The Detroit City Council of the regular session of Tuesday, January 6th, 2000 City, 2026 will come to order.

Madam Clerk, will you please call the role?

Councilman Miscott Benson.

Councilman Gencelle McCampbell.

Present.

Councilman Letitia Johnson present.

Councilman Renata Miller.

Present.

President.

Councilman Angela Wilfield Colloway.

Council President Po Tim Coleman A.

Yon II.

Here.

And Council President James Tate.

Here.

You have a quorum president, Mr.

President.

Thank you, ma'am.

We have a quorum, which means we're now in session.

I would like to bring forward none other than Bishop William Murphy Jr.

to provide this morning's invocation.

He is of those of who I'm a small percentage of folks who didn't know.

He is of uh Greater Ebenezer Church here in Detroit in District One, 18751 Avenue.

How are you doing?

God bless you.

Murphy, thank you again for being.

Blessings to all.

I first want to uh thank the council for this uh opportunity, and I want to say how proud I am to be connected uh to the great legacy of this city that we call Detroit.

Uh, my father, the Bishop William Murphy Senior, started Greater Ebenezer Ministries over 50 years ago, and until this day, it is still a viable part of our Detroit community.

So I see this moment and this season as an opportunity for our council or to continue the legacy that has been passed down by the many pioneers, like my father, who was a servant to all of the people.

The legacy will continue as you continue the same spirit, seeing yourselves as servants of all the people.

The legacy will continue as we ensure that the voices of the community are heard and considered in the decision-making processes.

This will help to create a safer, more vibrant community.

So I pray today, Father, that as we move deeper into this last half of this decade, as we gather today with hearts full of hope and responsibility for our beloved city.

Even though many thought that it would not rebound nor come back, you caused a supernatural reset over our city.

So, Father, as I pray today, I pray for the release of strategic strategies that will serve the people of our city in such a way that every one of our citizens, no matter what race, creed, or color, may be partakers of the blessings that you would release through the hands of this council.

Father, I pray that what is done by this council over the next few years will be impactful, that it will be beneficial, but even the more that what is done by this council will be historical spiritually.

This decade is the decade to see, to hear, and to say.

Help them, father, to listen deeply to your voice, to see what you're doing, help them to hear and listen deeply to the voices of the community so that they may act with integrity and compassion.

Help them to hear and listen deeply to the voices of the community so that they may act with integrity and compassion.

Father, I pray that their discussions will be fruitful and that their actions reflect the hopes and needs of every citizen.

I pray that you would allow them to work together to build a brighter, more inclusive future for Detroit.

So I pray, Father, in closing, that you would allow your spirit to settle in this room.

That you would allow your presence to overtake and to overcome every person that would enter these gates.

And this is my prayer.

Amen.

Thank you so much, Bishop Murphy.

If you would like to stay with us, you are more than welcome, but if you have to leave, totally understand that as well.

Thank you again for that powerful prayer.

The journal of the session of Tuesday, November 18th, 2025, shall be approved.

There being no reconsiderations or unfinished business.

We will proceed with the budget, finance, and audit standing committee.

Madam Clerk.

Yes, when we this one contact approved in the recess procedure.

The one report will be received and placed on file for the internal operations standing committee.

Seven contracts approved during the recess procedure.

The seven reports will be received and placed on file for the neighborhood and community services standing committee.

11 contracts approved during the recess procedure.

The 11 reports will be received and placed on file for the planning and economic development standing committee.

Three contracts approved in the recess procedure.

Three reports will be received and placed on file for the public health and safety standing committee.

55 contracts approved in the recess procedure.

All right.

Now we will be cutting it off shortly.

For the internal operations standing committee, Madam Clerk.

Five reports from various C departments.

The five reports will be referred to the internal operations standing committee for the planning and economic development standing committee.

A report from the Detroit Economic Gulf Corporation.

One report will be referred to the planning and economic development standing committee.

For the public health and safety standing committee.

Nine reports from various C departments.

The nine reports will be referred to the public health and safety standing committee.

We will now move on to the voting action matters under other matters.

There are no items under communications from the mayor and other governmental officials and agencies.

Excuse me, Adam Barrett.

Followed by Sabrina McKenzie.

Morning.

Usually is Ms.

Blessman, so I really don't know what who to hand it to get it to y'all.

313, 444-9114.

313 444914.

31344 9114.

That number was made.

You can remember it.

That is my phone number, hotline number, and my cash app.

I enjoy and please that God uses a flawed vessel, East Side, West Side, North Side.

Most of y'all wrote on the bus with me, so you know I give out the low-income housing list, the bus tickets, um, things of that nature.

I love people.

And out of all my flaws and all my my idiosyncrasies, God still uses me.

And um, thank you.

And um there's an article about what I do in the community.

She's handing to you guys now.

Uh keep me in prayers as I pray for each and every one of you all.

Um I'm in need of hats, gloves, hats, gloves, hand warmers, and money for bus tickets, hats, gloves, again, hats, gloves, hand warmers, and money for bus tickets.

I need that.

If you can, uh, if you get that opportunity um to do so.

I had a big load of hand warmers from the Honorable Coleman Young's office.

A huge load from uh Councilwoman Gabriel's Tanya Grover, a huge flow from Councilwoman Johnson.

