Detroit Reparation Task Force Public Session (IN-PERSON ONLY)

Detroit City Council

Politics

Saturday, March 2, 2024
2:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. EST

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2711 E Outer Drive Detroit 48234 (Directions)

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team

Note-taking by chandler vaughan

Community members report inability to access the meeting via Zoom. Six Zoom participants weren’t heard due to technical difficulties. Radio show host and historian Michael Imhotep presented a case on the definition and benefits of municipal reparations

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Live reporting by Perry Sylvester

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6

Hi, Detroit! Saturday, March 2, I live-tweet Detroit Reparations Task Force for @DetDocumenters #DETdocumenters and media partners @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit

12:56 PM Mar 1, 2024 CST

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 2/50

This public session of the Detroit Reparations Task Force is held at Farewell Rec Center, 2711 E Outer Drive; you can participate in person or remotely, with details found here:

detroitmi.gov/events/detroit…

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 3/50

The Detroit Reparations Task Force #DetroitReparations #Reparationstaskforce @repairdetroit will hold sessions first Saturday of the month, 2-4, alternating between Farewell Rec & Northwest Activities Ctr, to provide information, engage with community and gather public input

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 4/50

@repairdetroit February 3 meeting featured a presentation from Prof Bernadette Atuahene @ProfAtuahene

bernadetteatuahene.com

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 5/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene Prof Atuahene spoke about her work on reparations and property tax justice, specifically her work in Detroit with grassroots groups to form Coalition for Property Tax Justice

bernadetteatuahene.com/detroit/

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 6/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene Here are the Coalition for Property Tax Justice member organizations

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 7/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene You can learn more about Coalition for Property Tax Justice #BlackHomesMatter at their website

illegalforeclosures.org

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 8/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene While Prof Atuahene's presentation was dynamic and informative and the work of Coalition for Property Tax Justice inspiring, the rest of the session's dynamics were tense and trend of task force members resigning continued with Anita Belle doing just that

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 9/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene A great recap & backgrounder for what has been happening available from @DanaAfana @freep here:

freep.com/story/news/loc…

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 10/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep Meanwhile, Saturday's Reparations Task Force session looks very interesting with featured presenter Michael Imhotep @TheAHNShow discussing the case for reparations

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 11/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Okay, 2:07 and we start…Janis Hazel makes opening remarks

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 12/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Roll call vote…waiting on quorum

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 13/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Light on attendance so far

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 14/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Moving to public comments since waiting on quorum

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 15/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Speaking out in protest of tax abatements etc used in recent City developments…specifically Tom Gore’s luxury condominium project…says this ends of diverting tax $$$ and is reverse reparations & should be in Task Force’s scope

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 16/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Resident of District 4 letting board know that all the Zoom links she has don’t work and wants correct information for her neighbors who are shut in & have difficulty attending

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 17/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Here is agenda…motion to amend, move item 9…expense report is now online and will be covered in treasury report

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 18/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow There is some back tracking on agenda, motion to approve minutes… but there are none so motion fails

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 19/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow I didn’t catch earlier the last of public comments…which was a woman complaining that she requested minutes from last meeting…she also said she left contact info, not happy that no one got back to her

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 20/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Now Michael Imhotep is up…

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 21/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Michael Imhotep @TheAHNShow begins, noting reparations and municipal reparations are not identical…also points out that reparations originally were not attached to slavery

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 22/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Moving to how reparations concept applies to African Americans—-root of term and concept found in “repair”

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 23/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Provides overview of other groups that have experienced radical injustices … some receiving some indemnification, others not…a very scattered record for results, sadly

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 24/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Now going over case of Evanston, IL…points to necessity of investigation of harms imposed and relevant governing body…strongest case of restorative restoration in this case is housing where zoning caused measurable harm

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 25/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow For Evanston, matter of slavery difficult due to when slavery was ended in Illinois and when Evanston was incorporated…while heritage of slavery in total obviously exists, Fed govt is relevant gov’ng body

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 26/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow He goes own to point out how at local level for municipal reparations, there is more community power — along with very demonstrable harms that can be put into accessible reports, get more movement

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 27/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Obviously, this does NOT mean reparations at Federal level is not important or should not be pursued…just that municipal level has more opportunities for faster action

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 28/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Crowd has increased—pretty much at full capacity!

