May 18, 2021, Detroit City Council Evening Community Meeting, District 6, 7:00pm

To attend online: https://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/330332554

If you would prefer to join via phone, information on how to join the meeting may be found here: https://detroitmi.gov/events/may-18-2021-detroit-city-council-evening-community-meeting-district-6-700pm

District 6 is represented by City Council Member Raquel Castañeda-López, a lifelong Detroiter and the first Latina elected to Detroit City Council. The district includes Midtown, Woodbridge, Corktown, and SW Detroit. https://t.co/ILtltz1HSI

The meeting has been called to order and we have a quorum of Council Members. Pastor Glenn Hodges of Meditation Missionary Baptist Church is giving the invocation.

There was no agenda posted for this meeting. Council Pres Jones was about to introduce staff, then jumped into introducing Julie Jozwiak from DTE who is discussing Infrastructure Upgrades in D6. https://t.co/k5Cz3jWyia

Safiya Merchant from Housing and Revitalization Dept (HRD) discussed a new search website for affordable housing being developed by a group of 13 Google fellows. https://t.co/hRash2R6vP

Council Member Castañeda-López is now presenting awards to D6 citizens and allowing them each to say a quick word. The first is Zaitina Baker, a student at Mumford High School. https://t.co/49D1ZJME3T

The next Spirit of Detroit award is given to Richard Drumb, a Fiscal Analyst who worked in a variety of departments in Detroit since 1989. He says it was an honor working for the people of Detroit. https://t.co/EHMollFgEQ

The next award is given to the owners of Baobab Fare, Detroit’s first East African restaurant. They moved to Detroit in 2014 from Burundi, and opened their restaurant in the midst of the pandemic. https://t.co/Qj1BvIkWfH

Randall Mosley, the Director of Perry Outreach Center, is the recipient of the next Spirit of Detroit award. They serve “some of the most underserved residents in this state.” He is flattered to win this award. https://t.co/RQ8Ed0TreH

The final award goes to Deborah Richardson, Administrative Assistant in HR, Detroit City Council. She’s never met a Council Member she didn’t get along with or enjoy working with. https://t.co/e6mz30SrdL

With that, we are moving on to public comments by citizens who reached out ahead of time. They are being given 4 minutes to address the Council.

Marilyn from the North End Block Club wishes the Council would reach out to the block clubs when doing community engagement. They shouldn’t only reach out to people within 300 feet of a project.

The other two people they were expecting to give 4 min public comments are not present. So we have moved on to general public comments at 2 min each. 7 hands raised.

The first commenter was also concerned with North End issues (district 5?), and the next had concerns from district 7. President Jones confirmed that they will hear comments on any issue, any district.

The next citizen is concerned with illegal, unlicensed locations selling cannabis. Council Member James Tate responded that these locations should be reported to the police by calling 1-800-DOPE. (he corrected himself), that number is (313) 224-DOPE. https://t.co/eW5pXOhYOf

Another citizen is concerned about the North End Landing Project, and states that they’ve located a developer who is willing to address their concerns with pathways to home ownership, rather than pushing forward with a “giant rent farm”.

Public comment has ended. President Jones congratulates the new interim DPD Chief James White, and wishes the best to retiring Chief James Craig. Council Member Castañeda-López once again gives her thanks to all the Spirit of Detroit award recipients.

With no other business to address, this evening community meeting of the Detroit City Council was adjourned at 8:02pm.

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