So I've gotten help from uh council member uh Miller and uh Council uh Member Cunningham, I do apologize.

Your two minutes is up, it's not showing up on the screen there.

My opinion it is up now, yes, sir.

All right.

Well, thank everybody.

We're having some technical difficulties with the auditor.

No problem.

Thank you.

Thanks for giving us two minutes.

Thank you.

Please read that.

Okay, bye-bye.

We need a time.

If we need to come up forward with the clock and let folks know the two minutes while we've identified this challenge that we have, please.

Yep.

It's up now.

All right.

We're now live.

Okay.

Okay, Mr.

Barrett.

Uh yeah, Adam Barrett, the departments for tax justice, the moratorium now coalition, etc.

Um, so I got the day off again.

Forget I'd come and see the new council.

But uh I I really am here to stand in solidarity with the Leland tenants.

Um, I hope that you uh consider and take action on all of their demands, um, including right to return.

Uh I also would like to see an independent investigation of why the power was cut in that building in the first place.

Uh they need to be, they still need to be given access to the retrieve their belongings.

Um, as far as I can see, uh, this is a clear case of deliberate neglect and to do an end run around the legal eviction process that normally uh would take place uh so they could evacuate people and gentrify the building or let DTE take the land and add it to their fiefdom or whatever, whatever the plan was there.

Um not only is this building behind on its DTE, but it's also half a million or so behind on property taxes to the city, too.

Last I checked.

So I guess the city has an interest in this as well.

Um I kind of wonder what their water bill situation is like.

Um in my opinion, this is a dystopian sort of cherry on top of the pro-landlord and anti-renter Duggan administration.

And I'm asking council to do everything in its power to make this right and start fresh in a new era.

Thanks.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, Member Santiago Romero.

Thank you, Mr.

President, and thank you for coming down for talking about this issue.

I don't think a lot of people know.

And if we do where we're at in the process, I want to let folks know yesterday.

Somebody also mentions that tenants were to be kicked out by the seventh.

Uh, that's going to be extended.

Um, so they will have an extension of staying hotels.

Uh protocol is every two weeks, so the hotel may tell them you're done, but there's going to be an extension.

And then I am looking to talk to the judge.

Um, I'm I've talked to fire, talk to HRD.

I've talked to law.

We have to wait until the court date is what I'm being told.

I'm looking to talk to the judge before that court date so that she does something.

I'm not sure if it's a woman or a man, but that they do something as as quickly as possible to be able to get tenants to get their things.

That is my number one priority.

For folks that may not know, we have tenants that have been living in Leland for for decades, who do not have clothes, do not have toilet trees, and not have their their personal paperwork, um important paperwork.

Um, and I really think it's important that the judge knows this, that the city knows this, so that we're able to actually get them back into the into the building.

It's hard because right now there's no power in the building for the elevator to work to get them to the top floors.

Uh, but we have to be creative, get a generator, figure it out, and give the bill to the new to the new landlord.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, member Young.

Uh, from my understanding, uh, one, uh, usually when these problems happen in buildings, I think V seed is supposed to be able to give us a determination of why it is and why that's not happening.

I know if that doesn't work, usually what we've done, our office, we've gone to HRD, and we've gone after their um housing credits and other things they receive from the federal government or to operate.

So I mean, I'll be willing to work with you and you, sir, in terms of how that happens, maybe work with BC first to see what's going on.

And so we have that regulatory process happen.

And then after that, if necessary, you know, we call it a hammer.

But I just thought that'd be something to kind of help the conversation go forward.

Thank you.

And I'm I'm sorry, pro tem it's all right.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Yes.

Thank you for that support.

We will take it.

Um, the issue here really is that there is no power to get people up to their property to to their to their rooms.

Um, and everyone's involved right now, HRD, BC, because there are there are issues with the property.

Um, so really hoping to be creative as quickly as possible.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker, Dr.

Sabrina McKenzie, followed by Miss Betty Lyons, followed by John Farley.

Thank you so much.

I bid you all greetings.

I am Dr.

Sabrina McKenzie, an emerging developer in the city of Detroit with properties in two, five, and seven.

And I have a concern.

I come in the spirit of unity and collaboration.

Um, but I'm concerned that on November 10th, there was a homeless guy that died inside of a building of a church called Body of Christ.

In October, there was a homeless guy that died inside of Shady Grove, basically trying to start fires to keep themselves warm.

And I know countless women and children that are sleeping right now inside of buildings as it's called.

With that, keeping that in mind as an emerging developer, we're having problems reaching um city managers so that we can do the work of the people.

I've contacted Kim Tandy for six months, 10 times via cell phone, via text.

I contacted the chief of staff, Raya Solomon to help me contact her so that we can get some work done with the CDC building the community development corporation.

I haven't had help, and my concern is if we're really called to serve the people, why is it so difficult with us that have resources, contacts, and assistance?

Can you imagine people, just community leaders just trying to call one time and not being helped while people are dying?

So I'm concerned.

I'm coming in in collaboration, and I just want to know how I can um reach a city manager for the current project that we're building um to get a CDC done.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We're supposed to project again.

