Detroit City Council Formal Session, 10 a.m.

The public can access council’s calendar, links to join meetings virtually and watch previous meetings on City Council’s website: https://bit.ly/3L0qygl

To make things easier, I’ll provide quick links for today’s meeting ⬇️

Agenda: https://bit.ly/3Cdut6W

Note: if you select the HTML version from council’s website, you can access relevant documents by simply clicking the 📎 next to each agenda item. The PDF version combines all relevant documents into one.

Watch today’s meeting live on Channel 10

https://bit.ly/3RVIdch

Watch for a ‘🚨’ to signify the start of public comment

The meeting was called to order at 10:03am 🎉

The invocation was by Rev. Jill Zundel this morning. (top right) https://t.co/Q60dHHrY0i

Items under Sections 5 through 8 were referred to the appropriate Standing Committees.

🚨 Public comment is starting now!

President Sheffield said participants have one minute to provide comment due to the # of people present. There are about 50 people providing comment virtually and 40 in person.

Starting with in-person comments

1. Supported ShotSpotter
2. He was cutoff but it sounds like he wasn’t notified of a property being listed after expressing his interest in purchasing the lo to the DLBA

1. Referenced an ordinance that mandated public disclosure before approving surveillance contracts and required a cost-benefit analysis before Council could approve. Thinks council would violate the ordinance if they approved it today

1. Opposed ShotSpotter. Doesn’t think that investing in surveillance will decrease crime. Says residents affordable housing and assistance in various ways instead.

1. Asked how ShotSpotter is going to help the community. Said it sounds like Vietnam on New Years Eve.

2. Thinks they need ShotSpotter and discussed the gunshots she hears every night. Thinks the technology would slow down people purchasing guns and using them

1. Supports ShotSpotter but wants to know about the efficiency of the technology and response times.

2. Opposed ShotSpotter because the city doesn’t have housing stock. Feels the money needs to go towards something else. Also doesn’t think there’s enough data or enforcement

8 (cont’d) also discussed a family member they recently lost to gun violence.

1. Supports ShotSpotter because they just need a solution to stop violent crime.

2. Supports ShotSpotter. A longtime resident that has witnessed the degradation in their community. Feels ShotSpotter would have prevented a murder that occurred earlier this year.

1. Supports ShotSpotter. “If we have technology that will get these guns off the street, we need to use it.”

1. Supports ShotSpotter because it seems like a way to get violent offenders off the street that haven’t been caught

1. Supports ShotSpotter. Discussed why people don’t call the police when they hear shots fired.

2. Supports ShotSpotter. Discussed an incident when shots were randomly fired and thinks it would have been helpful if the police were automatically notified of that.

1. Thinks ShotSpotter should be everywhere noting the progress the city has seen in areas where it’s deployed already.

1. With the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion and opposed ShotSpotter. Referenced research that shows it’s not worth the investment

1. Opposed ShotSpotter. Talked about the first time they saw a gun - at school when they were in 4th grade.

1. Opposed ShotSpotter. Thinks it will spread the police force thin and send them to scenes ready to shoot. Thinks it’s dangerus

1. Said they understand gun violence as their family has multiple holes in their house from gunfire. “… technology that would send police into my community does not make me feel safe.” Said the Mayor is lying to residents that ShotSpotter will save lives.

1. Opposed ShotSpotter. Doesn’t think police should be given more leverage to arrest people when they have a track record of wrongful arrests. Thinks the technology wouldn’t be needed if they just did their job.

1. with the ACLU of Michigan and they’ve spoken out against ShotSppotter. Reasons provided include the re-classification of audio after-the-fact, lack of independent review of the data, and the effectiveness of the technology

1. Asked Council to consider using the $ for other resources. Thinks the city “invests too many resources in ineffective policing programs and far too little in actual community-oriented public safety models.”

1. Referenced research that shows ShotSpotter is ineffective and hasn’t been used to reduce crime. Provided data that shows other precincts with a high violent crime rate have had the same drop in crime that precincts w/ ShotSpotter have had.

1. With Campaign Zero, Referenced a previous comment and said they used the data provided by the police department on their open data portal. Provided language from the ShotSpotter contract that says the technology doesn’t prevent crime.

1. Referenced probable cause issues with stops and various other concerns that have been mentioned today. “Everyone here is saying the same thing. We want a solution and an action plan for the violence that we are experiencing.”

1. Opposed ShotSpotter and noted previous attempts that have failed to keep the community safe. Specifically, the amount of money they’ve invested in technology capabilities to wrestle violent crime and yet they’re still wrestling with an increase in violent crime today.

1. Thinks ShotSpotter will help encourage people to think twice before making the wrong decisions, similar to what Project Greenlight has done.

1. Has several concerns about ShotSpotter and thinks the city should be thinking about the impact that improved education and other resources would have on public safety.

