Detroit Public Health and Safety Standing Committee Meeting – July 28, 2025

The Detroit City Council's Public Health and Safety Standing Committee met on Monday, July 28, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. EDT. The meeting included general public comments, two public hearings on proposed ordinance amendments (misdemeanor prosecution shift and curfew fines), and committee votes. The committee approved sending the misdemeanor ordinance to formal regular business with a recommendation to approve, and forwarded the curfew ordinance to new business without recommendation due to a lack of consensus.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the previous session were approved without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

General Public Comments (12 callers + in-person speaker)

• Brother Cunningham (in person) described his weekly distribution of 200 bus tickets and frozen water bottles at transit centers, and encouraged council members to support these efforts.
• Galaxy S22 Ultra (caller) complained about ongoing fumes from the Chrysler plant on the east side, stating that residents are not receiving adequate assistance or grants.
• William M. Davis called for better coordination between the city health department and recreation department, and criticized health department employees parking in paid spaces, making it difficult for seniors and families to access services.
• Sonia Brown expressed frustration that the city has not compensated her for property damage caused by broken water mains, despite submitting over 200 photos of damage.
• Not That Karen noted that Social Security recipients have lost 20% of purchasing power since 2010, and called for immediate financial relief for seniors in Detroit.
• Stephen Haring (personal opinion) compared Detroit unfavorably to Miami on public transit and development, but praised Mayor Mike Duggan.
• Jacqueline Miller (former Beniteau resident) spoke about the impact of industrial development on elderly residents, and urged the council to coordinate with state and federal levels.
• Betty A. Barner (president, Soda Ellsworth/Black Association) invited the community to a family event with school supplies, and asked for landscaping boulders.
• Ronald Foster requested that Officer D. Kennedy (ID 2957) be summoned to explain tactics used during a traffic stop, and called for a legal opinion on the definition of police "operating" a vehicle.
• Miko A. Williams opposed the curfew ordinance, criticized the police force's racial composition (55% white, according to the caller), and accused the administration of corruption.
• Broderick's iPhone (caller) expressed support for the youth curfew and fines for parents.
• Stephen Grady and Alvin Stokes indicated they wanted to speak during the curfew public hearing.

Public Hearing on Misdemeanor Ordinance (7 callers + in-person speakers)

• William M. Davis questioned the lowball cost estimate of $750,000 and raised concerns about potential lawsuits and police accountability.
• Galaxy S22 Ultra (caller) discussed pit bulls running loose, arguing that this is a misdemeanor issue not being addressed.
• Stephen Haring expressed general support for any measure that reduces crime in Detroit.
• Not That Karen argued that the city is already overwhelmed with existing misdemeanor cases and should not take on more without proven capacity.
• Miko A. Williams opposed the ordinance, alleging it targets Black residents and is a waste of money, and criticized CVI organizations for supporting the ordinance.
• Phone ending in 434 (caller) urged the council to ensure that the new system prevents future crime and secures a better future for youth.
• In-person speakers: Ronald Foster urged that policies reflect the city's 31.5% poverty rate and the need for officer discretion; Reverend Lucius Conway began speaking on curfew but was redirected.

Public Hearing on Curfew Ordinance (9 callers + in-person speakers)

• William M. Davis argued that the city lacks enforcement of existing curfew and that the new fines are a revenue scheme.
• Stephen Grady supported the curfew, recalling his own childhood curfew, and urged unanimous approval.
• Miko A. Williams demanded the ordinance be tabled until factual research from the past 40 years is presented, and criticized potential partnerships with police.
• Not That Karen expressed broad support but questioned the effectiveness of throwing money at programs without oversight.
• Stephen Haring strongly supported the ordinance, citing youth involvement in crime.
• Sonia Brown opposed the ordinance, warning that it would criminalize children and punish families unable to pay fines.
• iPhone 107 (caller) supported the ordinance, stating that those who oppose it are not the ones burying their children.
• Alvin Stokes supported the curfew, arguing that the community has lost its "village" approach to raising children.
• In-person speakers: Reverend Lucius Conway argued that no data supports curfew effectiveness; DeAndre and Christopher St. Clair (Live in Peace Movement) supported the curfew, citing parental accountability; Ronald Foster raised concerns about police tactics and fatherless homes; Miss Moore urged holding children accountable rather than parents; Miss Glady criticized the closure of the Carmen Young Recreation Center and questioned existing programs.

