DETROIT CITY COUNCIL

Community leaders came together on Detroit's east side to call for a peaceful end to violence across the city.

Detroit’s new ordinance would put medical cannabis dispensaries out of business, lawsuit claims

The right-to-counsel ordinance passed 9-0, and Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration endorsed it

The city’s newly formed Office of Marijuana Ventures & Entrepreneurship opened up the online application process for unlimited recreational marijuana licenses

A meeting held last week had city council members asking DTE to halt any electricity shutoffs.

During a press conference Saturday, Detroit community leaders launched a new campaign to create a more peaceful city in the summer months.

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield and other organizations are looking for ways to compensate Detroiters who were overtaxed $600M during the Great Recession.

Late bloomer

Detroit voters approved recreational marijuana in the city two years ago, but only now has it been given the green light by the city.

On Tuesday Detroit City Council voted 8-1 to approve the new ordinance, one that’s more inclusive.

Detroit City Council on Tuesday, April 6, passed a new recreational marijuana licensing ordinance to replace another that stalled due to legal challenges. The city plans to issue 100 recreational retailer licenses, 30 consumption lounge licenses and 30 microbusiness licenses with half going to social equity or “Detroit legacy” applicants. It’s allowing an unlimited number of licenses for recreational marijuana growers, processors, transporters, safety labs, events and event organizers. “This ordinance is not a perfect ordinance,” said Detroit City Council President Pro James Tem Tate, who spearheaded creation of both ordinances with a focus on preserving space in the market for Detroit residents. Recreational marijuana isn’t one of them.

After years of back-and-forth, court battles and intense debate, the Detroit City Council has finally approved the city’s recreational marijuana ordinance.

The City of Detroit is officially allowing recreational marijuana to be sold in the city under a newly approved ordinance.

The ordinance is intended to protect tenants from lawless slumlords

The cash-strapped city has missed out on more than two years worth of new taxes from the multibillion-dollar industry

Michiganders voted to legalize recreational marijuana back in 2018. However, as it stands three-plus years later, the city of Detroit still doesn’t have a finalized plan for businesses to sell it.

Last summer, a judge put a halt to granting recreational marijuana licenses in the city of Detroit. Instead of waiting to go to trial, there’s a new ordinance on the table.

Wednesday (Feb. 9), Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced a plan to raise the minimum wage for Detroit city workers to $15 an hour, and with councils approval, it’s going to go in place sooner rather than later.

It has long stood as an iconic symbol of Detroit’s decline, the old Lee Plaza Hotel on West Grand Boulevard has sat vacant for decades, but that’s soon going to change. This is the towering Lee Plaza; it’s been abandoned and ransacked for 25. Now it is getting a new lease on life.

Former Detroit City Councilman Andre Spivey has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to a bribery charge in connection with the federal probe into a Detroit corruption scandal.

As we inch closer to sentencing for former Detroit City Council member Andre Spivey, one of the most significant deciding factors in how severe his sentencing will be is how much he’s cooperated with the FBI during this investigation.

The new Detroit City Council met for the first time Monday, Jan. 4, 2022.

The Detroit City Council has a new leader. The council on Tuesday appointed Councilwoman Mary Sheffield to serve as its president. She previously served as...

Former Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh was released from prison Wednesday morning after serving a shorter-than-expected sentence following a criminal sexual conduct conviction.

The former Detroit City Council president, Charles Pugh, was released from prison on Wednesday, Dec. 22, after serving five years for pleading guilty to sexual misconduct.

The Detroit City Council approved an $18.6 million transit center that will be constructed on the site of the old Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit.

The Detroit City Council has approved $18.6 million for a new transit center at the former Michigan State Fairgrounds site.

The old State Fairgrounds has turned into an Amazon hub -- and part of that deal is a new transit center to replace what’s there. Which is not much.

A municipal attorney who mocked an activist who uses a wheelchair should no longer work for the city of Detroit, a council committee said Wednesday....

Watch Flashpoint every Sunday at 10 a.m. on Local 4 News.

A retired police officer has been charged in the ongoing corruption probe within Detroit City Hall and the Detroit Police Department.

Former Michigan Congresswoman Barbara Rose-Collins has died at the age of 82, according to a statement from family.

