Shiva Shahmir

Foreclosures stayed steady, but owner-occupied foreclosures are up. The treasurer said foreclosure is a behavior — not a money issue — and suggested that WCTO should get other cities to zero so it can focus on Detroit, which accounts for 87% of foreclosures.

The committee elected two vice chairs and heard a presentation on DTE’s plans to cut power outages 30% by 2029 and reach net zero emissions by 2050. DTE’s Power Improvements Map shows progress on neighborhood investments. SEMCOG introduced its Wetlands Mapper Tool.

The BOPC welcomed Interim Police Chief Todd Bettison. Public commenters complained about police harassment. One such commenter learned that his street vending license allows him to sell everywhere in Detroit, except for downtown.

The board debated the best way to divide $5 million in supplemental payments to its members: give everyone the same amount, give everyone the same percentage of their regular monthly checks, or base the payments on years of service. No decision was made.

The 2024 Tow Rate Commission presented its proposed tow rate increases to the committee. Chair Gabriella Santiago-Romero said the committee would review and revisit the matter next week before forwarding it to City Council with a recommendation.

After an hour of what was billed as a public meeting, the chair — Detroit Auditor General Laura Goodspeed — asked Documenters to leave the room and delete their recordings and tweets. The TRC then continued behind closed doors without adjourning or entering a closed session.

Detroit has received a $5.3 million grant from MDOT to preserve three blocks of brick road on Virginia Park St. between the Lodge Freeway and Woodward Ave. Residents voiced concerns about access to their homes during the renovation.

The board heard presentations on the Summer Water Research Project and the successes of the college’s paralegal program, and discussed efforts to make hybrid learning easier.

Committee members choose four private debt funds to redirect investments to, and questioned a $15 million Bank of New York investment made in June of last year that doesn't appear on any bank statements.

The board hired Dorian Tyus as executive manager of policy, updated policies regarding facial recognition and police lineups, and removed from the payroll suspended Lt. Brandon Cole — caught on camera telling a protester to “Go back to Mexico.”

Councilmembers request a moratorium on state regulators issuing liquor licenses in Detroit, and approved a 15-year extension on Renaissance Zone tax exemptions for the Detroit Medical Center.

With exemptions from the OMA’s in-person meeting requirements provided by the state legislature and confirmed in the commission’s bylaws, the Detroit FRC met online and confirmed that fiscal requirements of the city and schools are being met and administered responsibly.

The board met for their regular public meeting, only to find business-as-usual disrupted by public comments on two issues absent from the agenda: new contracts for employee members of the Wayne Academic Union and divestment from companies with ties to Israel.

Budget hearings rolled on with DWSD and DDOT both moving forward with major initiatives while facing stubborn challenges. DWSD struggles with customers not paying bills; DDOT with a driver shortage and inadequate performance.

GLWA may increase its use of an anticorrosive agent to keep lead levels down as state and federal officials prepare to tighten lead standards, but the agent may also contribute to algae blooms. The board approved its Capital Improvement Plan and Biennial Budget.