Detroit residents use public comment period to allege property favoritism, urge oversight and services

The Detroit City Council moved into a public comment period after the meeting lacked a quorum, and residents used their two-minute slots to raise allegations of improper property transfers, call for greater oversight of city processes and finances, and highlight community services and safety concerns.

Several callers accused the city of dishonest practices around property at 498 Peterborough. A caller identified for the record as Miss Warwick said the city removed the parcel from a tax auction and that entities she named as Midtown Inc and Peterborough Properties bought and later resold the lot, leaving a longtime neighbor, Cindy Dara, facing utility and housing threats. "They're trying to push her out of her house," the caller said, and added that an Office of Inspector General review was delayed and of poor quality.

Betty A. Barna, president of the DeSoto Ellsworth Black Association, described a community resource for residents who need medical equipment and low-cost prescriptions. Barna said the World Medical Relief program sells refurbished wheelchairs and that prescriptions are available for $8; she provided a contact number for the program and said her association is planning a garden event and fundraiser.

Other speakers urged structural changes to city oversight and policy. A caller identifying herself as Winston criticized recurring lateness by some council members and urged the creation of a public oversight committee, saying late arrival signals that officials are not listening to constituents. Winston also questioned the city's definition of "affordable" housing as arbitrary.

Malik Shelton raised municipal finance concerns, asserting that revenue bonds require public notice of intent and a referendum and that refunding bonds require a council authorization resolution. Shelton also alleged that the city's housing department (HRD) received a reprimand from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in February 2021 for deficiencies he characterized as oversight failures.

Caller Reuben Crowley made a series of personal and political accusations directed at Council member Gabriela Santiago Romero and at Mayor Michael Edward Duggan, and referenced an ongoing federal court matter involving another local figure. Crowley said he and allies would organize in response to perceived wrongdoing.

Willie Bem Davis told the council the prior night's meeting ran too long, urged shorter presentations from department heads, and urged the city to prioritize Detroit businesses in procurement. Davis also asked the city to review a retirement-clawback interest charge he cited as 6.75 percent and to address gaps that leave some younger retirees without Medicare.

Clerks and staff managed technical problems throughout the session; one caller, Carolyn Hughes, was unable to be heard and was invited to submit comments in writing. The council closed the public comment period and recessed until the chair returned.

No formal motions or votes occurred during the session; the public comment period concluded without immediate staff directives or recorded actions.

The council and city staff did not respond in detail to the specific allegations aired during the public comment period on record at the end of the session. The matter of the 498 Peterborough parcel, the OIG report, and the bond-notice questions, if they warrant follow-up, would appear to require further staff reports or formal agenda items for council consideration.