Detroit Reparations Task Force Public Session
Detroit City Council
Politics
Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024
2:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. EDT
18100 Meyers Rd Detroit, MI (Directions)
Join Zoom meeting:
https://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/87510091466
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Note-taking by
Craig Notte
The task force focused on gathering community input through survey outreach, and are hiring a report writer for the final presentation.
Live reporting by
Perry Sylvester
The task force focused on gathering community input through survey outreach, and are hiring a report writer for the final presentation.
Perry Sylvester
@PerrySylvester6
Hey Detroit! Today 10/5 at 2:00 PM I live tweet Detroit Reparations Task Force for @DetDocumenters #DETdocumenters & media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @media_outlier @metrotimes @michigan_public @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
07:29 AM Oct 5, 2024 CDT
This is part of the 'first Saturday' public sessions Detroit Reparations Task Force @repairdetroit is conducting thru July 2025. Today's is held at Northwest Activities Center 18100 Meyers Rd. You can also attend virtually or by phone ⬇️⬇️⬇️ detroitmi.gov/events/detroit…
detroitmi.gov/events/detroit…
@repairdetroit Looking for more info? You can contact @repairdetroit directly at 313-439-5645 reparations@detroitmi.gov plus visit their website here ⬇️⬇️⬇️ detroitmi.gov/government/cit…
detroitmi.gov/government/cit…
@repairdetroit And as always, please check out coverage of previous sessions by @DetDocumenters! Most recently we have this live coverage thread by @NachumDetroit 📱👇 https://x.com/NachumDetroit/status/1796960921056694583
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit As covered by media partner @freep's Dana Afana @DanaAfana the task force has been reaching out to the community for input via survey 🗞️💻👇 freep.com/story/news/loc…
freep.com/story/news/loc…
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana #DETdocumenters it is a gorgeous day at Northwest Activities Center
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Set up is very different from previous sessions I covered—ready for break out sessions
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana And we also have info gathered from previous session
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Meeting starting at 2:13…rather light turnout at this point, about 30 people including members
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Calloway is running the meeting and rolling through the first 4 agenda items
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Hazel gives her Treasurer Report…total budget is $416,000 but she can’t give full report until all the invoices are presented to her
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana States they currently have $329,000ish on hand…and I see there is a new project manager who will be presenting her with remaining invoices/info for the line item report
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Member from Detroiters for Tax Justice on hand to speak briefly on tax captures and has lit to distribute
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Image of lit he distributed…also has membership application
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Their website is here ⬇️ detroitersfortaxjustice.com
detroitersfortaxjustice.com
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana More people have streamed in…we are at about 38 if I have counted correctly
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana It is 2:27 PM…the DTF gentleman is still speaking…he is item 7.1 in the agenda
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana So, they move to break out sessions..,I will try to bounce around but will focus on group I am sitting with…Ms Janis Hazel facilitating
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana She is working with Harms Report for the Detroit Reparations Task Force 📒👇
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana This is available for download online ⬇️ detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitm…
detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitm…
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana People in round table discussing interactions with police…
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Connection of lived reality with data in report
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Hazel asks former Commissioner Davis where records of systemic misconduct by police would be found, how to push forward in continuing the investigation & building on harms report
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Speaking about abuses by police occurring during the riots
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana People continue to stream in…lots of action at the various tables
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana People are animated/passionate but appears the facilitators all keeping things moving
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Hazel brings conversation back to tax issues, connecting with the presenter from DTF…goes beyond tax captures and speaks about the systemic over assessments and Land Bank
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Describes situation of bureaucracy constraints and poor job of Land Bank…
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Okay…video took forever to load! During those times people kept coming in and question from round table about type of reparations led to Hazel giving mini-clinic on broad topic & narrowing it to purpose of task force — harms specific to citizens of Detroit
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana 1 Round table participant feels starting point should be 1950, 2nd would like 1700s, another feels 1900
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Hazel begins to wrap up…they are searching for oral histories to be documented and looking for a writer to pull project together…job notice for this writer position at task force website ⬇️ detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitm…
detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitm…
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana We are now at 48 people…Calloway having tables give brief summary of what was discussed and ask questions
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana We are at the 3:34 point and still have items on agenda so trying to move things along
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana First table emphasizes importance of language and lineage in report, making sure black is focus
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana 2nd table speaks to a long list of actions to be addressed…person from a different table addresses things but not as rep for table (?)—wants reparations addressed in terms of international law
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Hazel reports on the table I’m at…points to harms done as systemic process of wealth extraction & task force final report will go beyond harms report to include the task force’s work
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana She notes there is still confusion over purpose & scope of the task force—NOT reparations in total but specifically done by municipal Detroit to African Americans living in Detroit
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Another table also has long list but leads with housing and states need for revising AMI to be exclusively based on Detroit boundaries
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Speaking also about issues of over assessment and DLBA inventory—states that HUD dollars coming to Detroit should not be under discretion of the mayor’s office
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Final table…person speaking about language, saying report should specify actions that should be stopped, started or continued should state why…plus glossary of terms is necessary
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Calloway moving to pull things to close…Migrant & Immigrant Fair on October 16 at Detroit Hispanic Development Corp dhdc1.org
dhdc1.org
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Rep from Community Development Advocates of Detroit on hand to invite people to learn about their work, supports work of task force cdad-online.org
cdad-online.org
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana Calloway closes noting 1 there are cards available for building oral history and 2 the task force survey still available online ⬇️ app.smartsheet.com/b/form/048a5c0…
app.smartsheet.com/b/form/048a5c0…
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana That concludes my coverage for the October 5 Detroit Reparations Task Force…if anything is not accurate please email Documenters@media_outlier.org with ‘Corrections Request’ in subject line
@repairdetroit @DetDocumenters @NachumDetroit @freep @DanaAfana As always find additional content and coverage at Documenters.org
Documenters.org
Agency Information
Detroit City Council
The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The Council is responsible for the creation of local laws—called ordinances. Additionally they pass resolutions, motions, and the proposed city budget. The full-time council is required to meet every business day for at least 10 months of the year, with at least eight of these meetings occurring at a location besides city hall. The council may convene for special meetings at the call of the mayor or at least four members of council. Areas of responsibility for the Budget, Finance and Audit Committee include, Budget, Finance and the Auditor General.
City Council members are elected on the same cycle as the Mayor and will be elected in 2021. Seven members represent the seven council districts, while two members are elected at-large.