The Detroit City Council granted its approval for the Detroit Grand Prix to move from Belle Isle to the Detroit River waterfront, a move proposed by Bud Denker, president of Penske Corporation, in September. The race will return to Belle Isle June 3-5, 2022, before moving to downtown Detroit in 2023. “We are so excited to begin a new era of the Grand Prix beginning in 2023,” a statement reads. “Ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the energy of our street festival in downtown Detroit. In the coming weeks we look forward to sharing our vision for the future of the Grand Prix in the Motor City.”

The Detroit City Council approved a contract to return the Detroit Grand Prix downtown from its current home on an island in the middle of the Detroit River.

The Detroit Grand Prix will be held on Belle Isle for the final time in 2022 before it returns to the streets of downtown Detroit...

Newcomers on Tuesday won six of the nine seats on the Detroit City Council, which has been beset by an ongoing FBI investigation. Coleman A....

Track live results for Detroit City Council for the 2021 General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

The Detroit City Council has unanimously approved an ordinance that would take guns away from domestic abusers.

A bridge battle is brewing in Detroit having to do with the Moroun family’s plan to build a new span across the Detroit River. To do that, they need a key piece of land that was promised to them years ago by the city.

A stage three, triple negative breast cancer survivor. That’s Saunteel Jenkins.

One year ago, Saunteel Jenkins, the CEO of The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW) and former Detroit City Council president, faced a shocking diagnosis - Stage 3 breast cancer. But she was determined to survive.

In Detroit, voters will be electing a new city council. “This is a monumental City Council election.” —Christine Ferretti, The Detroit NewsAnd it’s all happening amid concerns of corruption on city council. Listen: What to watch in 2021 Detroit City Council elections. Christine Ferretti covers Detroit City Hall for The Detroit News. Sheila Cockrel is CEO of the voter education group CitizenDetroit and a former member of Detroit City Council.

The Detroit City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday aimed at protecting Detroiters from predatory towing practices. The vote comes amid an ongoing FBI investigation,...

After a chaotic year of scandal for the Detroit City Council, the 2021 General Election could be just as messy.

Andre Spivey, 47, has resigned from the Detroit City Council after pleading guilty to a bribery charge on Tuesday (Sept. 28).

DETROIT – The Detroit Grand Prix is eying a move back downtown. Representatives of the annual IndyCar race on Belle Isle laid out a plan before Detroit City Council on Tuesday to bring the race back to the streets of downtown Detroit where the race was held from 1982 to 1991. The race is scheduled to return to Belle Isle June 3-5, 2022 and a current agreement with the state to host the race on Belle Isle is good though 2024. Bud Denker, president of Penske Corporation, wants to see a downtown street circuit beginning in 2023. The 2021 version of the Detroit Grand Prix was won by Marcus Ericsson and Patricio O’Ward.

A member of the Detroit City Council pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy, admitting that he and an aide accepted nearly $36,000 in bribes related to oversight of towing.

The inaugural Detroit Grand Prix in 1982 was a race through Downtown Detroit.

Detroit City Council member Andre Spivey has plead guilty to bribery charges.

Here’s what’s coming up on Local 4 News at 4:

Detroit City Council unanimously approved a new ordinance aimed at protecting the Detroit River from polluters. The Detroit River Protection Ordinance was created after a...

In a unanimous vote, the Detroit City Council officially confirmed the appointment of James White as Detroit’s 43rd police chief.

The Detroit mayoral election is two months away, just as the Detroit City Council faces an FBI investigation on suspicion of corruption and bribery. Mayor Mike Duggan says he is not concerned about the corruption probe’s findings, nor is he concerned about debating with his fellow mayoral candidates. “After the Kilpatrick administration … there are clear ethics and policies … I don’t know that the issue is a lack of rules. We’ll wait and see what comes out of this.” —Detroit Mayor Mike DugganListen: Mayor Mike Duggan says he’s focusing on changing politics in the city. He says he refuses to debate Detroit mayoral candidate Anthony Adams because of his campaign rhetoric.

Nearly a decade ago, when Hantz Farms was asking the Detroit City Council for approval to buy more than 1,500 parcels of blighted land for...

What crimes was the FBI investigating when agents raided the city council offices of Janeé Ayers and Scott Benson?

Councilmember Andre Spivey has already been charged with conspiracy to commit bribery.

Here are tonight's top stories.

Here's what's coming up on Local 4 News at 5.

DETROIT -- The homes of two Detroit City Council members were raided Wednesday morning by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to the Associated Press, the homes of council members Janeé Ayers and Scott Benson, along with city offices, were raided. The raid comes after another member of the council, Andre Spivey, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery last month for allegedly accepting thousands of dollars in bribes. Spivey pleaded not guilty to the charges and is cooperating with federal authorities, according to the AP. Former councilman Gabe Leland quit the council in May and entered a guilty plea after he was accused of accepting a campaign donation in cash.

