All right.

Uh oh.

Testing.

All right, good evening, everyone.

And thank you all for coming out to the evening city council meeting for District 5.

And we will now call to order our meeting.

Madam Clerk.

Councilmember Scott Benson?

I knew it.

Councilmember Scott Benson.

Councilmember Fred Durha the third.

Present.

Councilmember Letitia Johnson.

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.

Present.

Councilmember Mary Waters.

Present.

Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway.

Present.

Councilmember Coleman A.

Young the second.

Council President Mary Sheffield.

Present.

Madam President, you have a quorum present.

There being a quorum present, we are now in session, and we are here at the historic Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, and we would like to now bring up Deacon Robert Clark, who would do an invocation and also a welcome uh remarks.

Good evening.

Good evening.

My name is Deacon Bob Clark from Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.

We are our pastor, Dr.

Nathan Johnson is our senior pastor.

Here at Tabernacle, we says, Welcome.

Tabernacle is not just a place to visit, but a place to belong.

Now we are on service is a Sunday morning at 11 p.m.

Let me hear him.

I'm sorry.

11 a.m.

Sunday school is at 9 30.

All our welcome.

Now let us pray.

We are actually a blessing onto each one.

And we also ask for you for their protection, dear Lord.

Help us, oh Lord, as we go through this season of protection, dear Lord.

We just ask your continued protection for each one of us, dear Lord.

And we know dear Father, anyway, that everything that we do is in accordance to your will.

Now, as we go to this meeting this evening, dear father, just help us and guide us.

Grant us what we need, dear Father.

For each member, dear Lord, we just ask for your guidance and your strength, dear Lord.

Continue to be with us, dear Father, as we go to this meeting this evening, dear Lord.

And we know, dear Lord, that uh for each person that is um assembled here, dear Lord, we just ask that your protection as they leave Tabernacle, dear Lord on their way home.

We ask that they meet everything in order as they return to their home.

Now help us, O Lord, as we go to this day, dear Lord.

We ask our blessing in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Amen.

All right, thank you so much, Deacon Clark, for the invitation and the welcome.

We will now move to recognition of city departments and council staff.

If all of our city departments that are here today can please stand to be recognized, all of our city departments that are here, please stand to be recognized.

And we will start with my on my left, starting with Mr.

Downwill.

Yes, go right ahead.

Uh development department.

Good evening, Cheryl Jackson Rio, government, community time.

Good evening, everybody.

Uh uh.

All right.

Thank you to all of our City of Detroit Departmental staff.

And we also see our new appointed Umbuds person that is here, Miss Sherry Gay Dagnogo and her team.

Thank you for being here.

We will now introduce City Council staff, starting with Councilmember Durhal's team.

All right.

Councilmember Johnson's team.

Councilmember Santiago Romero's team.

Councilmember Young's team.

Councilmember Waters.

Councilmember Callaway's team.

Council member President Pro Tim Tate's staff.

And we also want to give a big happy birthday to Councilmember Young, who is celebrating.

And Councilmember Benson's team.

All right.

All right.

Well, we thank you all for joining us here in the heart of District 5 at this historic Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church for our evening council meeting.

Just wanted to open up by saying thank you all for a uh tremendous uh 12 years of service to the city of Detroit.

Um it's been an honor to serve you all.

Wanted to start off, of course, by thanking my team.

If we can just go to the first slide and thank my amazing staff, most of which has been with me for 12 long years.

And so want to thank them for their dedication and their hard work.

Next slide.

So Brian White, who is always hiding, and he never wants to be in the limelight, but Brian White is my chief of staff and has been with me for 12 long years.

I want to thank Brian White.

Paris Blessman, who is our legislative and organizational director, who has really helped foster and uh the relationships with the council and really helping to coordinate our formal sessions and much more.

So we are grateful for Paris.

And I always say I went to kindergarten with Perry, so I've been knowing Paris for a long time.

Yes, she was bad in kindergarten.

I'm just playing.

Yeah, I'm just playing Paris.

Um we have Tyler Searcy, who has been with us from the community representing our community.

We thank Tyler as well.

Kayla Rice, who I always say is the Jane of all trades.

She does a little bit of everything.

We thank Kayla as well.

Victoria Williams, who is actually now Victoria Westbrook, just got married to her husband who is here with her.

So we thank you, Ari, for 12 years, because you've been with me for 12 years.

She's a junior policy analyst, and we thank you as well for your service.

Raymond Simpson, who is uh boy, I tell you.

Uh, but I do appreciate you all for the work that you do.

All right.

So um, really quick, um, we have two awards that we would like to present um to two individuals uh in our community who we've worked watch, uh do amazing things in our community, uh starting with Darnaz Minifield, if he can come up to the microphone, him and his daughter, yes.

Uh, have um transformed four vacant lots on Burley Game into a beautiful gathering space uh in the community that have not received any resources or support from the city.

They have not received any resources or support from the city.

I had the opportunity about a year ago to go and tour it, and it is just uh transformative what he has done in that community, uh bringing community together together, kids together, uh was able to transform what was once a blighted area in the neighborhood to a gathering space.

Uh, I just think speaks uh to your spirit of uh spirit of Detroit.

So tonight we wanted to honor you on behalf of the Detroit City Council in recognition of exceptional achievement, outstanding leadership and dedication to improving the quality of life.

This award is presented to Darna's Minifield in recognition of your dedication, your generosity, and your unwavering love for our great city.