2900 Tyler Street and Callaway, councilwoman has been so gracious and helped us, but we we need all boots on ground as people are dying.

We need we need help.

So that particular project, I think it's district five now.

If it's changed over, whoever the city manager is, I just I just need some help.

Okay.

Well, want to introduce you to your new council member as well, uh, member uh Renata Miller.

And so someone from her team may work to assist you turnaround.

All right, but that gentleman will give you that assistance we're seeking from the council side.

We're gonna see what we can do from the administration side as well.

Gracious, thank you, Mr.

Umber Galloway.

Um Dr.

McKenzie.

Um, I know um I've been working on that project um at 2900 Tyler since 2022 when a ribbon um was um put with the mayor at the time.

And I'm so proud of you, young lady for taking the bull by the horns, and you're gonna make sure that that project is completed, and you have an amazing council person, Renata Miller, who's going to help you with that project.

And I am here to assist you as well.

I'm here to assist you because you're doing gonna do some amazing things in that neglected community.

You're gonna bring life, you're gonna bring that miracle cafe there.

I'm gonna come there and have yes.

I remember I know exactly what your plans are and what your dream is for that area, but you have the councilwoman to my left, Renata Miller, who's going to be there to support you all the way.

And I'm not going anywhere, as you can see.

It's not in District 2 on the map, but it's still in District 2 physically, and I'm there for you.

And congratulations and happy new year.

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Next speaker, Betty Lyons, followed by John Farley, followed by Tiffany Farley.

Congratulations, President Tate.

Thank you.

And Pro Tem Young.

Now let's get down to business.

Over 600 million dollars in overpaid property taxes belonging to Detroit residents, stolen and hidden by satanic Dugan, whom you allow to escape investigation and continue his treacherous evil destruction.

Council as bullies each week, ignoring justice to Detroit residents, giving millions of dollars to lectures, carbon baggers, and turning your backs on the black residents who stayed through thick and thin.

Romeo, I mean Romero Romeo, yeah, right.

Uh Romero will probably continue her abomination with the murdering of unborn babies and praising people who act on perverted sexual acts.

Have you ever seen rectal warts, genital warts?

I have.

Have you ever seen full-blown AIDS oozing from source?

I have.

I worked with them.

So you need to look at yourself and change your evil, evil ways.

Attorney Whitaker, the word conversion should come to you.

You should know that by heart.

What it means.

It means that when a person wrongfully exerts control over another one's property.

That's what all of you, including Whitaker and Conrad Mallet has done to the people, stealing our property taxes and hiding it, not giving us justice, and you stand up here giving millions of dollars away to people who don't even care about Detroit.

You need to change your evil ways as well.

Mr.

President.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Through to Miss Betty Lyons.

Happy New Year, ma'am.

And I just want to share that your words really do hurt.

And they don't only just hurt me, they hurt other black and brown and white, gay, queer people.

I know because they text me.

Because they tell me I'm so sorry that you have to go through this.

Your words hurt immigrants.

You call out Jewish people.

You call out every single person under the sun, ma'am.

It is so painful.

It is so hurtful.

I often ignore you because you're allowed to say whatever you want.

But ma'am, I'm just telling you that your words do make an impact.

They do hurt.

But I I pray for you.

I hope everything goes well for you.

Um, but I'm going to continue to make sure that I'm serving everybody.

Thank you.

Welcome to Sasha Gomero.

It's such an honor to have you here sitting with us on this council and all the work that you do in the city of Detroit.

Thank you.

All right.

Next speaker, Mr.

John Farley.

Good morning, council.

Congratulations.

My name is Jonathan Farley.

I am the owner of Access Point Transport and Towing.

Um, our emergency roadside assistance company here in the city of Detroit.

Uh I've been in business for the past 13 years.

Um, I have a lot of plans that I want to do for the city, especially for young men.

Um, as far as training and workforce development.

So I wanted to make it my business to come down today to greet you all, to speak to you all, um, and let you know uh some of the plans that we have in store.

Uh, the name of the company is Access Point.

It was an access point for me out of the streets.

And so I share that with each and every individual that I hire, uh, especially particularly young black men who I train up.

Um, I have a nonprofit that I started called Access Point to Stability.

And under this program is where I will begin to train young men.

Uh, I don't want to really focus on all young men.

I want to focus on any man that isn't uh getting a livable wage for herself.

And um, through this program, I will begin to train them up to earn a uh livable wage.

I also own a facility called Hayes and Charmers All Auto, where we are where we sell used vehicles and parts.

We're one of the only blacks in the city with these licenses.

Um, and we take them very serious.

So uh through these two facilities is where we're gonna begin to uh facilitate training.

Um, I do need some assistance from the city.

Um, I would like to be connected with people who can help me uh build out my facilities.

Um, they are up and running, both of them, so it's nothing that I need like a handout for.

Uh, we do generate income each year.

We are taxpayers.

Um, and so that's some of the things that I would like to say to this council today.

And once again, thank you all.

Happy New Year.

Thank you.

Someone from my team will get your information.

The gentleman coming down right now, get your info.

Ms.

Farley.

Uh next speaker, Tiffany Farley, followed by Mario Kelly, followed by Gabe Wilson.

Okay, good morning, everyone.