1. Opposed to ShotSpotter. “We need poverty spotter, opportunity spotter. We need more of those types of spotters.” Asked where ARPA money is going to reduce poverty. Doesn’t think they’ll surveillance their way out of poverty,

1. Supports ShotSpotter. She lives in an area with a high elderly population that has lived in the city since the 60’s. “I think that they deserve to have a better quality of life which includes more protection.”

1. Supports ShotSpotter. Feels it would improve safety.

2. Also supports ShotSpotter. Her grandson was killed due to gun violence.

1. Doesn’t see police in the neighborhood in some area w/ high violent crime at night or during the day.

1. Supports ShotSpotter and has noticed that it’s been a deterrent in her neighborhood. Also feels there are a lot of mental health issues that need to be addressed and thinks $ needs to be spent there as well.

1. Thinks they need to put $ towards the neighborhoods and to recruit more policy. Asked if there’s a citywide plan for the neighborhoods. Also mentioned an issue w/ her water bill.

1. Said they’ve seen a lot of bandaids in their 20+ years of living in Detroit. Urged Council to do what the community has been begging for.

2. Also had concerns about the state of their neighborhood and overall deterioration.

1. Said safety comes first. Thinks ShotSpotter will address “random impulsive gunshots”

2. Concerned about the increase in crime over the last several years.

1. Supports ShotSpotter because they’re losing police officers daily and this is something they think will help officers.

2. Opposed ShotSpotter because they don’t think a reactive measure is an answer. Urged City Council to look at other cities response to ShotSpotter

The last three in-person comments were about ShotSpotter - 2 opposed and 1 supported.

Now moving to virtual public comments. There are 64 callers with their hands raised 😮

1. Alvin Stokes, President of Citizens Police Community Relations. Supports ShotSpotter because (in short) officers need help policing neighborhoods.

1. Supports ShotSpotter and spoke about the way children feel that she works with directly.

2. Opposes ShotSpotter because it’s reactionary policing and hasn’t been proven to address gun violence in Detroit.

1. “Shame on the Mayor’s office and the police department for using people’s pains to push this agenda.” spoke about the amount of money used to support the police department, yet residents aren’t safe today

1. Said the data doesn’t offer proof that ShotSpotter reduces crimes and that shots are already fired by the time the department is notified of shots fired

1. Spoke about the boundaries of the Virginia Park community and thinks that residents should be able to vote on whether they want a TIF capture placed on their property tax assessment.

1. Supports ShotSpotter.

2. Discussed the Housing Trust as a way for the city to provide affordable housing for people at 30-50% AMI

1. Said the city is overrun by surveillance technology yet residents don’t feel safe as Council has heard today.

2. Supports ShotSpotter. “I think adding a little security is beneficial to the residents.”

1. Opposed ShotSpotter. Thinks $8 million is too much money, especially if there isn’t evidence to support it’s effectiveness.

2. Supports ShotSpotter.

1. Concerned that ShotSpotter will lead to an increase in police running to areas looking for shooters. “And you know what they do when they see black people that may have committed a crime.”

Asked Council to invest in programs for residents instead.

1. Opposed ShotSpotter because it’s not going to improve police response time. Thinks the result of gun violence is neglect in the neighborhoods and the city needs to adequately fund other programs and services to prevent violence.

1. Minister Eric Blount described his reason for opposing ShotSpotter by saying “surveillance is not safety.” Said the #1 proven way to deter crime and violence is to statistically reduce poverty and fully care for the mentally ill.

1. “DPD is trying to use our rightful anger, grief and frustration to manipulate citizens into acting against our own interests. Last week’s display was nothing but political theater and an insult to anyone who has been impacted or lost someone to violence in this city.”

60 (cont’d) Doesn’t think ShotSpotter works and feels the city can use the millions of dollars to rescue residents

1. “They are playing Detroiters by pointing to the 3 tragic shooting deaths that occurred recently on the West side.” Opposed ShotSpotter and said it’s not proven technology

1. Opposed ShotSpotter. Like many others, they have experienced gun violence and lack of programming that deter youth from going into “those lanes of life, such as gun violence”. Thinks the city should spend the money on rebuilding the community.

1. Opposed ShotSpotter. Referenced a report out of Chicago that showed they only found evidence of gun fire on rare occasions. Concerned about an exaggerated police response to ShotSpotter notifications

1. Supports ShotSpotter as an aid for police officers. Referenced a point made by DPD that residents are desensitized to gun fire and as a result, don’t call 911 when shots were fired. Said ShotSpotter will assist the police to find out where shots came from.

1. Opposed ShotSpotter. Discussed the amount of money allocated to DPD and previous comments about it being a reactionary tool. Urged Council to consider tools that work for the residents of Detroit.

