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Detroit City Council Formal Session part 1
Unknown Speaker
Progress
President Sheffield
All right. Good morning, everyone. Good morning, I would now call to order our formal session for Tuesday, November the 21st. If the if the clerk will please call the roll.
Unknown Speaker
Councilmember Scott
Speaker 1
mentioned I councilmember Fred Hall The third president, Councilmember Leticia Johnson,
Speaker 2
Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you. Sorry.
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Councilmember Mary waters
Speaker 2
as a councilmember Angela Whitfield. Present.
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Councilmember Coleman Young
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the second. Here,
Speaker 3
council president pro tem James Tate here.
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Council President Mary Sheffield.
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Present.
Unknown Speaker
Madam President, you
Unknown Speaker
have a quorum.
President Sheffield
All right, thank you there being a quorum. Present. We are now in session and we will start off as we normally do with our invocation. And we have joining us this morning, Pastor Barry Randolph from the Church of the Messiah.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you. Very good morning. Good
Unknown Speaker
morning, council president how are you? Good. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thanks for the invitation. All right. So let me go ahead and pray. The Lord be with you.
Unknown Speaker
Heavenly Father, we
Speaker 4
just thank you for this day. We thank you Heavenly Father for this day your Word says, This is the day that the Lord hath made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. You didn't tell us how the day had to be. But you did tell us to rejoice. So we rejoice today. Your Word also says that if we acknowledge you, you will direct our paths. So we ask you heavenly father today to pass we asked you Heavenly Father, that all things are done decently and in order to do anything session, we actually Heavenly Father to direct the pass of all of our lives and we ask Lord to bless we actually Heavenly Father, to bless them to do your will and the will of the people. We asked you Heavenly Father to continue to bless everybody, this city. We actually we only father to bless our parents, and to bless the children. We actually only father to bless everybody who is standing up in your name we ask this lord and your mighty name. We also ask you only father to bless this great city to be that city that is a shining city on a hill that represents you of this we ask him your name and we pray and we thank you. Amen. Amen.
President Sheffield
All right, thank you so much, Reverend Barry, we truly appreciate you and all that you do in the city of Detroit. So thank you for joining us on our last formal session of the year. A great way to close it out. So feel free to hang on as long as you can. If you have to jump off we do understand Thank you. Thank you so much. The more councilmember Santiago Ramiro has joined us. All right, we have none other than our Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson that has joined us this morning to provide an update so you can join us here at the podium. Thank you so much for being here and Mr. Wheeler. We lost it here. Just pressed the bottom of the microphone. Yep, just press the bottom.
Unknown Speaker
There we go. Okay, sorry.
Speaker 3
Good morning, Detroit City Council. I'm gonna reintroduce our Secretary of State but I really wanted to do something. In particular, I want to acknowledge the work in city council in all of the state of Michigan. We appreciate this opportunity to come before you. I know your work is never done as is evidenced by this audience. But I do believe that the best way to predict the future is that created and you guys are awesome in all of your work and stuff. Awesome. I heard this young lady talk about going to the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge as a college student. And she visually visualized all of the struggles that we have gone through as a people as an African American people for the right to vote. And she made the commitment that she would spend her life fighting for democracy and equality and voting rights. So we're pleased to come to you come before you this morning just to just highlight some of the work that we had been doing and to tell you upfront that we need you so please welcome our Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. All right.
Speaker 5
Thank you, Esther. I really am grateful for your partnership. I also want to recognize my team is here today. Our Chief of Staff, Tina Anderson, Sherry Hardman, our press secretary, go go a des VA, who's Deputy Secretary of State and force are at my senior advisor, Hester Wheeler. All of us are working every day to ensure government works well for everyone. And I'm here today to give you an update on what we're doing as we head into what will be one of the most consequential elections in our state and country's history. And also what we can do together to ensure not just the government continues to work well for everyone, particularly here in the city, where I am a proud resident and have been for the better part of two decades. But in addition to that, that we're working to protect city residents from what we know will be an effort to confuse and and make unclear their voting rights as we head into this consequential election season. It's it's so thank you for your leadership. And you know, it's not lost on me that I'm here today. Just 24 hours after a federal court issued what was really one of the most devastating decisions about the Federal Voting Rights Act that we've ever seen. As Hester mentioned, I started my career in Montgomery, Alabama, investigating hate groups and hate crimes around the country. And what I saw firsthand there and what many of us know, is how real the challenges are still, for citizens who simply want to ensure they have that right to vote protected and preserved. And I spent a lot of time in Selma, working with people who had been there in 1965. Stay in it standing at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, simply trying to protect that one person, one vote promise in our Constitution and ensure it's a reality for everyone. And people were killed in that march from Montgomery to Selma, including Detroit or Viola Liuzzo and several others who throughout an effort in the 1960s to simply just ensure that people could register to vote, lives were lost, and violence occurred. And so we all owe it to ourselves to say Would we have been there in Selma in 1965? standing side by side with those heroes at the foot of the bridge and where is the bridge? today? Well, I believe in many ways, that bridge today is here in Michigan, because here in Michigan, and indeed in places all across the country, there have been concerted efforts, not just to deter people from voting, but to confuse them enough about their voting rights. So that they give up altogether through misinformation and lies about when to vote and what could happen if you do vote early or vote absentee. There have been time and time again in every consequential election, efforts to confuse Detroit voters about their rights and about their ability to vote. Now I'm grateful for the partnership of our great cities, our great city clerk Janice Winfrey, who's also here today who has worked hand in hand with our department and with clerks all around the state to get information out to voters so that they know their rights, and that they can stand up and take advantage of their rights and opportunities to vote and have their voice heard. But I'm here today to say we can't do what we need to do in 2024 Without your help, because as we approach 2024, we're approaching it one with a weakened Federal Voting Rights Act. And that will continue to be weakened by court decisions, but secondly, with an opportunity to ensure more citizens know about their opportunity to vote early than ever before. In 2022. Citizens in Michigan enacted and amended our state constitution to among other things create nine days of early voting for every citizen in the state. Now the city clerk can tell you all the work that she and her team are doing to make that promise real, but we need your help to proactively and educate all citizens about this new option to vote here in the city. Because what it does is create at least nine days before every statewide election and next year. There are three in February and August and in November nine days in which citizens can go to an early voting site any in the city and get their ballot and vote it just as they would on election day. That means if it's more convenient for someone to vote the week before Election Day or the Sunday before Election Day or the Saturday before election day, they now have that right to do so here in the city. And all across the state and next year. In fact, in the February presidential primary will see the first opportunity for citizens to vote early here in the city. So I'm here today to ask for your help in getting that information out to citizens, not just our the fact that they can vote early but making sure they also know they can sign up to vote absentee or from home if they choose to do so as well. And we've got a lot of a lot of work to do to ensure that every citizen in this city and in this state knows about their options to vote and that we do it ahead of time because as we get closer and closer to November, we are going to see an onslaught of efforts to confuse citizens about what's at stake, their rights and their ability to vote. We see this again in every election in 2020. We saw robo calls telling people if you show if you if you vote by mail you and you have a warrant for your arrest that may cause complications or or other things to instill fear in citizens about their right to vote absentee. We want to make sure that no one confuses Detroit voters about the rights that they have to vote in 2024. And you can help us do that. One by proactively educating voters about their right to vote absentee their right to vote early or their right to vote on election day, but also to ensure they know how to combat the lies. The deceitful tactics that we also anticipate will be targeting Detroit voters just as in 2020. We saw attacks on voters not just in Detroit, but in Milwaukee and Philadelphia and Atlanta and Phoenix and communities of color all across this nation but particularly in battleground states like ours. So we have already seen what folks will do to try to suppress the vote here in this city. And we can do more to make sure we head that off heading into 2024 One of the things we can do is while our office has started voter confidence councils we have a statewide voter confidence Council and we'll be having 10 voter confidence committees all throughout the state. Including one right here focused on Detroit, we would welcome your involvement in that work. What that does is seek to make sure starting in January of next year, that faith leaders and I know there are some here today that we want to be a part of this community leaders, business leaders, labor leaders, educational leaders, and political leaders like all of you have everything you need to educate the people who look to you who trust you who hear your voice about what they need to vote in next year's elections. So our office will provide you alongside with the city clerk all the content you need to be a part of this work and we want to make sure we're working with you to empower you as a trusted voice here in Detroit to educate voters about what they need to know to vote early, and how to spot misinformation when it comes to them. Because what we also know about the misinformation is that the traditional tactics for what it is of robo calls or mailings or our postings saying that election day has been moved, that's going to be amplified to an ever greater greater extent, next year, particularly in November with the advent of artificial intelligence. We have recognized and our thankfully our legislators have recently passed legislation to help us combat the impact of AI. But we also know that individuals who don't want people to vote in Detroit, or want people to be confused about their votes and their rights now have access to this new technology that could be amplified and used through social media and elsewhere to confuse people even just about what you all and other candidates or leaders are saying through deep fakes and other types of misinformation. Now in Michigan, we saw the legislature pass last earlier this month, information to require disclaimers of any type of deep fakes and criminalize the use of deceptive use of deep fakes to confuse voters. But working to spot those is just as critical as working to educate voters about what to do when they occur. For example, one of the things we're concerned about is on election day if people spread misinformation about closed polling sites or long lines, or flooding or or even worse potential violence at polling sites people lying about that happening is through social media as a way to deter people from coming out to vote. We know we can act we've got 12 months or 10 months to educate citizens about how to spot those lies so that they don't work. Because all of the attempts at misinformation, land don't land if voters and citizens can't be fooled by the misinformation. And so the goal of the voter confidence councils is to ensure citizens know the truth about our elections. Through your voice and through others in this room and in the city. And through that empowerment, know how to spot and reject and report the misinformation so that we can seek accountability for those who are trying to deceive our voters or stop them from participating. So your your help and involvement in educating voters and participating with our within our Detroit voter confidence council work will be critical to helping us proactively educate voters and protect them from lies and misinformation that seek to confuse them about their rights and their voice and their vote. The last thing I just want to touch on is we do a lot of work in our office as the chief election Officer for the State to make sure people know their rights to make sure in this era of disinformation people know how to spot lies and ensure they're not deterred from voting. But we know voting is just one step government also has to actually work well for citizens. And so as the chief motor vehicle officer, we've been very intentional about among other things, eliminating the 567 hour waits that folks used to have when they come to our offices, and instead flipping the script and ensuring people have less than five minutes if any wait even if they walk in off the street. I want you to know we've opened for the first time in decades a new branch office in the city. We opened it last year on Warren Avenue and st. Antoine. I encourage you all to see it.
Speaker 5
It's beautiful when people actually before I took office, people used to go to other branches around the state to find ways to interact with government. Now people are coming to Detroit to this branch office and others because it's such a smooth service. It's such it's so it's recently renovated. It's really beautiful. So I encourage you to stop by and see our new branch office. I'm really proud that we opened it as a statement of what we needed to do after years of closures. And branches in the city that lead to those long wait times. I'm proud that there and in offices all around the city. We have eliminated the wait times and ensure whether someone's scheduling their visit ahead of time or walking in off the street you can be in and out and on your way in 20 minutes. Those of you who enjoy grocery shopping may also note it note the self service stations in grocery stores like Kroger up on eighth mile and elsewhere throughout the city so people can renew their tabs without having to go to a branch office. But I want to say all that as an emphasis to emphasize that we see engagement in government as one of our strengths here in Michigan. And engaging in government is not just about voting and participating. It's also about seeing the return on your investment, your time and your vote and seeing that government can actually work well for you, which is what our office has demonstrated. So I appreciate the opportunity to be here today with all of you happy to answer any questions you have about our work and really implore you to be a part of our voter education efforts this year. We've got a lot of work ahead of us with three statewide elections and a lot of opportunity to ensure that we are protecting the voice and the votes of every citizen in the state. Thank you. All right, thank
President Sheffield
you. Thank you, Secretary. there any questions from my colleagues? Custom member waters?
Unknown Speaker
Thank you, Madam President.
President Sheffield
Board Member waters before you go to questions I do need to call our 1020 public hearing. I will now call to order our 1020 public hearing to amend chapter 44 and the 19 2019 Detroit City Call and I'm going to now recess this public hearing to the call of the chair. Okay. All right. Sorry about that. All right.
Speaker 6
Thank you, Madam President. I just want the madam secretary of state to emphasize that the branch is worn and St. Antoine is a walk in senior citizens in particular can walk in there during those hours, is that correct? Correct because we often know that they have sometimes have difficulty making those appointments online. So I just want you to share that with them. I want them to hear your then information wherever they are.
Speaker 5
Thank you so much, Councilwoman for bringing that up because we take seriously the responsibility of serving everyone equally in our offices. And that's why at every branch office in the state people can walk up or make a schedule a visit ahead of time and be seen but in addition to that, recognizing that some of our seniors don't even have the ability to get to a branch office as well as other residents. We've launched a mobile branch office that goes to senior centers and my goal and we're well on our way to meeting this goal is to ensure that every senior center in this state can know that at least one day a month or one day every other month a branch office will be there in their facility to help them and it is a mobile branch office. Everything from title transfers to new ideas that you can get other than a traditional branch office you can get at these mobile offices. And many of them we have one just dedicated to Southeast Michigan, oftentimes going to places not just Senior Centers In Detroit, but also homeless shelters and other places where people are gathering and need services. So we're really proud of that and trying to do even more to meet people where they are and deliver effective state services. The other thing I mentioned on that is our road to restoration clinics, which have been very successful, particularly here in Detroit where we saw over 1000 people come partnering with goodwill and other community partners, and that is specifically for citizens who have lost access to their driving privileges and have the ability to have them restored based on clean slate and other legislation that's been passed out of Lansing. So those roads restoration clinics are also happening all across the state and are another way where we're trying to meet people where they are help them in that case, get their IDs or licenses back so they can get on the road and make sure in all ways that we are helping people prosper in our state.
Speaker 6
And so Madam President, then I just want to say thank you so much for the mobile units. This Excellent, thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you, Madam
Unknown Speaker
President.
President Sheffield
All right. Thank you member waters. Any additional questions? Hearing now we truly appreciate the work Secretary that you do, looking forward to working with you on the voter outreach and engagement efforts and so we will definitely keep you posted and stay tuned to all the work that you're doing. So thank you for being here. And thank you for the update making history as well for your work. If there's no additional questions or comments, we appreciate you for being here. Thank you, Council
Unknown Speaker
President Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you so much. All right.
President Sheffield
Right, so the Journal of the session of Tuesday November the seventh will be approved there being no reconsiderations or unfinished business. We will proceed to the internal operations standing committee for the internal operations standing committee,
Speaker 2
two reports from the legislative policy division. The
President Sheffield
two reports will be referred to the internal operations standing committee for the Planning and Economic Development standing committee.
Unknown Speaker
Are reports from various city departments.
President Sheffield
Before reports will be referred to the Planning and Economic Development standing committee for the public health and safety standing committee
Unknown Speaker
six reports from various city departments.
President Sheffield
The six reports will be referred to the public health and safety standing committee. We will now call for the excuse me, we will now move to the voting action matters under other matters. There are no items. Madam President, under communications from the mayor and other governmental officials and agencies. There are no Madam President. All right. So we're going to pause now for general public comment general public comment we also have a 1020 public hearing for property tax reform. For those who would like to wait to speak specifically on property tax reform. We do ask that you hold your public comment for that particular public hearing. Some people do have to leave early. I understand that. So if you want to make your public comment for property tax reform during the general public comment, you could do that as well. We're going to start off again with general public comment and then we will move to the public hearings specifically on the property tax reform. All right, so everyone will have one minute for public comment and Emily, Brent, you will be first Good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Okay,
Speaker 7
thank you. I have come here today to speak out against putting solar farms in our neighborhoods. I'm a resident of the grid oxtail neighborhood and I own a business in Greenfield Park. I refuse to stand by and watch while the city forcibly takes over our neighborhood with solar farms. I have a dream of living in a walkable neighborhood. I chose my home in grix Dale farm, because it's right across the street from Palmer Park and the infrastructure for a walkable neighborhood on seven mile exists when I moved in in 2010. We could walk to Detroit to Detroit owned businesses buy cheese, bread and other things. I'm horrified at the prospect of walking past acres upon acres of solar prisons fenced off by chainlink and razor wire or cinder blocks. This is not a scene of a nice place to live. We have not been informed about the solar farms and it only caught wind as of late it seems after the wheels are not only in motion, but spinning full speed ahead full speed ahead. There has been a complete lack of transparency. We have had no voice. We have been given no opportunity, no information and no opportunity to object to our neighborhood being turned into an industrial Solar Park. Program promises a pittance in exchange for all of our land all of our trees, open space, good neighbors and the dream of better things to come. Thank you
President Sheffield
right thank you. State Representative Donovan McKinney.
Speaker 3
Good morning Council. My name is Donovan McKinney State Representative out of Michigan's 14th House District. I come to you today. I'm not only as a state representative but as a taxpayer citizen and homeowner in the city of Detroit. I'll stand here to support and I urge all of you guys to support the the property tax reform ordinance. You're gonna hear a lot of people talking about the history of what's going on, but there's a lot of information that comes to you guys as legislators and when I learned more than anything, what 30 seconds left is that your decisions is based off the information that you provide, that you're provided. And so one of the things that oftentimes happen is that information and data is not accurate and what this ordinance would do, it aims to provide more accurate information and provide it in a timely manner so people like yourselves can make the great and best decisions possible for our residents in the city. So I'll leave it there. Appreciate your time. God bless.
President Sheffield
Thank you. That's hard to do. Sorry about that. We we do apologize. We have probably roughly 100 individuals both in person and online today, so we have to limit it to a minute but we do appreciate you stay read. Thank you for your public comment. You did good by the way. Sorry, you want to step up?
Speaker 8
Good morning, council members. My name is Brahmas dude. I'm a local civil rights attorney and a resident of district five. I'm here today to urge you all to vote. In favor of resolution 19 point 43 which calls for an immediate, durable and sustained ceasefire in Gaza. In the last month and a half the Israeli government has killed upwards of 13,000 Palestinians over 5000 of whom are children, respected human rights organizations and scholars agree that the Israeli government is carrying out a genocide of the Palestinian people. And with every day that passes without a ceasefire, we are allowing the Israeli government to get closer and closer to its goal. And so we need you our local leaders to join the chorus from Detroit are as Michiganders and Americans who are calling for a permanent and lasting ceasefire in Gaza. The majority of Americans support a ceasefire and we need our local leaders to align with their residents. So I urge you all to be on the right side of history and approve resolution 19 point 43 calling for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Michelle, me
President Sheffield
um, some morning then also cut off public comment. If I did not mention that public comment is now cut off. Go right ahead.
