Reparations Task Force - IN-PERSON ONLY

(pardon the weird grammar, trying not to go over the post word count 😅)

Documenters reporting: https://detroit.documenters.org/assignments/reparations-task-force-in-person-only-14002/
City website: https://detroitmi.gov/government/city-council/city-council-president-district-5/reparations-task-force

I will be attending in person because there tend to be audio and video issues while attending remotely.

I’m not seeing an agenda for this meeting! So I will update everyone when I arrive 🫡

Agenda!!

Meeting called to order at 2:08pm!

Members don’t have name tags or anything so please bear with me with not knowing names!

Another handout:

We have a quorum, 7 members present.

The members are introducing themselves and the districts they serve.

The meeting is also broadcasted on the screen.

Agenda is approved, and no unfinished business. Onto new business…

Member Bernard Parker said the board is still meeting for roughly two hours every Tuesday.

Another handout!

We’re going into a presentation that they’ve given to city council previously. They’re encouraging people to take a reparations eligibility survey.

Link to the survey: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d2d958c6a0434110890c21eb2f637f81

A link to another reparations survey: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/048a5c0d757644d183f4007db4ff35da

The board’s report writer is officially onboarded.

And here’s a rough outline for their upcoming report.

We’re going to go into breakout groups where people will make recommendations on what to add to their report to city council.

One person at each table will report back to the task force about priorities their tables spoke about.

Sitting at a table now and right off the bat they’re discussing disbursing actual cash, but also other ways to address certain harms, such as health disparities.

Even after writing the report, the task force and residents will need to mobilize to make sure the report is brought to fruition.

One resident asked how cash restitution would be distributed. The task force member said it would depend on the harm that was caused. For example, overtaxing on homes—money needs to come back to those people.

If you fall ill because of environmental injustice (ex: living in heavily polluted 48217)

One resident said it’s hard to determine a cause of death, especially if its an environmental cause. She mentioned living near the Chrysler freeway and noticing health issues because of death.

One resident suggested looking at target zip codes/areas that have high amounts of pollution, and people who have lived in those neighborhoods for a long period of time can be identified and compensated.

If another neighborhood is known for having low amounts of health food options, that might be another reason to compensate someone.

One resident highlighted the redlining of car insurance, some having to pay significantly higher rates depending on where you live.

Another concerns: Drainage fees, specifically in areas where other communities are using their sewage

The loss of trades programs, privatization of city jobs and public services, removal of residency requirements for city employees. She lost three jobs because of public services that the city privatized—like housing and the lighting department.

There’s an emphasis on this privatization of public services because it leaves residents out of a job, especially after the bankruptcy.

One resident said recommendation #3 should be easy (see photo for reference)
Another resident gave an example of parking costs, parking tickets, etc. Especially in areas with unnecessarily high parking costs.

She also mentioned certain blight tickets issued to residents, like parking a vehicle on the grass for example.

Onto recommendation #4: Policies that correct other policies that are discriminatory or otherwise perpetuate racism.

One resident mentioned license plate readers used by the DPD. She worries that they could be used to determine who doesn’t have car insurance.

For context about conversations about expensive car insurance/Detroiters not having car insurance, @outliermedia.org wrote a good article about it: https://outliermedia.org/detroit-car-insurance-rates-crime-theft/

Another: https://outliermedia.org/getting-there-detroit-car-insurance-costs/

Another resident mentioned eliminating Shotspotter, a controversial gunshot detection technology. More on that from @bridgedet313.bsky.social https://www.bridgedetroit.com/is-shotspotter-effective/

One resident emphasizes having a quality transportation system, citing issues with the Qline and People Mover not serving most of the city.

Addressing #5, one resident emphasized bringing back home repair programs. She sees money going toward this being far more productive than something like Shotspotter.

Reopening recreation centers, building swimming pools, more skate parks, etc. Another resident thinks Belle Isle should be under control of the city (it’s currently a state park).

One resident would’ve liked to see We the People Detroit, who does work around water justice. They played a pivotal role in pushing for Detroit Water and Sewage Department’s lifeline plan (income-based water affordability plan).

One resident mentions taking action against the Detroit Land Bank Authority, saying some people got extensions and others got their homes taken away.