The lot is what is called the lot, DA the lot, has been become a welcoming space for community connection and celebration with the help of your daughter.

You've created a place that uplifts, it inspires, and it unites others, a true reflection of the spirit of our city.

So we honor you, we appreciate you, and would love for you to share a couple of words about um how you got the the lot going and what you're doing over there on Burling Gang.

Um I guess it was about five, six years ago.

We were sitting on the porch.

We live on Burlingame between Rhodes Apart and Woodrow Wilson, and we were looking at four lots.

The grass was not where it should be, people were dumping and all that sort of thing.

And we have been over there almost 50 something years.

So my father used to go out, sit on the porch, look over there, and it was like, he's been here.

I can't keep letting this look like this to him.

So we decided to buy it, me and my daughter, and my son.

And um, what we have done is transformed it into a place for the kids, really.

Um summertime, we have ice cream socials.

Uh, one of the other big things we do, we have a water balloon by the place.

So we have about four or five thousand water balloons and just let them go crazy.

I have some friends, they come over and cook hamburgers and hot dogs, and the kids really enjoy themselves.

Um, the main thing that's her main thing is that we um how they cut the little boys' hair before school.

We braid the little girls here.

Free of charge.

We have the weed, berettes, whatever they need.

We get volunteers to come.

Uh last year we did about a hundred little girls.

So we figure we figure if it costs 50 or 60 dollars to get their hair done.

That's a five or six thousand dollar impact we have right now.

We also provide them with school supplies, beauty bags, that sort of thing.

And like I said, it's just community-based, not a nonprofit.

I tried to get a non-profit, but it was a little bit too much for.

But that's one of our main events, the hair break.

Um two weeks from now, we're having our trunk retreat for the kids.

So we have about 30 cars in the lot.

I build a haunted house.

My friends come over, we cook hamburgers, hot dogs, um, s'mores, donut eating contests, just the old-fashioned Halloween for last year again.

The numbers were we have 600 kids.

Yeah.

So wow, that's an amazing number for us.

And then to end the season, we go up on the corner of Lynnwood and Taylor.

If you're familiar with the area, it's a liquor store there.

But across the street is a vacant lot.

We cut the lot, set up two countopies, and we provide uh Thanksgiving Day dinner for the homeless and less fortunate.

And we do the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Turkey, mac and cheese, dressing, green beans.

Beautiful.

That last year we hit a hundred cakes on that.

And like I say, this is just my friends.

Well, I'll say it like this, like I've tell everybody.

I'll see them going to the liquor store something to tell them, hey, instead of buying a six-pack or whatever case, give me a couple dollars and just get one beer this day.

And they come through for me.

So, yeah, that's how we've been doing this.

Thank you.

Well, we appreciate you, uh, Darnes for your work.

And I know you're not doing it to be recognized, but I just was very impressed when I came by, and I think I was there with when you were doing the water balloons.

Yeah, the water balloons and the kids had a great time, but I was very impressed.

We walked the whole neighborhood.

You showed me how you transformed those lots.

And so, on behalf of the Detroit City Council, a Spirit of Detroit Award to you.

Um, so congratulations, and we will, if you don't mind, do pictures after I present one other woo award, okay?

Okay.

All right, thank you so much.

All right.

And then lastly, I have the absolute honor of uh recognizing Peter Melcomson and also Leslie Melcom.

Oh my gosh.

Yep, you can go over there.

So Peter and Leslie have been married for over 50 years.

Uh they actually met in Palmer Park, member Callaway in your district.

Um, but they are strong advocates for District Five.

They are um members of the Third Precinct Community Relations, and every since I've been on the City Council, uh, they have been just a great partner.

Uh they have been a huge resource to this district, gathering all of the district five's resources and getting it out to the entire community.

Uh, they have served this city uh for over 40 years.

Uh Miss Leslie has and Peter for over 20 years working with the Citizen Council, strengthening our neighborhoods and uplifting countless Detroiters.

Uh, your partnership, both in life and service, is an inspiring example of the commitment to our city.

As mentioned, 50 years married, uh, they met playing volleyball at Palmer Park, and Leslie started her community work over 40 years ago, helping people with taxes at the accounting aid society.

Her and Peter have been a part of City Council in the city of Detroit for over 20 years.

Your story reminds us that community work is at the heart of Detroit.

Through your tireless efforts in community relations and beyond, you have touched lives, built connections, and set a standard of service that inspires us all.

So I just want to say thank you, Leslie and Peter.

I know Leslie, you had um some health challenges over the last maybe year or so, but I wanted to ensure that you got your roses because you definitely deserve them.

So congratulations.

I would I would just like to say that almost eighty years ago I was born in Detroit.

Oh this is my city.

Yeah, and I love it.

And I do a lot for this city as much as I can.

Accounting aid has been one of my uh um chief activities during tax season.

I do it at Duffield Library, and I also do it at River Rouge.

And Peter and I both, he's the site coordinator, and I'm the screener.

And between us, we've been doing it for a long, long time, and I really appreciate the work that accounting aid does to the community.

I also am president of the third precinct, police community relations council.

And I know some of you, especially uh Miss Sheffield, has been to our meetings.

We have monthly meetings, except in the summer, and we meet with the police and we talk about things that happen in the community that the police should know about.

They tell us the things that we should know about, and it's a very informative meeting, and we have it every month.