Speaker 9
Hi, my name is Michelle Lee and I'm a Detroit resident in district five. I'm here today to voice my unequivocal support for resolution 19. Point 43 calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Today is the last possible day that we can pass this resolution and frankly, it's already too late 45 Two days too late since the massacre of Gaza began. I called every single member of city council and left a message urging your support and also asked a few questions I'd like to repeat here. Why is it taking so long? Why is there been so much hesitation for something that frankly, to me is a no brainer. I just don't understand and want to seek to understand. So I know what goes on through your minds to inform how I vote and the next city council election. Is it fear of losing your donor money, future career aspirations that you don't want to jeopardize? Or simply lack of understanding and empathy? Do you think that the murder of Palestinians is justified? Do you really think all Palestinians are terrorists are human animals as repeated by Israeli officials? Please do the right thing. The brave thing the thing that a majority of the traitors and Americans are calling for and vote for a ceasefire today. Thank you. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Morning, the morning
Speaker 10
and Mila. Oh, yeah, my name is Dima Hassan. I'm a Detroit resident and in the last two weeks, Israel has attacked two schools run by the United Nation relief agency. They have destroyed and destroyed the last last hospital in the Reza Al Shifa Hospital. And yesterday, while crossing the safe patches passage into Egypt, they roasted Pomo Saba but like the Israeli army arrested him was crossing in Egypt supposedly for safe passage. Some members of Sheffield and waters i It seems to me that you have political aspirations you have become representative or perhaps mayor. Can you explain to me how are you going to justify remaining silent in the face of a genocide during your campaign? We will be listening and I hope that you will vote with justice. Thank you. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Please make sure to state your name for the record.
Speaker 11
Hi, my name is Eden. I live in district five. And often when I speak with older people in my life, I asked them what they were doing in the 60s in the 70s. I want to know like Where were you How did you stand? Can you answer me likely you have friends and family who are proud of you for serving on this like in this body? And I wonder what will happen when Israeli propaganda fades and we can't cover up that cleansing of Palestinians anymore? How will you answer folks who asked you where you stood and what you did from your position of power? I asked you to please vote in support of the ceasefire. There are Palestinians losing lives every day and we cannot afford the time because time is blood for Palestinians. Thank you all right.
President Sheffield
Thank you. Byron Ogburn, followed by Dominique Ellis.
Speaker 1
Good morning. Thank you for allowing me to speak. My name is Byron Osbourne. I'm a resident of district five and business agent for the IBEW Local 58. We are in favor of responsible contracting businesses with brick and mortar headquarters in Detroit should be valued. Construction companies that properly educate employees should be welcomed to bid and win contracts within our city shops that invest in their workers by offering access to health care. retirement benefits, and career advancing opportunities through apprenticeships will secure local jobs for local workers. The equalization credits can be provided for with or without being signatory to a local union. Let's set the tone for the city's commitment to its contracting workforce. The workers are worth it. Take the boat on responsible contracting and let's let the best value for the city win. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Morning.
Speaker 12
Hi, my name is Dominic Ellis and I stand before you before you as a humble electrical apprentice from a vibrant community local 58 and the realm of hammers in our heads I told them the shadows learning to trade in the future where my sweat and dedication could build something lasting. Today we discussed the ordinance the responsible contractor and only resonates with the kindness of our city but also with the dreams of workers like me and our cities where the struggles of brothers and sisters often go unnoticed. I urge you to consider the profound profound impact of the ordinance. It's not just about the bricks and mortars is about the value of who laid each brick those who like me strive to turn an apprenticeship into expertise to call for Responsible contracts introduced a policy change is a lifeline for overlooked a promise that our labor matters. As a underprivileged black apprentice I've seen firsthand the importance of proper training have a fair chance for those willing to learn. Our city should welcome companies that prioritize and safety and the well being of the workers just as it should champion businesses that offer health care retirement benefits and opportunities for advancement advancement. This organism has become a beacon for those who dare to dream beyond the curious patient in order for you to bridge that concrete dream of apprentices like me to the reality of secure job with dignity.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you so much.
Speaker 13
Good morning. My name is Eric Garcia. I'm an apprentice at the Detroit electric industry training center and a member of local union 58.
Speaker 14
I'm here to talk about responsible contractor ordinance. As a Detroit resident, I believe Detroit taxpayer dollars should be used to incentivize and help not only our community but also Detroit owned businesses that care for their workers. honest businesses that not only are trained to do the work but also train and take on new apprentices, enabling the creation of more jobs and opportunities for Detroit residents. Businesses that take care of their workers by not only given the appropriate training but also health insurance and a pension, promote a healthier and better workforce with the necessary skills for future city development. These employers should be valued and taken first into consideration for bids because of their positive contributions to the community. Our workforce our our workforce is the building block of Detroit and responsible contractors that do right by their workers do right by Detroit.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning.
Speaker 15
Good morning Council. My name is Kyle Candela. My 13 year resident and homeowner in Greek style farms District Two in the official press release regarding the solar fields Duggan states that as important as it is to address climate change, replacing the highest priority and respecting longtime homeowners he mentioned the dozens of meetings had around this topic and this is all untrue. My neighbors, some of them having on their homes for over 40 years never knew about the meetings, and they're just now finding out about the solar fields. We received handbills the days after, sometimes hours before the meetings there was no mention of what the meetings were for. What the vote was for the community application process. Everything was vaguely labeled. I went to an economic development meeting on August 23. And grid cell farms attended by Kim Tandy, council woman and city officials. At no time did anyone bring up the solar fields seems like a perfect opportunity to mention the 40 plus acres being brought up brought up by our city in our immediate blocks to supply downtown Detroit buildings. We have three proposed sites within a one mile radius of each other and we strongly, strongly oppose them. Free Palestine ceasefire now. Thank you. Morning. My name is Eric Zimmerman. I'm here to support the resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as a mother of two women of color and physician that said genocide we are allowing to take place while we stand silence is appalling. In Detroit of all cities, we have to stand united and give a clear message that all lives matter regardless of color, race, ethnicity, religion. This conflict did not start on October 7. Amnesty International called Israel and apartheid state where practices akin to the Jim Crow laws are even worse if we can imagine have been taking place and are still taking place. As a mother watching other mothers hold body parts of children in bags. Rocks me to my core. I know the women of color and the men of color in this room know about losing the lives of our children. Detroit is roughly imagine Detroit is roughly the size of Gaza. 6000 bombs were dropped in one week after October 7. Bombing homes, mosques, churches, schools, who does that? stand for justice no matter who it's with.
Speaker 4
Morning Good Morning, everyone. I come to you as a citizen of the city of Detroit and a mother of two young children in support of the ceasefire resolution in Gaza. Look, no matter where you stand on this issue. The fact is that about 5500 children have been killed in just over a month in Gaza. And that should alarm everybody. Israel's bombing campaign is Gaza is killing children at a rate unprecedented in 21st century conflicts unprecedented. Several 1000 Children are missing under the rubble and 10s of 1000s are wounded. starvation and dehydration are being used as weapons of war against a population that consists of about 1 million children. Look, a ceasefire is not an inflammatory or a bias position. It is not favoring one side or the other. It is literally the only neutral and the only humanitarian position. The latest Reuters poll shows that 68% of all Americans and 75% of Democrats are in support of a cease fire. Look, I don't know if you're satisfied Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Speaker 6
Good morning, everyone. Morning. My name is de ma Moore and I'm a resident of the East Side senior citizen and a retired educator. And I'm here to represent the senior citizens on my block on Lamaze Street. I'm from District Four. And I'm speaking in regards to the land bank and their memorandum of understanding. I would like for the City Council to take into consideration that the land bank should limit the number of properties that any organization can get on one street. All of the elders on my street have died out except for me. My mother I to be Kelly opened up the first African American business here at Cobo Hall. So I come from a family and and a a community that has contributed much to our city. So my my idea my concept and my concern this morning is for the land bank to limit the number of properties that any organization can get on one street because it appears that weird those that are left are being gentrified.
Unknown Speaker
Law Council, morning.
Speaker 1
My name is Steve Austin. I'm a district one taxpayer in Detroit. I'm here for the responsible contractors ordinance. Hope Did you lend your support to that it's important for us to keep our community human moving in a forward
Unknown Speaker
and forward.
Unknown Speaker
Moving I'm sorry.
Speaker 1
It's important for our contractors to be weeded out. So we can have people that can bring in people who's going to support our apprentices are going to support our future in any way, shape or form. That's important for more work to come into to Detroit and for our local residents to pick up that work. Because if a contractor is able to keep those jobs outside the city and keep the workers outside the city they will so it's important for us to support apprenticeships and make sure that we got contractors is going to pay into our future. Thank you, sir.
Speaker 16
Morning, my name is Alexis, and I'm a resident of district five and I can't believe I'm back up here yet again. And rather than using this dehumanizing one minutes to explain why the people of Palestine deserve a ceasefire as a bare minimum, I'd much rather use this time to open the eyes and ears of your residents to see who they elected and to know who they're gonna vote for next time. Some council members who value current powers over constituents, council members that choose greed from people funding a genocide over the greater good, and a city where you have the most resilient fighters against injustice. And while it's clear to every person at this point that what is happening in Palestine is nothing short of a land grab, and a genocide. Let me share some recent events that have unfolded with you all. Just yesterday, Israeli terrorists grabbed the number of innocent civilians in the West Bank, strip them, burn them sexually abused them and put the photos out into the world because of leaders like you making them to believe they can do this with full impunity. Just this morning. I'm Lebanon killing two reporters, five civilians one being an 80 year old woman. My question is taped Benson and ProHealth this was your family Crowder, most cosplayers, which aren't here but for language nuanced, would you demand a ceasefire?
Speaker 17
Morning my name is Amara Zarin, president of an organization called New Generation for Palestine. Here to speak in support of our sister Gabriella Santiago Romero, and this ceasefire resolution. To me, this is simply about being on the right side of history for all of you. Detroit is the Arab capital of America. It's the black capital of America and we've seen unprecedented solidarity between all the communities here in Detroit. And I have no doubt from my reading of history. As a professor, that if Dr. King were here, he'd say free Palestine. If Malcolm X were here, he'd say free Palestine. If says our Chavez was here, he'd say free Palestine. If rosa parks were here, she'd say, free Palestine. And if Nelson Mandela were here, he'd say free Palestine. And so it's all about what kind of legacy do you want to leave? Ceasefire now is the minimum that we should be asking to stop the killing. Turning it into a political statement devalues the lives of the people dying every day. We might we know who they are, even if you don't call for a ceasefire now.
Unknown Speaker
Right. Thank you, George. Good
Speaker 14
morning, council members. My name is Robert George and I serve as director of government affairs for the Michigan labor sister Council. Today I come before this body representing over 5000 members of Labor's local 1191 several 1000 of whom are Detroit residents. We are here today to speak in support of the responsible contracting policy. ensuring our members have the proper training to do the job safely is a key objective of our union. Construction is regularly ranked as one of the most dangerous professions and that the labor has rightly lose several members who die on the job every year. Investing in apprenticeship programs is something that a construction firm that values safety just does. If this council values highly trained workers performing the work safely so that they can come home safely to their families after work in this body should support the responsible contracting policy. Contractors who work on contract with millions of dollars should be able to reward their workers with benefits if this council values working Detroiters having benefits then this body should support the responsible contracting policy. If construction firms working on projects worth millions of dollars for total labor costs rarely exceed 20%. But total contract can't afford to properly train or compensate their workers. They aren't putting Detroiters first put Detroiters first thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Speaker 14
Hello, my name is Kevin Bingham and I live in the Greenville farms neighborhood. I was recently informed that three neighborhoods within a half mile of my home were finalists in a competition to get solar farms installed. We could possibly have close to 150 acres 150 acres of solar panels within walking distance of my home. Installing an industrial power plant in a residential neighborhood is not a prize and would really relegate our neighborhoods forever been neglected and unworthy of investment or new residents who would ever move to a neighborhood in such a bleak environment. Contrary to the statements of the mayor, there was very little public interaction with this project. Our block club president was not even informed and we're the only block club between six mile and seven mile. The whole process has lacked transparency and reeks of corruption. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Great thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning Council, Mr. Heyman District Six.
Speaker 4
I'm here in solidarity with every
Speaker 16
every resident here in this auditorium at this time you sit in the seats of people who in the past have
Unknown Speaker
championed labor,
Speaker 16
championed international struggles. championed the well being of residents and using their property tax money responsibly. Yet, somehow, you seem to lack the will the determination, the courage to do what your forebears done. asking you today for the sake of your humanity, for the sake of your principles, for the sake of your legacy, that you vote right on all all issues. Thank you.
Speaker 1
Good morning. Good morning. My name is Marlo Shawn Franklin. I am currently the Michigan political direct for SEIU Local One and also a member of the State Council, Michigan State Council. I would like to begin by giving thanks to to the Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield for introducing the responsible contracting ordinance. And I am urging this committee in full body to pass this ordinance without delay. It is not enough just to build companies and support businesses if the workers aren't sharing in its prosperity. The Responsible contract ordinance is an important part of working people to finally have an opportunity to share in this prosperity. It rewards companies who respect their workers and dignify their contributions by providing quality training, ensuring their safety and invest in the workers future fair wages, health benefits and retirement plans. In closing, I fully support the responsible contract ordinance and is initially proposed ordinance and this ordinance will continue to build Detroit that works for all no matter what race nationality and zip code. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Right, good morning. Yeah,
Speaker 18
I would like to request that. You look at me while I'm speaking. I like to request your eye contact while I'm speaking. My name is Ollie. I've been a resident of district five for 13 years. I was born here and my family has lived in and around Detroit for many generations. I'm here today to ask for you to approve the resolution calling for ceasefire on Gaza. I also asked that you stand with local unions and legacy Detroiters who are asking for much needed property tax reform. Last night, I was wondering which of you remember the uprisings of 667 like personally? And for those of you who don't remember personally that experience I'm sure you remember the stories that your elders and your ancestors have told you about? What the uprisings were about, and what caused them. I to remember the stories that my grandmother would tell me as a white woman, what the uprisings were about, and they called them, not an uprising, they call them riots. So I just want to remind you that public opinion is important. Thank you.
Speaker 19
Morning. Hi there. I'm Kat Johnston. I'm a journeyman with IBEW Local 58. I'm a resident in district five I'd also like to support the Responsible Contractor ordinance. The last job I worked before I got into union I was working alongside painters that were burning through lead paint and I was breathing lead vapors I was in a house fire on Longfellow and Woodward 10 years ago. That was the last job I worked before I joined the Union. The equalization credits just might give responsible contractors a leg up the most credits or if you're a Detroit headquartered business, or if you employ 51% or more Detroit residents, then the credits after that or if you provide a pension or health care benefits and also a registered apprenticeship program. So I believe the ordinance got amended to respect Detroit based business as being a priority. So I approve it and want you guys to approve it in its current state. Thank you.
Speaker 20
My name is Adam. I'm with Detroiters for Tax Justice. I'm a Detroit resident. We stand in solidarity with our allies asking you to support the property tax reform ordinance. With this we likely wouldn't even need the snake oil land value tax that Duggan has been pushing so hard so that he can steal land for solar farms. I also demand City Council approve the ceasefire resolution as it is currently written. Coleman Young went to jail for protesting apartheid in South Africa. Can we get City Council to approve a resolution opposing it? Thanks.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you
Speaker 21
Good morning. Good afternoon yet. I'm Nicolas McCampbell. I'm a Detroit resident and a union plumber through local 98 United sociation. I'm going to try to be succinct because of some of the gravity that's been sent to you guys but as a lifelong residents of Detroit, I've only left Detroit for about five years to live in an hour. And I've experienced many things but I truly believe through the youth associations education program. The rigor and the technical knowledge I've been given. I've come to learn that if you want to do business in Detroit, and if you don't want to invest in Detroiters education and longtime benefits, then you really then were too expensive for you and it shouldn't be the other way. Around. Thank you. All right. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Hello,
Speaker 22
my name is Marie Anzick. I'm a resident taxpayer and homeowner in District Six and a fourth year apprentice with IBEW Local 58. I'm in favor of responsible contracting for me this ordinance is about using Detroit taxpayer dollars to elevate training safety and a middle class quality of life for construction workers in our city. Construction is hard work. Yesterday it was in a vault underground installing electrical for Valve well for Great Lakes Water Authority. You need special equipment and training for this to protect workers. a journeyman I work with took the time to explain why we need this equipment and how it works. I'm trained and compensated fairly for this work providing a middle class life with the guarantees of health insurance and retirement benefits. As a taxpayer in the city I would like to see city contracts and tax dollars going to contractors who will guarantee safe work practices health care fair pay and invest in their employees. I'm also home homeowner who pays property taxes in the city and I want to put forward my support for the property tax ordinance because it would support a more transparent and accountable property tax system.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you. Thank you. Hello,
Speaker 4
my name is Rosie DeSantis. I'm a lifelong East sider a district four resident and Maggie DeSantis. His daughter who wants us to be here to address some of you personally but as she could not make it. She wrote me this statement to read to you all she says I direct my comments especially to my East Side colleagues, the Honorable President Mary Sheffield, the Honorable Leticia Johnson and the honorable Scott Benson. As you all know me and you all have worked with me for many years as fighters for equity in our neighborhoods. And as my trusted colleagues, I urge you to hear all of the points made today on this issue and urge you to do the right thing as I know you have in the past and can do so now. There is no moral ambiguity. In your decision today as experts around the world are calling the seas a genocide an Israeli officials are blatantly calling for the extermination and displacement of Palestinians. A so called humanitarian pause will not stop this genocide. A so called immediate declaration for peace, as has been suggested, will not stop this genocide and and will be used as political cover to look the other way from what is really happening in Gaza. Anything less than complicit than ceasefire is complicity. She writes, I urge you to use your power to show that Detroit stands on the right side of history. And stand beside the original wording of the honorable Santiago Romero's resolution that calls for a ceasefire now, thank you.
