Transit fares, property‑tax reform and broken shelters top public comment at Detroit committee meeting

During the committee’s public comment period callers urged immediate action on transit fares, property‑tax administration and housing code enforcement.

In person, Mr. Cunningham urged the council to reduce paratransit fares for low‑income and Medicare recipients, suggesting a reduction from $2.50 to $1.50 and saying he wished bus fare could be free. "It only generates $8,000,000 to the general fund," he said, arguing the city could find sponsors or other revenue to subsidize fares.

Remote callers raised several neighborhood concerns. A caller asked the council to replace or board up a repeatedly broken glass bus shelter at Linwood and West Grama Boulevard; the caller also reported slow or absent responses to code and lease‑violation complaints and asked which committee would oversee vocational training programs such as eyelash technician certification.

Tahira Ahmad, representing the Coalition for Property Tax Justice, urged newly seated council members to act in their first 100 days to implement the property‑tax reform ordinance, produce an independent audit of assessment data, require correct depreciation in assessments and ensure the chief assessor meets required certification. "Take action to fully implement the property tax reform ordinance," she said, and asked the council to mandate timely assessments and an audit of assessment data.

Member Renata Miller acknowledged the concerns and offered to follow up; the chair and other members said staff or colleagues would contact callers with next steps. The committee did not take formal votes related to public comment items during the meeting; members asked departments and staff to address the issues raised during subsequent committee work and follow‑up communications.

What’s next: Council members said they would have staff follow up on the broken shelter, property‑tax reform requests and vocational training inquiries.