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Downtown Development Authority update devolves into heated exchange; District 1 councilmember raises concerns over 'power' and treatment
Summary
A Downtown Development Authority update prompted a contentious exchange about a delayed settlement check and past disputes; later, a District 1 representative publicly alleged racialized power struggles and called for better decorum and accountability.
A scheduled update from the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) turned into an extended, heated exchange during the council meeting as members and DDA participants disputed whether a settlement check had been received and criticized previous conduct.
Speaker 10 (DDA representative) said the DDA scheduled monthly meetings and expected a settlement check that had not arrived when promised; other attendees interrupted with competing recollections and criticism. The discussion repeatedly moved off the posted agenda, prompting the mayor and staff to urge professional conduct and adherence to meeting rules.
Later in the meeting a District 1 representative (Speaker 2) addressed the council about perceived power shifts and unequal treatment, saying, “Power has moved...it's because we're black. It's a power struggle,” and urging an end to what the speaker called conduct that is not beneficial to citizens. Council members and the mayor responded, called for decorum and declined to initiate any formal inquiry at the meeting.
No formal council action or vote resulted from the DDA update or the District 1 remarks during this session. Council and staff asked for future updates to be placed on the agenda with clear delegation and documentation to avoid repeated interruptions.
Next steps: council directed staff to better organize DDA updates on the agenda and to require that any material (for example, settlement checks or legal documentation) be presented through formal delegation channels; no investigation or follow‑up motion was recorded at this meeting.
