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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Detroit Secondary Street Sign Public Hearing – October 23, 2026

City Council — Friday, October 23, 2026

BodyDetroit, Michigan

SessionCity Council

DateFriday, October 23, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:02:24

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

Economic Development Standing Committee on today, Friday, October 23rd.

Speaker 2

0:06

Madam Clerk, will you please call the row?

0:09

Councilmember Scott Benza.

0:11

Councilmember Letitia Johnson

Speaker 1

0:13

present.

Speaker 2

0:14

Councilmember Denzel Anton McCampbell.

0:17

Councilmember Renata Miller.

0:19

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.

0:23

Member Santiago Romero did indicate you would be late.

0:26

Clerk was so note.

0:27

Councilmember Mary Waters.

0:28

Present.

0:29

Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway.

0:32

Council President Pro Temporar Coleman A.

0:35

Young II.

Speaker 3

0:37

Here.

Speaker 2

0:38

Council President James Tate.

Unassigned speaker

0:41

Madam

Speaker 2

0:41

Chair, you have a quorum present.

0:43

Excuse me, Madam Chair.

Speaker 1

0:46

Dr.

0:47

Powers, yes, I was just about to address this.

0:50

Thank you.

0:51

So just a reminder: this is the planning and economic development committee meeting.

0:59

This is a continuation of the meeting from yesterday.

1:04

So the Planning and Economic Development Committee does have a quorum with Pro Tim Young and myself.

1:14

Just to note that we are joined by Member Callaway, Member Benson, and Member Waters.

1:20

But this is a continuation of the planning and economic development committee from yesterday for the secondary street sign public hearing.

Unassigned speaker

1:32

I

Speaker 1

1:32

was so no.

1:33

And now I'd like to call to order the 1020 public hearing.

Unassigned speaker

1:40

The

Speaker 1

1:41

1020 public hearing is for the secondary street signs, the 2026 application cycle.

1:48

I do want to note that because this is a continuation of the Planning and Economic Development Committee from yesterday that was adjourned until today.

2:08

And we have Lisa DiCierry Di Chiera joining

Unassigned speaker

2:13

us.

Speaker 1

2:14

Good morning.

Speaker 4

2:17

Good morning.

2:21

Through the chair.

2:22

Good morning to council members and members of the public who have joined us today.

Unassigned speaker

2:27

I

Speaker 4

2:27

am Lisa Di Chiera, Deputy Director of the Historic Designation Advisory Board, and I will be presenting this year's applicants for City Council's consideration for City of Detroit secondary street signs.

2:41

This year we have 21 applicants to present to you.

2:45

17 are rollovers and four are new.

2:50

Once I review the secondary street signs city code, which includes eligibility and application requirements, I will read a short summary of each applicant listed in alphabetical order.

3:03

Since there are 21 applicants, we have also summarized information about each on the PowerPoint slide that will be presented on the screens.

3:12

This includes a map for the proposed sign location and the names of the applicant's petitioner and the number of support and opposition letters received, which includes emails and voicemails.

3:25

Per chapter 43 of the Detroit City Code, a street may be assigned a secondary street sign that displays a different name than the official street name for the purpose of honorary recognition.

3:40

Eligibility requirements include that the applicant positively reflects cultural, social, economic, or political history in Detroit, in Michigan, nationally, or internationally.

3:54

The applicant was or is a Detroit resident or has been buried in the city for at least 10 years.

4:02

The applicant has been deceased for five years unless eligibility for an exception was met as laid out in the city code.

4:11

And the signed location must have a clear association with the honoree.

4:16

The application requirements are the application form must be fully completed with a candidate's biography.

4:25

Proposed sign location, location map, and picture of the intersection, a council sponsorship letter, or a community signature petition, and lastly, the application fee.

4:39

So with that, I will go into the individual candidates.

4:44

Our first candidate is George Edward Clinton.

4:48

Clinton was born in North Carolina and raised in New Jersey.

4:52

Clinton's musical career started in the 1950s during his teenage years when he formed a group called the Parliaments.

4:59

Clinton moved to Detroit in the 1960s and was a writer for Motown.

5:03

In the 1970s, he created the band Parliament Funkadelic, which produced 40 RB single hits, including three number ones and three platinum albums, with such hits as Flashlight, P Funk, Give Up the Funk, Mothership Connection, and Chocolate City.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Community Engagement█████████████████████████████29%

Historic Preservation██████████████████████████26%

Street Naming██████████████████████████26%

Public Comment█████5%

Public Safety████4%

Arts And Culture███3%

Procedural██2%

Health Services██2%

Public Health██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Detroit Planning & Economic Development Committee Secondary Street Sign Public Hearing – October 23, 2026

The Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee continued its secondary street sign public hearing on Friday, October 23, 2026, for the 2026 application cycle. Lisa Di Chiera, Deputy Director of the Historic Designation Advisory Board, presented the applicants for honorary street naming, and the committee heard extensive public testimony before moving candidates to the formal vote scheduled for November 10, 2026.

Application Presentation and Discussion

City code Chapter 43 permits secondary street signs for honorary recognition. Eligibility requires positive cultural, social, economic, or political contributions; Detroit residency or burial in Detroit for at least 10 years; being deceased for at least five years unless an exception applies; and a clear association with the proposed sign location. Application requirements include a biography, proposed location, location map, intersection photo, council sponsorship letter or community petition, and application fee.
Staff presented 21 applicants: 17 rollovers and 4 new. One applicant, Aubrey Lee, was withdrawn by the original applicant because Mr. Lee's widow had passed away.
Staff stated it was the office's opinion that the Henry Marzette Jr. application was approved in error and did not meet Chapter 43's requirement of "significant positive and extraordinary contributions." Marzette was a Korean War veteran and former undercover narcotics officer who later became involved in the drug trade and was imprisoned; staff recommended he not be moved forward.
The chair reminded attendees that only five secondary street signs may be awarded per year under the current ordinance and that the formal vote would occur Tuesday, November 10.