My name is Tiffany Farley, and I'm a licensed professional counselor and the founder of Bewell Healing and Wellness Center, and also someone who grew up right here in the city of Detroit.

I'm here today because access to quality mental health care still remains out of reach for many families in the communities that need it most.

Long wait lists, lack of culturally responsive care, and limited preventative resources mean people are often seeking help only once they're already in a crisis.

So Bewell Healing and Wellness Center was created to help close that gap.

Our focus is on accessible community-centered mental health support therapy, wellness education, and programming that supports healing before burnout trauma and crisis takes over.

This work is deeply personal for me.

I'm not bringing something into this city from outside.

I'm investing into the community that raised me specifically on the school craft.

My goal is to be part of the solution, partnering with the city, local organizations and residents to expand access to mental health services and wellness support that strengthens individuals, families, and ultimately ultimately our neighborhoods.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak and for the work you continue to do on behalf of our city.

Thank you.

Are you with Mr.

Farless John Frog as well?

Yeah, that's my husband.

Okay, so my team is getting that information from them.

We'll get it from you as well.

Thank you.

Mr.

Mario Kelly, followed by Gabe Wilson, followed by Shannon Austin.

What up, Doug?

Good morning.

Congratulations to the new incoming city council members and also congratulations to the returning ones.

My name is Mario Kelly.

I'm a fifth generation Detroiter, and I'm also the co-founder of Believe in AI.

I just gave you guys some information in front of you.

Uh the next two and three speakers will be going through this information.

But what believe in AI is it is a call center AI, uh, where you can have 10 to 40 minute conversation in real time.

It sounds like a human being.

Um the caller actually captures the call into an MP3 player or a transcript prior to Emily.

All district managers are responsible for doing a ribbon cutting, working in the field, and also answering the phone and also using human data to track all of this information.

Where Ms.

McKenzie just let us know that it was always falling by it was falling short.

Let's just say that.

So what Emily does, there's no abandoned calls, there's no call to wait time or anything like that.

She can answer 18 calls simultaneously, and we ran a 12-week pilot program with district three and four, and it was very, very successful.

Um, like I said, any of the information that is in front of you uh can be go through all of the uh data of what Emily did prior to, like I said, prior to Emily coming into the district manager, they asked they had to answer between 15 to 25 calls a day, where some of those calls was pushed to voicemail, where within a week you should have anywhere between 50 to 60 voicemail calls where some of those residents didn't let you know what the issue was on the voicemail.

Where Emily does, she takes every askers you all the questions that you need.

And she also can complete a lot of the problems without escalating to a city council member or a district manager.

Um, just wanted to bring this data to you guys because we know that Detroit City, Detroit is big on data, and hopefully we can expand this to all districts and maybe all departments in the city outside inside of the city of Detroit.

Thank you.

Mr.

President, um, Linda Johnson.

Thank you, Mr.

President, and good morning to you.

Thank you so much for providing the information to us.

Um, I have actually gotten some phone calls and emails about this.

Apparently, it was piloted in districts three and four as you indicated.

Um, this is my first time hearing about it.

Um, I am aware that there are some people that have some concerns about it being in not personal.

Um, and I have had to ensure to our residents that we answer all of our calls and return all of our voicemails.

So I'd like to get more detailed information about the program, how it works, because when I look up the Department of Neighborhoods, particularly the District 4 Dons, when I look up their information online, it gives their cell phone number.

So I'm not sure how Emily interacts with their cell phone and how the whole process works, but I would love to connect with you.

Yes, um, to better understand that so I can assure our residents that they are getting the assistance that they need.

Most definitely.

So Emily, you can transfer for the calls before it all cell phone calls to Emily.

And and um, before you respond, we actually can't go back and forth.

So I'm just going to ask my um team member to get your contact information and if we can have direct dialogue, so I better understand it.

Um, especially if the administration is looking to expand it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Mr.

Chairman, thank you.

Uh, member Kelleway.

Yeah, thank you.

Um, good morning, sir.

I I saw it in the news.

Um, I didn't even know we had approved it.

I see that you have the city's logo on this document, and I'm just concerned that it looks like this is a city initiative, and it's not hopefully.

So yes, sir.

Well, hold on, I'll go back and forth.

Do you have anything else you want to add?

Let me let me finish.

So I'm just concerned because I read about this in the newspaper.

And so um, I I would think that this would come before the council if anything like this is approved and rolled out, but it didn't.

So um, you know, we'll just have to see, but you have no, I know we can't before, but I'm just letting you know.

You got other folks that are coming and maybe they can add.

So I was just concerned that it looks like a city document, is it?

This is just nine things I printed out.

This is something I okay, but you're using the city's logo.

Oh, okay.

All right, I was just concerned.

Because it I think it's your document, it's not the city.

See, I'm thinking it's the cities.

Gotcha, gotcha.

So we'll try to note it that it is not, so we've got to figure out how to I wasn't done, but I guess I am, right?

No, no, no.

Okay, sounds like you were going back and forth asking questions.

I just want to floor yours if you'd like to have any more questions.

Because we had a water company, I think out of Massachusetts that was illegally, according to our corporation council, using the legal on our logo on documents that were sent to people's homes.

And people were thinking that this was a water service offered by the city, but it wasn't.