Speaker 15
Good morning. My name is Fernanda Andrea, I'm a resident in District Six. Heavenly Father we feel the pain of the Palestinian people please guide this council to see how they are not removed from this issue. Please compassionate God let this governing body see how inaction silence complicity is enabling genocide council members if it is fear that has you choked up know that Hamtramck Dearborn, Chicago, Richmond, Providence city, Akron city and most recently Atlanta have all passed ceasefire resolutions. Get this even genocide Joe's hometown Wilmington Delaware passed a resolution calling for ceasefire. Come on y'all Detroit is better. than that. Council members let this quell any hesitations. You won't be the first or last local government to take this bare minimum stance. Let it be known we are against military aid to Israel. We reject the allocation of federal funds for the destruction of indigenous people and land. We must not say silent ceasefire now. Amen.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you. Morning.
Speaker 23
Hello. My name is Alice guavas and I'm a constituent of district five. And I'm asking you, Councilman council member waters. You named yesterday during the public health and safety meeting that you want babies to be saved, that we must take the strongest position possible to stop more killings. Will you then be responsible to those babies and will you call for a ceasefire? How many babies is enough? 5000 children have died since October 7 and over 18,000 tons of bombs have targeted Gaza. The same square mileage as Detroit. How many babies and bombs will it take for you to call a ceasefire. support a ceasefire now vote for a ceasefire. Now we do not have any more time. No more babies need to die.
Speaker 24
At the beginning of the city council meeting Johnson Benson opened us up with the understanding that my ancestors a lot of our ancestors, those of which are sitting on City Council, a lot of the ancestors of which of the people are sitting in the auditorium right now. stood on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and were beat senselessly for the right to vote. They had dogs turn on them for the right to vote. Well in 2018 Palestinians marched up to the apartheid wall and were shot at 9000 Palestinians were injured and wounds at which the Israeli occupied occupation force of Israel shot at their legs to incapacitate them. I find it hard to believe that the same people who cannot even look up from their computers would have anything remarkable to say about our ancestors who died for their right to be recognized as human beings just as the Palestinian people are dying for their right to be recognized as human beings. Our churches were firebombed Palestinian mosques are bombed by the Israeli occupation force. I asked you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Speaker 16
Good morning Council. My name is Dr. Paula Cruz Aakash. I am a resident on the east side, proud resident of the East Side and in your district council president Sheffield. I'm here today to to remind us all okay to tell you all if you don't already know that to support a ceasefire is not to be anti semitic. I want to repeat that to support a ceasefire is not to be anti semitic. It is to be pro humanity. Okay. And I have worked with several of you here when I ran the city of Detroit ID Card program for four years, but no problem. And I have to say that I know the humanity of each of you. And so again, I have to repeat to support the ceasefire is not to be anti semitic. We need to understand we see the bombings that everyone has spoken to this we see it but we need to understand the daily lives of repression that Palestinian children women and
Unknown Speaker
thank you. Thank you so much.
Unknown Speaker
Kimberly,
Speaker 25
good morning. My name is Kimberly Holt, and I live at 847 Ashland. First, I'd like to thank you for your service. I have been an educator for 26 years and I think much like teachers It's a thankless task you have but I do. Thank you for serving 847 Ashlyn they moved in a year ago. Victim of seller fraud. They're currently I have a historic speakeasy in the basement that I've been trying to rehab for the community to see it's for everyone for the people of Detroit. There are three sinkholes, active sinkholes under my home that I have been begging for help for since January. I receive a little bit of help here and there, Mr. McClure, Mr. Berry have been absolutely wonderful and amazing and helpful, but nothing is being done. My home's floor which is 107 years old shifted down 20 degrees over 24 hours in between mine and my neighbor's house caved in 45 degrees. I have babies that live next door I love my neighbors and someone is going to get hurt or die at minimum. We're losing our history. I've gone to every organization. Every flood department did not
President Sheffield
just really quick we want to make sure you mentioned the address. I didn't catch I think was Ashlynn and Councilmember Johnson time and it is possible to Councilmember Santiago mural. We can add this to your committee just a line item and follow and track it through as well too. So the Kirkwood note, we can add this to public health and safety committee, and Councilmember Johnston I know you wanted to respond.
Speaker 22
Thank you Madam President. Thank you so much for coming down. This is the first time I'm hearing of the challenges you've been having. My chief of staff is standing behind you. He will take your information. I will personally follow up with you and work towards some resolution.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you
Speaker 16
My name is Savannah Safai. I'm a Detroit native and alum of Wayne State law school. I call for a ceasefire resolution. And because of that, because I'm too acutely aware of the coin toss of fortune that has placed me in the safety and comfort of Detroit instead of the trenches of Gaza as it has done for all of you and your loved ones. So council members I ask you to look us in the eye CR please for humanity show we are worthy of these positions of office and counsel and vote for a ceasefire. Audrey Lord says that if you have freedom if you have privilege, if you have power, your responsibility, your real job is to empower to free and to give privilege to somebody else. This is not just a grant back candy game. So please consider Audrey Lord's words. And calling for a ceasefire resolution. Thank you. Thank you.
Speaker 13
Council members. Good morning. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak. My name is Zoey Seinfield. I am a Jewish resident of Detroit. I'm also a trauma therapist. I'm a resident of a constituent of district two. I as a as a Jew, I am a consider myself educated in Jewish history. As a trauma therapist. I consider myself understanding of Jewish trauma. If given my background, given my expertise, give me my position. I have no qualms in condemning the ethnic cleansing the dispossession the land grabs the genocide. that's occurring right now. Why can't you councilmember Callaway, when we spoke to you about this before you said thoughts and prayers, I'm praying that you will do the right thing and be on the right side of history. Thank you Thank you. Hey, everybody,
Speaker 16
my name is Jackie Brown. I'm here to support immediate ceasefire in Gaza and ask you all to join me in doing so. Council members today is the last day you can vote for a symbolic resolution that can be heard by men, women, children who are as we speak, be dislocated and killed in Gaza. What do you have to say to the people of Palestine, who lose their families or their homes in the Baltics and continue following today's vote? What do you have to say? Just yesterday I learned that 900 full family lineages have been wiped out. What if that happened here in Detroit? I commit to that if you do not vote for a ceasefire, you will not have my vote and I will actively organize against you being elected again.
Speaker 11
And I will say as someone who works for a national network of unions in North Detroit is a leader in union work, that I support the workers in responsible Thank you. Thank you.
Speaker 26
Good morning. I want to first speak to council persons to eight Benson Endor Hall. Councilman, you are the only people who repeated a concern with the language of ceasefire. Hundreds of Palestinian and Jewish Detroiters on and off the streets in this room and through calls and emails to your offices articulated that ceasefire is the bare minimum? Oh, he has to leave. So I want to ask you when none of you there speak wise of your hesitations. Who are you speaking for when you say ceasefire is not acceptable? Perhaps these are the billionaires that you allow to run the city. Perhaps these are the folks you're relying on to get your campaigns bright and shining but to all in this council, I want to name that your silence reeks with depths of 1000s of Palestinians. Your political fear speaks as a chapter in the history of those who see what is wrong as in the middle of slavery as in the midst of apartheid as in the midst of Holocaust and choose to say they're powerless. Whatever you may be relying on to choose delays and distractions in the midst of genocide, whatever power or money may be, we are in the ends of that kingdom. And you either come
Unknown Speaker
Alright, thank you. Thank you.
Speaker 11
Hello, I'm here in support of a ceasefire resolution as written and I ask that you please prioritize the vote and not delay it to the end of the meeting like last week. I would like you to please raise your hand on this council. If you have a child a grandchild a niece or nephew. Are you listening to me Do any of you have a child or a nephew or a grandchild? Any child children you care about?
Unknown Speaker
Okay? So
Speaker 16
one day they are going to understand what's happening here. And you're going to have to speak to them you're gonna have to look them in the face and tell them and stand by the decision you make in this room today. What will you say to them?
Speaker 16
What are you afraid of? Do you know what happened in the last week?
Speaker 27
Thank you for your time. Thank you sadly, excuse me. Excuse me. Our next speaker please.
Speaker 12
Hello, my name is Albert Mackenzie and I'm proud member of the UA local nine. Yay. I support the Residential Contractor but I'm sorry, I'm just a little nervous. I report the Responsible Contractor ordinance and I wish to put in my vote and everything.
Unknown Speaker
All right. Thank you.
Speaker 28
Good afternoon. My name is Wade Colebatch. I'm a business agent with plumbers local 9814 year has been the Detroit agent like to thank President shielfield for bringing such a great ordinance to light. I'm counting on the rest of my friends on this council to help local 98 and the rest of the
Speaker 29
responsible contracting contractors in the city of Detroit.
Speaker 28
Please vote yes on this and orange is my new favorite color.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Speaker 30
Morning Council. My name is George Scott. I'm calling you as a virtual lifelong resident of Detroit. a journeyman plumber out of locals 98 And I've come to ask you to please vote for Responsible contracting. But one we're building a bigger and better Detroit is evident but we and responsible contractors are a huge part of that. We need contractors that complete projects in a timely, efficient and safe manner. But most importantly, we need contractors who call and vote excuse me invest in residents like myself. I recently just completed an apprenticeship through local 98 and I'm able to make a very good middle wage living and I think it'd be a great opportunity for most Detroiters if they had that opportunity and responsible contract and will contribute to that.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Speaker 1
Good morning, council members. Nice to be here today. How you doing Mr. Dharohar, a member of district seven lifelong resident in Detroit and I stand with responsible contracting or as you read about it, but that's why I appreciate your voting and other property tax reforms. Thanks for hitting me up. Yes,
Unknown Speaker
thank you
Speaker 28
my name is Elena Rica's. I was born and raised in District Six and I'm an apprentice for the IBEW 58. And I support responsible contracting because I believe that if we could get more contractors that are from Detroit, they could support more businesses and schools that here in Detroit like Randolph where I was from, I was part of the tech center there. And I learned how to do electrical and safety from there, and then eventually became a pre apprentice for Motor City, which I believe more people should do out I'll fuse but I do my time.
Unknown Speaker
All right, thank you.
Speaker 3
The Honorable chair and council I'm Bishop Charles Lee towards the third and thank you for allowing me this space. Most of you now some of you all were able to witness the transition of seven mountain Schaffer, the awesome transition that my father and that congregation brought about most of you all saw the transition as it was happening that we brought about under my leadership at seven mile and telegraph, the dilapidated wasteland. That was the former Edgewater amusement park site. 20 acres. I asked for your vote today to help us. So do you have some final? Finally, finally, after decades of laying and ruin the booster wheel aside 6.2 acres allow us to turn light into beauty and acids into something very awesome. For the least of these. Thank you. So kindly.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Morning. Good
Speaker 6
morning, council members. My name is Chris Ellis. And I likewise unequivocally support the new development at the sanctuary at Brewster. I believe that providing housing and wraparound services for individuals graduating out of foster care is an awesome opportunity to give this demographic a hand up while letting them know that they are not a disposable group, but one that has value. These young people need to know that we see them and we believe in the potential that is inside of them. I encourage you to vote yes, on this project for if not for the grace of God. There go i
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you. Morning.
Speaker 6
Good morning Council. My name is Yvonne gigaton. I was born and raised in the city of Detroit. I am a business owner in the city of Detroit for over 20 years. As we embark upon the holiday season the word belief we will hear often than ever, many successful people have someone that believed in them that triggered or sparked them to believe in themselves. I believe in affordable housing and I support the sanctuary. And I pray that you all say yes to the sanctuary.
Unknown Speaker
All right, thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning, council members. My name is Martin Hardy. I'm a member of the greater Grace Temple Church family.
Speaker 31
I'm here to 100% support Bishop Ellis, and the endeavors that he's making in this project. This is a very worthwhile and needed Pride Project. And I'm asking you to vote yes. On this project. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning Council. I'm
Speaker 4
an attorney Sharon Greer, and I'm here on support of the bishop for the sanctuary as well. I am a retired Wayne County assistant prosecuting attorney and I want people to know that I used to prosecute the young men that we're trying to save now. I prosecuted them for 26 years. But even though I worked as a prosecutor, I knew justice when I saw it. And I believe that what we need now is to help these young men to become the men of the community that we want them to be. We all pay to jail them. Why not help to save them now,
Speaker 16
so that we can have a productive, productive community in the future. I want to say to people that opposes Why would you move to Detroit and not want to live with Detroit errs? These these young men are
Unknown Speaker
all right thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Hi, my name is Knight Carrington.
Speaker 4
I live in Detroit all my life. My family always helps everybody. And I'm a member of greater grace. And I think this is a wonderful belief. It's a wonderful opportunity for everybody and to see these young men get the what they need to be off the street after foster care and to be able to have something that people thought they wouldn't make it and to have an opportunity. So make it to go on to bid to have something better. Why wouldn't you want that? Why wouldn't you want that to have somebody to believe in? Why would you deny it? Don't deny it, give them that chance somebody believes in you? Why not believe in them? And yes, I believe yes, you live in Detroit. Give them a chance
Speaker 3
to dishonorable body who will cry for the little boy lost in all alone. Were proud for the little boy abandoned without his own, who will cry for the little boy he cried himself to sleep. Who would cry for the little boy he'd never had for keeps. Who will cry for the little boy? He walked the Bernie sand who were proud for the little boy, the boy inside the man who will cry for the little boy who knows will hurt and pain who would cry for the little boy. He died and died again. Who would cry for the little boy? A boy who he tried to be who will cry for the little boy. He cries inside of me. The Honorable Bishop David Ella said never looked down on a man unless you're trying to pick him up. The Honorable Bishop Charles Hayward Ellis the third is reaching out his hand to those young men wrapping his arm around them. Giving them service and giving them love. And we asked you to cry along with him as he saved my boys in the city.
Speaker 12
Thank you. Thank you, counsel Phillips for this opportunity to speak to you I'm a little boy girl just read about
Unknown Speaker
I've been through foster homes. Never had a relationship with my mother. Lost my father to AIDS virus in 1989. I landed myself in foster homes. My grandmother did the best she could to get us out.
Speaker 12
I searched high and low for mentors for people to assist me once I came out of foster home unfortunately, I landed myself in the hands of Kim neighborhood came pins subsequently went to prison for 22 years and eight months. Here I stand today as a successful businessman trucking company. This a man who's a chairman of a national bank who believed in me and you know what that did for my work? I don't we do the same. Thank you
Speaker 23
the morning Senate Council My name is Tanya Williams. I'm a resident of the city of Detroit district five. I'm also a graduate of Denby High School. I'm in favor of responsible contracting, I think I believe safety health insurance, proper training and retirement benefits should be at the forefront of concerns when it comes to construction jobs and contracts being given out. I believe safety most definitely because everybody wants to go home the same way they came to work. construction job is a very dangerous job. I do electrical construction. I'm a member a local 58 and safety is one of our main issues about our job and our contractor. And I think that should be the main concern of every contractor is that all their workers leave the same way they came in. And I'm also for the tax reform and resident and a homeowner in the city of Detroit. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning, council
Speaker 23
members. Thank you for taking this time to hear me. My name is Vaughn Cara Williams. I'm a licensed electrician with local 58 in Detroit. I am a taxpaying resident in district two and Cooley high alumni. Skilled workers in Detroit deserve work from contractors who will invest and care about them. contractors need to be providing fair wages, appropriate training and safety standards as well as access to health care to their workers. If they want to continue winning bids in our evolving city. I am tired of contractors seeing our city as a big cash grab and treating our workers as slaves while they make millions. Detroit deserves better. I support responsible contracting ordinances. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Speaker 2
Good morning. My name is Josiah Hall. I'm an apprentice of local 58 here advocating for the Responsible Contractor ordinates. The Responsible contract and I a Detroit resident have been able to take care of myself and responsibilities. Since I've been here. contractors that provide a safe work environment. Training and healthcare are pivotal for the advancement of the young workforce. As it stands I think the ordinate is here to help residents by giving them more access to employment and career developmental opportunities. Thank you for your time.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you
Speaker 32
Hello, my name is Christiana Beckley. I'm a resident of Detroit district five. I stand in solidarity with the responsible contracting and second chances and services for formerly incarcerated because all struggles are connected. But I'm here to urge you to pass the resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza now, we all know the numbers of deaths and I fear that repeating them only lessens their impact. So I'll ask instead, what if just one of your own were killed in this war, this war that cannot be called a war because only one side has billions of dollars and bombs guns, grenades and surveillance and has held the other and an open air prison for 75 years. Imagine just one of your own parents were killed in a bombing in their home and entire community was decimated and as survivors that their survivors must live in fear of imminent death by airstrikes starvation or grief. If you representatives with the power to in the joint, sorry, your representatives have the power to join the movement for justice and human rights turned a blind eye in favor of bloody money and watered down phrasing. How could you ever support them again? What does it cost you and what could possibly be the justification you must call for a ceasefire now free Palestine.
Unknown Speaker
Morning Good Morning,
Speaker 4
my name is Chiquita King. I already know that my delivery may not be the best. But as the children say what had happened was so the plan was that if we educated our young that when we became older, you all would take care of us. I have been hoodwinked bamboozled, led astray and I am asking you to understand with me this pressure assessment tax. I live at Seven Mile Road. I paid for something that I do not get. And in here it says that as a matter of fundamental fairness, those benefiting from such additional services share in the cost of the services. I'm paying for something I don't get. I'm a senior. I need my money.
President Sheffield
So ma'am, member Callaway staff is going to assist you I know that the special assessment district that we're taking up today so our team is here to address any questions that you may have. Okay, our next next person.
Speaker 6
Good morning. My name is Dana Hill, and I'm a member of local 1191 and Detroit residents. Voting Yes are responsible contracting origins should be a priority to you as a council member, because it begins to address construction site safety issues, and we'll make sure that no contractors are able to cut corners by practicing shoddy construction jobs. Vote yes today, please. And I will also like to say when a contractor call me I come out with a report card that says that all I can do as his labor and I would like to know what all that contractor provide for me as safety. Measures. Thank you, please. Well, union
Speaker 4
Good morning. Good morning. I'm Dolores and grim from district five. I was here last week in regards to a lot that Lampang sold illegally and I've been trying to get this slide since 2019. And here they sold it in 2023. And I just want this matter resolved.
Speaker 6
And that's all I have to say but this makes it right for me. Because I'm a citizen and I've been here all this time paying my taxes. They denied me for the wrong reason saying that I owe taxes but that did that oh in Texas. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Speaker 2
Good morning councilmembers. I'm a labor with 1191 I do support responsible contracting. Detroit is the only city in Wayne County that is not approved for this right now. And I urge that you guys approve, like alright, thank you.