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 29/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow He is now discussing situation of reparations in San Francisco showing how right wing co-opts and reframes to stall/stop things…the # of possible restorative actions is legion but right wing exclusively reports only one: giving $5 million to each Afr-Am in Frisco

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 30/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Message is that along with history one must understand rhetorical strategies that are used (and never challenged in MSM)

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 31/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Michael Imhotep @TheAHNShow is moving very fast and deftly bouncing between Michigan history, various efforts to pursue reparations, breaking down concepts and discussing strategies…wish I could capture all of it

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 32/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Definitely should check out his website

theafricanhistorynetwork.com/michael-imhote…

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 33/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Just announced that the presentation will be available online at task force website

detroitmi.gov/government/cit…

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 34/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Question from public as to whether task force will be ready with report by October…board responds they have met in committee and resolved to petition for extension if they are not ready (but believe they will be)

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 35/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Speaking to members of public, Imhotep talks strategy—recommending not to focus on term ‘reparations’ but harms done and policy initiatives for restorative justice

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 36/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Task force member asks Imhotep about connecting City tax policies that divert and/redistribute tax revenues in manner causing clear harm to communities…Imhotep agrees, emphasizing how municipal reparations way beyond slavery

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 37/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow More members of public lining up for comments…woman from Pontiac asking how other communities can emulate what Detroit is doing

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 38/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Imhotep responds with how communities like Japanese proceeded and Janis Hazel, who was working with Congress when legislation passed, notes current efforts are modeled on it

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 39/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow This woman asks if what task force should be working on is getting money back to the community…Imhotep responds that a harm report must be done and he will assist…task force chair responds that they are bound to mission as defined by City Council

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 40/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow They are now trying to connect with Zoom…6 hands are raised

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 41/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow But…technical difficulties

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 42/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Can’t get Zoom working so moving on … task force member wants reparations dialogue to include not only harm done to Afr-Americans but benefits others rec’d, citing crazy situation in which former slave owners in DC rec’d compensation for loss of slaves

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 43/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Some back and forth…agreement that study in harm report should not be bound by preconceived concepts but go where research leads

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 44/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow As time runs down, there is vocal complaints about process…project manager speaks in response to some people saying the QR codes not working on hand outs but if people email her she will get them info for community calendar

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 45/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow A quick review on how to heard within rules..plus commitment from task force that emails will be answered

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 46/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Young man is speaking passionately, insisting on need to be involved and heard…adjourned chaotically at 3:50 PM

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 47/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow Here is what he wanted to say

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 48/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow One final note—here is more info on Michael Imhotep @TheAHNShow and where to learn more

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 49/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow So that’s my coverage of the Detroit Reparations Task Force Public Session; if any of this is inaccurate email documenters@outliermedia.org with “Correction Request” in subject line

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 50/50

@repairdetroit @ProfAtuahene @DanaAfana @freep @TheAHNShow For more coverage please visit

Documenters.org

View thread

Attachments

Subcommittee Weekly Calendar

By Perry Sylvester 3/2/2024

Agenda

By Perry Sylvester 3/2/2024

Transcript and recording

By Noah Kincade 3/2/2024

3/2 Reparations Task Force Audio

By B W 3/2/2024

Agency Information

Detroit City Council

www.detroitmi.gov

See Documenters reporting

The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The Council is responsible for the creation of local laws—called ordinances. Additionally they pass resolutions, motions, and the proposed city budget. The full-time council is required to meet every business day for at least 10 months of the year, with at least eight of these meetings occurring at a location besides city hall. The council may convene for special meetings at the call of the mayor or at least four members of council. Areas of responsibility for the Budget, Finance and Audit Committee include, Budget, Finance and the Auditor General.

City Council members are elected on the same cycle as the Mayor and will be elected in 2021. Seven members represent the seven council districts, while two members are elected at-large.