Yeah, and I I really appreciate all the work that the police do in our area, yes, and all the other activities that happen in our area.

And I thank you for the award.

Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Leslie.

We appreciate you.

All right, colleagues.

If we can do one quick group photo with Leslie and also uh Darnaz.

So at the same time.

Yeah, we are doing all together.

Thank you for my attorney.

Thank you.

I have been just a little bit of a letter.

That's pretty next time.

Okay.

That was wonderful.

They met in your district since they were fine.

Yeah, they do.

They exactly like them.

The video record?

All right.

All right.

Well, we again thank Leslie Melcomson and Peter and all of our recipients.

Thanks, colleagues, for your patience.

We now just have a video presentation and then we will proceed back to the rest of our agenda with public comment.

Hello, Detroit.

Over the past twelve years, it has been the absolute honor to serve you.

First as City Council member, then as President Pro Tem, and now as City Council President and a proud representative of District Five.

From the very beginning, I have always stood for progress, people, and the prosperity of our residents, always fighting to put Detroiters first.

Just this past year alone, we've made meaningful progress together.

We cut red tape to support our small businesses and created new opportunities through Detroit's first ever startup fund.

We celebrated and uplifted long-standing entrepreneurs who have operated their business for more than 30 years with Detroit Legacy Business Program.

We strengthened our neighborhoods with the fifth round of the neighborhood unification grant program, totaling one point five million dollars just this summer and over $4 million since its inception.

And we invested in public safety with initiatives like the first ever Emerald Alert System, which creates a citywide alert system to ensure that we're bringing those who are missing in our community back home safely.

And all of this was only just this year.

Over the past 12 years, I've been proud to sponsor ordinances and create programs centered on expanding opportunities for Detroiters.

Through the people's meals, we've introduced more than 20 pieces of legislation that created real and impactful change.

From the Detroit resident parking discount program, which cut parking violations in half for Detroit residents.

And we passed the property tax reform ordinance to help residents better understand and navigate their property value assessments.

Beyond these, we passed the inclusion of the housing ordinance, establish the city's first housing trust fund, requiring that new development include affordable housing and providing support for our most vulnerable residents.

When the Detroit Pistons moved back to Detroit, I launched the neighborhood improvement fund, which is funded by the income taxes generated from the folks.

From the very beginning, I fought to preserve the senior home repair program so that our elders could remain safe and secure in their homes.

We stood shoulder to shoulder with the UBs and labor organizers to create the industry standards board, ensuring workers had seats at the table.

Listening to the voices of Detroiters, we launched the Detroit Reparations Task Force to continue the fight for social and racial justice.

And in the midst of the pandemic, we prioritize families by passing the right to council ordinance.

Ensuring Detroit is facing eviction, have the protection, thank you, sir.

But service has never just been about policy at the council table.

It's also been about showing up in the streets of our neighborhood.

I've walked alongside block clubs, community leaders, business owners, our youth, our seniors.

Because the true heartbeat of Detroit isn't downtown midtown.

It's in our neighborhoods and in the spirit of our people.

Your resilience, grit, and determination has guided me every step of the way.

As a daughter of Detroit, who was raised with the heart of service, I've always centered community-driven events to pour back into our residents.

From Occupy the Corner, Detroit, where we give out vice, backpacks, shoes, school supply doctors, and much more.

To our state of the youth event, where we go into Detroit High Schools and engage students civically.

From our gun buyback and expungement fairs to get guns off our streets and help residents clear their record.

To our annual Hope Fest, where my office partners with Northwest Goldberg cares to provide sneakers to our young people and highlight the importance of community.

And of course, my yearly covering the community cult giveaway, our turkey giveaway, toy giveaway, and senior holiday party.

Together with my team, we've delivered rotaries, hosted lunches, always with Detroiters at the heart.

Detroit, thank you for trusting me, challenging me, and allowing me to roll alongside you.

We have walked together, stood together, and fought together for Detroit that truly reflects strength, resilience, and spirit of its people.

These 12 years have been defined by progress, partnership, and purpose.

And I am deeply proud of what we have built together.

Serving you has not only been an honor, it has been the privilege of my life.

All right.

I know you're about to stop.

I love y'all.

Thank you.

That's you.

That is us.

Thank you guys.

Thank you.

I really appreciate it.

Thank you all so much and um for your patience and thank you for uh watching the video.

So we will continue now with citizen concerns.

Those who have um reached out in advance will have four minutes for public comment.

We will start with those who are here.

I see Mr.

Cunningham is here.

You can come up, Mr.

Cunningham.

Oh, Mother Bernice.

It's good to see you, Mother Bernice.

Okay, everyone knows.

Oh Lord.

Welcome to the tabernacle.

Come back again and join us.

Yes, ma'am.

It's been a long time.

Some of you, I knew you were you were smaller.

You can take a lot of college.

Thank you.

I work with him.

You marry.

Congratulations.

You've come a long way.

I won't.

And you, my dear tape.

Go ahead.

Yes, ma'am.

And I can just simply go into the service for the city.

Mary, congratulations, you're still hanging in there.

Wonderful.

And to you, young ladies that I'm not familiar with.

Welcome to the city council.

Thank you.

I don't know your name, but I do see you on TV.

And I'm sorry.

Sorry, bro.

Everything going on.

I'm ready.

Thank you, Mother Barnice.

We love you.

Thank you, ma'am.

God bless you, Mother Bernice.

Thank you so much.

Mr.