1. Feels ShotSpotter is an inappropriate use of ARPA dollars. Sent council members a link to an inspector general report out of Chicago about the technology.

1. “I mean if the police don’t have enough money now, then how much will be enough?” Said they need the $7 million for housing, transportation, mental health services, etc.

1. “Absolutely vote no on Shotspotter.” Said they need an independent review of ShotSpotter to determine effectiveness. Said they’ve taken numerous steps and spent $ to reduce gun violence for decades and nothing has improved.

1. Stood mute on ShotSpotter. Said the police always get what they want but nothing is brought back in return.

1. Former police commissioner. Thinks other resources and community-based measures would decrease gun violence. Also discussed retirees and the 9 years that no money has been returned to them.

1. Opposed to ShotSpotter. Thinks residents deserve “true and genuine safety and protection”. Thinks ShotSpotter is a “lazy and faulty solution to gun crimes.”

1. Feels police have enough money to do their job and the $8 million would be better used if it was spent on adequate resources for residents.

1. Supports ShotSpotter.

2. Said DPD left her and her children homeless by evicting them from their home. Opposed ShotSpotter because their current budget doesn’t support residents or address important issues.

1. Thinks that ShotSpotter becomes preventative when police start reacting to shots fired, noting that police can get there expeditiously and apprehend perpetrators. Said residents have become desensitized and are afraid to call police so ShotSpotter will take care of that.

1. Trusts that Council has done their due diligence by conducting a simple Google search and found “lots of evidence” that suggests ShotSpotter isn’t effective. Referenced reports out of Chicago.

1. In support of ShotSpotter. Acknlowdged the pros and cons mentioned today. Referenced data that showed there was a decrease in crime in areas where ShotSpotter was deployed in Detro0it.

1. Discussed a shooting that recently occured w/ in 50 meters of their home. Said they wouldn’t have felt that safe with ShotSpotter deployed because they’re still within 50 meters of gunfire, concluded that being so close could make them a suspect

1. Said they have to question the cause for why people aren’t calling 911. Thinks there’s a lack of connection between ShotSpotter and solving crimes.

1. Supports ShotSpotter but questioned whether they should be using ARPA funds that is intended to provide COVID relief. Thinks there needs to be a happy medium.

1. Retired police officer from the gang squad. He does neighborhood patrol in the Jefferson Chalmers area. Supports ShotSpotter but would be better if it compliment cameras and technology deployed to fight crime. Ended by saying “We need your support on this Councilman Johnson.”

1. Pointed out that all policing is reactionary. Supports ShotSpotter but isn’t sure about the rise in costs associated in police response.

1. Opposed to ShotSpotter. Said everybody needs to center facts over feelings with the facts being that there’s no empirical research that suggests ShotSpotter will deter crime but they do have research that supports the fact that it does not deter crime.

1. Opposed ShotSpotter and encouraged Council to consider all the reasons to vote no that were provided today.

1. Supports Shotspotter. Said it’s not the solution but it’s “a tool in the arsenal for us to stop some of this crime.”

1. Referenced a line item on today’s agenda regarding the transfer of property to the Parks & Rec Department. Has questions regarding city ownership once approved?

1. Opposed ShotSpotter. Referenced a study that concluded that it doesn’t effectively reduce crimes involving a gun. Doesn’t think they need to spend any more money on policing and instead could invest in Detroiters.

1. Asked Council to consider an ordinance for landlords that allow their property to deteriorate and not make repairs to the property. Thinks they should be fined “several thousands of dollars.”

1. Supported ShotSpotter. Said they can’t tell a 911 operator where shots come from.

1. Supports ShotSpotter “to make our world a better place.”

2. Supports ShotSpotter and equipping police to help make the community safer.

1. Thinks it’s the council’s duty to evaluate independent data and if it does in fact aid police officers in identifying gunshuts. Supports ShotSpotter.

1. Asked Council to do their due diligence and review the various opinions and reports that have been provided to them. Also encouraged them to address issues heard by those who support it, if it is or isn’t approved.

1. Opposed ShotSpotter. Thinks it’s just a reaction to crime and violence and they need to figure out how to prevent it. Wants the $7 million to be invested in the community.

1. Supports ShotSpotter. Wants to feel safe while riding on their motorcycle. Said doing this will actually decrease the likelihood of guns being in their area.

1. Supports the money being invested in residents and their community.

2. Spoke about the anniversary of DDOT and an event they attended. Encouraged support for DDOT drivers and investments in public transit.

That concludes public comment for today!

97 comments, most about ShotSpotter.

Council is jumping ahead to the ShotSpotter contracts to discuss them first.

Sheffield said her office and 3 additional council members submitted a letter asking the administration to explore using funds other than ARPA

Gail Fulton, Mayors Office Liason, asked Council to postpone the vote on ShotSpotter for an additional week. They are currently investigating other funding sources to pay for the expansion of ShotSpotter, rather than using ARPA.