FBI agents were raiding the homes of Detroit City Council members and offices at the city’s Coleman A. Young Municipal Center on Wednesday morning as part of a corruption probe.

Here’s what's coming up on Local 4 News at Noon.

Here are tonight's top stories.

Mayor Mike Duggan announced his selection for the permanent chief of the Detroit Police Department on Monday afternoon.

Here's what's coming up on Local 4 News at 5.

Mayor Mike Duggan has named James White as his selection for the permanent chief of the Detroit Police Department.

Mayor Mike Duggan announced Monday he has selected James White as chief of the Detroit Police Department.

ANN ARBOR, MI – Ann Arbor Police Chief Michael Cox has been identified as one of three candidates chosen to be the next Chief of the Detroit Police Department. The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners selected Cox and two other candidates to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s Office Thursday, Aug. 16, to be considered for the open position of police chief vacated by former Detroit Police Chief James Craig who retired after eight years in the role. Detroit Interim Chief James White and Wayne County Deputy Sheriff Robert Dunlap were also named as top candidates for the position. Cox was selected to be Ann Arbor’s Chief of Police in 2019 after a 30-year career at the Boston Police Department. Ann Arbor council hires Boston cop to serve as new police chiefMuch of his tenure as chief has been during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The former president of the Detroit City Council has been granted parole about five years after his conviction for having sex with a teenage boy when he previously worked as a TV journalist.

Detroit City Council member Andre Spivey is free on a $10,000 bond after an arraignment in federal court Tuesday over criminal charges.

The upheaval on the Detroit City Council seems to be far from over after the federal government accused councilman Andre Spivey of taking a bribe.

Election results for Detroit City Council races in the 2021 Michigan Primary Election on Aug. 3, 2021.

A Detroit City Council member has been charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and accused of accepting $1,000 from an undercover law enforcement agent.

Detroit City Councilman Andre Spivey anticipates being indicted by federal prosecutors over a $1,000 payment three years ago.

Black Detroiters moved a step closer to receiving long-awaited reparations for systemic racial discrimination, but the historic measure still faces legal and funding uncertainties. The...

The Detroit City Council has voted in favor of a reparation commitment.

Detroit City Council is weighing a proposal that would bring Black residents closer to receiving long-awaited reparations for systemic racial discrimination. If approved, the proposal,...

Chrysler’s new plant on Detroit’s east side was a massive boost to the city’s economy, but neighbors living near it said it’s a nightmare.

Multiple organizations are making a serious case for reparations in the City of Detroit.

Concerns over parties and concerts at The Corner Ballpark in Corktown are being addressed by the city.

MUSKEGON, MI – The proposed Muskegon County casino project is facing pushback from elected officials in the greater Detroit region. Detroit City Council and the Wayne County Board of Commissioners passed resolutions last week opposing “any off-reservation gaming effort” in Michigan, mentioning the Fruitport Township casino and a proposed casino in Wayne County by the Sault Tribe. The tribe says it is pursuing the “off-reservation” casino because many of its members live in the Muskegon County region. Related: What’s next for the Muskegon County casino project? Larry Romanelli, the Little River Band tribe leader, says it feels “a little odd” to have opposition coming from across the state.

Ordinance would require standards, accountability, around use of the technology

On Tuesday, Detroit City Council passed a resolution in support of "right to recall" legislation that would guarantee hospitality workers laid off due to the...

Raquel Castañeda-López, the first Latina elected to the Detroit City Council and one of its lone progressive voices, is not running for a third term...

Local lawmakers took to social media following the ruling.

Brenda Jones says she will not seek another term as Detroit City Council President. "It is my highest honor to be the Detroit City Council...

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Detroit to temporarily halt the processing of recreational marijuana business applications. In doing so, a lawsuit filed by prospective marijuana shop owner Crystal Lowe claims Detroit is violating both the state and U.S. Constitution. The intent of the ordinance aligns with the state marijuana law that voters passed in 2018. Based on the interest in Detroit marijuana licensing, it’s possible all the available licenses could be taken up by legacy applicants. At a March 29 Detroit City Council meeting, the Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity Department reported that 400-plus legacy applicants “had already been certified,” the lawsuit said.

click to enlarge Courtesy photoThe Caucus Club is planning to re-open in April. Detroit's longstanding Caucus Club is reminding customers it has a dress code. Apparently, the restaurant has a "smell code," too.The restaurant took to Facebook earlier this week to remind diners to wear business attire.It also called out customers for smelling like weed. "Seriously people, hoodies and jerseys are not business attire," the restaurant wrote in a Facebook post . Most importantly, if you smell like marijuana don’t even think of stepping inside the Caucus Club.

