Welcome back to the notebook. I’m Kayleigh Lickliter! No worries, Malachi Barrett will be back next week. 

For now, let’s talk about what happened at the Jan. 28 formal session!

Federal grant freeze

The Housing and Revitalization Department asked the city council to approve a walk-on competitive grant agreement today ahead of the 5 p.m. temporary freeze on federal grants after the Trump administration sent out a memo last night.

Director Julie Schneider said the city was awarded the $4.2 million federal housing grant earlier this year and received the agreement last week. Schneider said the money would support a city planning project, and some of the money would be used to support smaller-scale housing projects. The program was proposed by the Biden administration as a one-time program so Schneider said she believed that approving it ahead of 5 p.m. would allow the city to move forward and use it.

About half of HRD’s budget comes from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development on an annual basis, she said. Because the city received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding up-front, Schneider said it’s not at risk.

Hours later, a federal judge on Tuesday evening ordered a temporary halt to the Trump directive until Feb. 3 as arguments in a related lawsuit continue.

The announcement of a federal grant freeze came days after the mayor announced the city would be receiving $364 million from HUD to fix alley drains and repair sewer lines. “We do not have a grant agreement available and we have several other stages that we have to go through by statute, including a public notification period, before we would be in any position to be able to bring anything to council,” Schneider said.

“As of right now, we’re working to make sure that any invoices that are currently in the process are being reviewed promptly so that our vendors are getting those payments,” Schneider said. “We are going to continue to operate as we have been for the time being.”

Schneider said the city didn’t receive information directly from the Trump administration, but city officials are in contact with the HUD field office and were receiving real-time updates. She didn’t have information to be able to confirm which grants specifically are at risk.

“I am concerned about freezing of our federal grants, yes. But with the information I have today, we’ve directed our vendors to continue to act,” Schneider said, adding that Community Development Block Grant funding has been around for 50 years.

“It’s a program that communities around the country rely on to be able to serve their residents so there’s a strong voice that these programs do need to continue, and I believe they will but I believe we do need to acknowledge there will be a pause and we need to learn what that means, as everybody else does.”

Immigration enforcement

Interim Police Chief Todd Bettison addressed the city council this morning to talk about the department’s role in enforcing immigration laws and address misconceptions about sanctuary cities. Bettison said sanctuary cities are those that don’t comply with federal immigration orders, and Detroit is a ‘welcoming city,’ it is not a ‘sanctuary city,” because they don’t share immigration status.

The city can refuse to comply with federal orders without a label, according to Gabriela Santiago-Romero (District 6) who pushed back on the title. “We don’t need the title of a ‘sanctuary city’ in order to not comply with the orders we’re seeing right now.” 

Bettison said the Detroit Police Department doesn’t ask about immigration status during traffic stops and instead is “focused on local and state laws and ordinances.”

Bettison said if DPD arrests an individual and they’re taken to the Detroit Detention Center, they are required by law to run their information through the Law Enforcement Information Network. If their information is flagged and a federal agency, such as Homeland Security, sees it, the police department will enter the detainer. If they’re detained for a violent crime, Bettison said Detroit has always prosecuted locally first. 

Bettison said they’ll be emphasizing training related to immigration policies in precincts with a higher immigrant population to ensure officers, especially those who are new to the department, are trained on the proper protocols. 

“So to our immigrant population and community, we’re concerned about crime and we’re also concerned about them being victims.” For example, Bettison said, it’s very important for victims of crime to be able to reach out to the police department.

Cutting off puppy mills

City council unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting the direct sale of dogs and cats from a pet store. Puppy Mill Policy Specialist Ariel Lefkowits with the Humane Society of the United States explained that pet stores would still be allowed to partner with licensed breeders, rescue organizations, foster homes and humane societies to host pet adoption events. However, the ordinance prohibits puppy mills from shipping puppies to a pet store in Detroit that, in turn, would sell the puppies directly to the consumer. 

“The issue is that the entire public pipeline from the pipeline to the pet store is broken.” 

Lefkowits said there isn’t a state law currently that would prevent a puppy mill from shipping puppies to Michigan but the organization is working on regulations at the state level. There are 16 “puppy mill-selling pet stores” in Michigan currently, according to Lefkowits, and the ordinance ensures there won’t be any in Detroit. 

Graham Anderson, an attorney from the Law Department, said the ordinance wouldn’t affect pet stores currently operating in the city. “We’re not handcuffing anybody here from selling,” Anderson assured the city council. 

The General Services Department (GSD) will be responsible for enforcing the ordinance. If a pet store fails to comply in response to multiple violations, GSD and the Buildings, Safety, Engineering, and Environmental Department would work together to determine whether a store’s license should be suspended or revoked. 

Councilmembers acknowledged the need for further regulations to ensure the humane treatment of animals and education surrounding the new ordinance so residents understand what is legal and things to look for when shopping for a pet. 

Outdoor dining is here to stay 

City Council approved an ordinance that makes the outdoor, COVID-19 pandemic-inspired dining experience permanent in Detroit.

Budget Update

City Council received notice that Mayor Mike Duggan will be presenting the city’s annual budget on Friday, Feb. 28.