Cunningham.

And we also gonna ensure that uh public comment is cut off as well.

Okay.

No, he has yep, four minutes.

Yes.

Okay.

Go ahead.

Good good evening, Mr.

Cunningham.

Good evening, everybody.

313-444-9114-313-444-9114 313-444-9114.

That number was made so you can remember it.

Hope everybody's having a good night.

Um I got my sister to come out today.

Can you just wave your hand?

Her name is Tia.

She lost uh father of her children to gun violence.

She doesn't talk about what she goes through, but I'm trying to be a supporter brother as much as I can.

She supports me too.

Um Detroit Department of Transportation is having an input meeting this Thursday.

You can go to their social media to spell it all the way out, not D D DOT, put in Detroit Department of Transportation, share it.

Um if you upper echelon, share it.

If you regular, share.

You appeon, share it.

Everybody, share it.

Let's get uh the word out about this DOT meeting, get new people there.

And I'm glad you guys have pizza.

I I actually asked that we have pizza at our D D dot meetings and put it on social media.

Uh maybe we'll get some new faces, some new voices, not the same for people all the time.

Um something I would like you guys to pray pray about.

I'm around the city all over the place, and a lot of people feel like you guys don't care about them in D D dot or the passenger or the driver, or it's doing too much to come to a meeting, or um, you know, people are very reluctant to fight, and they feel like it doesn't make a difference.

They will tell me thank you, but they don't you know they don't feel up to do it themselves because they think it would not change anything, but that's something that needs to be prayed about the fervent effectual prayers of the righteous available as much, and that does not mean perfect because I'm full up from the flow up.

Um so um that is this upcoming Thursday.

We had a good uh uh advocates meeting with the director today.

Um I'm supposed to be expecting a call tomorrow, hopefully.

Um but if you can share that information, get new people uh to come to the meetings.

Um they seem to tune out sometimes when you're a regular.

Uh they perk up when it's new voices.

Also, I have five bus tickets.

Uh, if you know anybody that takes the bus, just raise your hand because I'm me and my sister for the go after I'm done.

So if anybody would like five bus tickets to give to someone else, or for yourself, you guys are loved and God loves you, and I like paying things for it.

I thank every last one of y'all up there for donating bus tickets, hand warmers.

Action speaks louder than words, and if you got on the bus, even more so.

Uh so hopefully uh y'all continue showing some agape love, everybody's flawed.

Um, we gotta gotta pay it for it.

We gotta love on each other.

Um and also if you do want to do a ride along, you can reach me on Facebook at not enemy two words on Facebook not enemy and click people.

Uh and you can reach me at my Cash App number 313-444-9114.

You can reach me.

I'm very flexible.

Let's do a ride along, talk to people directly, and I give out low-income housing lists on the coaches and bus tickets on the coaches.

The people's day just brightens up no matter what they're going through.

The bus ain't on time, and they they just their that their whole expression, everything about them just brightens up.

So uh, if anybody would before I anybody would like these bus tickets to give it to someone else or to um or or to keep it yourself.

Let me know.

Raise your hand.

God bless.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Cunningham.

Member Santiago Romero.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Just really briefly want to share for Mr.

Cunningham and any of our other transit advocates.

This Monday, October 20th at 10 a.m.

at our public health and safety standing committee.

We're going to get, I believe, quarter three and quarter four reports from D DOTs.

Um, so we are gonna have our director with us, so please call, make public comments, share with us your experience so far, and hear directly from the director on their quarterly updates.

Thank you, madam president.

Thank you so much, council member.

Joanne Warwick, Joanne Warwick.

Joanne is online.

Yeah, I think she's Joanne and Warwick.

Are you uh are you online?

Good evening.

Joanne.

Yes, we can go right ahead, Ms.

Warwick.

Okay, hold on a second.

All right.

Thank you.

Could you please start it at four minutes, please?

Joanne, please continue.

Okay, but you're coming to anyway.

Um, good evening, everyone.

And I agree that we should ensure residents have a seat at the table, especially at the planning table.

And um, I really like to see more invasion in the master plan.

Yes, we can hear you.

Okay.

So right now, not all residents have a have an equal seat at the planning table because the city has a selected, unelected group of 41 people, including some developers in the master plan advisory group.

And I've asked if residents can attend those meetings just to listen for people who care.

You know, if if um you know you want to highlight the importance of community, I think communities should be able to sit at the table and talk about the future of their community.

And when I asked one of their staff persons about being able to attend these meetings, I was told they're not open meetings act meetings, so there's no public comment.

I said, Fine, but what if people want to listen?

And she said, Oh, you just want to attend.

Well, yes, I'm I'm a Detroit resident.

And I think many other people would like to have a say in their neighborhood.

So I would encourage all of you to revisit happy birthday, Coleman.

I would encourage all of you to revisit the way that this planning is happening.

Um, I've asked repeatedly to be, I've learned to have these stakeholder meetings, and I asked who the stakeholders were, and they won't tell me.

So, yes, neighborhoods are the true heartbeat, and so let's let the neighbors be a part of it.

Like when they said, How about a stakeholder group?

I said, What about the residents in the neighborhoods instead of seniors, youth?

Okay, that's great, but what about the residents in each neighborhood?