(CBS DETROIT) – In November, the the Detroit City Council passed the Medical Marijuana Facilities and Adult-Use Marijuana Establishments ordinance. Officials shared details on the application process following the recent approval of an amendment to the Detroit City Code, which now allows adult-use recreational marijuana licensing in Detroit through the Medical Marijuana Facilities and Adult-Use Marijuana Establishments ordinance. The ordinance gives preference to longtime Detroit residents seeking licenses that will include discounts on land, reduced application fees, technical and financial assistance to Detroit-owned marijuana business start-ups. It also includes a social equity program, which guarantees that no less than 50 percent of all newly created recreational marijuana business licenses for retailers, growers, processors, microbusinesses, designated consumption and marijuana event organizers issued in Detroit will be awarded to Detroit Legacy applicants. For more information about the adult-use marijuana ordinance, the Legacy Detroiter application or the social equity program component, click here.

(CBS DETROIT) – A resolution intended to compensate over-assessed home-owners was shot down by Detroit City Council. Council took up the proposal Tuesday introduced by Mayor Mike Duggan to yield advantages to affected homeowners through city program preferences. But the resolution loss popularity as the timeline didn’t cover home-owners affected before 2010 and after 2013. The community legal advocate says the six-million-dollar program is a band-aid over a “$600 million” wound. Instead of the shame being where it should be, on the city for over-assessing properties.

The virus is even showing up at the Wayne County Jail not only infecting inmates but staff members as well. Detroit City Council President Pro-Tem Mary Sheffield is taking charge to help slow the spread inside the walls of the correction facility. Theres been like a cry from inmates that we need help. With the help of General Motors, Sheffield secured 7,000 masks for inmates along with 6,200 latex gloves and 150 face shields for deputies. The Wayne County Sheriffs office has been making headlines after Covid-19 claimed the lives of two sheriffs deputies and caused dozens to fall ill on both sides of the bars.

City of DetroitDetroit City Council President Brenda Jones. Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones violated campaign finance laws that are designed to prevent pay-to-play politics, according to a new report.While running for re-election to city council in 2017, Jones accepted nearly $10,000 in campaign contributions from top officials at First Independent Bank, which has a contract to operate a loan program for the Detroit police and pension fund, The Intercept first reported Jones, who is running against U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib for the congressional seat, is a trustee of the pension fund.Michigan makes it a crime for politicians on public pension boards to accept campaign contributions in excess of $350 from top leaders of contractors.Jones accepted $5,500 in campaign donations from then-First Independent Bank Chairman and CEO Barry Clay, according to campaign finance records. She also took $4,000 in campaign contributions from First Independence Bank board member Douglas Diggs.The conduct certainly looks to me to be in violation of the relevant law, Duke Law professor James Cox, who has studied ethics and pay-to-play issues, tells. It strikes me as pretty blatant.In the 2018 Democratic primary for the congressional seat, Tlaib defeated Jones by fewer than 1,000 votes. Prior to that contest, Jones won a special election to complete former Rep. John Conyers Jr.s term, spending five weeks in Congress.Tlaib, who has become a household name, raised a whopping $2.2 million during the current election cycle, according to campaign finance records.The primary election is Aug. 4.Jones could not be reached for comment.

click to enlarge Phil Pasquini, Shutterstock / Brenda JonesU.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones. Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones officially announced Wednesday that shes going up against freshman U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib.Jones, 60, was among a large field of Democrats whom Tlaib defeated in the primary election in the 2018 Democratic primary.Tlaib narrowly beat Jones by fewer than 1,000 votes. "One, bring new resources to the district, Jones said. Three, focusing on issues that are important to the families and the people of the 13th Congressional District. "Rep. Tlaib is hard at work pushing groundbreaking policies to make direct payments to all Americans to weather this storm, leading legislation to save state and local governments from financial collapse, and preventing utility shutoffs, evictions, and foreclosures."

