OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Committee of the Whole Confirmation Hearing Cancelled – Jan 23, 2026

City Council — Friday, January 23, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateFriday, January 23, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 44:27

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the uh committee of the whole that we have in place today for the confirmation hearings of seven appointees for uh various departments within the city of Detroit.

0:14

Uh Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?

0:17

Sure, good morning.

0:18

Council President Council President James Tate.

0:22

Here council Pro Tem Colman Young.

0:26

Here Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway.

0:31

Callaway indicated she's on her way.

0:33

Councilmember Mary Waters.

0:35

Member Waters did submit a memo indicating her absence, so it is excused.

0:40

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.

0:42

Member Santiago Romero sent a memo indicating that she would be absent, so her absence is excused.

0:48

Councilmember Renata Miller.

0:50

Councilwoman Renata Miller present.

0:54

Councilmember Denzel McCampbell.

0:56

Member McCampbell sent a memo indicating that he would not be present, so his absence is excused.

1:02

Councilmember Letitia Johnson present.

1:04

Councilmember Scott Benson.

1:06

Councilmember Scott Benson sent a memo indicating that he would not be present, so his absence is excused.

1:14

Thank you so much.

1:15

Since we do not have a quorum, we're gonna jump right into public comment uh first, and we are going to allow that time uh for uh additional council members to arrive who uh indicate that they're that they're on their way.

1:28

Um so if you are someone who would like to provide public comment, please raise your hand now online or in person.

1:34

I have three cards in front of me right now in person.

1:38

If you are online or in person, you would like to provide public comment, please raise your hand now, going once, going twice, going three times.

1:49

The collection public comments have now concluded.

1:53

All right, team, how many do we have online?

1:56

Nine online still?

1:57

Okay, all right.

1:58

So we have nine online, three in person.

2:00

We'll give everyone uh give everyone a minute and a half today.

2:05

Minute and a half.

2:08

All right, so we will start with uh Ruben James Crowley Jr.

2:14

The floor is yours, sir.

2:15

Well, we'll first get the we'll first get the clock up.

2:23

Let's get that clock up, Tim.

2:26

We want to give the gentleman his proper time.

2:31

Get the microphone.

2:34

Not yet.

2:35

Oh, I'm sorry.

2:36

The name is Mr.

2:38

Rue.

2:38

You know you called it.

2:40

Excuse me, sir.

2:41

Sir, you will be removed.

2:43

We have a sense of decorum.

2:45

I did not give you the opportunity to speak yet.

2:47

I said pause until we get the clock up.

2:49

That is what I said.

2:50

Oh, they tell me turn around.

2:52

I just said it.

2:52

I'm telling you, pause.

2:54

You're getting the clock up.

2:58

Talking fly to me.

3:00

You never see the call.

3:02

My bad, I'm sorry.

3:06

Oh people can't raise their hands on the Zoom.

3:10

People can't raise their hands on Zoom.

3:13

Don't leave, don't leave.

3:16

Team, I need the two minutes on the clock, please.

3:19

So we can begin this meeting.

3:22

Oh, excuse me, a minute 30, a minute 30.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment█████████████████████████████████████████████47%
Procedural████████████████████████████29%
Personnel Matters████████8%
Public Safety████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Senior Services███3%
Human Rights Commission███3%
Homelessness██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit City Council Committee of the Whole – Confirmation Hearing Cancelled Due to Lack of Quorum

The City Council convened a Committee of the Whole on January 23, 2026, to hold confirmation hearings for seven mayoral appointees. However, due to multiple excused absences (Councilmembers Waters, Santiago‑Romero, McCampbell, and Benson) and the late absence of Councilmember Callaway, the body did not achieve a quorum. The meeting proceeded with public comment only; no hearings or votes were conducted.