Speaker 1
Good afternoon Council. My name is Terrence Ellison. I'm a laborer at 1191 and I stand we're responsible contracts. And I urge that you stand with us.
Unknown Speaker
All right, thank you.
Speaker 30
Good morning Council. Hello. I am a proud member of Local 1191 residents of the city of Detroit. They're responsible, responsible contractor owners with a short fair contract and create a level greater level playing field this ordinance is one step closer to making sure the workers and safe working conditions are priority rather than an afterthought. Miss Sheffield Miss waters I want to thank you for your support of this ordinance but these few words can't possibly explain how needed we are in support for you guys support everyone as a whole. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you
Speaker 2
Good morning Council members. My name is Tyrone Smith and I'm a member of the local 1191 responsible contract and as the future of Detroit responsible contracting will increase social equity in the city by ensuring that workers are properly treated by contractors. More money will flow into the pockets of Detroit residents working on construction projects. Additionally, this will raise the floor for wages which will help boost the overall quality of life for Detroiters. Thank you,
Unknown Speaker
thank you.
Speaker 11
Morning Council. My name is data selenium. Um, I'd like to voice my support for the benchmarking ordinance. And my my colleagues who have been working for four years on this and I also want to thank the council members who have also been working on this for years. The building energy is one of the largest percentages of greenhouse gas emissions in the city of Detroit. And this ordinance is a way to establish a database method for reducing energy waste, and to help the city reach the goals of the climate action agenda and it also aligns with the mayor's commitment to uphold the Paris Climate Agreement. I also recognize that I'm very lucky to be standing here right now when I could easily be under my house in the rubble in Gaza. And because I'm lucky enough to be standing here, I'm going to be urging you to please support the ceasefire resolution. Thank you. Thank you.
Speaker 32
Good morning. My name is Kendall Kinnaman. I'm here asking for your support of the energy benchmarking ordinance. An effort that has been led by the Detroit City Council green Task Force Energy Waste Reduction Committee, which I co chair. Over the past four years we've been working on this we've led an extensive stakeholder engagement process with input from the city administration, and discussions around incorporating equity into energy benchmarking, which resulted in a thoughtful and comprehensive approach to commercial building energy and water efficiency. This ordinance represents an important and critical step towards achieving the city's carbon emission reduction goals and taking actions to address the climate crisis beginning by first understanding where things currently stand and where we need to get to. buildings represent a large percentage of all energy use in the city and provide enormous potential to save owners and tenants money, reduce operating costs of businesses and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that threaten our era. And climate. And unleashed, unleashing this potential could bring a lot of economic opportunity to Detroit. We are excited for Detroit to join a growing number of cities in the US that have already adopted this ordinance. Thank you. Thank you.
Speaker 6
Good morning. My name is Kylie Kovac woods. And I am a proud member of Local 1191. I ask that you vote yes on the responsible contracting ordinance that would hold contractors responsible for providing a safe work environment for employees, ensuring that we make it home safe to our families. Thank you. Oh, yes.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Speaker 33
My name is Karla Begley, and I'm a member of Local love and 91 laborers union Please vote yes, I'm
Unknown Speaker
responsible contracting ordinance. All right, thank you.
Speaker 34
Good morning. My name is Ben doohickey. I'm a resident of District Six and co chair of the energy waste reduction committee of this council has been Taskforce. I'm here today to express support for the proposed energy and water benchmarking ordinance. This policy is brought to today after nearly four years of research, advocacy stakeholder engagement with building owners operators managers, City of Detroit staff and community organizations across the city buildings account for roughly 40% of energy consumed in the US recognizing this tremendous opportunity for energy and cost savings and associated health and environmental benefits. State and local leaders around the country are advancing Building Energy benchmarking transparency programs to support improved efficiency. This policy represents a continuation of Detroit's efforts take meaningful climate action and foster more sustainable and resilient city. I would also urge this body to support and adopt the ceasefire resolution. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you. Good morning. Good morning. First
Speaker 30
day I want to say I know it's the end of the year. So just moving forward. Support 7.1 I think family courts should be that family court with the Father man at the head and not detail as a current Family Court policies reflect our support 9.3 I think that we should just not recognize them but show support for our caregivers. Moving forward, we want less red tape across the board. Five years is too long for 60 of our seniors to get affordable housing. We want development of our rec centers, grocery stores, housing and health to be sped up. We want veterans to be included in all civil and political liberties. We want new faces that line next year for resources because they are better off after the year has elapsed. We oppose any policies that promote social stagnation or 200 homicides a year should be reflected with 200 new block clubs. We want new block clubs, new associations, expanding nothing go on. Well, I appreciate you all listening.
Unknown Speaker
Right. Thank you. Good morning. I'm
Unknown Speaker
Pastor Jack Eggleston, I'm
Speaker 23
here to speak in favor of the ceasefire resolution that would be passed, as it is written silences deaths. Silence is death. And people are dying in we know it. The despair of the Palestinian people is beyond my ability to comprehend. This is from a bishop in Jerusalem a Palestinian Bishop children do not have to suffer and die. God have mercy. This is the haunting part.
Unknown Speaker
How long Oh Lord, will
Speaker 23
you stay away from us? Silence is killing people. And the killing must stop.
Speaker 29
I know a friend who's lost two people in Gaza. Detroit can be a place of hope. Detroit is a place of justice. But if there is silence, and not a strong resolution,
Unknown Speaker
how many people will die Thank you
Speaker 2
My name is DeMarco pay and I'm with betrayed resident remember I love to live and I'm the one responsible contract and in the city of Detroit was say the city of Detroit taxpayers money by ensuring that the contracts the city get contracts to or act in the interests of the border community by having projects we've done because it works. construction practices are worried about the pay and safety of city residents on construction jobs.
Unknown Speaker
Right Thank you.
Speaker 31
Praise the Lord. Good morning. My name is Kenneth Johnson. I'm what the local 1191 and were we here for a responsible contracting ordinance. This is because years ago before I got into the Union, I was working in unsafe places. Working in taking down asbestos without the proper PPE, personal protection equipment. We were removing sewage without the proper PPE. Not until I got with 1191 and my union that I know that I was working in unsafe conditions. I did not know that we were underpaid and we were put into unsafe conditions. Now, I teach OSHA I teach has while performing hazardous waste operators in emergency response so that I know that so I can teach other people besides me that's coming up behind me what you what do you do not have to do? You don't have to work in unsafe conditions. What that said, now we're
Unknown Speaker
Thank you Okay, thank you, sir.
Speaker 4
Good morning to this honorable Council. mkhaya Aaron on behalf of the laborers. I am an attorney Chief Financial Officer and Executive Assistant to the business manager Mike Aaron, of local living 91 here to support the responsible contracting ordinance, specifically the amendments to the purchasing chapter 17 of the purchasing agreement. The core issues we wanted to address was to improve the quality of the contractors doing business with this city to increase the social equity in this city to increase trust and transparency in this city. What we did not seek to do is to negatively impact minority businesses or Detroit based businesses. All contractors, whether union or non union have an opportunity here to close the wealth gap to provide a long standing career and social equity to the citizens of the city of Detroit. All contractors can train workers. That is not a that's not negotiable. Thank you for Responsible contracts.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Speaker 4
Morning. Thank you for the time today. And I want to say that you guys aren't always silent. I've got some heroes on the council. Sushi rose that supported the property tax reform is bringing dignity back into myself. Because my property was lost. Mr. Hall. You said you live on Leslie or you have a property and Russel woods. That's the home that's been illegally mishandled on my behalf. My dad worked for the city of Detroit and sanitation. My mom was a school teacher. They sent all 10 of us kids to college. My home was illegally mishandled. You CHC was supposed to auction it back when county treasurer had my exemption information. You see, HC said that the land bank, the Michigan land bank had my property and was in some type of like bundle of 300 lists of property. I need my property back for 031 Leslie
Unknown Speaker
thank you so much. Remember their home? Number one.
Speaker 1
Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to clarify something for the record because I know I see those fans and they says that we voted no. To clarify the thing that was voted no on was to waive the privilege to form but just to clear the record and for the record to move the property tax ordinance forward to today that went through with all nine county council members, not just five. So I did want to clarify that. For the record. It was a unanimous vote to push it forward. That four noes were relative to it being not to form so I did want to clarify that. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning,
Speaker 35
council members. My name is fahncy to keytab. I'm a civil rights attorney and the deputy Legal Director of the ACLU of Michigan headquartered here in Detroit, passing the property former tax reform ordinance would be a monumental step forward to provide the citizens of Detroit and its administration clarity around the often convoluted and burdensome tax process that in the past has harmed 1000s of Detroit errs.
Speaker 11
I know there has been discussion of the ordinances structure and how to handle potential conflicts of laws. However, upon my review of the ordinance, it includes two key clauses that provide clear guidance. First, it creates a conflict of laws clause that provides safety in the event that the ordinance conflicts with any state laws or the state tax commission guidelines. And second, it contains a severability clause which means if a court of law finds any provision of the ordinance invalid or unconstitutional, it invalidates that provision and not all others. I support a yes vote on the taxes Sam ordinance.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you
Unknown Speaker
Good morning Council. She
Speaker 17
stole my thunder. So my name is Eric Williams. I'm the managing director of the economic equity practice for the Detroit Justice Center and a former law professor at Wayne State University. So really quickly, what I'd like to point out is one I agree with everything she said, Right? No, mansplaining she got it right. Also, I would also say that the corporation councils objections on the basis of overriding CFOs authority have absolutely no basis in law. You can look up nationwide recovery versus City of Detroit that that question was actually settled about five years ago. That shouldn't have been the question. Also. Councilmember draw you mentioned that there were four votes against waiving the as to form requirement. I will say this, that as the form that was there was an absolutely no legal basis for that argument. And this there's a real disturbing trend for Corporation Counsel to get involved in things that are not cooperating councils business. Thank you.
President Sheffield
Okay, so that will conclude in Person public comment, and we will now go to those who have joined us virtually and Mr. Rittenberg how many callers do we have virtually? Good.
Speaker 29
Still Morning, Madam President, we have 83 hands, people that raise their hands on Zoom before you cut off public comment. And the first caller is black bag RU.
Unknown Speaker
Right Good morning and clearly, good morning. We can hear you.
Speaker 31
Okay, Mary propaganda before you slip off in a recess with the rest of your cronies and minions. I wanted to put this out there. I'm positively encouraged from what I hear today. And I feel like the Detroit citizens union is going to be a very robust engage an active union here in the city of Detroit made up of the citizens of Detroit to come back. You black face vs political figures that occupy the seats on the city council. You know who I'm talking about James Frog Tape, you come up before this. Public please fire citizens and say I'm not the best representative for Kenisha Coleman, where Nene wants what she wants, and that's for the city of Detroit and the police department to start seeing her mother killed herself and rather than kill herself, and Daisy Tate heard the words from my mother, her dying words.
Unknown Speaker
Right, our next caller please.
Unknown Speaker
next caller is Brook Harris.
Speaker 4
Good morning. My name is Brooke Harris and I've been a resident of district five for over a decade now. And I'm calling in to the man that city council vote today to pass resolution 1943 The call for a ceasefire in Gaza. What's happening in Gaza is unequivocally a genocide with over 12 Maybe even 13,000 Innocent people killed with nearly half of those being children demanding a ceasefire is the floor it's the bare minimum that needs to be done. And this is the last day that you can do your part and calling for an end to this indiscriminate killing, which is a position that a majority of Americans support. I will be basing any future votes for you all whether as a council member or other elected positions on your action or your inaction here today. And we'll be organizing the rest of the city to do the same. Thank you for your time.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Carol Hughes.
Speaker 36
Morning, Good morning. Good morning. Good morning to the honorable body and through the chair. May I be heard? Yes, ma'am. It was very interesting. The Secretary of State came before you this morning. But she didn't mention that in 2016 that the votes in the city of Detroit could not be recounted. So we are the people who walked across the bridge and I just looked on the bridge we walked across the bridge and we're still walking on that bridge. Anytime you cannot certify any election means that people's votes are not they don't matter. So So to give you so so maybe we should go to the to the ballot box and not do right and then as she's suggesting ADOS people are suffering trauma. We're suffering trauma because 12.1 12 Nine 8.3 19.34 and 22.1 are about Henry Ford Hospital and $1.2 billion project that touts a desire to gentrify, people are talking to you about gentrification. We are the people are being gentrified. 17.18 is a yes for that project. And we should be supporting that project instead of $100 million from the state on a Joe Lewis walkway.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Next caller is Imran salah.
Speaker 14
Good morning, I would like to inform all of you all as the Imam of the Islamic Center of Detroit that a genocide is happening according to an Israeli genocide expert Raj Segal since the beginning of this meeting, there has a child our child has died every nine minutes in Gaza. And there are people in my mosque who have 3040 50 members that were killed from their families. It is your responsibility to speak up for them. They are afraid to have funeral services at my mosque because of the intimidation tactics. against Muslims today. Listen, a ceasefire is not a pro Palestine position. It's not a pro Israel position. It's a pro humanity, pro nobility pro morality position. It is upon every single one of you to vote for a ceasefire. If you are human, and if you are not then your names will be recorded and we will make sure to utilize our voices accordingly. Ceasefire now isn't the bare minimum that you can do every nine minutes a child is dying in Gaza
Unknown Speaker
the next caller is Miko a Williams.
Unknown Speaker
Right. Good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning Council.
Speaker 17
I would like to refer to 17 point 14 on your agenda to please delay or not talk about the land bank. The land bank needs a public hearing. The land bank is a scam. The land bank needs to be shut down. The land bank needs to be stopped and we can definitely you don't have to take that vote today. Also, I'm calling for a ceasefire in our own damn city. We have violence war and poverty here. It's dying as such. Why aren't you liberals? We are supposed to be here charity starts at home. And then the next thing I want to say counsel as you eat your turkey, drink your wine and be be by yourselves. You need to think about your political futures and what's happening in the city of Detroit. Not knowing if you know all of the news and such that's taking place but your political future is is undetermined and for jostle, Ibbetson coming down here, she should have got Trump off the ballot instead of having coming down here trying to
Unknown Speaker
thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Next caller is Ross Balaam. Good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning.
Speaker 37
I want to speak briefly. Yes for Responsible contracting. We did it at the Detroit Public Library over a decade. ago. A response we help bright parties in. We held meetings and the Commission adopted such a policy. I want to also say yes on a property tax ordinance because we need Tax Justice. We can't be allowing evictions and homelessness to be expanded due to unsound practices that this helps correct. And finally on the ceasefire. I wrote a book 35 years ago, an article in The New York Times on the mass murder that was conducted by the Waffen SS in Eastern Europe during World War Two. There's a monument just 12 miles away that honors the Waffen SS and its allied organizations. We have not done enough to get stop genocide in our name or anybody else's name. And I
Speaker 29
thank you. Next caller is Tijuana. Penny petty. I'm sorry. Yeah.
Speaker 4
Thank you. Good morning Council. I'm calling to support the ceasefire resolution as written as a Detroit her a human being and someone who has visited Palestine Israel and witnessed firsthand the inhumane treatment of Palestinians face daily by the Israeli military. It will be dishonorable for me to remain silent, while the world has witnessed the genocide of nearly 13,000 civilians over 6000 children. The fact that calling for ceasefire is being treated as inflammatory language tells us all we need to know about the current state of humanity, demanding a ceasefire and the removal of Detroit tax dollars from funding genocide is the minimum we must do to end this travesty. Detroit's tax dollars belong in Detroit, supporting Detroit communities. Do not look back with regret and years to come wishing you had done something in this moment calling us all to act. Please place your vote on the right side of history and call for a ceasefire. Now thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is William M. Davis.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning. Can I be heard?
President Sheffield
Yes, you can't. Good morning.
Speaker 38
Okay, I'd like to start off by saying I strongly support that the tax new tax language revision. I strongly support a bill of rights for workers and we need to be doing more for workers. I also strongly support a ceasefire. You know we cannot and should not be afraid to speak and say what's right. The stock guy continuously asked y'all to speak up and say and do more to help the city Detroit retirees. You know, it seems like last 10 years this city Detroit have become more apartheid than ever. And then we have an occupying force is policing us. You know, most of them live outside the city. We have an occupying force this in charge these different department here to live outside the city. Most of all white, you know, and I'm amazed that you black people sit there and just let things happen. support what needs to be supported.
Unknown Speaker
next caller please.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Steven Horan.
Unknown Speaker
Steven hiring the floor is yours you have one manager
Unknown Speaker
can I be her
Speaker 26
at Ben, you bear me. We can hear you. Okay, thank you. So you know everyone holds their own Amiens but you know, there's so much misinformation on this highly sensitive issue. You got to know on the morning of October 7, Israel was in the process of a ceasefire with Hamas. And you know, you obviously saw what happened to clarify the situation in Gaza. Zappala. You know, is real doesn't need to follow international law. And you know, but however, if a mass remains in power, hundreds of 1000s of innocent Israelis and Palestinians will be killed, as you know from the news for Masters using Palestinians as human shields, just like Hitler, us Germans. While I respect the views of the Arabic community, and I know how they feel from their side, it's extremely critical that consider both sides. I support a peaceful two state solution where Palestinians can live in a free society.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you so much. Let's call it please.
Speaker 29
next caller is calling user one. Caller user one
Unknown Speaker
you have one minute general public comment. Caller user one are you there? Let's put caller user one at the end. of the cube. We'll go to the next caller please.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Lindsey Matson.
Speaker 1
Lindsey Matson. The floor is yours. We have one minute general public comment.
Speaker 19
Good morning Council President council members. My name is Lindsay Matson and I'm a Detroit resident in district five. I'm also a social worker and community organizer. And I work with youth and families all across the city including Palestinian Americans, as a member of my students, dream and intergenerational group of students and educators that organizes at the intersection of immigration education justice. I'm also representing many of our members who can't be here at this time on a Tuesday because they're teaching and learning through my work and my personal relationships. I've seen the way Israeli Apartheid has impacted Palestinians in the US for many years. And the ways indiscriminate bombing and violence is impacting us all but especially us Jews and Palestinians right now. I wasn't born in the city of Detroit but I've been here organizing with Detroit families, youth and residents for almost 10 years. And I love the way Detroiters care for each other fight for what's right together and stand up against injustice without fear. Our elected officials take the time and effort to actually get to know their communities and residents. And I think right now Detroit has a unique opportunity that we could play by passing this resolution and putting pressure on the federal government for a ceasefire. Every day we don't fight for a ceasefire. We're complicit in the murder of men, women and children in Gaza. We can't do everything but we can do this today.