Ivy Corley, Legislative Policy Division, discussed cost savings that are based on the current vacancies within DPD. There are 352 vacancies which equate to $34.5 million in salary savings. The overtime deficit is $16.1 million.

Considering the amount of salary savings due to vacancies and the amount spent on overtime, there’s roughly $18 million in the police department’s budget that can be used for something else.

Santiago-Romero doesn’t support postponing council’s vote. She thinks the administration can find other revenue sources and bring a new contract back to the table for approval.

Santiago-Romero said she would rather vote the ShotSpotter contract down so they can start looking for solutions that utilize the ARPA funding that otherwise would have gone toward the ShotSpotter contract.

Pro Tem Tate is opposed to using ARPA funds to expand ShotSpotter’s footprint. He said he’s heard comments from the community that they’d be more likely to support the contract if it didn’t use ARPA funds.

Tate believes the city is capable of providing supportive services and tools for the police department to address crime.

Tate said he doesn’t see the preventative aspect of it but he does see how it’s been used for investigations after-the-fact.

Tate supports 17.2 because it doesn’t utilize ARPA funding.

Whitfield-Calloway said ShotSpotter doesn’t prevent the murders that have occurred in the city for decades. “We have a serious problem with crime-fighting in this city, and ShotSpotter isn’t a cure at all and we have frightened citizens.”

Whitfield-Calloway is a no vote on the contracts and on postponing the vote.

Benson said District 3 has had ShotSpotter since 2015. They’ve worked with DPD to ensure ShotSpotter data is coupled with better wraparound services.

Benson will support the ShotSpotter contracts. He thinks it’s necessary to pair ShotSpotter with wraparound services in response to gun violence.

Durhal has discussed the funerals and phone calls he’s had to make due to gun violence in his community.

Durhal said he’s not under the impression that ShotSpotter would have prevented the murder of Officer Loren Courts. However, he does think it would have given him a better idea of where it was coming from.

(Note about Officer Courts’ murder: it was said previously that the suspect shot from a second-story window. In such a case, the suspect would be shooting from inside a location. ShotSpotter is only for gunshots that occur outside.)

Durhal supports bringing the item back to find another source of funding.

Johnson said she’s heard from many residents in District 4 despite the fact that ShotSpotter wouldn’t be expanded to their community. She asked those who oppose ShotSpotter to provide alternatives that they’d like to see.

Johnson is in support of 17.2 which doesn’t utilize ARPA funding and is to extend the existing use of the technology. She is still considering 17.1 and said she’s looking forward to speaking with the community about alternatives to ShotSpotter.

Waters said she can’t ignore the fact that there’s no data that proves ShotSpotter actually works. She referenced Chicago’s decision to get rid of the technology.

Waters thinks they have to address the breeding grounds for violence. She discussed her efforts to assist residents who were interested in participating in the Greenlight program.

Waters became emotional as she said she wants Detroiters to know that they are going to keep working hard for them everyday. She said she often thinks about the ways the council can do better. https://t.co/Zz9xc2n27Q

Waters said she can’t ignore the fact that there’s no data that proves ShotSpotter actually works. She referenced Chicago’s decision to get rid of the technology.

Waters thinks they have to address the breeding grounds for violence. She discussed her efforts to assist residents who were interested in participating in the Greenlight program.

Waters became emotional as she said she wants Detroiters to know that they are going to keep working hard for them everyday. She said she often thinks about the ways the council can do better. https://t.co/vpr0hJ3exN

Sheffield said she’s a firm believer that they can’t police their way out of crime. She commended Chief White for his effort to address a lot of the community’s concerns.

Sheffield said she recently recieved a call from someone who called police and they never showed up. She questioned whether DPD had the capacity to adequately respond to ShotSpotter notifications.

Sheffield said she’s a firm believer that they can’t police their way out of crime. She commended Chief White for his effort to address a lot of the community’s concerns.

Sheffield said she recently recieved a call from someone who called police and they never showed up. She questioned whether DPD had the capacity to adequately respond to ShotSpotter notifications.

Sheffield said she will support the contract that doesn’t use ARPA funding. She can’t support the expansion of ShotSpotter today. She wants to see community-based violence intervention funded and alongside of ShotSpotter.

Sheffield: “I’m not going to be pressured into supporting any technology by fear.”

She said her decision is going to be data-driven and based on the concerns and issues that are addressed.She also has concerns about data and efficiency.

A little bit of tensio after Young suggested that Council was dragging meeting participants along instead of making their decision.

Sheffield said residents deserve to know where their council members stand on the issue and they’re getting to the point of voting.

https://twitter.com/kayleighrenel/status/1574806401490223104?s=20&t=mK5NAFAv7ByIX0edINMkzA