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Speakers urge council to help seniors access MI Choice waiver, seek corridor funding; one caller threatens legal action
Summary
Three callers urged the committee to help seniors get home-based care through the MI Choice waiver and to provide land-use fee relief and corridor investment; one speaker threatened a federal lawsuit over perceived inequitable distribution of federal dollars.
Public commenters at the Neighborhood & Community Service Standing Committee meeting urged the council to help seniors and neighborhood businesses.
Betty A. Varner, identified in the record as president of the DeSoto Ellsworth Black Association, told the committee: "If you are a senior or you're disabled and you need help in your home and you're not eligible for Medicaid, please call DAAA at (313) 446-4444 and ask to speak to someone for the MI Choice waiver program." Varner described the program's caregiver services and intake process and urged the council to consider advocating for reduced land-use hearing fees and additional funding to improve business corridors.
A second caller introduced by the clerk as "owner, Papa" described conditions at the Drew Center and said his neighborhood has not received equitable federal dollars. He said, "I am going to raise a Federal lawsuit against this Council and its members," adding that he felt tax dollars were not returning to his community. The caller also criticized what he characterized as detention-like conditions at the Drew Center and asked the council to consider equity in distributing federal funds.
Staff (Bo) confirmed a third queued caller named Andrew but no substantive remarks from that caller were captured in the transcript.
No committee action followed the public comments section; comments were heard and the meeting proceeded to new business.