And you know, in terms of the reparations task force, I'm not sure if everybody knows that the solar farms, the solar tapings, the city's using eminent domain to take people's private property to create solar farms, yet the city's not willing to put solar on their own rooftops, parking lots, and acres of land it already owns, and I don't understand why because when the grid goes out, uh the the power is gonna go out at the 127 buildings the city wants to says it wants to power the equivalent of, and they're basing the takings if you're interested in representing the task force.

They're they're literally citing the case when they took black botanum for blight.

They're saying we can take your property if it's blighted, and one of the definitions if it was ever tax reverted or ever owned by the land bank, it's blight per se, and the city can take it, and it doesn't matter who they give it to.

On them, and they've really been very um unfriendly to many residents.

Also, the solar farms were not in the master plan.

So I would like for the residents to be able to walk together, sit together, and be really involved in the master plan, and please, council, do not ram through this massive change to the zoning ordinance that the COO from Chase Bank apparently wants without meaningful participation by the residents, and that they can have an opportunity to understand.

Thank you, Ms.

Warwick.

Is Ramon Jackson on?

I am not sure.

Vanessa, thank you.

Vanessa Peake.

Good evening, everyone.

I am a long-standing homeowner living in District 3 and actively engaged in the community.

I describe District 3 as a once solid blue-collar, high homeownership, working class community that fell into property after the 2008 recession in Detroit's bankruptcy.

EPA describes district three as a community that is overpolluted and has been subjected to disinvestment, destabilization, and marginalization.

This administration initially withheld federal funding from district three, choosing instead to invest in other districts, they believe were more stable and would yield a higher impact.

It was this that led the nonprofit I founded to work to stabilize the nine block area where I live to prevent it from being decimated.

It has always been our hope that the work we have done in the community could serve as a model for how to restore and bring back in the inner city neighborhoods an area without gentrification.

In my in my lived experience of trying to save my community, it should be noted that District 3 has become targeted as the stumping ground for the ills that the residents in other districts don't want in their community.

The playground for companies that pollute, the place for poor real estate investors to exploit the less fortunate, and investors seeking solely to make money by exploitation.

Individuals who are extremely disadvantaged with mental challenges and questionable behavior, criminals who terrorize law-abiding residents, squatters, the proliferation of marijuana dispensaries, liquor stores, hookah establishments, and other businesses that excite illicit activity.

It's the place where dilapidated houses are being taken off the demolition roads and sold to those who are less fortunate and slum lords who have no money, skills, or means of fixing up the house.

For years, the nonprofit has been tirelessly working to transform the nine block area where I live in District 3 as a whole from property, dilapidation, and blight back to a solid working class community, one that is attractive to homeownership and companies that are more than just about business, but care about the community that are looking to take route in the area of Detroit where residents could truly benefit from a company that could offer gainful employment with transferable skills.

I am here to tell this council that the vision I have for restoring my community and district three is continuously being eroded by the actions of this administration, inclusive of continual zoning changes.

As a result, your negatively impacting the quality of life of us residents.

And real opportunity needs to be provided.

It is a time for Detroit to pivot and focus on creating solid, clean, safe, working class communities that promote work.

At the foundation of what we do, work has to be there.

Gainful employment.

And we we need to get real about this.

We're changing the guard in January.

And there's an expectation when it comes to District 3.

I've continuously, you know, most of you know my name.

I continuously come pleading, begging.

We need help in District 3.

We need a change.

Our area is the dumping ground for what all these other districts do not want.

I appreciate the fact of the gifts that you're giving everyone in terms of you give out turkeys, you know, you, you know, when Christmas comes, you give out, you give out, you give out, you give out clothing, you give out toys.

But at the end of the day, the greatest thing that you can give us is a better quality of life.

A clean, safe community that's inviting, that's attractive to homeownership, to see people who want to live in our community, to see companies.

I continuously bring companies to the community.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Miss Vanessa Pete.

We appreciate you.

All right.

Um everyone now will have two minutes for public comment.

Marquita King.

Thank you for this time.

I have learned I never been into politics, but I feel you can't change the world instead of learning about politics.

Mary Waters, I don't know if you remember me.

I said in your office for two months pleading for help.

Set with your uh supervisor, Glover.

We never got to meet, but it's nice to meet you.

Mary Waters, I want to thank you for the time and opportunity to listen to me.

I've been in a Detroit resident for 39 years, grew up in a system.

I think programs for attorney for girls, covering house, and Victoria and Job Corps.

Without them, it wouldn't have been a future for me.

But I'm asking y'all, what laws are y'all trying to change in the CPS system and adoption system?

Um, I'm a mother fighting for her kids for four years.

Um it's been hard trying to break the cycle of generation curse.

You put us in these homes without the mental health services or the things that we need.

And then we're 18 with turn with our birth certificates that figured out on our own, and in prison comes a revolving door.

Mental health comes revolving door, suicide comes a revolving door.

I just asked, what do you do or what is the policy and what is your plan to change laws, policies in the CPS system, pro bono lawyers, resources, maybe transfers of home for mothers can still bond with their children and still get the services that they need.

Probably lawyers, resources, maybe transfers to home for mothers to still bond with their children and still get the services that they need.

I think this will stop a lot of mental health.

Women in prisons are suffering with their babies.

Like I don't know how this stuff goes, but I just know I could start to be a voice.

I'm just asking that you take these things serious.

And CPS lives do matter.

I do matter.

My character doesn't have to be my environment.

And I just thank you for your time.

Thank you as well.

Marcel Lacia.