Consent Calendar

  • No consent calendar items were considered.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Ruben James Crowley Jr. (in person) made an extended, personal attack against Council President Tate and others, alleging election fraud and a murder cover‑up. He was removed after his time.
  • Jadante Smith (Vice President, Helen Street Block Club) opposed the reappointment of Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallett, citing his role in misdemeanor prosecution authority, indemnification lawsuits, and alleged usurpation of the Board of Police Commissioners. He also criticized HRD Director Julie Snyder for the homelessness crisis.
  • Alan Barrett (in person) opposed Mallett’s reappointment, citing his role in the nuisance abatement program, blocking transparency on police complaints, and thwarting the OIG investigation of Antoine Bryant. He called for a “newer, fresher candidate.”
  • Brother Cunningham (online) requested council members provide hand warmers and bus tickets for people waiting at bus stops in the cold.
  • Darren Belesky (online, North End resident, landlord) opposed Mallett’s reappointment, alleging the law department’s “just compensation” statements for tax‑foreclosed parcels are fraudulent. He also called for Tanya Studemeyer (HRD) to correct those statements.
  • Joyce Jennings (online) argued that reappointing officials from the prior administration perpetuates “heirs property theft” and contributes to Detroit’s high poverty rate. She urged a break from past practices.
  • William M. Davis (online) supported the executive organization plan but opposed Mallett’s reappointment due to high indemnification payouts. He also asked why recreation centers are closed on Saturdays, particularly in District 7 which has none.
  • Betty A. Varner (online, President Soda Ellsworth Black Association) provided information about the “My MI Choice Waiver” program for seniors and disabled individuals to receive in‑home support.
  • Cindy Dara (online) shared personal acquaintance with Conrad Mallett and criticized reappointing “same people”. She urged learning from Boston’s shelter system and Colorado’s citizen‑legal‑aid programs.
  • Galaxy Tab A (online) complained about uncleared sidewalks on Lasky and Finland, and criticized Councilmember Scott Benson for not addressing vacant properties in his district.
  • James Chandler (online, former City Council candidate) presented a petition on human rights and quality of life, opposed Mallett’s reappointment, and called for shelter access for men.
  • Tyson (online) opposed Mallett’s reappointment, stating the law department is “out of control” and that a clean house is needed for ethical leadership.
  • Marjorie Maddox Scarlet (online) call was unintelligible due to noise.

Discussion Items

  • Lack of Quorum and Procedure: Council President Tate acknowledged the lack of quorum and apologized to attendees. He noted that the Internal Operations Standing Committee had not expanded to allow all nine council members to question appointees, which today’s Committee of the Whole was intended to do.
  • Moving Hearings to Formal Session: Tate asked Parliamentarian Whitaker how to reschedule. Whitaker advised that the chair could move the item out of committee for discussion before the full body, or that the committee chair could ask to move it to formal session. Councilmember Miller (a member of IOS) offered to move the item out of committee. Tate confirmed he would reach out to the committee chair to schedule hearings during the Tuesday formal session (proposed date February 3, 2026) so all members could question appointees publicly before any vote.

Key Outcomes

  • No votes or confirmations took place.
  • The confirmation hearings will be rescheduled for a formal session on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 (a voting day), pending successful removal of the item from the Internal Operations Committee. All nine council members will have the opportunity to question appointees in public.
  • Council President Tate urged all members to provide timely notice of attendance to avoid future quorum failures.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the uh committee of the whole that we have in place today for the confirmation hearings of seven appointees for uh various departments within the city of Detroit. Uh Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Sure, good morning. Council President Council President James Tate. Here council Pro Tem Colman Young. Here Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway. Callaway indicated she's on her way. Councilmember Mary Waters. Member Waters did submit a memo indicating her absence, so it is excused. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Member Santiago Romero sent a memo indicating that she would be absent, so her absence is excused. Councilmember Renata Miller. Councilwoman Renata Miller present. Councilmember Denzel McCampbell. Member McCampbell sent a memo indicating that he would not be present, so his absence is excused. Councilmember Letitia Johnson present. Councilmember Scott Benson. Councilmember Scott Benson sent a memo indicating that he would not be present, so his absence is excused. Thank you so much. Since we do not have a quorum, we're gonna jump right into public comment uh first, and we are going to allow that time uh for uh additional council members to arrive who uh indicate that they're that they're on their way. Um so if you are someone who would like to provide public comment, please raise your hand now online or in person. I have three cards in front of me right now in person. If you are online or in person, you would like to provide public comment, please raise your hand now, going once, going twice, going three times. The collection public comments have now concluded. All right, team, how many do we have online? Nine online still? Okay, all right. So we have nine online, three in person. We'll give everyone uh give everyone a minute and a half today. Minute and a half. All right, so we will start with uh Ruben James Crowley Jr. The floor is yours, sir. Well, we'll first get the we'll first get the clock up. Let's get that clock up, Tim. We want to give the gentleman his proper time. Get the microphone. Not yet. Oh, I'm sorry. The name is Mr. Rue. You know you called it. Excuse me, sir. Sir, you will be removed. We have a sense of decorum. I did not give you the opportunity to speak yet. I said pause until we get the clock up. That is what I said. Oh, they tell me turn around. I just said it. I'm telling you, pause.

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