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Caller alleges city dishonesty and a disputed property transfer affecting a Detroit homeowner
Summary
During public comment, a caller identified as Miss Warwick accused the city of favoring a developer in a disputed transfer of 498 Peterborough and urged Council member Gabriela Santiago Romero to help homeowner Cindy Dara; the clerk said the city is 'working with' Dara.
A caller identified in the record as Miss Warwick accused the city of dishonesty and urged Council member Gabriela Santiago Romero to intervene in a disputed property transfer involving a homeowner, Cindy Dara. The allegation came during the Detroit City Council public-comment period while the body waited for a quorum.
According to the caller, the city removed 498 Peterborough from a tax auction and transferred it to an entity identified in the comment as Midtown Inc for under $3,000, despite an assertion that Dara had offered $25,000. The caller said documents show Midtown Inc later transferred the property to an entity called Peterborough Properties for $150,000, and that the parcel subsequently listed for $750,000. The caller also alleged the office of inspector general (OIG) delayed and produced a poor report, that city staff have pressured Dara and shut off her water, and that trees cut in front of her home had been healthy.
The clerk responded directly after the caller, stating, "We are working with, Cindy Dara on this issue." The allegations in the caller's statement were presented as assertions and were not corroborated on the record with city documents during the public-comment period.
Why it matters: the claims, if verified, would raise questions about tax-auction procedures, the conduct of any involved buyers, and the timeliness and thoroughness of OIG review. The council did not debate or vote on the matter during the session; the clerk's response indicates city staff are aware and engaging with the homeowner.
What was said (excerpted): "They're trying to push her out of her house after the city pulled a shady deal with 498 Peterborough... Midtown Inc got it for less than $3,000... then flipped it for 150,000... then I saw it for sale again... they said it was 750,000." The clerk replied: "We are working with, Cindy Dara on this issue."
Next steps: The public comment period closed without council action; the record shows only the caller's allegations and the clerk's statement that city staff are working with the homeowner. Any formal inquiry or documentation to substantiate the sale prices, the alleged removal from the tax auction, or OIG findings would need to come from city records or the OIG's office.
