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

On September 23, 2025, the Detroit City Council held an evening community meeting in District 2 at Fellowship Chapel. The meeting was chaired by Council President Pro Tem James Tate and included presentations, awards, and public testimony on a range of local issues including transportation, police transparency, housing, and city services. Mayor's office and city department representatives were present to address resident concerns.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Michael Cunningham: Highlighted ongoing DDOT bus service delays and urged council members to participate in bus ride-alongs. Distributed portable chargers and bus passes to attendees.
• Hazel Flood (Garden Homes neighborhood): Described illegal dumping behind the post office at 20501 Livernois and requested a sidewalk and enforcement of cleanup responsibilities by the U.S. Postal Service. DPW representatives agreed to meet with her after the meeting.
• Russ Ballant: Criticized the "rain tax" (drainage fee), noting the Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear the case, potentially leading to foreclosures on properties including churches. Urged council to halt foreclosures and seek alternative remedies.
• Patricia Matthews (senior resident): Sought a grant to repair her garage, having been denied loans; council staff offered to connect her with home repair resources.
• Marcel U and Jacob Smith (Detroit Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression): Opposed the current version of the police body-worn camera release ordinance, arguing it is too weak (60-day timeline, limited to death/great bodily harm). They urged council to pass the original Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability (CPTA) version with a 30-day timeline and broader scope.
• Minister Eric Blunt (Sacred Heart Catholic Church): Supported the original CPTA ordinance, emphasized need for truth and transparency, and cautioned against political compromise.
• Gloria Fennison: Shared a personal negative experience at Sinai-Grace Hospital, alleging neglect of a bedside toilet for two days. Councilmember Callaway pledged to share her photos and testimony with the hospital president.
• Jean Seven Reed (Hubble Puritan Neighborhood Association president, speaking personally): Criticized the city's approach to cannabis businesses relative to alcohol outlets, and called for reliable transportation and business opportunities.
• Sylvia Green: Requested changes to rental property repair policies that she says favor investors over homeowner-landlords; also advocated for early voting at churches and opposed legalization of psilocybin (mushrooms) at the state level.
• Gregory Palawski (former Planning Commissioner): Invited council to attend a Drug Policy Alliance conference on harm reduction models in Detroit.
• Victoria Camille (District 7 resident): Encouraged elected officials to participate in bus ride-alongs and urged council to pause and discuss the body-cam ordinance with CPTA and community members.
• Unnamed candidate for City Council District 3: Criticized proliferation of liquor stores (384 vs. allowed 214), lack of long-term youth programs, abandoned buildings, and inadequate services for seniors; called for making retired city workers whole on pensions.
• Detroiters for Tax Justice representative (Southwest Detroit): Warned against foreclosures on small businesses and churches due to the drainage fee, urging council to halt such actions.
• Roy McAllister Jr. (self-described designated representative for District 2): Emphasized crime reduction, tax oversight, insurance rates, affordable housing, and mental health; advocated for hope and economic growth.
• Betty A. Varner (virtual, Soda Elsboard Block Association president): Noted that her organization will move from District 7 to District 2 with redistricting in January 2026 and requested continued support; also shared information about the Choice Waiver program for seniors and disabled residents.
• Frank Hammer (virtual, District 2 resident and co-chair of City Paragons Development Coalition): Thanked Councilmember Callaway for supporting preservation of the State Fairgrounds bandshell, which held a concert on August 23, 2025.
• William M. Davis (virtual): Argued for retroactive elimination of interest on pension clawbacks and improved accounting of the drainage fee; cited flooding issues and called for better oversight of Great Lakes Water Authority.
• Evan Markarian (virtual, Bagley neighborhood resident): Raised concerns about illegal parking on Livernois and Wyoming blocking bus stops and bike lanes, and reported DDOT bus delays of up to an hour on some routes.

Discussion Items

• Councilmember Callaway's Presentation and Video: A highlight video of her accomplishments since 2022, including cleaner streets, support for local businesses (banners, Legacy Business Project), home inspection certification program, slumlord protests, fair housing efforts, human trafficking task force, hotel signage ordinance, billboard restrictions for cannabis/vaping near schools, and establishment of the Detroit Women's Commission.
• Detroit Women's Commission Presentation: Councilmember Callaway introduced two commissioners, Angela Bullock and Jessica Parker, who described the commission's mission to advocate for women, hold public meetings, and offer resources for business licensing and networking. The commission was established via a 2023 resolution and mayor's executive order in 2024.
• Spirit of Detroit Awards:
  • Patrice Davis, founder of Granny's Pound Cake, recognized for her bakery on Eight Mile in District 2, which employs individuals with disabilities. Davis spoke about the business's mission and her background as a special education teacher.
  • Joseph Carter Harris Jr. (Tommy Poppy), founder of All Notes T TV, recognized for using his platform to engage youth in environmental cleanups and cultural preservation.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes or binding decisions were taken; the meeting was a community engagement session.
• Councilmember Callaway committed to sharing Gloria Fennison's hospital complaint with the Sinai-Grace Hospital president.
• Council staff directed Patricia Matthews to home repair grant resources.
• DPW and General Services representatives agreed to meet with Hazel Flood regarding the dumping and sidewalk issue.
• Several speakers' concerns about the body-worn camera ordinance were noted; Councilmember Callaway, as chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee, was urged to reconsider the ordinance's timeline and scope.
• The meeting concluded with a reminder to stay for free pound cake from Granny's Pound Cake and to reach out to District 2 office for further assistance.