Hello, my name is Marcel Lasia, and I'm a proud member of the Detroit Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

I'm here to firmly oppose the city council's draft of the body cam ordinance, a version that waters down community demands and protects the interests of police unions over the safety and dignity of Detroit residents.

The Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability CBTA drafted a draft of the body cam ordinance requires that the police release body cam footage within seven days of an incident.

It directly limits the unjust influence of police unions over whether that footage sees the light of day.

It would make it illegal for the Detroit police department to collaborate with ICE, which is essential for protecting our immigrant communities.

And importantly, it brought in the definition of harm, recognizing that policeman misconduct doesn't just begin with someone when someone is shot or killed.

Trauma, abuse, and intimidation take many forms.

Now contrast that with the version drafted by the city council.

It gives DPD 30 days to release uh footage with another 30-day extension possible.

That's up to 60 days of delay, obstruction, and manipulation.

The city council's version preserves the power of police unions to influence when and how footage is released.

And it narrows the definition of harm to only apply when someone is shot or killed.

So if someone is vi is violently beaten, beaten or wrongfully detained, that doesn't count.

This is not accountability, this is a cover-up.

And let's be honest about the political context here.

Council president Mary Sheffield, who has been absent in the process of this ordinance, has taken donations from Dan Gilbert, a white billionaire who continues to benefit while our communities are left behind.

She has also been endorsed by famous bigot and trumpster Mike Guggan.

Councilwoman Callaway has promised up and down that this will be a truly democratic ordinance, and yet this is the best she can give.

And I'll end it with this.

We've all seen the gross attacks led by Trump, sending federal troops and ice into our communities and brutalizing us.

Trump has alluded to the fact that Detroit might be next.

So I asked City Council and I asked everybody in this room to listen closely.

What legislation have you passed or proposed that will protect us from the police, federal troops, or iCE?

Nothing.

All right, thank you.

Ronald Foster, followed by Jacob Graham.

Oh, good evening.

The city council just wanted to uh say a few things.

Well, I um come down often.

I don't speak on or attack people, I speak on and attack policies and funded decisions.

And um, while I don't endorse people or do any of those things, I do speak on things that I observe.

And I'm grateful for the presentation today, but my question is simply why not get any resources for the 2.7 billion dollar budget after 800 something or for dollars.

Why not um have a block club for him?

Why do citizens have to build it up off of their bootstrings to do anything here?

Why are we endorsing that and putting that message in our community when we are culpable and responsible for the uplifting of this city?

Secondly, when we don't have those resources, why is Detroit 300 getting five million dollars from the mayor?

Why is the elections department getting five million dollars during a county elections?

And so when I look at things from a community perspective, these funds could be reallocated, and these uh citizens can get the support that we're asking for and deserve.

And so I want to say that secondly, every dime that I get in life, I got that I earned from a grateful nation.

Let me just make that very clear.

I don't get any handouts, don't get any social security, don't get any of those things.

And so my voice should be taken into account from the work that has been done, and I continue to do.

Okay.

Um so when it comes down to council president, I think you're amazing.

I think that I think that your council body have done a great job in supporting you and uplifting.

But for the last four years, every bucket list when you have utilized the same people, you have transferred the same people into every department, you have put them over everything, and I'm not sure if you're gonna continue on with that line of operation.

And I'm not sure if you're going to continue on with that line of operation.

All right.

Thank you, Mr.

Foster.

Jacob Graham, followed by Russ Ballant.

Hi, my name is Jacob Graham with uh Sheridan Townsend Block Club.

Uh I'm sorry to be the broken record and be back here again this year with the same comment.

Um in 2023, when the mayor expanded the sidewalk repair program and took applications from block clubs and churches, our block club was so excited.

We have such terrible sidewalks, and we're right between two schools, Marcus Garvey and Boggs, and uh Butzel Park, uh, where we're we're uh uh designated safe routes to school route with the signs all up down Townsend Street, and um and and we were really excited, and we were told that we were approved, and uh and then we were told that it would it would have to wait a year because DTE was doing construction.

Um seems like they're always doing that, but that's what we were told.

Um so 2024 uh comes and goes, and and I come here last fall and and I asked for some help, and and um at the budget hearing um this year, uh Council President Sheffield asked, will DPW make whole neighborhoods that they had committed to repairing their sidewalks?

And Director Brundage said yes, and that hasn't happened, and I'm hearing that maybe they're not doing any sidewalks repairs this year at all.

And and and so I'm asking city council to hold DPW accountable to their to their budgets that that you pass and and and make these repairs in the neighborhoods.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Jacob, for coming down.

Do we have anyone here from DPW from the department?

If we can please get with uh Mr.

Jacob to get a status on the sidewalks over on his street, please.

Thank you so much.

All right, Russ Ballant.

Hello, good evening to all.

Um I want to touch two things on this Saturday, April uh excuse me, April, October 18th, uh at 3 p.m.

at Roosevelt Park, right in front of the train station on Michigan Avenue.

Detroiters are going to assemble as part of a nationwide rally that will involve millions of people and probably the biggest mobilization in American history of citizens protesting and fighting and demanding that abuse of citizens and unconstitutional one-man rule be put to an end.

The four demands of this are no troops in our streets, no ice as they hover around our schools and try to grab children in southwest Detroit, no genocide, and no racist profiling, which the Supreme Court blessed recently.

We need to turn out.

Second matter.