Regarding #6: One resident wants representatives on the Freedman Department from multiple disciplines (economic, education, etc)

Another resident said they need to have the necessary educational background or have some qualifications.

One of the task force members reminded that some people they are currently concerned about had qualifications and background and that should be kept in mind.

Now we’re hearing what some of the other tables had to say.

1. The importance of homeownership, making a clear pathway to homeownership
2. Revamping the school system
3. Traditional lending doesn’t work for most homes in the city, the city needs its own financial institutions.

Next table:
1. Who should get cash compensation? Elders should be prioritized.

Now our table:
1. Cash compensation for people with health issues resulting from environmental injustices
2. Privatization of public services and loss of wages
3. Getting rid of rain water drainage fees (some in the audience agreed with this)

1. Compensation for car insurance (people also vocally agreed)

1. Returning Belle Isle and the water authority back to the city.
2. Putting money towards public transit.
3. Eliminating license plate scanners.
4. Restoring home repair grants.

Another table:
1. Repairing all the harms of taking homes/land
2. Free quality education
3. Police reform
4. Addressing medical racism, hospitals with Black doctors
5. Restoring certain city services
6. Drainage fees, paying for people from other communities to drain their waste

1. Repairing harm for people who lost their homes due to high water bills
2. Not accepting cops already known to have bad behavior.
3. Restoring recreational services
4. Dismantling police forces in schools
5. Food desert/apartheid, bringing quality affordable food into the city

1. Bringing equity and DEI in city govt, trade unions, etc.
2. Compensating people who experienced police brutalityz
3. Freeing political prisoners and those convicted for marijuana and other drug use
4. Additional police training for mental illness
5. Restoring African-centered education

1. Tier-level system: Prioritize people who experienced certain harms (ex: displaced from Black Bottom due to I-375)

Next table:
1. To receive benefits, must be a descendant of someone who was enslaved.
2. No age limitations
3. Wants to see lineage in the city for at least 50 years, not 20 years that was in the survey.

1. Doesn’t have to be a current resident because some had to leave the city due to different issues
2. “What do we call ourselves?” African American? Black? Her table largely agreed they don’t prefer being called African Americans, want that terminology removed.

1. Cash reparations must be part of the plan.

One participant is talking about the different (17) urban renewal areas throughout the city, that are now considered prime real estate. People who lived in those areas should be compensated.

Now they’re seeking comments from virtual participants.

One said they might need more time before the June deadline.

Also looking at the rights residents lost over the years.

Another commenter asked where funding is coming from? She feels like the task force is rushing and wants them to slow down a bit.

Also mentioned gentrification in Brush Park.

Another resident wonder where the funding will come from. He thinks it should come from the banks because of the issues they created with home foreclosures/otherwise leading Detroiters to lose their homes.

Next resident said they shouldn’t rush and make sure to cover all the bases since residents have been neglected for so long.

Another resident thinks there some be some obligation from the state to address some of these harms. It should be a financial responsibility of the state of Michigan.

President of the National Reparations League is here from Florida said he knows this isn’t an easy process, but think about where we are compared to places like Alabama and Florida.

Also being intentional with only supporting business that support reparations.

Going into public comment now.

1. Wonders how we can get reparations for people who are incarceration, especially political prisoners.

1. Duggan eliminating a recorders court had bad consequences for Black men in Detroit. Detroit should have their own courts like Grosse Point, Eastpointe… Leads to people who aren’t actually representing the city representing juries.

1. Needs a greater effort to reclaim assets stolen by the state. The city continues to hurt. And it shouldn’t just be white people coming in and telling people how things should work.

1. Understands not wanting to rush things, but this is one part of a mass movement and people need to come together for the different movements for better conditions in the city. Lets narrow things down as quickly as possible.

1. Also mentions the role the state has played in causing harm towards Black residents. Encourages to scan the QR code on this handout:

1. Promotes RUBI-Reparations and Universal Basic Income. Also said we don’t have time to wait and action needs to be taken now.

1. Said there will need to he a non-Black business boycott, and boycott businesses that don’t explicitly support reparations.

The task force is deferring the treasurer’s report so the meeting doesn’t go long past 4pm.

Several attendants said they want representation at the Mackinaw policy conference in May.

Meeting adjourned at 4:04pm.

If you believe anything in the coverage is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

For more coverage, please visit https://detroit.documenters.org !