Unknown Speaker
next caller please.
Speaker 29
The next caller is Laura city of asylum Detroit.
Speaker 1
Caller The floor is yours You have one minute to go public comment.
Unknown Speaker
Hi, my
Speaker 35
name is Laura craft wits. I'm a homeowner in district five. I'm here to support this ceasefire real solution as written. I'm also a Jewish American. My grandparents moved to Detroit after World War Two so that they could build a life here in safety. I grew up on images of genocide against my people. And these are the images I now see in real time in Gaza. Horrifying, unspeakably cruel images. I myself lived in Gaza for a year and a half where I worked alongside South African anti apartheid activists as well as Palestinians and Jews from and Jews from around the world. We worked together hand in hand to stop injustice to stop the violence of a military that does not represent the values of my faith. Today just a day ago, my friend lost his mother in Gaza because she couldn't get antibiotics. He I'm tired.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you so much. next caller please.
Unknown Speaker
next caller is Metro Detroit. DSA.
Unknown Speaker
Metro Detroit, DSA The floor is yours. You have one minute general public comment. Hello. Morning, we can hear you. Hi, my name is Chris Gilmer Hill. I'm a
Speaker 2
as a socialist, I'm in support of good policies like the responsible card printing ordinance and perform but I'm mostly calling in today to urge immediate passage, excuse by resolution with that change.
Speaker 26
You've heard near unanimous public comment for going on a month from well over 100 Detroiters who know that genocide is being committed and who don't want to see our city stand on the side of genocide. We want to see our city council do the right thing. And practical unanimous there's been exactly one person calling in in favor of bombing children in Gaza. Everybody else is united in knowing that we need a ceasefire. Now, nobody's asked for any changes to the wording. Nobody's asking for it to be weakened a little bit here there. What we need is a ceasefire and we have a strong resolution from our city council that stands on the right side it
Speaker 2
does the right thing on the behalf of the rest of this thing.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you. Next caller please.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is dim.
Speaker 39
The floor is yours. Thank you. My name is Dima. Can you hear me? My name is Demong. And I'm a resident of Detroit and a community organizer urging you to vote for resolution 1943 calling for a ceasefire. My family and I immigrated to the US in 2005 to escape ethnic cleansing in Burma. I come to you today because my family my people are survivors of ethnic cleansing and we've nearly escaped it but so many members in our family did not. The death and destruction of brown bodies of women children and men in Palestine now totals over 13,000 Palestinians and those debts are increasing as we speak. While we struggle here in Detroit to keep the lights on to have clean water to not be brutalized by the police. The city remains complicit in the genocide of Palestinians. Sending over $9 million a year to Israel. How many more people have to be killed for us to act escaping ethnic cleansing in my homeland only for now my tax dollars to fund another one is not the American dream. My parents worked in factory lines, clean houses and sacrificed for the traders demand a ceasefire because if we can't even pass a symbolic gesture I worry about the future of this city, state and country. We'll see you at the voting booth Free Palestine.
Unknown Speaker
Your next caller please.
Speaker 29
The next caller is Drew tot K. D HR UV
Speaker 1
Takeya. Again, apologize if I mispronounce your name to Florida if you have one minute and Republican. Hello,
Speaker 13
my name is thrilled that gay. I'm a Detroit resident. I'm coming here to call upon the city council to call to call for a ceasefire in Gaza with the resolutions original language the people in the city of Detroit send about $9 million in our tax in our tax dollars every year to the apartheid state of Israel. US dollars have been flowing endlessly to fund the subjugation and death of Palestinians for decades. And the and in the last month and a half upwards of 13,000 Palestinians have been murdered in Gaza, including more than 5000 children. The average age of the dead is five years old. If the city council if the city council members of Detroit cannot find it within themselves to call for a ceasefire. We as a city are giving our approval for these for these murders to continue and for our tax tax dollars to continue funding them. I urge you I urge all of you on this on the city council to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. I also would like to like to comment that I urge you to stand with the union workers of Detroit, free Palestine. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Let's call the police.
Speaker 29
The next caller is Carl Johnson. Johnson
Unknown Speaker
The floor is yours you got one minute and Republican Carl Johnson Are You There are let's go to the next caller. Please. Put that individual the end of the queue
Unknown Speaker
are they appear to have unmuted themselves now? Okay,
Speaker 30
Mr. Johnson. Like I said unmuted myself long. I've been on this call since 10 o'clock.
Unknown Speaker
Ah Mr. Johnson are you there? Yes, I am. Can
Unknown Speaker
you hear me? Yes, we
Unknown Speaker
can. You may begin.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning, I
Speaker 3
was speaking in support of the sanctuary at Brewster project. My wife and I we had a house built in the city of Detroit over 25 years ago, Virginia pocket States, President Mitch Sheffield's district we'd been happy for the most part. They're currently building all around this now we welcome the new construction and all the creeds and nationalities. I've always said I'd rather someone orange live next to me than to have a vacant house or vacant land. Although I'm disappointed and dismayed to hear the objections from our brush Park neighbors. You know, Detroit has to be a place for a variety of people in incomes. We can't take the attitude that foster care is okay as long as it's not in my neighborhood. Thank you very much.
Unknown Speaker
All right, thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Hazel flood. Good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning. Can you hear me?
President Sheffield
Yes, we can. Good morning. Good morning.
Speaker 6
I want to thank all the council members for all the work that you do for the citizens of Detroit. My district to Councilwoman Angela whip to Callaway, I want to thank you for attending our community meeting or sending your staff members and even at one of our meetings to brought invited at large councilmember Mary waters. Regarding issues in the garden homes ate my Wyoming Community blighted property legal dumping, abundance of auto related businesses marijuana facility. Thank you, Max and all the council member to pass the property tax ordinance today and please a man that the DLB MOU that better serves that citizen of Detroit not outside investors. And lastly I just want to say this is one Detroit, one Detroit not to and to hear people think because of they address that especial it does a disservice to the rest of us who's been here for decades, because whatever wealth and materialistic things you accumulate, you can't take it with you when God called
Unknown Speaker
right thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is che Howe.
Speaker 40
Thank you, Thank you, counsel. I am speaking on behalf of the ceasefire resolution. I'm was very moved by the meeting opening with Jocelyn Benson reminding us of the legacy of this council of Pastor Barry reminding us of the vision for peace. And I become increasingly disturbed that the council is forcing people to defend their own humanity in order to get a ceasefire. This council should be standing on its legacy and leading us into a future of peace with the ceasefire. Now please pass this resolution as it is written. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
All right, thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is charity de
Speaker 27
carne the morning so thank you City Council. I first want to just say thank you for everyone that has taken time out to meet with us time and time again on this responsible contractors ordinance. I also want to say a special thank you to the brave Detroit small contractors who you know have endured some intimidation and threats, unfair assumptions about their safety and their work while they are paying competitive wages and yet have spoken up and engaged in this policy conversation. They don't have the money and the power to come out in force like the unions but have really done their their hard work of engaging in conversation. So thank you for that. We appreciate the change in the ordinance to three points and the threshold of $1 million. And we have to ask first that just like you guys say all apprenticeships should matter. And so we're asking for the language to include all apprenticeships. For that point and then lastly, just that we have time to onboard with this new proposal but thank you again for this up. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is rebab K.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning. May I be heard Yes,
Unknown Speaker
you can. Good morning.
Speaker 41
Good morning, council members. My name is rebab GitHub. I am here in support of the ceasefire resolution. I urge all council members to vote yes on the current resolution as it as it is written calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. There is no humanity in a humanitarian pause. A cause for a quote immediate declaration of peace is just not enough. Listen to your constituents. Detroit has been on the right side of history in the past and should show the rest of the country that it is courageous enough to be on the right side of history again, do what the majority of our representatives in Congress are shamefully unwilling to do. For people with a conscience It shouldn't be hard a call for a ceasefire to end the murder of innocents to endless genocide and demand for humanitarian aid is the very least we can do. Every human life is deserving of safety and security, no matter who they are or where they live. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Madeline.
Unknown Speaker
Morning. Excuse me. Good afternoon.
Unknown Speaker
Good afternoon. May I be heard?
President Sheffield
Yes, you can.
Speaker 33
All right. Thank you. Good morning to the council. My name is Madeline bull and I am a Detroit resident in District Six. I'm here to support the ceasefire resolution as written as well as the Responsible Contractor ordinance and those fighting for Tax Justice 911 is one of my earliest memories. The response of the United States and I live in shaved my childhood and the world I live in the US response only be got more violence overseas. And at home. Do not repeat the mistakes the US made after 911 Do not get into propaganda about terrorism. More than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed so far just because they exist in a land that Israel wants. This is displacement and genocide plain and simple. The word ceasefire is not inflammatory or divisive. It is a call to stop the violence stop the killing and stop lives being lost. Palestinians deserve the right to exist in their homeland without being bombed every day. And Detroit does deserve for our tax dollars to go to our city and not to sending bombs across the world. I pray that you make the choice to stand on the right side of history stand with our neighbors and Dearborn Dearborn heights in traffic and Chicago in value the lives of all living in the Holy Land by calling for a ceasefire now, thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Next caller is Sophie oh
Unknown Speaker
good morning. Good afternoon.
Speaker 4
Hello, can I be heard? Yes. Palestinians are routinely forced to stop and frisk at gunpoint, even the children. They are not allowed to go to the same schools as the Israelis or even to walk in many of the same roads and they are arrested without charge. Even children. It is Jim Crow. Nelson Mandela spoke many times about the apartheid in Palestine. But this council can't even call for a ceasing of the bombs on their head. Ceasefire means stop the bombing ceasefire means stop the killing when you refuse to call for a ceasefire. You are calling for more bombs, more killing more blood.
Speaker 16
I can't believe that a show of support for the victims of genocide is being debated. Has this council been bought like Biden or what is the reason that you can't simply say since the bombing CIFAR stand up to a racist colonialist superpower killing impoverished people or shame
Unknown Speaker
on you?
Unknown Speaker
next caller is Anna Harris.
Unknown Speaker
Hello, can I heard you?
Speaker 7
Hi, my name is Anna Harris and I'm a resident of district one and we graduate and I'm here to support the CSIR resolution 19.43 it difficult to understand how a conflict happening halfway across the world could possibly affect our city. That the fact is, is that if we cannot online stand up for what is right and define what's wrong. It's such a clear case genocide when can we if we cannot find a moral backbone with 18,000 and counting isn't civilians have been slaughtered? With an average age of five years old? When we find it? Do we imagine that something like this could never happen here? Have we in Detroit not already seen the same Mater shut offs, state and police violence, external occupation of our government that our Palestinian siblings are experiencing? Could our tax dollars not go to be used for countless better things that in the cleansing? We cannot quibble over words anymore? ceasefire is the correct word and we must use it today. Free Palestine Solidarity with Union
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Rod Harmon.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning.
Speaker 31
Good morning. Calling to support Detroit contractors. I just I just want to commend the Council on all the efforts that in the members have been made to the ordinance around contracting so far, and so on to plug that in. The two things I think we should really strongly consider including is to make sure all apprenticeship programs are in the program as well as you know, provide a 12 month implementation timeframe for the ordinance to ensure all participants have the right opportunity to get ready to participate. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Cunningham.
President Sheffield
Barney. This afternoon Good afternoon, Mr. Cunningham.
Speaker 31
3134449114313444911 for on Facebook force to subservience cutting him on Facebook for subservient cutting. Ham to everybody at home everybody listening and also to the council. Happy Holidays all of them. All the holidays. Happy holidays to you. Now DDOT is only 63% On time I'm 63% 63 as a day. Sick 63 is rd. So I'm giving out hand warmers and bus tickets out of my pocket if anyone can be in assistance in regards to more hand warmers the need is great homeless people on the sides of the road and those waiting on the buses. I have MPN empathy and sympathy probably more than you because I'm going to poverty myself doing the best you can. So this holiday season, have empathy and sympathy.
Unknown Speaker
All right. Thank you Mr. Cunningham.
Unknown Speaker
Our next caller is Frank Hamer.
Unknown Speaker
Mr. Hammer Good morning.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning. Can you hear me?
Unknown Speaker
Yes sir.
Unknown Speaker
Great. Thank you.
Speaker 14
Good afternoon City Council. For Frank Hamer and District Two, I hope you will vote yes on today's resolution calling for a ceasefire to halt the carnage by the Israeli military using US weapons against the Palestinian people. Nowhere has the opposition been more powerfully expressed than by our Arabic and Muslim neighbors, many of whom will have lost loved ones in the Israel extermination. They feel betrayed by a president for whom they voted in great numbers and 2020. President Biden is depth to their pleas for an end to his endorsement for Israeli Zionism, thereby earning him the title, genocide Joe. City Council must weigh in and expose the error of Biden's ways. If we don't do this now. I can assure you, the voters will next November. I don't need to tell you that a maga victory but represented disaster. Palestine and Fort
Unknown Speaker
Wayne Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Next caller is Jocelyn Harris. Good morning,
Speaker 4
city council. I'm Jocelyn here is resident of District Four. My Councilperson Leticia Johnson, and it gives me great pause to hear the residents of the city of Detroit that have been on this call. I've been listening. They are awake. They are alert. And they are proactive. I'm looking at the ordinances that have been proposed that you sign off on today Council, the property tax reform ordinance, the Responsible Contractor ordinance and the resolution to cease fire all of these are crucial issues. But I am elated to know that the residents are being proactive. City Council this is your great opportunity to make history by supporting all of the residents resolute ordinances and resolutions presented today. Thank you for making history. God bless you. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Beulah Walker. Hello.
Unknown Speaker
Can I be heard? Yes.
Speaker 4
Hi, good afternoon, everyone. My name is Beulah Walker, a longtime city president for 49 years and a local member out of local 1191. I'm calling in strong support of responsible contracting. And I'm also calling in strong support of anyone any employees apprentices be registered in United States Department of Labor
Unknown Speaker
as a registered apprentice.
Speaker 6
That means union work. So that is my comment. I hope my comment is heard and know that you offer the same day. All right, you too. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Amy's Tennessee.
President Sheffield
All right, good afternoon.
Speaker 11
Good morning. This is Amy Senecio. President of district five I'm here to support the ceasefire resolution 19.43 is written and introduced by councilmember Santiago Rivera. Nelson Mandela, a leader of the of South Africa's anti apartheid struggle who fought for liberation movements the world over once called the question of Palestine the greatest moral issue of our time, he stood in solidarity with Palestinians affirming that just like ourselves, they're fighting for the right of self determination. In a 1997 speech, Mandela said that when the United Nations passed the resolution in 1997, inaugurating the International Day of solidarity with the Palestinian people, it was asserting the recognition that injustice and gross human violated human rights violations were being perpetrated in Palestine. In the same period the UN took a strong stand against apartheid and over the years an international consensus was built which helped to bring an end to this an equitable system. But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians ceasefire now.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Carolyn Carter.
Unknown Speaker
Hi, can you hear me? Yes, we can.
Speaker 4
Hello, wherever you want. I'm calling to to ask you to pass the property tax reform ordinance as well as compensate all of our homeowners that have lost their homes due to over taxation sanction in fraud, we want our hosts back and we want to be compensated. We are tired of being homeless. Please give us some No
Unknown Speaker
thank you. Thank you.
Speaker 29
The next caller is Karen hammer.
Unknown Speaker
Good afternoon.
Speaker 42
Good afternoon. As a district to resident of over 35 years I say vote yes on responsible contracting vote yes on the property tax reform ordinance. And I call for a ceasefire and with with the words that have already been put in the ordinance, treat Palestinians as human beings on December 10 is the 75th anniversary the international Declaration of Human Rights. This month 200 medical workers 100 un relief workers a child every nine minutes 250 hospitals bombed and 200 media workers killed. These are people not numbers. Dana Kornberg, a Jewish constituent and represented represented to have to leave the district said I'm appalled by the House censure of to leave and the false charges of anti semitism. The slogan is
Speaker 29
Thank you. The next caller is Todd Scott, Detroit greenways coalition. Good afternoon. This
Speaker 26
is Todd Scott and I'm calling and asking council to consider holding on to item 18 deaf to our.on the current agenda a request for vacation which basically gives the sidewalk on a downtown Seventh Street over to the triathlon club. were fearful of how this might impact walkability in the downtown area needs a bad precedent to beginning downtown sidewalks and also concern that it may be a conflict with city ordinance 43 Dash six dash 25 which is entitled full width sidewalks required along certain streets. The street is listed among those and appears would require to have a sidewalk with a minimum width of six feet. So again, we just ask that you consider reevaluating this request. And thank you very much have a great holiday.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you
Unknown Speaker
the next caller is Marguerite Maddox and Scarlett
Unknown Speaker
no no
Unknown Speaker
I remember.
Unknown Speaker
By remember well your parents is not
Speaker 31
good the time we do but remember the
Unknown Speaker
future no matter what. But what
Speaker 31
we do
Speaker 16
no hope. No hope I'm done. Thank you
Unknown Speaker
the next caller is phone number ending in 124.
Unknown Speaker
Good afternoon
Unknown Speaker
Good afternoon. Can you hear me?
President Sheffield
Yes we can.
Unknown Speaker
Okay. Yes to the seats fire. So sorry to the people in Greek style firm so
Speaker 6
sounds like you're gonna get the royal screw job by this callus city.
Speaker 16
I'm very disappointed in the city council. Shame on all of you. You've so no concern for Bob Carmax who routed out corrupt Councilman Gabe Leland. 17.14. No to the land bank mo you. Hey, you're letting this this body take people's property without paying them just compensation Newsflash, everybody. Jocelyn Benson took Mike Brady chief counsel from the land bank to be her chief counsel. I took the law review article about the illegal blight taking the land banks doing the Hester Wheeler years ago, and he did nothing about it. So if you believe in reparations, don't let the land bank take people's property. If you had any respect for the people of Detroit, you would push this thing off instead of ram it through in the end of the year. And just do bury it with all this other.
Unknown Speaker
Well, thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Next caller is Eden bloom. Maybe hurt.
Unknown Speaker
Yes, you can.
