Detroit City Council Meeting Summary - January 5, 2026
Detroit City Council Meeting Summary - January 5, 2026
On January 5, 2026, the Detroit City Council convened to address public concerns regarding municipal support and resident services before proceeding to the election of the Council President and President Pro Tempore. The meeting included testimony on police lawsuits, housing assistance delays, rental rights, and the emergency situation at the Leland House. The council then facilitated a ballot election process to fill its two leadership positions for the upcoming two-year term.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bill Davis: Expressed concern that the city council appointees often do not reside in Detroit and argued that the city administration has failed to sufficiently reduce police-related lawsuits and costs. He called for a new approach under the current administration to better serve residents.
- Ruby Riley: Stated strong support for fulfilling previously approved housing assistance grants (including appliances and car insurance) for applicants who were denied funds due to alleged budget exhaustion, requesting transparency via the Freedom of Information Act if necessary. She also expressed that residents face disproportionately high auto insurance rates compared to non-residents.
- Detroit Tenants Union (DTU) Representative: Reported on a secondary legal opinion regarding the "Right to Renew" ordinance with good cause protections and sought council engagement to advance the legislation. The representative expressed deep concern for residents displaced from the Leland House hotel accommodations, noting that many are unemployed and face an eviction deadline of January 7th, and requested council intervention to extend hotel stays.
- Councilmember Mary Waters: Expressed appreciation for community outreach but stated she would not seek the Council President role again as she only secured one vote (her own) in the internal selection process. She criticized colleagues James Tate and Scott Benson for a lack of partnership and communication during the nomination phase, though she reaffirmed her commitment to leadership.
- Councilmember Ansley Woodfield: Corrected the record to state that she supported Councilmember Waters' run for President in the 2022 cycle.
- Councilmember James Tate: Stated he is running for the position of President to provide steady leadership and protect the unity and dignity of the council.
- Councilmember Scott Benson: Expressed full support for a council that is co-equal, fiscally disciplined, and fearful, advocating for checks and balances rather than obstruction, and promised to strengthen standing committees.
- Councilmember Coleman Young: Expressed full support for the office of President Pro Tempore, citing his 20-year history of legislative service and success in securing funding for the Jumpstart program and the Green Grocer Program.
- Councilmember Mary Waters: Upon being nominated for President Pro Tempore, accepted the nomination and expressed full support for the position's goal to facilitate colleague efficiency, noting she does not need to give a "sales pitch" because her record speaks for itself.
Discussion Items
- Election of Council President: The Council discussed the nomination and voting process for the President. Nominations were made for James Tate and Scott Benson. Both nominees delivered statements on their platforms: Tate emphasized integrity and unity, while Benson focused on fiscal discipline, committee restructuring, and ensuring contracts are vetted for taxpayer benefit.
- Election of President Pro Tempore: Following the President election, nominations were made for Mary Waters and Coleman Young. Young highlighted his legislative achievements in Lansing and Detroit, while Waters emphasized her experience and commitment to being present at the table to support colleagues.
Key Outcomes
- Election of Council President: James Tate was elected President of the City Council by a vote of 5 to 4. The votes were as follows: Tate (Young the 2nd, McCampbell, Johnson, Romero, Young), Benson (Johnson, Miller, Wallace, Calibur). Correction Note: The transcript contains conflicting tally descriptions; the Clerk officially announced "James Tate has five votes. Scott Benson has four votes." The resolution was approved without objection.
- Election of President Pro Tempore: Coleman Young was elected President Pro Tempore by a vote of 5 to 4. The votes were as follows: Young (McCampbell, Johnson, Romero, Tate, Young), Waters (Benson, Miller, Wallace, Waterfield, Collin). Correction Note: The Clerk announced "Holman Young has five votes." A resolution was passed appointing Coleman Young for a four-year term ending January 1, 2030.
- Adjournment: The meeting concluded immediately following the approval of resolutions confirming the leadership elections.
Meeting Transcript
Johnson present Councilmanada Miller present councilman Gabby Alyssa Vamiro present councilmember James State Councilmember Mary Walters present councilmember Ansley Woodfield Collarway Councilman McCoba Young the second we have a corn present manager thank you we will proceed with public comment via Zoom Mr. Gilbert Hello Can I be heard yes we can hear you okay as I was saying that more needs to be done to help the people to live in the city of Detroit. I think a good start would be if most of the appointees lived in the city of Detroit. I think a good start would be if we did more, you know, I was an elected police commissioner four years ago, but even since this time, you know, we still have a lot of police lawsuits. You know, we're still demifying and representing people to do wrong to violate city rules and policies. We need to be doing more to cut down costs and improve the life of the people to live in the city of Detroit. Because the city has not done a great job. You know, most of that could put on the previous mayor, but now it's a new it's a new sheet, a new day, a new administration. So hopefully we can get some improvements to help more of the people that live here because more people need help. You know, everybody's not rich and well to do. Thank you. Thank you. Next, Andre. Next we have Ruby Riley. Ruby, can you hear us? Hear me. Yes. Okay. Good morning. Happy New Year's to everybody. Hoping and praying that this be a better year for the residents of the city of Detroit. I also agree with everything that Bill Davis said. Uh back last year when we would actually it was a couple years ago. We were approved for some work to be done on our house. It was uh I have the original paper with me. I showed it to councilman at large, uh, coma young, but I have the real paper, and they said they ran out of money. Well, I would like I and I'm sure everybody else that applied for that for that for that help. We should be able to get it. I've been going to the laundry mat every week or every two weeks or whatever to wash my clothes due to the fact that the water department, Gary Brown. I would I was going to all the meetings, and that was never well. The conversation that they offer me, that was I'm not a crackhead and I don't do drugs. I'm gonna say that forever. So I would like my washing my dryer. I would like to get the same uh conversation that Southwest Detroit got, and then like I say, with the part that they uh sign us up for. I have that original paper. I need that. Uh I suppose got a washer, dryer, stove, other items for the house, car insurance and all that. So all of us that signed up for that. I would like to see us to get that because it was approved, and then they said they ran out of money. So I don't know if I'm gonna have to have it looked up through um uh freedom of information act to find out where the money went to, but I'm sure we would like to have what we was what we were supposed to get. So with that being said, also we'd like for you all to look into this our auto insurance. The insurance is too high for the city of Detroit, especially for the residents that live in Detroit. You have people that don't live in Detroit, but you know, okay, and they said they got to do what they got to do to save money. So I'm just hoping this year be a better year. Thank you. The next person we have for public comment is DTU. Yes. Can I be heard? Yes. Good morning, council.
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