The Detroit City Council convened its regular session on January 7, 2026, to officially begin the new term for the incoming administration and the newly elected council members, James Tate and Coleman Young. The meeting featured the adoption of standing committees and individual board appointments, a significant public comment period focusing on homelessness, housing justice, and municipal accountability, and an informational discussion regarding a pilot AI customer service initiative known as "Emily."
Speaker Positions and Concerns:
Leland Hotel / Housing Crisis:
"Emily" AI Pilot Program:
New Board Appointments:
Member Reports & Initiatives:
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 Ms. Gott Benson. Councilman Genzel McCampbell. Present. Councilman Letitia Johnson present. Councilman Renata Miller. Here. Councilman Angela Wilfield Colloway. Council President Poetim Coleman A. Second. Here. And Council President James Tate. Here. You have a core 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 Greater Ebenezer Church here in Detroit in District 1, 1875 Avenue. How are you doing? God bless you. Murphy, thank you again for being here. All right, blessings uh to all. Uh 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 a council 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. You have already shown yourself strong and mighty, and you have shown yourself to have great love and compassion for the city of Detroit, 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. 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.