I I would l really like to see city council and city leadership start putting a new model of economic development that does not sacrifice the human development of our children by taking money from their schools, from the libraries, and from eight education millages that are on our property taxes, and giving it to them.

How can millionaires and billionaires consistently say we're gonna do this project, but we can't afford it?

When I have to when people in my neighborhood have to renovate their homes, nobody says, Well, we'll take money from the libraries and the schools.

But the city takes it.

Right now, our calculation has been over 1.3 billion dollars, and there's no report to the public where this money went.

Thank you, Mr.

Ballant.

Jacob Smith.

Well, hi, I'm Nathan.

All right, thank you, um, Mr.

Ballant.

Good evening.

Good evening.

My name is Jacob Smith.

I'm with the Detroit Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and I'm also a resident of District 5.

Um, I am here today to express my extreme disappointment at the ordinance that was introduced today at uh city council meeting regarding the release of police body more camera footage.

The original version of the ordinance as proposed by the coalition against police transparency, coalition for police transparency and accountability was a real progressive vision of accountability and transparency for the city.

Um and what has been given to us now almost a year later is so watered down as to be pathetic.

A slap in the face.

Detroiters deserve transparency, Detroiters deserve accountability, and Detroit has deserved community control.

Finally, I would uh I am of the understanding that we are going to be having a public hearing on the matter of the ordinance uh at some point in the future.

Do we know uh where we will be able to find out information of where and when that is taking place?

Yep, I'll let you finish your public comment.

Are you done?

I'm done.

Okay, thank you so much.

Um I'm not sure.

Do you have a date scheduled, Councilman?

Uh thank you, Madam President.

We are looking to have voting committee on Monday, October 27th.

That might change though.

Um, but if you follow us along on social media, or if you um I'm expecting the the drafter of this as well, can share the information.

Um, but that's when we have it so far.

Again, that might change.

We will share it through social media if it does.

Thank you.

I'll see you there.

And all of that information is posted on Detroit's uh website.

If you got on to city council meetings, you can see the agenda for that day.

Okay.

All right, Ruben Crawley.

Ruben Crawley, followed by Iandra Otis.

Okay.

Oh boy.

Okay, uh, y'all know what today is.

Today is the day between me birthday and Kinesia.

Kinesia Coleman, DPD case.

20 dash, one, one one, two, the death of Kinesia Coleman, suicide.

Detroit police department, which is straight BS.

I'm one of the codies over decades, four and a half decades.

And if you ask anybody as code, they say the same thing, Mary Sheppy.

Now you know.

You stood the veterans up.

That's my sign.

I'm into doing that.

I ain't gotta tell everybody, but I'm outside because you came over there, walked in, looked at some pictures on the wall, and then you stood the veterans up, told the tone.

Anything, you're a liar.

Ain't no family emergency.

You can't state one, not publicly.

I'm one of the colonies.

Yeah, decades, eighties, nineties, two thousand, two thousand tens, and not two thousand twenty-five.

I'm outside, outside, outside, outside.

And I would turn it inside out.

James Tate, today is the date in between Mimi's birthday and Kenesi is tomorrow.

You're a fraud, perpetrator, fake.

Tell your pastor.

I invited Solomon McKinnock to come out to the 1932 7 West Chicago.

The Better's housing unit.

He ain't called back, but I talked to somebody.

You you get in the way of that?

Because if you get in my way, I'm gonna go four ways.

I'm gonna go sideways around to go over your head.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Crawley.

All right, we will continue uh to those who have joined us virtually.

How many do we have virtually?

Okay.

We will go calling.

All right, we will go to those those who have joined us virtually.

Call in the user one, good evening.

Caller and user one.

All right, let's go to our next caller.

Our next caller is one thing.

Caller 169, good evening.

Hello, can you guys hear me?

Yes, we can.

Okay, I just want to say prayer.

Does prayer still work?

Thank you for praying for Mother Cummy Ham.

I want to bring to your hand or hold by a pocket to say to make a act of a truth name to help or at least and do no harm.

Turge is empowers that be not re-arm, not rearm, not re-harmed.

Let her in God's name, make sure we be in happy national.

Not for it.

Use your unity for beer causes, not the whole Cunningham.

Thank you, God.

Thank you, God.

Thank you guys, James Winfrey, and Mr.

Kramer.

And I cannot forget Mike Dougie.

Bunch there is free.

Free riding on a winter day.

That's awesome.

We got it on the right track.

And thank you for my time.

All right.

Thank you as well.

Next caller, please.

All right, iPhone, good evening.

Good evening.

This is Betty A.

President of the Soda Elsewhere Black Association.

And a proud citizen, born and raised of the city of Detroit.

I want to start off by thanking Honorable President Mary Sheffield for all the work that you have done for the city.

Especially my association.

We have benefited from that neighborhood beautification grant, and we have been able to improve our neighborhood.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

And I have personally benefited from the work that you have done every year to make sure there was money to help us seniors to be able to uh get our home repairs.

So I thank you for the work that you do.

I can't see the clock, so I'm quite sure y'all let me know when my time is up.

I want to share another program to help city residents to be able to stay in their homes if you need help.

If you're disabled or singer or just need help in your home, call 313-484-3808.

Ask for a Mrs.

Raw.

She's a very nice lady.

She has different programs.

Some you have to be on, have Medicaid, some you don't, some income based, some aren't.

So please make the call to get the help that you need.

They do house tours, food prep, light cooking.

