Live reporting by
Nathaniel Eichenhorn
A vote to override the mayor’s veto of a resolution to amend bond requirements for the interim treasurer failed. A vote to move the DTE bill pay kiosk from the police station to the recreation center was approved.
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Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
Good Morning #Detroit !
I will be live tweeting the Highland Park City Council meeting today at 7:00pm for #DetroitDocumenters @DetDocumenters media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @media_outlier @metrotimes @MichiganRadio @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
I will be live tweeting the Highland Park City Council meeting today at 7:00pm for #DetroitDocumenters @DetDocumenters media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @media_outlier @metrotimes @MichiganRadio @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
05:47 PM May 6, 2024 CDT
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The meeting has not yet been called to order. I'll keep you posted
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The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. All of the council members were present
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Councilmember Ash-Shafii was very animatedly criticizing the police chief regarding moving a DTE kiosk from the police department
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Mayor McDonald explains why she is not present in the chamber today. It is because of an ongoing investigation of the police department into an "incident"
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The mayor is detailing how she can be contacted in her absence
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The first commenter is seeking to clarify issues relating to the mayor's veto
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The next commenter is voicing her concerns regarding moving a DTE kiosk from the police station two different location
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The citizen is concerned that she will not feel safe if the kiosk is moved away from the police station, as she pays her bills in cash.
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The next commenter is upset that the DTE kiosk issue has not been resolved
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The same commenter is also voicing her concerns regarding perspective treasurer Lisa Stolarski
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She is concerned that the issue has gone on this long without resolution
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Moving on to the bid opening for the ambulance transportation service
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The motion was accepted and referred to the appropriate authority. The role was called and the yays were unanimous
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Moving on to the next agenda item which regards overturning the mayor's veto of the prospective treasurer regarding the bond requirements
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The council president wonders aloud whether we're not going to talk about the elephant in the room, namely, why the mayor is not in the building
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Council member Ash-Shafii is very animatedly voicing his objections to the delay. He characterizes it as unreasonable
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The Clerk and councilmember Ash-Shafii got into an exchange regarding the clerk's office not having certain relevant documents
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The clerk said she cannot present documents that she was never given. It is the responsibility of the various bodies to give the clerk's office a copy of these relevant documents, she can look for them but not demand them
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The issue of why the mayor is not in the chamber today was brought up again and again dismissed
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The council is voted on overriding the mayor's veto. The role is as follows
Thomas no
Robinson yes
Manica no
Martin, yes
Ash -Shafii yes
As the super majority is required to override a veto, the motion does not carry
Thomas no
Robinson yes
Manica no
Martin, yes
Ash -Shafii yes
As the super majority is required to override a veto, the motion does not carry
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The presenter is clarifying the process involved in applying to acquire a vacant side lot in the city
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VII b passes. The roll
Thomas Yes
Robinson No
Manica Yes
Martin No
Ash-Shafii No
The motion carries
Thomas Yes
Robinson No
Manica Yes
Martin No
Ash-Shafii No
The motion carries
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The petitioner for the next lot says that the previous administration was dumping on this lot next to his house and that since then a local school has been dumping their debris
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The lot has developed a serious animal problem that at this point has prevented the petitioner from inhabiting his own home
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He further claims the city has been ticketing him for the mess, even though he doesn't own the lot, and the city itself is responsible for the dumping
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The petitioner wants to buy the lot to clear it, get rid of the animals, and establish a garden
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Now the council is considering the motion to move the DTE kiosk
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The PD replies that the police station is a better place for it, and laments that misinformation is being spread regarding the police department
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The police department clarifies that the highland Park police station is not a full-time station. It is not open 24 hours a day or 7 days a week
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Moving on to the vote on VIIIa, which was added at the beginning of the meeting, and concerns the DTE kiosk.
It passed with all yays except Martin, who voted No
It passed with all yays except Martin, who voted No
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Item VIIIb, which is to schedule a public meeting for the budget discussion.
It passed unanimously
It passed unanimously
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Now we're moving on to a resolution from the Department of engineering to approve a contract for sinkhole and catch basin repairs
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The item passed unanimously apart from Ash-Shafii, who voted No
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The city council is now moving on to approving a grant award from the State of Michigan Department of Environment, Great lakes and Energy
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The City Water Department is detailing the effort to hunt down leaks and possible sinkholes that will be affected by the grant money
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The present commenter is recommending the DTE kiosk at the police station
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The mayor is now commenting and saying how she vetoed the bond for procedural reasons and not maliciously
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The mayor says that there are people who are trying to destroy the city and that she won't tolerate it
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The present commenter feels that council member Ash-Shafii is not doing enough for her district
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Ms. Stolarski is speaking now and says she emailed the council, and was not answered, and the council responded that they did not receive a completed bond
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The present commentator says that highland Park currently has a farmers market and it should begin again in the beginning of July.
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The person commentator would like a street renamed for the pastor of their church that recently passed away
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The present commenter is voicing her concerns about the lack of Treasurer
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The commenter notes that the city has been without a treasurer for 72 days
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This commentator is saying how he is impressed by an interview the city council president did
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Now a person is addressing the room, but away from the podium, and I'm not really sure if they're an official public comment
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In any case, she is saying that the city needs to come together and make amends one with another and move forward
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The present commenter is upset that his a lot of time is only 2 minutes
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The commenter claims he has been mistreated by the city, and makes several accusations against the city
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As-Sharii says he will now "clap back" at the commenter who asked regarding what he is doing
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She is yelling that The councilman does not appear in the district, and does not participate in community events.
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The chair tried to cut off the commenter but council member Ash-Shafii insisted she be allowed to continue
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He claims that he does not appear at events at which the mayor is scheduled to appear
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He also claims that he is "tired of arguing with y'all". He also claims that the citizenry is anti-Muslim
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Someone responded "I'm Muslim" and Ash-Shafii responded "No, you're not"
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Someone seems to have stood up off camera. The chair is begging him to "please have a seat"
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Ok now Ash-Shafii is telling the city that he is at their service and gave out his phone number
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Now Ash-Shafii is yelling at the chair for trying to move the meeting on
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Council member Manica is now taking about an event for community children planned for June
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Robinson asked the city attorney for apology for airing her business in public regarding a real estate purchase that she claims was without blemish
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Chair Thomas says elements of the Highland Park City Council constitute a Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization
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Thomas: "it's gonna be a hot summer, people. It's gonna be a real hot summer"
With that, the meeting is adjourned at 9:23pm
With that, the meeting is adjourned at 9:23pm
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Well folks, this closes my coverage of the Highland Park City Council meeting for May 6, 2024. Learn more about our coverage of local meetings at
documenters.org
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If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line