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Detroit residents press council on property taxes, land bank and housing during long public comment period
Summary
Dozens of in-person and online commenters told the Detroit City Council the assessor’s office, land bank and city enforcement need reform — citing alleged deed fraud, over‑assessment and vacant properties — and urged presale inspections, cleaner streets and more housing accountability.
Dozens of Detroit residents used the council’s public‑comment period on March 31 to press the City Council for action on housing, property taxes and land‑bank practices.
Among the speakers, Eileen Williams said someone recorded a deed on her home without her consent and asked the council for help after two years without substantive updates. "They ... took out a deed on my property... it's been about 2 years and they still haven't done anything," Williams said, requesting staff follow‑up. (Eileen Williams.)
Several callers and in‑person commenters focused on property assessments and the assessor’s office. Alvin Horn, speaking in part as the assessor in a public statement, described multiple interior inspections and said the assessor’s office has recommended bringing back presale inspections. "As part of [the office's] ordinance, the assessor's office looks at 20% of the properties of the city every year," Horn said and urged caution given resource limits. (Alvin Horn.)
Other callers alleged systemic overassessment and cited large sums in claimed excess tax collections. One online caller said the city had "illegally over assessed $600,000,000 and 100,000 homes were illegally foreclosed," and urged state‑level fixes; the caller did not provide documentary evidence during remarks. The assertion was presented as the caller's claim; council and staff did not confirm that total during the meeting. (Online callers.)
Speakers also raised land‑bank and neighborhood concerns. Mia Anderson described delays and disputed decisions by the Detroit Land Bank Authority involving a multi‑lot sale and said safety and sales decisions sometimes appeared driven by internal preferences rather than safety. "They're refusing to sell me the 9 lots because their own personal preference," Anderson said, urging council action. (Mia Anderson.)
Other themes included calls to address homelessness, requests for better trash and blight enforcement, criticism of perceived unequal distribution of development projects (including a Chinatown budget question), and public-safety concerns tied to cleanliness and vacant lots.
What the council and staff said: Council members and staff repeatedly directed callers to member offices or departmental channels for follow‑up. Member McCampbell and other members urged use of the 311/ImproveDetroit app and said constituent offices would coordinate with departments. Member Johnson noted she had received emails and pledged follow‑up on an airport/neighborhood planning request.
What happens next: The council recorded the public comments in the official record and referred numerous reports and memorandums to standing committees for follow‑up. Several callers’ requests were flagged for member offices to handle offline; some callers asked for state legislative fixes.
Provenance: Public comment opened at SEG 544 and concluded at SEG 1933; featured in‑person comments (SEG 566–1124) and a longer set of online callers (SEG 1200–1933).