It was a company out of the state, and they were illegally using the the logo.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh member Benson.

Uh sir.

I just want to acknowledge you.

You and I had a chance to meet at the Coleman A Young uh community center earlier this fall, and then you let me know about this, so you explained this to me.

And this was, I mean, it was quietly rolled out uh in districts three and in districts four, but just the city's ability and your ability, being a small business owner to have this level of sophistication to help a problem, which we saw those of us who are working with our district managers, their call volume is overwhelming.

And to have two or three people trying to handle that just isn't possible.

You are bringing technology to bear as a way to help push those calls when they're missed into the proper location so that those issues can be handled, which I am very supportive of.

I'm glad to see that we have these metrics.

This was an internal program, and now I know that we are now getting more visibility from the media on this.

I got some phone calls myself asking for a comment.

This is an administration program, so I'll let them handle those responses.

But I do want to say thank you for what you're doing and the fact that you lean into technology.

Also, we share the same chargers over at the Coleman A Young.

So glad to see a fellow EV driver here today that looks like us, which often we're told we don't.

And so this is what we want to say, thank you.

And it's great that you're coming before city council today to give us a uh a bit of an exposure to this program, which frankly should have been brought to us by the administration.

That's not your fault.

You're the person providing service, and so we'll deal with the administration ourselves.

And and also just want to know that it's a different administration now that is in place that we will be discussing this with.

Okay, thank you.

I'm glad to say um Mr.

Pro Tell.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I just want to say I have an update involving the Leland Hotel.

Uh HRD staff states that all matters regarding the Lela Hotel are being referred to the city's law department.

And I know that um I think Graham, I don't know if he's in the audience or if he's available, and I don't know.

We'll go get time later on.

You'd be so chosen to Mr.

President.

Okay, I just want to give you that.

Thank you, sir.

Uh Mr.

Gabe Wilson.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Council members.

My name is Gabe Wilson, co-founder of Believe in AI.

I am the developer of Emily, the emotional intelligent voice agent that we're discussing today.

Uh, so thank you all for the opportunity to speak.

So over the last 12 weeks, we ran a focus pilot in district three and district four to solve one clear problem.

And that was making sure that neighborhood calls were getting answered without delay.

Now, this wasn't um a limited test because 100% of the inbound calls and those two districts was routed to Emily.

So we could validate real world performance.

Now, I'm going to be speaking to the data on page two.

And with that being said, um in the 12-week period, Emily handled over 1,750 calls.

Um, all of those being inbound with zero system downtime and no hold time.

I'm starting with numbers because Mike Duggan always says that knowing your numbers matters.

So during this 12-week pilot, uh, we capture more actionable call data than the department of neighborhoods have previously gathered across all seven districts over 12 months.

Another key outcome is resolution.

Emily successfully resolved between 65 and 75% of calls in the end.

So what that means is that she roughly well, roughly three out of four callers received help without the need for district manager to follow up.

So that represents meaningful and efficiency at scale.

So I also want to address a common concern directly, and that this pilot is not about replacing city jobs, it's about helping the city become more efficient.

The strongest operational outcomes are simple.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good morning.

I appreciate being here, and thank you all.

I'm personally here as a community member.

What do I say at large?

I'm one of the dynamic people, and I try to be here to be present.

Even today, I'm proactively listening.

I'm a social entrepreneur.

I'm the owner of the group, which is a pool of entrepreneurs and investors that looks to preserve the local economy by keeping things by keeping the local economy stimulated as a pool of local entrepreneurs but socially responsible business owners.

I really appreciate even the gentleman before me with the Emily system because it helped bridge the gap with some of the communication flaws, or let me not say it's flaws.

Everybody does the best they can, but they're their holes in the system.

So when I was actually using the system and have helped me connect directly with other community members and local resources to the point where even when I'm actively listening to this council meeting today, I feel the ladies and I empathy empathize with her when you're trying to reach out to someone to kind of not know that route.

Whereas the Emily system actually helps streamline it and it was more engaging from it felt like a real conversation.

I just wanted to share that.

But I also want to advocate for more collective collaboration.

My two greatest local impacts are felt through showing people how to do farmers check like egg lane chickens from home.

And I try to address some of the financial literacy gap by actually showing kids how to own and operate their own businesses.

Thank you.

Thank you for being here.

We have a special guest here joining us today in our public comment section.

This is Dr.

Christelle.

Yes.

All right, I got it right.

Slaughter, she's chief of operations on behalf of Mayor Sid Edwards with Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Welcome.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Uh President uh Council Tate and Council members.

Uh, good morning.

We are delighted to be here.

Um, as was said, I'm the chief of operations for the City of Baton Rouge and the consolidated city parish of East Baton Rouge Parish.

Um, and on behalf of the mayor, uh, I want to thank you for your hospitality.

We have a small delegation here.

Uh, and we spent yesterday uh with your Detroit Economic Development Group and members of the city's housing staff uh and other staffs learning about blight, uh affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, small business economic development, and all the wonderful things and the best practices that have really come out of Detroit and everything you've done.

Your city is beautiful.

The people are very, very gracious and very hospitable, and we have absolutely thoroughly enjoyed our time here and have already sent home by social media if you want to look it up.