Discussion Items

Misdemeanor Ordinance (Chapter 31 amendments)

• The proposed ordinance shifts prosecution of certain misdemeanors (e.g., malicious destruction of property, assault and battery, retail fraud) from the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office to the City of Detroit's Corporation Counsel. The goal is to allow the prosecutor's office to focus on violent crimes. The ordinance includes a restorative justice option.
• Key speakers:
  • Councilmember Scott Benson (Vice Chair) championed the ordinance, noting it was developed over nine months with input from the community violence intervention (CVI) community.
  • Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy stated that 42 of 43 Wayne County communities already handle these cases locally. She emphasized that this is not about charging more people but about reallocating resources.
  • Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallet argued that the city needs predictable enforcement for quality-of-life crimes, and that the law department already has the capacity (with ARPA experience) to handle these cases. Estimated cost: $750,000 for four attorneys and two paralegals.
  • Police Chief Todd Bettison expressed full support, noting that the change will streamline investigations and support small businesses.
  • Zoe (Force Detroit, CVI) supported the restorative justice language and the potential for funds to be redirected to CVI programs.
• Questions and concerns:
  • Councilmember Mary Waters requested data on repeat offenders and economic status of defendants, and questioned the cost to the city. She suggested that Wayne County might share funding.
  • Chair Gabriela Santiago-Romero asked about the capacity to expand and the use of fines. She suggested fines could be directed to prevention programs.
  • Attorney Graham Anderson clarified that the cost estimate is $750,000, and that fines are difficult to predict due to judicial discretion.
  • The committee discussed the need for data on victims' income levels, but noted that such data is not currently captured.

Curfew Ordinance (Chapter 29 amendments)

• The proposed ordinance increases parental fines for curfew violations from $75 to $250 for a first offense and $500 for a second offense, and requires probation with parenting programs. Jail time is removed. The goal is to leverage fines to encourage parents to enroll their children in conflict resolution and other programs.
• Key speakers:
  • Councilmember Coleman Young II introduced the ordinance, citing the need to protect children after a recent four-year-old's death. He emphasized that the ordinance is not about punishing parents but about providing wraparound services.
  • Chief Bettison showed a video of a CVI basketball league for at-risk youth, and argued that higher fines give police leverage to get parents into intervention programs. He noted that 143 juvenile curfew violation notices and 81 parental responsibility tickets have been issued since July 4.
  • Attorney Graham Anderson clarified that the ordinance targets parents whose actions or inactions contributed to the child's delinquent act, and that the responsible adult is defined as a person over 21 entrusted by the parent.
• Questions and concerns:
  • Chair Santiago-Romero expressed reservations about the lack of data on behavioral change and unintended consequences. She stated she could not support approval but would allow the item to move forward without recommendation.
  • Councilmember Benson made a motion to forward the ordinance to new business (tomorrow's formal session) without recommendation, which was accepted.
  • Chief Bettison assured that programming with Third Circuit Court and 36th District Court is in place, and that the chief judge will personally handle the docket.

Key Outcomes

• Misdemeanor Ordinance: The committee voted to send the ordinance to formal regular business (to be considered in September) with a recommendation to approve. The motion passed without objection.
• Curfew Ordinance: The committee voted to forward the ordinance to new business (tomorrow's formal session) without recommendation. The motion passed without objection, with Chair Santiago-Romero noting she does not support the ordinance but will allow full council debate.
• Next steps: Both ordinances will be considered by the full City Council at its next formal session. The misdemeanor ordinance will be taken up in September; the curfew ordinance will be considered on July 29, 2025.