District 6 and City Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero hosted last week’s City Council Meeting at Patton Recreation Center on Tuesday, November 18. Designed to make city council meetings more accessible in a large city like Detroit, meetings like this bring city council to residents by having them in the neighborhoods.
The meeting began with introductions of city staff and representatives on site to settle residents’ issues and complaints.
Councilmember for District 6 – Gabriela Santiago-Romero – presented a video showing her office’s work and achievements over the past year. The video covered legislative wins, community engagement, and responses to local crises – such as the water main break that occurred in Southwest Detroit last February amid frigid temperatures and a stormy political climate.
“We stay busy. We’ve done a lot of really great work and I’m just so grateful for the opportunity to serve the city and this neighborhood that I love,” Santiago-Romero said in the video.
In attendance were Councilmembers Angela Whitfield Calloway, Scott Benson, Mary Waters, James Tate, Gabriela Santiago-Romero, Latisha Johnson and Coleman Young II. Roz Kimbrough represented the City Clerk’s office. Council President Pro-Tem James Tate ran the meeting, which was held in person and through zoom.
Of note, were the two recipients of the Spirit of Detroit Award: Hot Sam’s Detroit, which has been around since 1921 and Ballet Folklorico Moyocoyani Izel, an internationally recognized dance troupe run by Maria and Jaime Carrillo.
“Everything we do is rooted in love. Love for our community, love for each other, love for our culture, and essentially just stay rooted in love and everything else blossoms,” Maria Carrillo said upon receiving the award on behalf of the dance troupe.
Residents raised a wide range of grievances and concerns. Adam Barrett from Detroiters For Justice, criticized the city for providing a $41.6 million subsidy for “a billionaire’s $50 million project,” noting that the tax capture would divert funds from essential services like the local library, which was in severe disrepair. Barrett was referring to the proposed WNBA practice facility and headquarters for the team which has been awarded to Detroit.
“Why should we subsidize shiny new stadiums when we haven’t even done right by our essential institutions in a city where public schools no longer have libraries because of the emergency manager,” Barret said at Tuesday’s meeting. “Libraries and schools are among the things that fight poverty.”
Another vital topic of discussion was the need for a truck ordinance. This matter was brought up multiple times. Josh Medina, community organizer with Urban Neighborhood Initiatives, spoke about the problems caused by two trucking businesses operating in the middle of a residential neighborhood in Springwells, citing noise, pollution, and safety concerns especially with a new school planned for the area.
“We can work together with the residents and the council to find a solution that’s going to keep our community safe and be a place where people want to live,” Medina said.
Comments at the community meeting surfaced recurring tensions between new development projects and the needs and quality of life of long-term residents.
Paul Chenault, argued for equitable investment in legacy residents beyond the city‘s development hotspots.
“I hope that [city council] can all work together to help the city continue to blossom and thrive and not only invite new people to the city to live, but also retain the residents that the city already has,” Chenault said.
