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Public commenters press Detroit neighborhoods committee on buses, water rates and zoning rules
Summary
Residents and community leaders used the committee's public-comment period to urge action on DDOT service gaps, oppose a proposed GLEWA water-rate increase, flag high Board of Zoning Appeals fees and allege absentee-ballot problems; the committee took no policy votes during the comment period.
Residents and community leaders pressed the Neighborhoods and Community Services Standing Committee of the Detroit City Council during public comment on problems ranging from transit reliability to water rates and zoning procedures.
Who spoke and what they asked: Reuben Crowley, appearing as "Mister Rue," delivered an extended public comment accusing local officials of absentee-ballot fraud and naming a councilmember; he told the committee, "You're the reason why all these officials elected officials in Detroit got busted," and predicted further federal action. Brother Cunningham urged immediate accountability at the Detroit Department of Transportation, saying drivers sit waiting for buses that never come and urging the council to "talk to the the bosses of DDOT." Betty A. Varner, president of the DeSoto Ellsworth Black Association, shared a low-cost prescription program through World Medical Relief and provided application details. Cicely McClellan of We The People Of Detroit urged residents to attend a Feb. 25 Water Board hearing and oppose a proposed Great Lakes Water Authority (GLEWA) rate increase; she said Detroit water rates have risen about 185% since 1980 and urged community pushback.
Why it mattered: Callers combined immediate quality-of-life concerns (missed buses, prescription affordability) with longer-term civic questions (water affordability and zoning procedures). Several commenters supplied contact numbers and event dates — notably the Feb. 25 water-rate hearing at the Water Board headquarters and online — and urged organized attendance.
Committee response and next steps: The committee did not adopt new policy during public comment. Chair and members acknowledged the concerns and, in later agenda items, moved some matters (notably a small sustainability grant application) to formal session for council review. Members also discussed referring zoning-rule concerns to the law department for review. The public-comment period concluded without formal votes tied to the remarks.
Closing note: Public-comment speakers provided phone numbers, program websites and hearing dates for residents seeking assistance or wishing to weigh in; the committee's business continued with new-business items after the comment period ended.
