Public Health and Safety Standing Committee Meeting - April 6, 2026

The Public Health and Safety Standing Committee met on Monday, April 6, 2026, chaired by Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. The meeting covered routine consent items, public testimony, and discussion on youth engagement, policing downtown, demolition contracts, police specialty uniform procurement, and numerous memos. Key themes included youth safety, composting programs, blight enforcement, and transparency in city memos.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the previous session were approved without objection.
• Item 5.1: Emergency residential demolition at 14744 E State Fair (contract 3091173, $18,063) was approved as amended after a corrected date was confirmed.
• Item 5.6: Emergency demolition at 4742 Fisher (contract 3091361, $18,179) was approved as corrected.
• Items 5.12, 5.13, 5.14: Memos regarding rental certificate of compliance, blight violations, and eviction moratorium were received and filed.
• Item 6.1: Amendment to contract 6001625 (Brooklyn and Outdoor) for a nine-month extension to complete bus shelters; no cost increase; approved.
• Item 6.3: Supplemental grant for clean freight vehicles (contract 6007434, $100,000) approved.
• Items 6.5 and 6.6: Dangerous buildings findings and orders for March 13 and March 20, 2026, concurred with the department.
• Item 6.8: Petition for approximately 182 banners for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix approved and sent to new business.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Brother Cunningham (in-person): Expressed concerns about the youth free bus fare pilot program, suggesting restrictions (weekdays only, limited times) to avoid problems from youth swarming downtown.
• William M. Davis (online): Requested that landlord blight violation history be included in relevant memos and that the city be reimbursed for demolitions; promoted composting.
• Betty A. Varner (online, president of DeSoda Else World Black Association): Thanked Councilmember Waters for support on land use hearing fees and Finkel Corridor efforts; announced a free health fair on April 18th.
• Parish Halsell (online): Criticized increased police presence for youth downtown, argued public safety requires services, not policing; noted troubling treatment of youth by police.
• Caller (owner Papa) (online): Seconded concerns, asked for youth programming and an update on "dirty dirt" contamination and its health impacts.
• Jennifer Owenu (online, District 2 resident): Condemned the handling of youth over the weekend, calling for engagement and positive activities rather than arrest and disrespect.
• Tyson Gersh (online): Complained that many council memos lack written responses and disappear without public trace, urging more transparent government.
• Caller ending in 039 (online): Alleged widespread election fraud and made accusations against council members.

Discussion Items

• Youth Engagement and Policing Downtown: Following public comments, the chair and members (Santiago Romero, McCampbell, Waters) discussed the need to create welcoming spaces for youth downtown. They emphasized de-escalation training, non-police responses (e.g., Ceasefire, peace educators), activating spaces like Hart Plaza, and coordinating with the administration's youth staff. Councilmember Waters expressed joy at seeing young people downtown and opposed ticketing them.
• Police Specialty Uniform Contracts (Items 6.2 and 6.4): Captain Jason Adams (Detroit Police Department) explained that both contracts (Alle Brothers for $275,324.40 and Enterprise Uniform for $360,770.75) are for specialty uniforms (e.g., mounted, traffic enforcement, color guard). Using two vendors ensures capacity and short-notice supply. Councilmembers questioned the differences and amounts.
• Item 5.1 Correction: A date discrepancy was noted and confirmed as corrected via an updated report from OCP.
• Items 5.5 and 5.9 (Demolition Process Memos): Similar questions were referred to different departments (LPD and Public Services/DPA); both were brought back for one week.

Key Outcomes

• Votes and Approvals:
  • Items 6.2 and 6.4 (police specialty uniforms) were approved. A motion to send these and other items to new business initially faced one objection (Member McCampbell) but later passed by majority, sending 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4 to new business.
  • Item 6.8 (Grand Prix banners) sent to new business.
• Bring-Backs (one week unless noted):
  • Items 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.15, 6.7, 6.9, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, 6.15, 6.17 brought back in one week.
  • Items 5.10, 5.11, 6.14, 6.16, 6.18 brought back in two weeks.
• Referrals and Next Steps:
  • The committee agreed to invite the administration's youth coordinator to discuss summer plans and youth programming after budget.
  • Councilmember McCampbell noted he would check on curfew tickets issued over the weekend.
  • The committee acknowledged a pilot compost program and plans to expand it.