OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Detroit City Council District 2 Community Meeting - September 23, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, September 23, 2025
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 23, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:26:18

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

All right, good evening, everyone.

0:03

All right, thank you all for being here.

0:04

We will now call to order our city council evening community meeting here in District 2.

0:10

And if our clerk will please call the road.

0:28

Councilmember Scott Benson.

0:31

Councilmember Fred Durha the third.

0:33

Member Durha indicated he would not be present this evening.

0:36

Councilmember Letitia Johnson, present.

0:38

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.

0:42

Council Member Member Mary Water Present.

0:46

Councilmember Angela Whitfield Calloway.

0:48

Present.

0:49

Councilmember Comey Young, the second.

0:52

Council President Pro Tem James Tate.

0:55

Council President Mary Sheffield present.

0:58

Madam President, you have a corn present.

1:00

All right, there being a corn, we are in session, and we will start with an invitation and a welcome from Reverend Dr.

1:08

Wendell Anthony.

1:17

Thank you, Madam President, and to all of the distinguished members of the Detroit City Council.

1:24

Those president and those who are unable to be here.

1:27

Welcome to Fellowship Chapel.

1:29

Welcome to the dome.

1:31

We call it a dome because it's got a dome up there.

1:35

But I want you to know also as you're here, you're sitting in something and in a place that's reflective of the resurgence of our city.

1:48

We purchased this land several years ago.

1:51

This is our 20th year being in this facility.

1:54

We built it from the ground up.

1:56

Those of you who are familiar with this part of the community, years ago knew it as a very vibrant community, and some things happened.

2:06

And we were looking for a place to build our church.

2:11

And there was this place.

3:03

Now it's a hope house.

3:10

And we're planning to build housing in the rear with your support.

3:18

And we look forward to that.

3:22

We look forward to that.

3:24

And I want to thank Angela Calloway and all of you.

3:27

This is our district.

3:28

Good to have you at home.

3:30

We appreciate all of your leadership.

3:33

Detroit is at a turning point as we know it.

3:36

And we wanted to turn certainly in the right direction.

3:39

And so we're glad that you are here to be a part of this community, which you are responsible leaders of.

3:47

Let us have a word of prayer.

3:51

Almighty God, for such a time as this.

4:26

And trying to eliminate us from history.

4:33

Thank you for continuing to write our story.

4:38

Oh God, we didn't come this far to be turned back now.

4:44

Thank you for the Detroit City Council.

4:47

Those who have come before this body.

4:51

Those who now are part of this body, and yes, God, even those who will come after this body.

5:00

Keep us strong, keep us vibrant, give us wisdom, give us knowledge, give us understanding, give us patience, give us power.

5:08

We thank you for being God all by your self.

5:15

We thank you for ordering the steps of those who would lead us.

5:20

Bless them from the tops of their head to the bottoms of their feet.

5:25

Protect them, guide them, and lead them.

5:27

But most of all, God, we pray you won't never ever leave them.

5:32

And we're bold to ask this prayer in the authentic, majestic name of Jesus, who is the Christ.

5:39

Remembering the words of Dr.

5:40

Martin Luther King Jr., who said, we are not what we ought to be, until our people everywhere are what they should be in every area of productive living.

5:56

Let all those who love God and who are called by his name for every good work.

6:04

All say, amen.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment██████████████14%
Community Engagement████████████12%
Procedural███████████11%
Youth Programs███████7%
Women in Construction██████6%
Public Safety██████6%
Small Business█████5%
Public Transit█████5%
Health Services████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit City Council District 2 Community Meeting - September 23, 2025

On September 23, 2025, the Detroit City Council held an evening community meeting for District 2 at Fellowship Chapel. Council President Pro Tem James Tate presided with members Angela Whitfield Callaway, Letitia Johnson, Gabriela Santiago Romero, Mary Waters, and others present. The meeting featured presentations, awards, and public testimony on transit, policing, housing, and city services.