Kumpf also said he supports the council's ordinance amendment and pledged to promptly investigate complaints to prevent future attacks. Kumpf also said he supports the council's ordinance amendment and pledged to promptly investigate complaints to prevent future attacks. The city pumped more money into Detroit Animal Care and Control to hire new employees and expand the citys shelter. The city also has a new team of seven investigators, each of whom is responsible for a city district.The city's enforcement efforts have increased. In 2019, animal control officers issued 740 tickets to pet owners for ordinance violations, a 300% increase over 2018.Our first priority is making sure animals do not pose a threat to human safety, Director of Animal Care Mark Kumpf said in a news release.

Detroit City Council President Pro Tem Mary Sheffield is drafting a resolution asking for the Governors help to protect low-income families from suspended water service. I still hear stories all the time of people who cant afford to pay their water bills and water shut-offs are still happening in our city, said Sheffield. Without water service interruptions for non-payment as a collection tool, in time the average monthly bill could go from $75 per household, on average, to more than $300, said Brown. There are plans and assistance programs in place to help individuals avoid water shut-offs but what Ive seen over the last couple of years, is that its just not enough, said Sheffield. Right now Governor Gretchen Whitmers office is withholding comment on the resolution until it arrives on the Governors desk.

DETROIT, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) This week the Detroit City Council voted unanimously to extend the recreational marijuana opt-out till late March. The effort was led by City Council member James Tate. The Social Equity Program would mean, opportunities for Detroiters that may have been disproportionally impacted by marijuana, prior to its legalization. Tate and other city leaders are working within the Detroit community to spread the word about social equity. Rubdock, says, many Detroiters arent even aware of the social equity program.

On November 19, Detroit City Council voted 6-3 against putting his proposal on the March 2020 ballot to sell $250 million in bonds to fund residential demolitions. The vote took place one day after hundreds of Detroiters showed up to City Council, many to express their concerns about the program. Ive been on council for six years and we really very rarely see that many people come out and actually support or are engaged in what council is doing, City Council President Pro Tem Mary Sheffield told the Detroit Free Press. I think the community spoke loud and clear and council listened.Duggan had hoped to use the funds to eliminate all residential blight by 2025. Earlier this month, a Detroit Auditor General report concluded that the demolition program was terribly mismanaged.

click to enlarge Steve NeavlingMore than 20,000 vacant houses create blight in Detroit. The findings ranged from lack of oversight to shoddy record-keeping.Previous state and federal investigations also uncovered widespread problems. And some state lawmakers also opposed the plan, saying they are concerned about environmental hazards from demolitions.Since Duggan took office in 2014, the city has demolished more than 19,000 vacant houses, primarily using $265 million in federal funds. That money has run out. Because these funds will be completely controlled by the city, neighborhoods that have lived with blight for decades will see all of it removed within five years of the bond sale being approved.After Tuesday's meeting, Duggan conceded defeat and said he plans to rethink how the city can reduce blight.

Emmett Moten told Detroit City Council that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) deemed it necessary to demolish the United Artists Theatre in order to redevelop the rest of the downtown building. HUD did not impose a condition requiring the demolition of the theater, Marta Juaniza, public affairs specialist for HUD, told the Detroit News. The borrowers proposal was to demolish the theater.Motens claim came during an October 24 meeting of the City Councils Planning and Economic Development standing committee. Related 15 dormant buildings in Detroit awaiting lifeTheyre not gonna go forward unless the theater comes down, Moten said. We dont have a project without that.The plan to demolish the theater was absent from the presentation the City Council.

The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) were just awarded $2.6 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation for no emission bus technology. The Federal Transit Administration grants were part of its Low- or No Emission program and will enable the Southeast Michigan transit agencies to purchase six electric buses and build charging infrastructure. The buses will be purchased from Proterra, a California-based electric bus manufacturer, and DTE Energy will support building the charging infrastructure. This is part of several recent collaborative efforts between DDOT and SMART, including implementation of the unified payment system DART. Merging the various transit systems is an essential component of the Regional Transit Authoritys plan which is currently undergoing revision.

On July 24, Detroit City Council unanimously passed an ordinance to greatly and swiftly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas in the city. The ordinance stipulates reducing greenhouse gas emissions from city sources by 35 percent by 2024, 75 percent by 2043, and 100 percent by 2050. It will also work towards reducing citywide emissions by 30 percent by 2025. The city will also conduct a greenhouse gas inventory assessment every four years, the first of which will be completed by August 1, 2020. Over 100 cities have committed to 100 percent renewable energy from city sources by 2050.