Um things that we've learned, ideas that we have.

Um, your turnaround time is impressive.

Uh, we actually toured neighborhoods and toured uh manufactured housing that you're putting up, very innovative sorts of things.

And so you have given us quite a lot to learn about and think about in areas that are very complex and challenging for a lot of our cities across the country.

Batman Rouge is no exception.

Uh we do have a few uh people with us.

We have uh Jim Rocker, who is a council member, Mason Batts, who's the executive assistant to the mayor, William Daniel, who is over all of our public works entities, uh Kelly Ladoff, who is with the Office of Community Development, and Patrick Sloane Turner, who is actually covering our trip for the advocate, which is a homegrown newspaper that is now uh one of the best newspapers in the country.

Um, I'd like to thank uh Kevin Johnson and Derek Carrollhead, especially, uh, as well as their uh team, some of whom are here today.

We were able to listen and learn.

Um, and we are so grateful for everyone's candor and your leadership.

Um, and we look forward to continuing dialogue.

So thank you so much for your generosity and support.

We appreciate it.

Thank you as well.

How long are you all uh sticking around in town?

How long are you all sticking around in the um well?

Some of us are going back tomorrow.

Unfortunately, the mayor had to leave this morning because he's doing the state of city address tomorrow.

Some of us are leaving tomorrow morning, but there's a housing conference, a HUD conference in town, and a couple of our people are staying for that.

We'll be back.

Definitely come back and see you all.

Thank you.

Welcome, welcome.

Thank you for the call.

All right.

So we will now shift to our online public comments.

There's anyone uh who do we have first, actually?

Our online public comments.

Morning, Council President.

Today we have 15 callers online.

First caller is William M.

Davis.

If we can turn that volume down just a little bit, uh William M.

Davis, the floor is yours, sir.

Mr.

Davis unmuted.

Uh good morning.

Can I be heard?

Good morning.

Yes, yes.

I like to say that I'd like to uh publicly congratulate uh Tate and Young.

Uh did it I've also privately congratulated them.

I look forward to the whole council working productively together.

Uh I think that uh one of the things that y'all could do this year, y'all could advance that one of my proposals from before that the that the city of Detroit Retirey um general fund uh pension board have an additional member because police and fire has more than one representative, and we should have more than one because we actually have more members than they do, and we actually have more retirees than the city of Detroit has workers today.

Uh also I would hope to see uh an authorization to continue the city of Detroit Retiree Task Force, because it's an important things that we need to do.

And also just looking at the fact for the past the city had uh uh a pension holiday where they didn't pay into our pension fund for over 10 years, you know, that actually you know uh one to one and a half billion dollars that normally would be going to our fund was uh used for other purposes, and and we need to make sure the city is better than it has been.

And also, I would like to see a mental health task force.

Uh, as some of you know, I was a former elected police commissioner, and far too many of the police runs dealing with mental health.

We have far too many mental health people on the streets of city of Detroit.

There's a whole lot more the city of Detroit can and should be doing.

We should be making our community better, not closing their eyes to the harsh reality of what's going on in the city.

So again, I congratulate Tate and Young, and I also congratulate all the city council members that are sitting there now.

Hopefully, y'all can work together and improve the city for everybody.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Miss Ruby Riley, floor is yours.

Two minutes, general public comment.

Good morning.

Happy new year.

Happy New Year.

Can I be heard?

Okay, congratulations to all the people that ran and didn't cheat to get in.

Um I wanted to talk about um the seniors.

The seniors played a very important role in the city of Detroit.

They've been here for years, some of them 75 years, some of them more.

And for the work that they need on their homes, money's going out to other people when I feel that the seniors should be one of the top priorities because they've been in their homes for a long time.

They had work done on our homes that they paid out of their pocket when they were working.

So I feel that I hope you all look out for these seniors.

For instance, I'm gonna address this to councilwoman at large Mary Waters.

Does she still have that program where the seniors can get bathtubs and uh additionals done to their bathroom?

Because I'm tired of that big old tub now.

I'm 75 now and I'm tired of stepping over that big tub.

So I do need some assistance over at my at my property.

So uh I like my big tub, but I'm tired of stepping that in the big one now.

I need to get the smaller one, and uh so anyway, like I said, I hope y'all look out for the seniors more this year, because I know it's a lot of us.

I mean, I did get a roof after it rained in my house for almost two years, and the plaster and everything fell from the kitchen to the dining room to the hallway, uh, which I wish that I didn't have to go that long, but another city council member had told me they would help me, but they wasn't at large.

So I appreciate that person, you know, that would have helped me before it started raining in my house.

So anyway, I'm gonna cut it off and I'll talk to y'all again.

Okay, thank you.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is before we go to the next caller, member Waters.

All right, thank you.

Um good morning, Miss Ruby.

Um, that program, um, the senior accessibility program was created, uh created the program using ARPA dollars.

There is still a long waiting list.

I do not know if you are on that list uh yet.

I would imagine that the list is probably closed by now because there is such a great need, and I am hoping that we can somehow find additional dollars uh for that program so that we can continue it because the need is is great.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is Betty A.

Caller, the floor is yours.

You have two minutes, general public comment.

Good morning and happy new year to all within the sound of my voice.