Speaker 29
Thank you. First, yes. On the property tax ordinance and yes, unresponsible contracting ordinance. I live on the east side and district five and I am calling because I want to make a personal statement requesting a vote yes on the ceasefire resolution, as written brought by councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. I want to recognize and thank those organizing the ceasefire campaign and the Palestinian and Jewish voices who have spoken in support of a ceasefire. I encourage you all to listen to them. They have said more than enough to move you. The only thing that I can add is what I know from my experience, and that is that white nationalists and authoritarians are among those who benefit when our leadership wavers in the face of injustice. Some members of the evangelical community I was raised in shear every time the death toll increases, no matter who's dying if they're Israeli or Palestinian. They celebrate while we debate what is anti semitic and what isn't. While we talked about Thank you. The next caller is Hank
Unknown Speaker
Hello, may I be heard?
Unknown Speaker
Yes.
Speaker 43
I'm calling today's a constituent of Mary Sheffield of Coleman a young the second of Mary waters and as a longtime resident of the city of Detroit city I was born in in a city I love. I'm calling to urge you not only to support the ceasefire resolution for Gaza, but to urge my council members and all of the council members at this table to join the resolution. This is a local issue. We have one of the largest concentrations of Arab Americans in the country. Jocelyn Benson presented this morning about voting rights and the importance of elections coming in 2024. There are voting concerns she did not mention but are also a real threat. We risk serious voter apathy. young voters who go to bed at night watching a genocide, live streamed on their phones do not want to vote for leaders who apologized for genocide or stay silent on a topic pretending it has nothing to do with us. An overwhelming number of voters support ceasefire, please represent us now.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Halima Castells.
Unknown Speaker
Good morning maybe hurt?
Unknown Speaker
Yes, you can.
Speaker 7
Greetings Madam President and honorable body. I come before you to urge you to pass the ceasefire resolution as it's written. But after listening to the comments of so many Detroiters that took time here this morning, I'm asking you to respect your constituents in the hometown of Aretha Franklin, respect, stop putting corporate interests above people. How many better ways can we spend $9 million a year here in Detroit rather than send them to support an apartheid state now committing genocide? Yes. are responsible contracting? Yes. Tax reform? Yes. To the folks working with the foster youth. Yes to residents behave respectfully engage with the land bank. Right now, though.
Unknown Speaker
Most timely,
Speaker 7
I'm asking that you pass a ceasefire resolution and respect humanity. Respect your condition constituents pass the ceasefire as written. Join Chicago, Atlanta, Richmond, Wilmington Dearborn, Hamtramck American Postal workers, union restaurant workers,
Unknown Speaker
American friends. Thanks, thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Next caller is Casey P.
President Sheffield
All right. Good afternoon. May I be heard? Yes, you can.
Speaker 33
Thank you. My name is Casey paler. I am a resident of District Four and the policy manager at Detroit disability power, also a member of Ciudad today I'm here to urge the council to postpone the vote on the master plan of policies until the contract reflects a meaningful community engagement process and establishes a master plan community advisory group. I also urge you to pass the property tax reform ordinance to provide greater transparency on assessments and take the necessary steps that Detroiters need to secure their homes. I also asked you to pass the responsible contracting ordinance to support our union workers. across the city and fighting for fair wages and benefits.
Unknown Speaker
thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Next caller is Jared Mooney. Jared Mooney is the next caller.
Speaker 28
Thank you. Hello, my name is Jared money the board president of brush Park village North homeowners association which is located in district five. I'm here to discuss the amended and restated development agreement or the Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center. Our community has never been so vocal and vehemently against any topic like this before, and it strongly opposes the project in its current form, minimally doing to the conflicting information provided by the developer on several occasions, as well as the proposed plan conflicting with the overall vision of our neighborhood. Development of the housing which is so out of balance with AMI proposals and form based code violations with no market rate housing, which does not talk to mixed income projects does not support the intent of what this developer is trying to do. In our attempts to work with the developer, they have resorted to disrespectful and disparaging and demeaning language towards the brush Park residents, many of them that don't even live in the community. We ask them to see that the council does not or at least delay their proposal today so that we can continue working with the developer to iron out these issues. Thank you. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Anthony Jackson.
Speaker 17
Good morning Council members. My name is Anthony Jackson. I'm a lifelong Detroiter as well as the founder of emerging industries Training Institute, which is located in the city of Detroit. I fully support small businesses and Detroit based businesses and I fully support the responsible contracting ordinance because it shows that we as a city value our workers as well as invest in them. Responsible contracting gives extra points to companies who respect their workers, and dignify the contributions by providing quality training, ensuring their safety and investing in workers futures through fair wages and benefits. I urge all of council to support the responsible contract ordinance to support everyday working families. In Detroit. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
All right, thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Karen Winston. Hello
Unknown Speaker
Am I able to be heard
Unknown Speaker
Am I heard? Yes.
Unknown Speaker
Oh, yes, I can hear you.
Unknown Speaker
Oh, okay, wonderful.
Speaker 22
I just like to speak real fast on I'm glad to see what we're training. A lot of electricians. That's wonderful. And I don't care whether they're union or not. What I do care about is opportunities. You know that there are a lot and a fair opportunity. The city Detroit had a awesome apprenticeship program. I came through in the early 80s. But back in that day, it was great to be a city worker within a union more so than a contractor outside of city employment. It's more smart to me it makes a lot more sense for the city to train their employees internally. And now we have a guaranteed opportunity. You know, for that, that medium type lifestyle that we want us all to have. So it's great to, you know, to thank contractors, but it's even greater to bring it all in house and when I say in house, I don't mean hiring somebody to do that. I mean, we do it ourselves. That's how I was trained.
Speaker 29
I can't hear but I will go on to the next next caller is Brexit slaughter.
Unknown Speaker
Hello.
Unknown Speaker
You can be heard.
Unknown Speaker
Don't know what's going on.
Unknown Speaker
You can be hurt. I
Speaker 4
could be hurt now. Oh, okay. My name is Bridgette slaughter. And first of all, good morning to the city council members and my resident is that 4864 West drive. Detroit, Michigan 48235. And my parents installed in all of us out you have enough of us who was raised in his home here to make sure you pay your taxes on time and when they die it will the house to me and that's what I was doing. Keeping the legend going. And I want to keep it gone with the help of the city councilor to make sure I Texas is kept up. So thank you for him. Me. And you guys have a blessed day.
President Sheffield
All right, you as well. Thank you for calling in. Okay. The next caller is Jake Ehrlich. Right. Good afternoon. Hello, one moment. So I'll just focus. Sorry,
Unknown Speaker
can you hear me?
Unknown Speaker
Yes, we can. Okay, I'm
Speaker 44
sorry. I was dealing with some tech difficulties. So I've written to the council. I'm here to communicate. Once again, my support for the ceasefire resolution. My name is Jake Erlich district to resident Jewish educator, very involved in various Jewish communities and institutions. And I just want to stress that I've read the text. I approve. I think that this is an unbiased sort of text in favor of peace, human dignity, and human thriving. And I asked especially the religious members of the council to consider what Christmas must look like in Palestine this year in the West Bank and in Gaza. So many of Palestinians are indeed Christians, not Muslims. And we as religious people, people have faith I owe it to our brethren, our siblings around the world to do everything we can in service of ceasefire. So please act morally, just as the Jewish tradition says be like the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Speaker 29
The next caller is Sarah Rubin. Hi,
Speaker 27
can you hear me? Yes, we can. Hi,
Speaker 33
my name is Sarah Rubin and I'm a resident of Detroit. I'm a religious Jew and I grew up in a very Zionist home and community. And I'm here to ask you to PLAs pass the resolution calling for a ceasefire. The US aid going to Israel is important. And we need all levels of government to call for a ceasefire.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, see you at the voting booth Free Palestine.
Speaker 29
The next caller is the Lima Nowalk.
Unknown Speaker
Right Good afternoon. Hi,
Speaker 39
my name is Selena. The law I'm actually here with my kids and I homeschool my children. They're here learning about math and handwriting in English. And they're also learning about history as they listen to this council meeting. They're hearing names like Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and they're learning your names as well. Our Detroit city council members. My son is learning math, and I want to ask our council members, how does it add up that you have hundreds of people showing up at your council meetings, asking for a ceasefire, telling you that majority of Americans are asking for a ceasefire and you are still silent and you are still delaying this vote, changing the language of what it means to stop killing. I want to ask you to look at the unified support of people Jewish, Muslim, Christian, black, white. They're standing and facing you and telling you for a ceasefire. There was one man that's here at every meeting that saying actually there's a different side to the story. Hamas is killing everybody. Please look at the facts and represent.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is zoom user.
Unknown Speaker
Good afternoon.
Unknown Speaker
How are you guys doing?
Unknown Speaker
Good. Thank you.
Speaker 22
God. I want to thank everybody that's talking about the ceasefire.
Speaker 14
I want to thank them all. I don't understand. What is the City Council waiting for? How many babies and elderly people do you want to see being killed and being bombed? Literally parents are picking up head and leg head and just to bury their kid.
Unknown Speaker
What do you guys waiting for? Why do you gotta hear from 100
Unknown Speaker
people?
Speaker 22
I'm a native Detroiter, born and raised here entrepreneur in Detroit. Have you guys will vote for this? You will we will vote against you guys. We will gather up a lot of people who will not vote for you guys. anymore. She's fired. That's all we're asking for ceasefire. Why do you got to hear as a human being if you see these kids getting killed and bombed?
Unknown Speaker
What are you guys waiting for?
Unknown Speaker
Mayor Canfield?
Speaker 14
I stand with you all the time. Your silence. Not anymore. Not anymore.
Unknown Speaker
I'll tell you that we will be voting against you if you do not pass.
Unknown Speaker
All right, thank you.
Speaker 29
Next caller is Samsung SM s 911. You
Unknown Speaker
all right, good afternoon.
Unknown Speaker
Can you hear me now?
President Sheffield
Yes, we can. Good afternoon.
Speaker 7
Great. I am a resident of Detroit have invested in Detroit and heavily in building and I am speaking against the sanctuary, not because the idea is not appropriate because because it's not been even brought to us as residents. We are paying a lot of money to believe and to in a in a situation that we bought into eight 910 years ago. And now it's being totally revised and going in a direction that we have no idea which way it's going to and how long the funds will be available. There is no transparency in this whatsoever. We have been hoodwinked to say the least by the van Fox and MHT and also the council. We need transparency. We need to have bigger discussions on this. We need to have a say in our community and how the safety and things will run and how long is that money going to last to support these kids? Thank you
Unknown Speaker
all right, thank you.
Speaker 29
The next caller is MISS SHOT Imran.
Unknown Speaker
Can I be hurt?
President Sheffield
Yes, you can. Good afternoon.
Speaker 31
Yes. Good afternoon. Thank you. Thank you, council for for allowing me to speak today. I just I had I'm calling in support of the ceasefire. But I want I changed my mind when I heard a previous caller talking about the use of Palestinian as human shields. So I actually wanted to speak a little bit about that propaganda. The propaganda is a repeated lie that is no longer question and taken at face value. Let's use logic to this debunk this myth, the human shields if you're gonna call him as a death cult, and they're all want to die, then what's the point of using shields, let alone human shields. Number two, it clearly is not working. So why keep repeating a failed strategy? And number three, if you're bound by a tank or an airplane bomb, and you still believe that humans can be used as shields, then sorry, you didn't pay attention in your physics class in middle school. So that's the one thing about this myth about human shields. This is a lie. I want everybody to write it and share it with everyone. The logic does not support that propaganda.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Bobby Johnson.
Speaker 27
Good afternoon. Hello, can I be heard? Yes, you can. Well, one
Speaker 6
thing I will say is we need to postpone this vote for this lambda and we need to go and we need to discuss more about the land bank but another thing I do here is there's a lot of threats on the voting and routing of the council and they do not do certain things and vote on certain measures. But I will say we have a genocide. And we have we need a ceasefire in the city of Detroit. We have young kids dying every day. We need some recreation. We need major grocery stores over here. We need businesses that that invest in our communities, too. We need to think about and I'm all for a ceasefire. Don't get me wrong, but I'm all for taking home taking care of home to those are one things I will say is that we need to start looking at what is best for the city at Bright Keep your hands off of our property and vote for.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Katie Carey.
Unknown Speaker
Hello, can I be heard?
Unknown Speaker
Yes, you can.
Speaker 39
Hello, council members. I'm coming to you today as a resident of district five and an early childhood teacher in the city of Detroit. I'm in support of the ceasefire resolution as it is written. Those who have spoken in support of this before me have laid out the facts clearly and I wholeheartedly agree with them. The question I have for all of us in this room and online is how are any of us sleeping at night, while children and entire families are being wiped off the face of the earth with our tax money and in our names. The traders taught me how to think critically and fight for freedom. I want my students in Detroit to be proud of this legacy someday by celebrating the fact that Detroit was among the first major cities in the US to adopt a ceasefire resolution. We cannot sit here and celebrate Celebrate Detroit's involvement and struggles for justice while ignoring that genocide is happening right now and not take action. Approve the ceasefire resolution. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is calling user one.
Unknown Speaker
Can you hear me? Yes,
Unknown Speaker
we can hear me.
Unknown Speaker
Can you hear me?
Unknown Speaker
Yes, we can hear you hear me. Happy
Speaker 45
Thanksgiving to Mary Sheffield and the rest of the council people. I've been complaining about lights out where Linwood and what's Grand Boulevard that affects the children from Northwestern High School and nothing has been done. These are children that can be raped. Or robbed. It needs to have something immediate before you all go on your vacation. Public writing and duties is not their responsibility is supposed to be electrical engineers within DPW and they're lying and not doing anything. Madam president please save the children here in Detroit from being late. And please make sure something is done so that people don't have to keep waiting for the Dexter to in three hours. during school hours. This is putting their lives in danger from five through 9pm. What can you do about it?
President Sheffield
Do so much Michelle. We will make sure we get that information from you via email to report the intersection and lies that she will refer to thank you so much. For calling in Michelle. All right, our next caller and RT Can you let us know how many hands left?
Speaker 29
Well, actually, there are a few hands raised but that we have actually gone through all of the hands raised who had raised their hand before you had cut off public comment so that was actually the last caller who had raised her hand before you had cut off the public comment.
President Sheffield
Okay. All right. Thank you. So that will conclude our public comment for this morning. And so what I would like to do but you said this afternoon, yes. We can move forward with our 1020 public hearing. And then if, depending on the time, we'd like to move straight to property tax reform and then take up the ceasefire resolution and then break but let's see how long that takes. Because I do know people are eager to get some type of break in at some point so we can go straight to it. I just wanted the general public to know so we'll take up the property tax reform public hearing, followed by property tax reform followed by the ceasefire resolution. Depending on time, we may have to break in between if not, we will try to take those three up in that order. All right, so we're gonna now call back to order. Our 1020 public hearing and this is regarding the property tax reform ordinance.
President Sheffield
And we have several representatives that have joined us, I think in person in virtually and here's what we have. Right attorney long Mr. Horn whoever is joining us virtually we can just promote them as panelist please.
President Sheffield
Right so we have Corporation Counsel attorney long in assess assessor Elvin Horne has joined us virtually if you could just make sure your cameras are on.
President Sheffield
Peers are you showing any one one or?
President Sheffield
If you are listening mr. Washington we need someone on from the law department for our 1020 public hearing. tourney long Corporation Counsel assessor horn. If we could have these individuals please. Available for this 1020 public hearing
Speaker 12
Madam Chair counsel yes I do see Corporation Council online as well as Mr. Moore
Unknown Speaker
we have promoted both of them.
President Sheffield
All right. Thank you all for joining us. I'm was hoping also that attorney lon can join as well seeing that we are in a public hearing. I would like just to have a brief overview of what the property tax reform ordinance is proposing. And then we can just go into any outstanding concerns and then move from there. So attorney log Good afternoon.
Unknown Speaker
Good afternoon,
Unknown Speaker
council president. The document that's before you,
Unknown Speaker
however, is not my document. Okay. This is the item that was walked on. week
Unknown Speaker
that I did not offer
President Sheffield
there's here's if you can also promote Professor alright Corporation Counsel. Yes, ma'am. All right. Did you have any remarks on the we are at our 1020 public hearing we also are promoting professor at su na is well to to give a brief overview of what has been proposed as she comes on. Is there any additional comments you would like to make at this time?
Speaker 36
I wonder madam president if you could give me three minutes so I could come upstairs to the actual auditorium if you don't mind. Okay. All right. I'll be right there.
President Sheffield
All right. So as Corp counsel is coming down to visit us here in the auditorium, Professor, I will allow you to give a brief overview of what is being proposed in the ordinance and then we can wait for Corporation council to arrive here in person. Absolutely.
Speaker 4
Council President so in this ordinance, there's several features. The most important is because what we found is that the assessment division has actually done a very good job where Detroit was and where it is now are two different places. But there is still some systematic over assessments happening. And so what the property tax reform ordinance does to address these systematic over assessments is allowing city council to hire an independent evaluator to conduct a study to show what's called an assessment ratio study. So that city council for instance, if the The study shows that 80% of property's worth 15,000 and under are being assessed in violation of the Michigan State Constitution, the ordinance gives City Council the power to send all of those particular homes to the March Board of Review for for review right so the data already tells you people are being overzealous, it gives City Council the power to do something about it. The alternative is waiting for people to file the appeal one by one by one. And as I said lots of times before, ain't nobody got time for that. Okay, so So that's the that is the main feature of the ordinance. Another feature of the ordinance is just common sense. Making sure that the assessment notice is in readable font, making sure that people when they read their their property tax or when they read their assessment notices they can understand whether or not they're being over assessed. So you've restructured the the actual property tax notices so that they're actually legible to the people. That's number two. Number three, we have made requirements for the Board of Review so that we have a mix of people on the Board of Review, right people with, you know, great community experience, but also people with the numbers experience did especially for the March board review, to be able to identify when the assessor is over assessing people so we've made provision so that we can have both types of people on the the Board of Review as well. So that those are the kind of primary features of the property tax reform ordinance and also transparency in terms of providing data in a timely matter. So that that data can be used to you know, for assessments, right for to appeal the the property tax assessments. And so those are the the main kind of building blocks of the property tax reform ordinance.
President Sheffield
Right. Thank you, Professor. We appreciate that overview. Assessor Horne, did you have anything additional that you would like to add? I just really kind of wanted to get into some of the outstanding legal issues that are still before us before we move forward. I'm not sure if you want to chime in Mr. Horn or anything or if you want us to wait for Cooperation Council to arrive
Speaker 31
Thank you, Madam President. Good morning. Good afternoon, Madam President, members of city council. I will defer to court counsel. I'll wait for his arrival, ma'am. Thank you. Okay.
