Detroit City Council Budget Hearing on Law Department - March 23, 2026
Detroit City Council Budget Finance and Audit Committee Hearing on Law Department Budget - March 23, 2026
The Budget Finance and Audit Standing Committee held a budget hearing for the City of Detroit Law Department on March 23, 2026. Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallet and his team presented the department's operations, caseload, and accomplishments. Council members questioned the department on blight enforcement, tenant protections, FOIA processing, AI use, and various legal matters, and passed several motions and closing resolutions.
Discussion Items
- Law Department Overview: Corporation Counsel Mallet detailed the department's divisions, including 7 attorneys handling 192 blight cases, 30 appeals, 211 tax appeals, and 11,752 FOIA requests. He highlighted wins like Wolf v. City of Detroit (avoided $20M demand) and Khalil v. Wilson (avoided $5M demand). The TED Division handled 20,370 files, and the Eviction Prevention program helped 8,600 tenants stay in their homes.
- Real Token Properties: Mallet reported that 50 of the 700 Real Token properties require demolition, with an escrow of $750,000 for tenant housing. A consent agreement for a receiver is expected soon. Member Callaway asked about cost recovery; Mallet noted the city would file as a creditor and may pursue personal assets of the Jacobson brothers.
- Leland House: A mediation settlement was reached on March 19, 2026, but the tenants' union needed time to approve. The settlement includes direct support for tenants and a process to retrieve belongings within 30 days.
- Blight and Nuisance: Member Johnson criticized the handling of the Travel Inn property, citing continued violations and criminal activity. Mallet stated he is personally taking over coordination. Member Waters proposed moving nuisance abatement from the Detroit Land Bank to the law department; Mallet agreed to study the cost.
- Deed Fraud: Member Waters noted a Michigan Senate bill package and a letter from the Board of Review requesting review of fraudulent documentation. The law department is actively investigating with DPD and the Wayne County Prosecutor.
- AI and Technology: Member Callaway raised concerns about fragmented AI use across city departments and moved to include a centralized AI policy in the closing resolution. Pro Tem Young supported expanding to smart cities but agreed to keep the resolution focused on AI. Member Tate noted federal prohibitions on regulating AI must be considered.
- Guaranteed Income: Pro Tem Young argued that a guaranteed income program would not violate the Michigan Constitution, citing case law and the Social Welfare Act. Corporation Counsel Mallet maintained his opinion that state authorization is required, but agreed to revisit the issue.
- Residency Requirement: Pro Tem Young presented economic data showing losses of $25-30M in taxes and $200-300M in GDP from the repeal of residency requirements. He asked if the city could bring an unfunded mandate claim against the state. Mallet agreed to study the legal argument.
Key Outcomes
- Motion by Member Santiago Romero: Passed with no objections — directs the law department to work with Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) and the Health Department to proactively maintain public properties and coordinate with the Detroit Housing Commission. (Motion to be provided in writing.)
- Motion by Member Callaway: Passed with no objections — directs that the city's rollout of AI be included in the closing resolution, requiring a centralized, uniform policy with safeguards, and involvement of the law department and IT.
- Motion by Member Waters: Passed with no objections — places a pilot program for deed fraud, to be housed in the law department, into executive session for further discussion.
- Motion by Member McCampbell: Passed with no objections — places FOIA response times and the law department's performance into executive session for discussion.
- Motion by President Tate: Passed with no objections — directs the law department to coordinate with other departments to address blight and vacancy at apartment complexes along Greenfield from Grand River to Six Mile Road, with specific focus on the corridor mentioned by Member Callaway.
- Closing Resolution Instructions: The chair noted that several motions would be folded into the final closing resolution for the budget process, including the AI policy, property maintenance coordination, and deed fraud pilot.
Meeting Transcript
The budget finance and audit standing committee for today, March 23rd, 2026. Good morning, Madam Clerk. Morning. Will you please call the role? Absolutely. Council President James Tate. Yep. Council President Pro Tim Coleman Young. Here. Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway. Councilmember Mary Waters. Present. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Present. Councilmember Miller. Member Miller indicated that she would not be present for today. So her absence is excused. Quirk will note. Councilmember Denzel McCampbell. President. Councilmember Letitia Johnson. President. Councilmember Scott Benson. That's nine. Mr. Chair, you have quorum. Thank you. We have a quorum, which means we're now in session. We will start off with our first budget hearing of the day, and that is with the law department. Corporation counsel and your team, please come down. Get to the table. Please feel free to introduce yourself and your team. And the floor is yours to present. Madam Clerk, if you can please note that we've been joined by Member Callaway. The clerk will note. Thank you. Good morning, Mr. President. Good morning. Hit that button in front of you to the red turns green. My name is Conrad Mallet, Corporation Council of the City of Detroit. Seated next to me is Ms. Tanya Long, my chief of staff, as well as the uh supervising attorney over over the governmental affairs division. Uh the rest of my team, Graham, Crystal, Diamond, Ramsey, and Ron are all here as well. And with that, Mr. President, we can begin. Okay. So your PowerPoint has been queued up. It has. So, Mr.
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