I'm Betty A.

Varner, president of the Soda Elsewhere Block Association.

Congrats to uh President Tate and Pro Tim Coleman Young and to all the council members.

Uh the lady just spoke.

I'm just gonna say this.

People are still in need of those um walk-in showers, and uh, think it was about three years ago.

I advocated strong for it.

I understand the offer money is not there, but we are still in need today.

I want to give some information about a wonderful program called Community Uh Solutions.

It is um the director is Mrs.

Deborah A.

Royal, and there's a lot of different um programs under her umbrella, but I'm going to focus today on a program that helps caregivers.

Caregivers need love also.

That is a hard job.

It is done with love, but it's a hard job.

And this program focuses on the caregiver and the person that they are caring for, receive services, and it gives them a chance to get some relief.

They uh can get a massage once a month, they can get their nails done, they have events, they take boat rides, uh small trips, and please call 313-484-3808 again, 313-484-3808.

Uh the person who is receiving the services that the caregiver is is servicing, uh, needs to have Medicaid.

Again, they need to have Medicaid.

There are other programs under this umbrella that I will be talking about in the near future.

Also, still advocating for our thinker corridor and for our park, D Bus Community Park.

God bless.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is owner Papa.

Caller, the floor is yours.

We have two minutes, General Public Comment.

Caller, are you there?

Let's put that caller at the end of the queue and go to the next, please.

Yes, sir.

Next caller is Dante Smith.

Mr.

Smith, you have two minutes, general public comment.

Are you there?

Yes, I am here.

All right, you make it.

Sorry about that.

I was in the auditorium.

I just want to say good morning.

Uh I want to say I appreciate Councilmember Johnson for voting the right way.

Thank you for president.

Um I also like to say there are so many issues in the city that are not being addressed.

I also want to say that I am running for District 9 State Rep.

This is my official announcement.

Uh sorry for the echo.

I'm in the building and I can't control it.

Um we have so many issues that we need you guys to address.

Hopefully, you do a good job, Miss Miller.

Congratulations on the win.

Uh looking forward to working with you in your office because district five is my my home.

Island view is where I live.

So we're gonna do a lot of good work, hopefully.

Um I just want to shout out a couple organizations, Detroit Power Detroit.

Mother's keeping bullshit in the ground, church and messiah, even though we're at odds somewhat.

Uh so also Helen Street Block Club, which I may or may not be president of moving forward.

Uh, want to talk about the Bustler Family Center development that we hope does not happen.

We're not against affordable housing in the community, but we want to see affordable housing that works for the communities.

We don't want to see affordable housing that's not conducive to the neighborhood.

We can't park on Curcible, you can barely drive down the street.

So if you add uh affordable housing right there and you tear down a part of Buster Family Center, it's gonna be very detrimental to uh our neighborhood.

We don't want to see that.

You can put it somewhere else, just not there, not in our neighborhood.

And so I love to see Genesis Hope.

Uh church and community development corporation also support not having this pro not not having this project happen in our neighborhood as they did um on Facebook.

So I hope you stand with that.

You put that the public comment, please stand with it.

Also, shout out to Councilmember Mary Waters.

Love to see Denzel McCampbell and Gabriela Santiago Romero.

Um and Councilmember Benson, I love to meet with you.

And I also want to give a shout out to Malik Shabazz.

He's trying to set up a meeting, but it's gonna be the same thing.

Detroit Ham Chamber Coalition.

All right, all right, next caller, please.

Next caller is Rochella Stewart.

Shelly Stewart, the floor is yours.

You have two minutes.

General public comment.

Are you there?

Shelly Stewart, are you there?

All right, let's put that caller at the end of the queue and go to the next, please.

Yes, sir.

Next caller is Charles Miles.

Charles Miles, the floor is yours.

You have two minutes.

General public comment.

Yes, sir.

All right, floor is yours, sir.

Thank you.

All right, I'm here today to congratulate the new team of city council.

Uh also I'm here in regards to what's going on at these uh shelters.

Um are we on top of this about the uh shelter situation?

These places are not like being uh ran properly, and what are we gonna do about it?

That's my concern for today.

And also it's a lot of issues going on around here about these bottles, uh not being collected at the stores, expired food being sold, expired products, blue cigarettes sold on camera on a green light camera.

I mean, you got these gas stations and party store owners doing whatever they want to do, like they own and make the rules.

Uh and you guys are not doing nothing about it, and this is very concerning.

Is that it?

You done are you finished or are you done?

All right, thank you.

We appreciate that.

Who do we have next?

Next caller is Jacqueline Iller.

All right, Ms.

Illler, go ahead.

Stuff like that.

Oh, I I'm I'm good.

Thank you.

Okay.

Next caller is phone number ending in 169.

Okay, 169, the floor is yours.

Two minutes.

Hello, can you guys hear me?

Yes.

Okay, I just want to say thank you all for praying for Cunningham.

Um Cunningham was homeless for 10 years plus and is still helping people.

It boggles my mind that he does not hate God and he still believes in God.

It does not matter what cards you are dealt, is what you do with those cars.

Never complain, just keep pushing forward, find the positive and anything, and just fight for it.

That quote was made by Baker Mayfield.

Thank you for my time.