President Sheffield
He is here. And so, Corporation Council. I know you sent out a memorandum yesterday. Yes, ma'am. Highlighting still some of the legal challenges that we face and I would like to give you the floor at this time to address those concerns.
Speaker 36
Good afternoon, Conrad malah Corporation Council. Madam President, if you don't mind. Could I read the letter? Thank you. The Detroit city council is considering making changes to Chapter 40 feet short city code. Despite numerous attempts to reach a chord the current draft remains violative of the Charter, the city of Detroit and the laws state of Michigan. Members of the Detroit City Council understand but according to Section 7.5 Dash 209 The Corporation Council shall be responsible for enforcing compliance with the charter. Council members are aware that it according to charter section five dash 102 except as otherwise provided by law or this charter, executive and administrative authority for the implementation of programs, services and activities of city government is vested exclusively with the executive branch. According its charter section six dash 302 The city of Detroit finance director is a key executive branch leader responsible for all city of Detroit finance activity, and the finance director leads the accounts division. The assessment division, the Treasury and the purchasing division. Michigan compiled law 182 public act 2014 requires the chief financial officer appointed shall report directly to the mayor and do the follow. supervise all financial and budget activities of the city and coordinate the city's activities relating to budgets, financial plans, financial management, financial reporting finances and analysis and in compliance with the budget in the financial plan of the city of Detroit the proposed ordinance illegally reduces the role of the Chief Financial Officer in the administration of the property tax taxation assessment process. If a selection of an independent evaluator process is to be implemented that process must function under the jurisdiction and the control of the chief financial loss. Section four dash 122 of the Detroit city charter declares unequivocally that the city of Detroit may not purchase or in any way procure property or services of independent contractors without approval by resolution of the city council. Except as provided by ordinance. Section four dash 122 makes clear that city council's role is to provide checks and balances in the procurement process. The charter gives the city no role in the administration of contracts for which they have the responsibility to review and approve the charter of the city of Detroit section 7.5 Dash 206 requires the corporation conflict prepare and approve all contracts bonds and other written instruments in which the city is concerned. Corporation Counsel seller approve all surety bonds required to be given for the protection of the city and shall keep a proper registry of all contracts, bonds and instruments. A contract created under the ordinance now before City Council could not be approved as to form and thus never presented to city council for review and approval. The ordinance also violates MCL a to 11.30. State of Michigan law clearly states that the taxpayer or her legally authorized representative shall be notified of her opportunity to appeal to the Board of Review. State law limits who can effectuate an appeals review? City council can certainly expand the basis upon which an individual property owner or taxpayer or her legalized authorized representative can appear before an appeal to the assessor's office. The ordinance cannot expand the definition of those who can appeal to the Board of Review. It's important that city council members are aware of the limits of the ordinance under consideration in its current iteration, the ordinance cannot be approved as to form. I asked that this memorandum be reviewed carefully. And I say madam president that with minor fixes the ordinance before this body can be approved as to form can be made to comply with state of Michigan law and all of the hard work that the council has done to create the reform process that has been discussed can be completed and completed yet today. Thank you.
President Sheffield
Thank you Cooperation Council. And I will open it up now for questions or comments from my colleagues for our 1020 public hearing. And councilmember Doha
Speaker 1
Thank you, Madam President. And good morning to everyone. As stated in our last meeting, some general concerns I had was not necessarily with the spirit and intent of the ordinance itself, as I believe the coalition as well as members of this council, and even our assessor, our Board of Review and incorporation council have come a long way. As a former legislator in the state, the state legislature, my concern is always that we are passing something that is constitutional. After reviewing the ordinance and having the opportunity to speak to our Corporation Counsel about what happened relative to those negotiations. One of the main issues that was holding this up to form was section 44 dash four dash 11 A, which deals with the powers of the council as well as the Oh CFO relative to this matter. And so as you see before you I have submitted a few amendments, and my amendments, particularly speak to getting this up to form. And so I do have a couple of questions through you madam president, if I may to the corporation Council, particularly about an amendment for 44 dash four dash 11 A. Were in that phrase it speaks of the city council having the having the ability to hire the independent evaluator. I am not against hiring the independent evaluator by the way I think that is a very good portion in that ordinance. My concern is I want to ensure that we are following our own charter, which is very important. We hear residents speak about that all the time as well. And so the question that I have is if it was stricken from city council, and put that the OCF Oh, would have the ability to hire the independent evaluator. And I've got to add this into the ordinance if it says upon upon council approval. Would that help us bring this to form? Yes.
Speaker 36
There's no question the the, the letter that I just read concept person door Hall directly speaks to the question that was asked. And that is this that the administration of contracts is an executive branch function. In this particular instance, since the O CFO, the financial director, as defined in the city charter has responsible then for the management all financial details. associated with running the government. The Oh, CFO would be responsible with working with the purchasing division, get the independent evaluator hired, and this counsel as per the charter, and not based on the letter but as reiterated in the letter that I presented would have the opportunity to ask questions, but ultimately review and approve the contract of the independent evaluator. The administration of the selection process is an administrative function per their charter, and in this instance, managed by the auto CFO, and whatever the work product that is produced by the purchasing process, but all the members of this honorable body are familiar with or would be subject to EU laws approved
Speaker 1
so just to clarify for those listening at home. If this is put back in and we say banks is based on the charter, what I'm hearing from you is again, all financial matters relative to the city of Detroit goes to the Office of the Chief Financial Officer per charter. If we put that in there Council also will have the ability whether it's let's say they choose an independent evaluator that the majority this body doesn't agree with. We have the opportunity to say no, we don't want that independent evaluator bringing us someone else.
Speaker 36
You would turn that contract now console person and the finance director would have to start Oh,
Speaker 1
thank you. So Madam President, that is the crux of my amendment, if this is the piece that is holding it up to form one of the pieces that is holding up to form but from what I'm hearing from Corporation Counsel, this is the main piece relative to our charter. I would like to make an amendment to that. So we can move this forward. There are a lot of great things, a lot of great work that has went into this ordinance and I'm thankful for the coalition and their advocacy. They'd be down here every week for it. But I think we also have to fall with under our charter so I would like to make a motion to amend this ordinance for Section 44 das 44 striking city council and amending it to read the Office of the Chief Financial Officer also adding a phrase that that is upon council approval. And that is my motion, Madam President.
President Sheffield
discussion on the motion and I am going to allow the professor to respond. Yeah, because this was discussed in detail and I just want to allow the coalition in the response from a professor Bernadette.
Speaker 4
So a couple of points. The first one is the whole function of the independent evaluator is to check the work of the assessor who's under the Chief Financial Officer. So just so everybody who is listening and in the room understands what the CFO was proposing right now. What he is proposing is that the his office, the CFO hire the entity that is to monitor them. Okay, that's what's being proposed right now. And, and it's ludicrous, because what we're trying to move forward is with accountability. And so it's really important for city council to be able to hire the entity that's going to crunch the numbers, right. That's doing the check on the assessment office. And that's what we've been missing here in Detroit. That's why we're in a situation where Detroiters have been overtaxed by $600 million, because there have not been proper checks and balances. But what Corporation Council is coming before you today to say is, let's weaken this checks and the main check and balance in the property tax. Reform ordinance which is absolutely unacceptable. So that's number one. Number two, if the logic if and again you don't, I'm a lawyer, I'm a law professor, but you don't need to be neither a lawyer nor law professor to understand that big what the corporation Council is proposing would basically make City Council powerless. What he's saying is under the charter, anything having to do with financial decisions have to go through the CFO? That can't possibly be true, right? The CFO and legislative veto or rulemaking power those powers properly. remained within city council, even when they deal with financial interest. So just on a common sense basis, this argument about the charter and the they're really wild and true interpretation of the charter just on again, not being a lawyer not being a Law. Professor. I hope you all can see that this is a this is you know, a real power grab that really goes with this whole approved last to form process. And I really want to make my I'm not going to speak long. I just want to make this last point about what's happening here. We've gone for two years. With this property tax reform ordinance back and forth. And through this process to get approval as to form we've been made to jump through all manner of hoops. Half of the things that were not legal things they were processed things but they were incorrectly being discussed through the approval as to foreign process. Now, what does that do? That means that you know, in these approval as to foreign processes are kind of backroom processes. So instead of arguing and debating these things in front of, you know, all of city council with all city council members involved, instead these negotiations happen with you know, a couple of people because they're happening through the incorrectly through this approval as a foreign process. This approval as a foreign process is being abused in Detroit consistently, not only with this piece of legislation, but with many pieces of legislation. And in this approval as to foreign process. Again, all of these things that have nothing to do with the law are being included. There was an admission last Wednesday at the budget committee that dura Hall leaves were Corporation Counsel even said yeah, some of these concerns are process and not legal. And then he said in that meeting his only legal concern for him to give approval as to form was one thing and one thing only, which was the severability and this what he's calling a, I don't know, supremacy or, or whatever. I forgot the name he gave to it the the clause that says if anything, conflicts, right, so he said if those two things are taken care of, he would give it approval. So for him, he said that on record last Wednesday, and now we're hearing we're getting a whole nother story. So thank you. Yep.
President Sheffield
Thank you. So councilmember Dora has has made a motion. I don't know if there's any other discussion on the motion that member Dora Hall has stated
Speaker 1
amount of press president if I may. So remember, Doha? Yes. Thank you through you to Corporation Council in the charter, just to clarify the charter was by the way, you don't have to be a law professor to read and know in that Charter, which is our binding Constitution for the city of Detroit. Does it state that all financial matters go through the Oh CFO?
Unknown Speaker
Yes.
Speaker 1
So the second question that I have because this is really important, because the idea of saying that council is powerless is not necessarily true, because even at the OCF Oh has put forth an independent evaluator counsel will still have the ability to turn that down or not approved that independent evaluator they have selected is that correct? That
Unknown Speaker
is exactly correct.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you, Madam President.
President Sheffield
Pro Tem team. President Pro Tem Tate
Speaker 1
always gets so I just want to make it very clear on the record. I have supported this effort along the way and had multiple conversations and have continued to do so. My challenge as has been mentioned before, it's about the process and the process is again approving to form we created this body created a process that would allow us to get these items approved in the event that there is a conflict with Corp counsel. I don't know why that that process was not triggered. I'm not certain. But that would have certainly gotten my support. As we move forward. I see the fans here and it has to share rose I've never been called to Sharon it looks like I may not be called one today either. But the reality is, I am in support of what we have. The the issue is we had a process that was put in place to make this happen. And again, I still don't know why it was not executed.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you, Madam President.
President Sheffield
So and I just want to be very clear about the process. And that is that really anyone can request that legal counsel be be selected and that it has to come before council for resolution for us to support independent counsel and nothing prevents anyone from doing that. Now in all transparency, we did discuss this in coalition meetings or in our meetings with the coalition but that was not an option that they necessarily wanted to pursue because of some of the political issues around that in itself. And so me individually I didn't request it because again, I am in support of the direction that the coalition wanted to go. But nothing prevents any other council member if that is the case, you know, from suggesting that we have independent counsel from that resolution coming before council for for consideration in prison.
Speaker 1
Yep. If you recall last week, I didn't raise that issue, and I did put it out. No motion was made clear. There was no motion was made, but the motion to move forward was made. I can't I'm not saying any names. I'm not that's what I'm not saying any names. I'm saying I'm saying I'm expressing my part in this is how I operate. And again, I have been very supportive of this effort. Along the way. But when we create a process, I just believe that we should be able to utilize and I think you should stick with that particular process.
President Sheffield
Thank you, and I do support that but again, as I've mentioned, everyone, including, you know, can make a motion here at the table for that legal counsel and nothing prevents anyone from doing that. So any discussion on? Yep. But
Unknown Speaker
it is too late today.
Unknown Speaker
Correct? It wasn't yesterday.
Speaker 1
I'm just asking. It wasn't me challenging. We asked me is it too late? Because the ordinance is on the table today. If we were to send it forward, that would stop everything today. Right.
President Sheffield
I mean, the request, of course, is to move forward today. So yes, I think if you still want it to have independent counsel, nothing prevents that from happening. But I'm assuming that it will take some time to get that legal opinion. So yes,
Speaker 1
I just want to make it very clear that I don't have the option today to make this move that would affect this particular ordinance. That is a is a process that would have have to have would have to have happened prior to today. And again, I was raising the issue last week. And that's when the body moved forward to just continue to go forward. And at that point, there was no I don't think there's an option if
President Sheffield
I understand what you're saying. I just said that the US and members will Pro Tem last week could have motion for counsel if that is what you have wanted. And I'm just putting that out there too. Just because it's like I understand your process and I respect that I am as well too. But if it came up last week, and we talked about it and no one motion for it, and so I'm not I mean, again, that that has been discussed. It was not an option that I was willing to explore because based on the conversations that we've had, and so
Speaker 1
it's so if I may ask the coalition Why was why were they against both intubate okay, you can't go before
Speaker 3
I thought I was I thought you do my bad. You get Okay, motion intubate.
Unknown Speaker
I'm not
President Sheffield
done yet. So, um, so do we have to take up the motion or let him finished with his question? Dr. Powers
Unknown Speaker
that's the president can I respond to pretend
President Sheffield
Hold on one sec. We're just getting clarity one. In debate, but Pro Tem had asked a question. Well, I still have this. Yeah. So we need to take up the motion first withdrawn.
Unknown Speaker
I withdraw my motion. Okay. All right.
President Sheffield
Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Okay, thank Professor Bernadette. If you wanted to respond, please. Yeah,
Speaker 4
I'll try and be brief two points. Pro Tim Tate. We have a legal opinion. from it. We have a legal opinion signed by the ACLU of Michigan, Detroit Justice Center, the National Lawyers Guild street democracy Michigan Legal Services every one of your premier public interest legal organizations in the city has given you a legal opinion. So the league so you asked me for another legal opinion. Really. I mean, the point is there is a legal opinion on the on the on the table number one. And the second point is I really respect your adherence. To process. But it seems in this case, it's a very narrow understanding of process, because what the big picture is, is that the whole the the maker the administration is abusing process, right the approval as to form process and this whole abuse of the approval as a foreign process is being kind of put to the side to talk about this. Whether they you got a certain kind of legal opinion, right? So it's like what this this whole big abusive process is happening. And instead you're focusing on this other piece of process. So I would just, you know, I would encourage counsel, right, because this is about a larger issue of the mayor's administration, abusing process, abusing the prove less to form process, which is really retarding democracy, right. It's really setting democracy back. It's really on democratic so that's the that's the big picture in terms of the real abuse of process that's happening in this particular situation.
President Sheffield
Thank you. Okay. So if no one has anything additional to add the question, member young, wanted to end debate, and so motion debate, is there any objections to intubate
Unknown Speaker
rejection section? Objection? Objection. Objection, counsel. Mr. Robinson.
Speaker 27
Member waters did you obtain? who objected I'm sorry. I'm objection. Santiago over marijuana member Johnson.
Unknown Speaker
Objection. Objection.
Unknown Speaker
So it's for
President Sheffield
I need you. Are you objecting his love to you this is to end debate. And if you could just raise your hand. This is to end debate not to on the ordinance subject to object to ending. Motion failed. Okay. So that does feel you fail. So some discussion can continue now. Was there anything additional councilmember Benson?
Speaker 46
Just attorney Bernadette says something that's very clear and critical that there could be an abuse of the approval to form process and so with that, I believe that a independent review of this ordinance would be warranted. I make the motion to have independent review of this ordinance, and I don't and I if I'm not mistaken, it does not mean the process. That they have to end, but there will be a process that we'll be able to view with this ordinance.
Speaker 27
Okay, so. Alright, excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me. We
Unknown Speaker
are conducting business,
President Sheffield
please. So there's a motion on the floor to hire our independent counsel. Is that correct? We have our own independent counsel that we've hired in situations like this when there was a conflict between the two branches and so that is the motion. Are there any objections? Discussion? Still discussion? Yes. Council member Johnson.
Speaker 22
Thank you, Madam President. I just want to clarify that if that motion were to pass that it doesn't prevent us from moving forward with what's going on today. Okay, thank you. Thank you, Madam President.
President Sheffield
Nothing will prevent us moving forward today. Okay, motion has been made. Are there any objections? Very no objections. That action. Excuse me That motion passes. Discussion. Member Benson and
Speaker 46
then so the review by the independent Council will be to determine legality determine compliance with our own charter. What is that review to do? And for me, it will be to review compliance with our own charter, and that what document has been presented and can be up for a vote today is a document that will make a legal ordinance within the city of Detroit. That was my understanding. Exactly. I reviewed it. Maybe I'm mistaken.
President Sheffield
Yep. So, member Benson I think what member Doha was proposing were some amendments that will make it legal from the corporation's comp Council standpoint and we're I think we're taking those motions now. And then the first question you asked was regarding.
Speaker 46
So I made the motion which was approved right to have the ordinance as written review based on the concerns of attorney Bernadette. And so my question then is the scope of that review now approved it?
President Sheffield
Yep. So director Whitaker, I know we kind of talked about this already. If you could just speak to how that process will work with the independent counsel.
Speaker 21
Madam President, you've already selected your independent counsel. So it wouldn't it would be drafting a question presented for him. My office can work with council president to to write the details of what they should encompass. I think we've heard he really want us to review you want outside counsel to review the contents of the ordinance in line with the objections raised by Corporation Counsel, and I think he would be prepared to do that he would need some time obviously.
Speaker 46
And so that to the president, so that resolution would be written in conjunction with the Corporation Counsel to ensure that the questions are included. Okay. Thank you.
Speaker 21
We want to make sure that we want to make sure that all the contours of the issue are covered in the questions that you presented to outside counsel. Down Chair.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you. Thank you.
Speaker 16
Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. This is for Mr. Whittaker. This is for Mr. Whittaker. Mr. Whitaker, I keep hearing that the approval to form prove asked to form has been abused. And I'm asking through the chair to you, sir. What I wanted in writing. I'm asking you to describe or detail what the intent was for approval to form and how it has progressed or evolved over the years in terms of its use and activation. So if there has been an abuse of that approval to form I want to know and also want to know, again, the original tent and tent and how it has morphed or evolved today and 2023. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you
Unknown Speaker
happy to do that. Just put it in writing to us. We'd be happy to do it.
Speaker 16
I'd be glad to do that. Thank you sir. Thank you Madam Chair. Yeah, I motion Madam Chair, directing, requesting, asking LPD to provide a report slash summary description of the approval to form action and its original intent, and use and purpose and how it has evolved here today and how it's being used today. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Whittaker. And I will still put that in writing.