They will put a new um thermostat, digital thermostat in your home.

They do whatever it is they need to do to help you to be able to stay in your home.

And she has multiple programs.

So this is what's so beautiful about this program.

If you don't have Medicaid, still make the call.

313-484-3808.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you so much, Ms.

Varner.

Next door A Morgan.

All right, Mika Williams, good evening.

Yes, hi, good evening.

Can you hear me?

Yes, we can.

I'm sorry, I don't see the clock, but I will hope that uh I want to thank you, Council President Sheffield, for your 12 years of working hard for our district as a constituent, resident, taxpayer, and private citizen.

My name is Demika Williams, and I thank you very much for all you've done.

But I want to make the pitch for district five residents listening under the sound of my voice to vote for Willie Burton, police commissioner now running for the city council district five seat in our area.

Trying to dictate our election and also to rubber stamp some of the illegal developments.

You're using this woman name, Renata Miller.

We have no idea who she is or what she does.

We have never seen her at any meeting or down by the gears fighting for our democracy against the bankruptcy, against the overtaxation.

But Willie Burton has been through it all.

He's fought against facial recognition.

He would have got that body cam ordinance approved if our council.

And on November 4th, we should do whatever we can to vote.

Vote is important.

Your voice is very important.

And when you vote Willie Burton on November 4th, your voice will be heard and recognized.

I am a resident that is endorsing Willie Burton, and that's for democracy and for the continued good work of our district.

And I just want to say, you know, it's very, very promising that Detroit is on a future of good.

That if we all work together, change will come about.

Motivation will come about.

And when we make our selections and choices, please don't fight or get into it.

We have to move Detroit forward.

They count on us to fail.

Um I don't know where my time is, but I just thank you, Miko.

Hello.

Yes, good evening.

Hi, good evening.

Oh, thank you, Council President Sheffield for a spectacular presentation.

It speaks volume.

I truly believe it should be on PBS.

Kayla Tyler Harris.

Your whole team.

You guys are outstanding.

I would just like to take this moment just to show the truth that even in the we hours, this council president is keeping our city safe.

Fighting for a lower crime, fighting for a better house for everyone.

But we have to think.

Veterans have been displaced for generations.

They come home.

A lot of them don't have anything.

Let's stop it right there.

We need to check, and I'm gonna use terms that Detroit know I'm using.

We need to check these facilities that take all this grant money to house our veterans, but turn them back.

Allow them to come through drunk and high, don't give them the opportunities to clean up our veterans.

We know that when behind them, we're here to help.

And they accept the help and change.

But when we have people purposely get grant money using the veterans, some houses have 12 veterans and four bedroom homes, two beds to a room at $600 a year.

Beat them a slice of pizza, we're gonna be saying through the whole day.

The VA is not a rescue platform.

That's just a place for sub veterans to go to get health insurance that can't find it anywhere else.

The ripple effect is these veterans show these other homeless people survival ways to live on the street.

Not good because they get comfy.

We turn our backs on the veterans, we turn our backs on everybody.

It's so easy for us to take the veterans up off the street, and you'll be surprised how clean your our community will look.

We need to set the standard on caring for our veterans, like care for the city.

We can do this.

We have all right, thank you.

All right, that will conclude all of our public comment for this evening.

And before we depart, uh, Miss Rushton, if you can come up briefly, just wanted to uh have her provide a quick update on the senior uh mobile food pilot program that uh my council colleagues supported that we put in the budget um last budget season and give a brief update on where we are in formalizing that program to give food access to our seniors.

Yes, uh, thank you for having me speak.

Uh, really excited about this program.

Several uh council members did support uh the Office of Sustainability.

I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself to Fear Rushton with the Office of Sustainability.

Our office is responsible for reducing climate emissions, preparing our communities to be more resilient in the face of a changing environment.

Um we also support urban agriculture and community green spaces in our city.

Um and councilwoman met with a number of urban farmers last fall and was really interested in to support how to get more local fresh produce to our seniors.

And so we've been working hand in hand to uh provide um a pilot program where we can do uh fresh local farm stands within uh senior buildings coming in 2026.

So we're really excited about that.

Thank you so much for your support.

Thank you so much.

So we're excited to hopefully kick that off at the top of next year, and we're looking at 16 weeks out of the year um in our senior buildings, and we want to hopefully have it citywide for every single senior building will get access to fresh groceries for free uh 16 weeks out of the month.

So we thank you for your support and looking forward to that program kicking on.

Thank you so much.

Thanks for having me.

Thank you so much.

All right, President.

Yep.

So I was just informed that this is our last evening community meeting.

No, we have one more.

Sorry about that.

So there is one more in district six.

I apologize.

I do apologize.

Well, I still want to say while we're here in district five.

You while you're giving everybody else kudos, we want to give you kudos as well.

You too, as council president, uh, and as the leader of district five for 12 years.

So just want to say that uh thank you.

Yep, you as well.

And and I I know we'll do all of this on our last council session of the year, but I do want to thank all of my colleagues for your grace and just your patience with me uh as well uh in your tremendous amount of leadership that you all display in each of your council districts and citywide as well.

So it's been an honor to work with you all and moving our city forward, and I know there's more work to do.

So God bless you all.

Thank you all so much for coming.

Everyone be safe driving home, and if there's nothing further to come before us, this meeting will stand adjourned.

Thank you, Ms.

Paul.

Thank you.

Brian said you gave it to him.

Yep.