All right, thank you, sir.

We appreciate that.

Real nursing the gill.

Yes, Pro Taller is Reynard Montuski.

Mr.

Monchunski, floor is yours.

Two minutes.

Mr.

Munchansky going once.

Mr.

Munchunski going twice.

Mr.

Munchunski going a third time.

Mr.

Munchunski going a third time and a third.

All right.

Thank you, Ms.

Munch.

Hello.

Hello, hello, hold on.

Yes.

Can I be heard?

Yes, sir.

Go ahead.

Yes, sorry.

Uh, Mr.

President Pro Tembler, the microphone was to turn on soon enough.

Um, can you please restart my time?

Bernard Moswski, District Six resident, and I'm organizer with Detroit People's Platform.

I just want to wish you all a happy new year and um congratulations on all your elections.

Whether you're new or rejoining us again, the people have clearly chosen you.

Um, I'm excited to announce to this body as well, and I'm gonna work with this body over the new year to um make sure that DOT is on a solid footing, um, which from the last administration um, you know, in the last council, um, with the actions of raising the driver's wages and things of that sort um before leading to this administration.

I do appreciate um the fact that this new administration will have a solid footing to um start to improve D DOT and make some meaningful changes to it.

But I want to um make sure the council heed this.

I do um have a feeling that the due to the lack of federal funding in the future, that city council uh you will have a tighter finances to work with.

In that regard, we want to make sure that we focus on core services in the city, including D D dot as well, too, and core priorities in case we can't do everything that we want to do under D Dot reimagined.

I um wanna be the one to say on record that these superfluo mobility projects have to have some sort of purpose, they have to be accessible to everyone, and it shouldn't just be for people that are privileged to have debit and credit cards.

It doesn't solve the day-to-day problems that writers face.

Reliable, frequent on-time service.

It is not hard to do that before we start doing all these other kind of amazing things that uh could benefit us in the future, but for now, we need buses to run frequently and reliable, and not just on main routes, but on all routes, neighborhood routes.

And we need an equitable fare program so that veterans, returning citizens, and those that are homeless have access to our system without being shamed for not having any money or a bus fare.

The city can do it through several offices.

I'm willing to work with you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Next caller is calling user one.

Calling user one.

The floor is yours.

You have two minutes in general.

Public comment.

Happy New Year.

Um I wanna know council member.

Uh is it President Kate and Pro Tim?

It's gonna be young.

I'm sorry, I didn't know.

Is that correct?

That's my first question.

I also would like to see that you all make sure they hear that no one has to freeze to death.

Um when contacting this office asking for help like Tatiana Williams.

I am still troubled by it.

I don't like the fact that later Detroiters that their families have been in this country longer than 500 years, get to see migrants and illegals get um hotels paid for while a woman whose family can be trapped as being foundational black American was her children was allowed to freeze to death.

Um it needs to be a law to stop the slum landlord from recaliating and giving you eviction notices or lease violations for complaining when things are not up to code in these buildings, and I like for you uh James Tate to address in 2026.

What are you going to do about that?

Happy wonderful new year.

Please answer my question.

Um, instead of saying you'll get back with me.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Unfortunately, Ms.

Shay, we don't have an opportunity to go back and forth now, but please give my office a call and we'll get back in touch with you.

I don't have your number uh at hand, but give us a call.

Make sure we get your information for you.

Thank you.

Next caller, please.

Next caller, please.

Next caller, please.

Hello.

We'd like to recess to the call of the chair.

I cannot hear you.

Can somebody next caller is Tahira Ahmad?

Not yet.

I have to call back to order.

Madam Clerk, will you please will you please call back to order, please?

Please roll.

Council Member Scott Benson.

We're calling back to order.

I cannot hear you.

Can someone please mute all callers at this moment?

Member Benson.

She's doing another roll call.

Councilman McCampb.

Present.

Councilman Renata Miller here.

Next caller is Tahira Ahmad.

Not yet.

I have to call back to order.

Madam Clerk, will you please close the will you please call back to order, please?

Please roll.

Councilmember Gabriel San Jacob Romero.

Present.

Housewiving Mary Walters, present.

Houseman Woodfield Callaway.

Please mute all callers at this moment.

Council President Pro Tim Coleman A.

Young the second.

Here.

And Council President James Tate.

Here.

We have a quantum president, Mr.

President.

All right.

We have a quorum.

We're now back in session.

As you hear, we're having some some challenges with our audio.

We're going to try to push through it.

I believe Mr.

Maud was the next call.

Next caller is to hear Amad.

Not yet.

I have to call back to order.

Will you please call back to order, please?

Please roll.

Gabby Sanjato Romero.

Present.

Housewiving Mary Walters present.

Recess to the call of the chairs.

Please mute all callers at this moment.

Here.

And Council President James Tate.

Here.

You have a quo in president, Mr.

President.

All right.

We have a quorum.

We're now in back in session as you hear.

We're having some some challenges with our audio.

We're going to try to push through it.

I believe Mr.

Maud was the next caller.

Renata Miller.

Here.

Next caller is Sahira Ahmad.

Not yet.

I have to call back to order.

Madame Clerk, will you please call back to order, please?

Please roll.

Gabby San Jacob Romero.