President Sheffield
Thank you. Thank you member Calloway. All right. You want to go back to your original motions. Mr. Hall?
Speaker 1
Yes, Madam President. And briefly, just a brief discussion before to call it a question is just to clarify something. When we talk about the approval, the form where it's whether it's me now I'm glad member Benson put that motion forward. That is the consternation relative to putting this forward to ensure that it's approval to form. I have a tremendous amount of respect for all of the legal entities that the professor names unfortunately, they don't represent the city of Detroit or this council. So if we put forth an ordinance that violates the charter, it will be challenged anyway. And so that is what this amendment particularly is about. If this is that roadblock that is preventing it from being approved to form and then it still has to have the approval from this council. If they select the independent evaluator. We still have the ability to provide a check and balance to ensure that that independent evaluator is somebody that this body wants to serve or wants to see. Thank you, Madam President.
President Sheffield
All right. Thank you. All right. So please, we we have taken the time to hear public comment now. We are doing the business of the city and so if you could please keep your outbursts to yourself. Please. Remember there How did you want to proceed with the motion that you originally had move forward? Thank
Speaker 1
you, Madam President moved to call a question to amend section Dash 44 Dash four dash 11 A striking City Council amending it to reauthorize the chief financial officer and add upon the council approval for the independent evaluator to be selected. That is my motion.
President Sheffield
Motion motion has been made. Are there any object?
Speaker 45
Yeah. You can do Oh,
President Sheffield
okay. Okay, motion has been made to intubate. Are there any objections? Objection?
Unknown Speaker
i Okay. Yeah.
President Sheffield
So councilmember Johnson and Councilmember waters object to ending debate. Any other objections? All right, hearing none The motion passes to intubate. And now we will go straight to the motion that was made by member der Hall. motion has been made. Are there any objections to Councilmember door Hall's motion? And if you could show myself as a no, no,
Speaker 16
Madam Chair, if you can show Callaway as a no
Unknown Speaker
waters No.
Unknown Speaker
Member Johnson No. Objection, Santiago, Maryland.
President Sheffield
All right, that motion fails.
Speaker 12
Madam president motion does fail. Right.
Speaker 27
Discussion? Are you done? Member Durva. Okay, Councilmember Benson
Speaker 46
for yourself. To Corporation Council. Without the passage of the proposed amendment from member Dr. Hall. We do we will not have an ordinance that will be approved to form by your office. Okay, thank you,
Unknown Speaker
Madam President.
Unknown Speaker
Member waters.
Speaker 6
Madam President, thank you it. It is standing that the city charter as a former charter revision Commission Commissioner, I wonder if members council members can make recommendation on the hiring of such. I do believe that that that we can Is that correct?
President Sheffield
Make sure your microphone is on please your microphone
Speaker 36
to the chair. Remember waters that's not how I read the read the charter unofficially. You can bring people all day long in terms of persons who want to be considered for various opportunities. But the responsibility that the Detroit City Council is to review and approve all contracts. It would be an extreme conflict of interest to recommend persons for contracts that ultimately then you're going to review and approve. So the the the the separation of powers that is defined both by the Michigan Constitution and by the charter is meant to provide a two step process. You all are the checking the balance to be sure that the purchasing process is managed ethically and effective. And so when recommendations are made by the executive branch as to who or what entity should be providing the service that the city of Detroit has determined it needs. You all are responsible or determined can this person in fact, do the job that they have been hired to do you're looking at their credentials, you are examining their past performance, you are assessing their capability. You are approving the contract and the terms. So it's it by design. A separate process traveling down parallel path. Thank you, Madam President.
Unknown Speaker
Member. Callaway.
Speaker 16
Just want to repeat what you said Corporation council met yet. It is the responsibility of this honorable body to review and approve some contracts or all contracts, all contracts. That hasn't been the case, sir, since I've been on this council. And I'll leave it at that. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Wow.
Unknown Speaker
Member Johnson.
Speaker 22
Thank you Madam President. Um, Corporation Counsel, can you speak to the severability clause as it relates to Section 44 dash four dash 11? A Yes,
Speaker 36
man. That's also present, as as a matter of fact, in the charter as well. And so we're required to determine that a section of the ordinance did not meet did not pass constitutional muster was violative of the Detroit city charter. The court would be able to excise that portion of the ordinance and what would remain would be how the ordinance would go forward. So yes, ma'am severability is a part of the ordinance of severability is also a part of the order of the day.
Speaker 22
And so within that, it is your position that section 44 dashboard dash 11 A would be something that would be contentious and could potentially be stricken.
Speaker 36
Yes, ma'am. That's entirely correct. It could be stricken out at that point, though. There would be a vacant understanding the court could not determine for itself, who then will be responsible for initiating the selection of the independent evaluator, once you sever something that would then come out. And then the rest of the process as described, presumably we could go forward. But if what the intent of the council was was to have the data that the assessor by ordinance is supposed to collect, there would be no one in place responsible for the hiring of the independent evaluator who will be doing the ordinance driven assessment. So it would if the court determined to take out the section of allowing counsel to hire the independent evaluator would be very difficult to implement the rest of the board and
Speaker 22
Through you, madam president to Corporation Counsel, would it not then fall back on the Charter, which identifies the executive branch being in that position?
Speaker 36
Um, certainly that would be the conclusion that I would urge the Court to take I don't know that the court necessarily the we willing to do that but that would be the argument council person and I would make
Unknown Speaker
Okay, thank you. Thank you, Madam President.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you, member Jonasson member Doha.
Speaker 1
Thank you, Madam President. So so that we're clear, which is again what my motion was for? Because I think the independent evaluator is a great thing. But if it is challenged, and found to be unconstitutional, or violation of the Charter, which is a fear of mine, because again, I like the independent evaluator. That means the court if they strike that, because there's no clear language of who hires the independent evaluator, then they strike the independent evaluator, and that could possibly not be in that section to be hired. Is that is that exactly correct. And so that was a general concern of mine relative to that, if this gets to a point and it's found that that section, okay is not as a violation of the charter, there will be a possibility that there will be no independent evaluate.
Unknown Speaker
That's exactly correct.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you, Madam President. Thank you. All right.
President Sheffield
Any additional questions, concerns discussion on this particular ordinance? Yes, Professor, I see your hand raised and we're going to go straight to public comment because we do have to have an additional round of public comment.
Speaker 4
Yeah, the just a couple of, you know, the severability clause. The point is, this is not going to be chat you know if it is challenged, the public interest organizations whose you know who signed that letter will come and defend, because the point is, it's not going to it's not going to be challenged. But okay. If it is the severability clause is going to do the work that it does right in this talk about what the separate the severability clause. If in fact, it's not going to take it's not necessarily going to take the whole independent evaluator away. But the main thing here is we have included the savings clause. This is the only point I want to make. Again, in the last budgeting, the Corporation Counsel said he needed in order to give this thing approval as to form and I remember the term is he's named a savings clause. There is a savings clause in the ordinance before you. The only thing is we adjusted it because in his version of the savings clause, Corporation Council could unilaterally determine legality, the way we rewrote his savings clause is to say if a court of law says it's illegal, right, that way, there's no room for Corporation Counsel to come in and make a declaration. So the thing that he said he needed is in there, but it's in there with safeguards saying, We specifically name who, which body can come in and declare it illegal. So the thing he said he needed is there.
President Sheffield
Thank you. Thank you so much, Professor. Yes, remember Benson, yourself
Speaker 46
to Corporation Council. Can we remove you from the process of declaring something legal for the city of Detroit anybody policies or procedures? No. Can you let us know based on what authority
Unknown Speaker
it's section five dash 102. The or
Unknown Speaker
essentially,
Speaker 36
the charter requires the corporation Council will be responsible for all ordinances and the enforcement of law in the city of Detroit by the charter. So no, you can't remove me from the process. The there isn't the ordinance could not prevent the office of the corporation Council the law department from opining as to whether or not the ordinance violates the Michigan Constitution, state of Michigan law or the charter there's there's no mechanism where that could occur. And there would be and then no one would determine what the corporation council would do in terms of other than the carrying out his or her ethical responsibility to represent the people of the city of Detroit. So we're there to be a challenge to the ordinance. That would not be a decision that would be impacted by the presence of any group of well informed lawyers or not. Corporation Counsel is going to do ethically what what it is responsible for doing no matter the opposition or or the interests affecting.
Speaker 46
Okay, thank you. I just want to say it sounds like this ordinance in certain places has been written from a position of mistrust of the city of Detroit, which is understandable and from government in general. But I also just want to say that there also has to be a level of trust and confidence that our civil servants are here to do their job and to protect I'm not sure I've never seen the gnashing of teeth, or just the any type of of conspiracies behind the closed doors here to remove and hurt and displace people has really got to think that if you come to this building, and you take employee with this city, that you're here to help and serve the people of Detroit, and I do have a sense of distrust, which is understandable. But I also hope that there's an opportunity for people to trust as well that people are here to do their job on behalf of residents of Detroit. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you member banks. Yeah,
Speaker 16
Madam Chair. Thank you. I think the national the TIF has to do with $600 million over assessment of the least of them. I know folks who were overly assessed illegally, unjustly unfairly and they've not been made hold today, and it hasn't happening close to a decade. So the time has come for, for us to at least move in the direction of making folks whole. And if this this this if it is this ordinance, that a be this ordinance, an ordinance can be amended. But i Madam Chair would like for us to move forward with voting this ordinance up or down. Thank you Madam Chair.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Callaway. Right. There's no
Unknown Speaker
Okay, motion debate.
President Sheffield
There was another motion to end debate and we still do have public comment. We have about nine people online and you have Alibaba cards here. And so there's a motion to end debate. Any objections? All right, Hearing no objections. We will now in debate and we will go straight to public comment.
Unknown Speaker
Everyone would have one minute.
Speaker 40
Hi, 
I'm Shana Shukla. I'm an advocate for the Coalition for Property Tax Justice. Councilwoman Callaway said it correctly in response to Councilman Benson. You want to know if this ordinance was written because of mistrust, or it appears to be $600 million from taxpayers cause for Miss trucks and our honourable dear Hall over there. You take offense to a fan that you're on the opposite side, sir. I'm my brother. My revolutionary freedom fighter brother Mayer attorney show quite Lumumba once taught me that I cannot change the world by myself. But he said you can contribute to changing the world and by always against injustices. We're here today to ask each of you, our newest honorable counsel. You have the opportunity to change and believe what and not what people say but what they do we have
+1
I'm Shana Shukla. I'm an advocate for the Coalition for Property Tax Justice. Councilwoman Callaway said it correctly in response to Councilman Benson. You want to know if this ordinance was written because of mistrust, or it appears to be $600 million from taxpayers cause for Miss trucks and our honourable dear Hall over there. You take offense to a fan that you're on the opposite side, sir. I'm my brother. My revolutionary freedom fighter brother Mayer attorney show quite Lumumba once taught me that I cannot change the world by myself. But he said you can contribute to changing the world and by always against injustices. We're here today to ask each of you, our newest honorable counsel. You have the opportunity to change and believe what and not what people say but what they do we have President Sheffield
to continue to move forward. Thank you so much. Miss, I made
Speaker 16
thank you for taking this up. Thank you for the courage of our she rolls. It just happens to be women that are the she rolls and the men seem to just fade away and flake out so that they can do the bidding of someone who has overtaxed us purposely it was illegal to overtax us now you want to talk about what's legal in this ordinance, but it was illegal to overtax us by the state the state over taxes and the city of Detroit overtaxed us the mayor was complicit in it and we're still being overtaxed today I was overtaxed $15,000 I'm disabled. I cannot afford to keep playing this. This this overtax it's illegal, it's wrong for me to have to forfeit my house because I will be illegally overtaxed and have to pay something that I don't owe.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you. Aaron Stanley. Yep. Good
Speaker 7
morning. Good afternoon. My name is Aaron Stanley. I'm here representing Eastside community network and the coalition. I live in District Six and I'm I'm proud multigenerational Detroiter, I would like to voice voice my support for this ordinance. And thank our heroes on council for their support, which we are also counting again and again today. When my childhood home and District Four was one of many over assessed and foreclosed on. This caused a devastating loss that is still reverberating through my family and neighborhood. I can't help but wonder how things might have been different if we had a more transparent, accessible and accountable property tax system. If my parents understood their assessment, and that it was illegally high, or if they had a clear path towards appeal. And if the system deciding if we could stay in our home or be displaced was just and fair, but it's not about looking backwards. This ordinance will allow our city to move forward by providing a real systemic solution to our predatory property tax system. We are tired of being told to wait approval to form is not required. So we need you to vote yes on this ordinance today. So that these reforms can be implemented in 2024. Also ceasefire.
Speaker 20
Thank you. Adam Barrett, from Detroiters for Tax Justice. We're an organization of 20 to 30 people most likely, we support this coalition for Property Tax Justice wholeheartedly. Y'all had two years to sort out issues to form. Member Calloway called for a vote I say we say we vote. Thank you.
Speaker 12
Good afternoon. Thomas Lewis. Thank you for your time. I apologize to on console woman's zoom Zoomcar last night I just lost my composure to so I apologize to whoever I offend. Thank you. I support the property tax ordinance reform. I think it's necessary. We listen to two things here. You're looking at being overtaxed but over $600 million in the EU looking at Common Sense reform. And I watched people as the people come up, and the only people who seemed I didn't hear one person, object to it except Corporation Council and a couple of people had technical issues with it. So I don't understand why it's not taken up. Today. It should be voted on. I support this resolution with every molecule and atom in my blood. Thank you for your time.
Unknown Speaker
Thank you.
Speaker 35
Afternoon, counsel when I've been here since time, so I appreciate you just sitting there with us.
Speaker 22
My name is John of Alaska. So I'm a Detroit action. And I support the reform ordinance. But I actually just did probably comment today because there's a lot of our members that couldn't make it today. So I just bought a stack of papers of the amount of folks that are also in support of this but you know are working can't make it can't sit here for four hours and what everything else that prevented folks from coming. It's rainy, it's cloudy today's a really bad day. I was sitting there getting a little bit emotional earlier with public comment because I think that there's a lot of Yeah, mistrust. There's a lot of apathy. There's a lot of anger. And you know, I think all of those things are true on what folks like where it's coming from,
Speaker 7
but what I wanted to end with is that I've spoken with a lot of your offices, I think only two I haven't actually been able to have direct conversations with and what I feel to be true with the leadership that I see in front of me today is that we care about those who are most impacted by issues. And when it comes to housing, the reform ordinance is a way to make some of those who are most impacted. So thank you.
Speaker 6
Thank you. It's Francis. You don't have to know. I'm Francis Lewis. And I think I told you last week. I'm born and bred and reared in Detroit, Michigan for 87 years. And I'm here to say today what in the world are you thinking what in the world can that battleaxe lady say to us, I just say to you, dig in your conscious. Do the right thing for 10 Just think if this were your grandma try and find a cheaper house. I've lived. I've lived on playing court since January 15 1970. My husband I read five sons there some of going on some of that they got mixed up at the hospital, but just pretend or just think what would happen if you lost your tax your property that you held and there's so many of my black that that are gone and then investors you can tell every one the investors are coming in and taking the houses painting the windows white putting in new new sidewalks water drains and my my house I haven't had one yet but you want me to pay for flood to keep my damage to keep my basement from flooding. High flat and Hartford insurance charges me $6,000 a year just to keep my house so I'm asking appealing to you I'll do the right thing and pass that orders and this this move on. Thank
Speaker 27
you Miss periences All right. Yes
Speaker 10
My name is Dima and I'm a resident of Detroit. I said before you earlier during the general public comment to ask you to stand with the people of Palestine. I am standing here before you right now asking you to stand with the people of Detroit. People deserve to keep their homes stand with the people now with a special interest. Thank you.
Speaker 27
Thank you. All right. We will now turn it over to virtual public comment.
President Sheffield
And again, for those who are joining us virtually this is only regarding the 1020 public hearings. So all comments must be won the topic of the property tax reform ordinance. Our first caller please.
Speaker 29
Good afternoon, Madam President. There were 18 Hands raised for this public comment before you cut off public comment. The first caller is Andy God. Andy God ders representative Rashida to leave.
Unknown Speaker
Can you hear me? Yes,
Speaker 34
we can. Hi, honorable Council. I'm a lifelong District One resident and I'm here today on behalf of the Office of Congresswoman Rasheeda Talib supporting the reform ordinance. We're grateful to the Council for voting to advance this ordinance last week, and encourage you to approve the ordinance without further delay. The traders have waited long enough for the real justice they deserve this reform ordinance will help ensure that a travesty like 600 million and over assessments never happens. To the traders again. It's important to know this ordinance is the culmination of years of organizing and advocacy by council members impacted residents, community activists and legal experts. Its legality has been cleared and forcefully affirmed by many of Detroit's leading legal organizations like the ACLU Detroit Justice Center sugar Law Center Street democracy and the National Lawyers Guild. You as city council members have been entrusted and empowered by our residents to legislate on their behalf. And that's exactly what we believe this reform ordinance does well within the legal bounds. We encourage you to pass this critical reform ordinance without delay. Thank you. Thank you.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Jim be our
Unknown Speaker
Good afternoon
President Sheffield
Jim, br Good afternoon. Alright, let's come back to this caller please.
Unknown Speaker
Okay, the next caller is Carol Hughes.
Unknown Speaker
Good afternoon. Miss Hewes.
Speaker 36
Yes, good afternoon and through the chair and to the honorable body and the guests. May I be heard?
Unknown Speaker
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 36
Okay. Carolyn Hughes. I am I am for you passing the charter and passing it as it is today. I'm not sure if the Corporate Council always operates on behalf of the citizens that it has been proven that something has gone awry. They owe us 600 million and over taxation and they want to continue this over taxation. And I think you have the power to stop it now. In spite of what Mr. Our Councilman door Hall believes. You do have the power to stop it now. Mr. Hall Justice delayed is justice denied. Today, you can make a stand for what's right. And you can vote on the side of the citizens Corporate Council and Mr. Carmax behalf have not always operated it on the behalf of the citizen. And God bless Mr. Carmack, who has exposed deep corruption in the city government. We don't trust you we have no reason to thank you.
Unknown Speaker
Next caller please.
Unknown Speaker
The next caller is Yolanda Jackson. Nine
Speaker 6
My name is Yolanda Jackson. I'm the Public Policy Manager seat at the that is and has been an active member