to allow the Knesset to override their decisions. I think that's wrong. And I think a lot of people in the Israeli community also believe that but right now, this is about making sure that we get this right and I think it's important that we need to have a two state solution. Israel and Palestine can exist. So I think that we have again, we condemn Hamas because let me be clear, Hamas is not Palestine. Let's be abundantly clear. Those are two different things. How to study people want peace. Palestinian people want the Palestinian people want to live in peace like everyone else does. A masters not. Hamas wants to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. And Hamas wants to kill and wipe out the Jewish people. And they've said so and that's in their charter. So I think that after this is over, because I think eventually this will come to an end we need to have a two state solution. And I think the Palestinian Authority along with the United States, along with Israel, come together and do that. And this is already been offered eight times. I think this should be the ninth and final time. So I just want to repeat, I think it's important for us to be able to one, make sure that we have a two state solution that's in this legislation. Secondly, we want to make sure that we condemn Hamas. Thirdly, you want to actually we want to actually include what actually happened to Jewish community on that day. I think that's something in fourth we want to do. I wrote that in there. But we want to emphasize that they need to release the hot. I think you've already emphasized that. So those are those are my conditions. For my support for this legislation. Thank you,
Madam President.
Thank you. Before we got to you I remember did you have your hand raised as well?
Thank you Madam Chair. I just want to clarity was member yet I'm making a motion of relative to that language. That's before
that I didn't hear a motion I will statements. Yep. Okay, Councilmember Santiago Amuro. Thank you,
Madam President. Two things briefly. One I was asked to draft a resolution that was as neutral as possible, and that is what I did. Second, I would like to call to order to question and for us to vote on this resolution.
All right. motion has been made to end debate. Any objections? Hearing none, the motion carries in a roll call. Roll call was requested. Madam clerk or Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.
Councilmember Santiago mayor? Yes. Council President Pro Tem tape No. Councilmember waters?
Yes.
Councilmember Waipio? Palawan? Yes. Councilmember Young? No. Council President shipvio? Yes. Councilmember Jensen. Yes. Councilmember Daryl Hall. Yes. With a statement. Councilmember Johnson
Yes.
Order point of order, excuse me.
Seems to be seven yeas to nays.
The resolution is approved. And colleagues, we will now take a recess for how long do you all want our 45 minutes or even an hour? hour heard our Okay, so we'll do our break up number based in 30 minutes so.
Reference by 333 prayer that is 45 minutes. The meeting with the meeting will be recessed.
What is redic I appreciate you putting yourself in a position to occur but my mom's thoughts.