Public Comments & Testimony

Martha Jean "The Queen" Steinberg: Former Mayor Dennis Archer Sr. urged approval; other supporters included former WQBH employees, scholarship recipients, and members of the Order of the Fisherman Ministry. Testimony cited her 46-year radio career, 48-hour on-air peacekeeping during the 1967 unrest, ownership of WQBH, charitable programs, and community impact.
Tony Spina: His daughters Julia Spina Collar and Kathy Giles, former Detroit Free Press colleagues Paul LaBelle and executive editor Jim Schaefer, and reporter Liam Rapley praised his 40+ years of photography, mentorship, Pulitzer Prize, and iconic portraits of presidents, popes, and Detroit figures.
Dr. Haifa Fakuri: ACC staff, clients, and community members, including Ernest Streeter, Ode Fakuri, Brooke Blackwell, Summer Platonic, Odette Anwia, Kelly Hogan, Ricardo Benjamin, Kimberly Hassan, Faith Bazi, Danielle Smith, and others, testified to her 45+ years of service, ACC's wraparound services, behavioral health care, food assistance, transportation, and personal life-changing impact.
Melvin Franklin: Granddaughters Natyra Jordan and State Representative Morgan Foreman, daughter Davette English, and other callers supported honoring the Temptations bass singer, citing his childhood home on Claremont Avenue and Motown's global legacy.
Luther "Badman" Keith: Wife Jacqueline Hawkey, daughter Aaron Keith, and brother Judge Terrence Keith testified about his Detroit News career, mentoring of Black journalists, Arise Detroit, and Baker's Keyboard Lounge performances.
Dick "Night Train" Lane: Son Richard Lane and Detroit PAL director of community engagement David Greenwood supported the honor, citing his NFL career, Pro Football Hall of Fame, and 17 years leading PAL.
Ronald Hewitt: Son Robert Hewitt noted his father's 33 years of city service, role in the Charles H. Wright Museum land deal, and work on the original secondary street sign criteria.
Reverend Dr. Clarence Cruz: Current Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Casey Pierce and church member Morgan WMS spoke to his decades of pastoral service and lasting community impact.
Bishop Gabriel Fred Crutcher: Daughter Gabriela Gamble Dickey highlighted his ministry and community leadership.
Andrew Starks: A neighbor and precinct delegate praised the 101-year-old veteran, bus driver, one of the first Black pilots licensed at Detroit City Airport, and his below-market property sales to renters.
John Lee Hooker: Music Hall President and Artistic Director Vince Paul urged approval, noting Hooker's worldwide musical legacy and the Paradise Valley location.
Tyrone Winfrey Sr.: City Clerk Janice Winfrey, on behalf of the Winfrey family, thanked the committee and highlighted his lifelong education advocacy.
Henry Marzette Jr.: One descendant, Pavile De Reymis, argued in favor of honoring Marzette as Detroit Black history, despite staff's ineligibility determination.
One virtual commenter suggested adding QR codes to secondary street signs so residents can learn about honorees.

Key Outcomes

The committee accepted a motion to move the applicants to the November 10, 2026 formal committee-of-the-whole session without recommendation, with the exception of Henry Marzette Jr. The motion was approved without objection.
No final selections were made at this hearing; the formal vote on the five 2026 secondary street signs is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Economic Development Standing Committee on today, Friday, October 23rd. Madam Clerk, will you please call the row? Councilmember Scott Benza. Councilmember Letitia Johnson present. Councilmember Denzel Anton McCampbell. Councilmember Renata Miller. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Member Santiago Romero did indicate you would be late. Clerk was so note. Councilmember Mary Waters. Present. Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway. Council President Pro Temporar Coleman A. Young II. Here. Council President James Tate. Madam Chair, you have a quorum present. Excuse me, Madam Chair. Dr. Powers, yes, I was just about to address this. Thank you. So just a reminder: this is the planning and economic development committee meeting. This is a continuation of the meeting from yesterday. So the Planning and Economic Development Committee does have a quorum with Pro Tim Young and myself. Just to note that we are joined by Member Callaway, Member Benson, and Member Waters. But this is a continuation of the planning and economic development committee from yesterday for the secondary street sign public hearing. I was so no. And now I'd like to call to order the 1020 public hearing. The 1020 public hearing is for the secondary street signs, the 2026 application cycle. I do want to note that because this is a continuation of the Planning and Economic Development Committee from yesterday that was adjourned until today. And we have Lisa DiCierry Di Chiera joining us. Good morning. Good morning. Through the chair. Good morning to council members and members of the public who have joined us today. I am Lisa Di Chiera, Deputy Director of the Historic Designation Advisory Board, and I will be presenting this year's applicants for City Council's consideration for City of Detroit secondary street signs. This year we have 21 applicants to present to you. 17 are rollovers and four are new. Once I review the secondary street signs city code, which includes eligibility and application requirements, I will read a short summary of each applicant listed in alphabetical order. Since there are 21 applicants, we have also summarized information about each on the PowerPoint slide that will be presented on the screens. This includes a map for the proposed sign location and the names of the applicant's petitioner and the number of support and opposition letters received, which includes emails and voicemails. Per chapter 43 of the Detroit City Code, a street may be assigned a secondary street sign that displays a different name than the official street name for the purpose of honorary recognition. Eligibility requirements include that the applicant positively reflects cultural, social, economic, or political history in Detroit, in Michigan, nationally, or internationally. The applicant was or is a Detroit resident or has been buried in the city for at least 10 years.

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