Presentations & Awards

  • Detroit Women's Commission: Councilmember Callaway introduced the commission, established in 2024, with chair Angela Bullock and vice chair Jessica Parker. They highlighted their mission to advocate for women's issues and hold monthly public meetings.
  • Spirit of Detroit Awards: Presented to Patrice Davis, founder of Granny's Pound Cake, for employing individuals with disabilities and opening a brick-and-mortar location in District 2; and to Joseph Carter Harris Jr. (Tommy Poppy) of All Notes TV for youth empowerment through music and environmental cleanups.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Michael Cunningham highlighted DDOT bus service unreliability and invited councilmembers for ride-alongs.
  • Hazel Flood (Garden Homes neighborhood) reported persistent illegal dumping behind the post office at 20501 Livernois and requested a sidewalk and USPS responsibility; DPW staff agreed to meet after the meeting.
  • Russ Ballant urged the council to stop foreclosures related to the drainage fee (rain tax), citing the Michigan Supreme Court's decision to not hear the case, which could lead to foreclosures of churches and businesses.
  • Patricia Matthews sought a grant for garage repairs; council staff took her information.
  • Marcel Y. and Jacob Smith (Detroit Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression) criticized the proposed body-worn camera footage release ordinance as weakened, advocating for the original 30-day timeline and broader scope.
  • Minister Eric Blunt also opposed the current ordinance, calling for immediate release of footage in police use-of-force cases.
  • Gloria Fennison described poor conditions at Sinai-Grace Hospital (unemptied bedside toilet); Councilmember Callaway committed to sharing her photos with hospital leadership.
  • Jean Seven Reed (Hubble Puritan Neighborhood Association) addressed cannabis stigmatization versus alcohol prevalence and called for better transportation and business opportunities.
  • Sylvia Green urged changes to rental property policies to assist homeowners over investors and opposed legalizing mushrooms.
  • Gregory Palawski invited councilmembers to an upcoming Drug Policy Alliance conference on harm reduction.
  • Victoria Camille urged the council to pause the body camera ordinance and engage directly with the Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability (CPTA).
  • Candidate for council (name not given) criticized proliferation of liquor stores and abandoned schools in District 3.
  • Detroiters for Tax Justice speaker (name not given) echoed concerns about rain tax foreclosures.
  • Roy McAllister Jr. gave a campaign speech emphasizing crime, taxes, insurance, affordable housing, and mental health.
  • Betty A. Varner (via Zoom, SoEla/Broad Block Association) noted her organization will move from District 7 to District 2 in 2026 and promoted the Choice Waiver program for seniors.
  • Frank Hammer thanked Councilmember Callaway for supporting the preservation of the State Fairgrounds Bandshell, which held its first concert on August 23, 2025.
  • William M. Davis (virtual) called for retroactive reduction of interest on retiree pension clawbacks and criticized the rain tax management.
  • Evan Markarian (virtual) raised concerns about illegal parking blocking bus stops and sidewalks in the Avenue of Fashion, and about DDOT bus frequency.

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes or resolutions were taken.
  • Councilmember Callaway committed to contacting Sinai-Grace Hospital president regarding Gloria Fennison's complaint.
  • DPW staff agreed to meet with Hazel Flood to address illegal dumping and sidewalk issues.
  • Council staff collected information from Patricia Matthews for home repair grant resources.
  • Multiple speakers urged council to take action on the body camera ordinance and rain tax foreclosures; no immediate commitments were made.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good evening, everyone. All right, thank you all for being here. We will now call to order our city council evening community meeting here in District 2. And if our clerk will please call the road. Councilmember Scott Benson. Councilmember Fred Durha the third. Member Durha indicated he would not be present this evening. Councilmember Letitia Johnson, present. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Council Member Member Mary Water Present. Councilmember Angela Whitfield Calloway. Present. Councilmember Comey Young, the second. Council President Pro Tem James Tate. Council President Mary Sheffield present. Madam President, you have a corn present. All right, there being a corn, we are in session, and we will start with an invitation and a welcome from Reverend Dr. Wendell Anthony. Thank you, Madam President, and to all of the distinguished members of the Detroit City Council. Those president and those who are unable to be here. Welcome to Fellowship Chapel. Welcome to the dome. We call it a dome because it's got a dome up there. But I want you to know also as you're here, you're sitting in something and in a place that's reflective of the resurgence of our city. We purchased this land several years ago. This is our 20th year being in this facility. We built it from the ground up. Those of you who are familiar with this part of the community, years ago knew it as a very vibrant community, and some things happened. And we were looking for a place to build our church. And there was this place. Now it's a hope house. And we're planning to build housing in the rear with your support. And we look forward to that. We look forward to that. And I want to thank Angela Calloway and all of you. This is our district. Good to have you at home. We appreciate all of your leadership. Detroit is at a turning point as we know it. And we wanted to turn certainly in the right direction. And so we're glad that you are here to be a part of this community, which you are responsible leaders of. Let us have a word of prayer. Almighty God, for such a time as this. And trying to eliminate us from history. Thank you for continuing to write our story. Oh God, we didn't come this far to be turned back now. Thank you for the Detroit City Council. Those who have come before this body. Those who now are part of this body, and yes, God, even those who will come after this body. Keep us strong, keep us vibrant, give us wisdom, give us knowledge, give us understanding, give us patience, give us power.

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