Housing, education, public safety and government inclusion were top issues during a July BridgeDetroit forum for at-large City Council candidates.
There are two at-large seats on the City Council who represent the city as a whole. Eight people are running, including both incumbents, Mary Waters and Coleman Young II. Each Detroit voter can select up to two candidates in the primary. The top four candidates will face each other in the November general election.
Valerie Parker, Levan Adams, Gary Hunter and Waters attended the forum. Young, Janee’ Ayers, James Harris and Shakira Lynn Hawkins are also on the ballot. Candidates fielded questions from BridgeDetroit Engagement Director Bryce Huffman and the audience for roughly an hour and a half.
Waters said she’s been an outspoken “lone ranger” on the council when seeking transparency for the Detroit Land Bank Authority. Waters wants to shift responsibilities from the land bank to the city and end programs like the Nuisance Abatement Program, which allows the land bank to legally take neglected privately owned properties. Waters said the program unfairly strips property from residents.
Waters introduced 14 different amendments to the city’s proposed contract with the land bank, which expired at the end of 2023. The land bank has continued its activities while the council negotiates potential changes in a new memorandum of understanding that could be authorized this year.
“They’ve hurt so many people,” Waters said. “We get calls every day about that.”
Hunter called the Detroit Land Bank Authority “a joke” that should be dismantled. He said corporate property owners have been allowed to buy up large tracts of land. Hunter proposed creating a home repair training program for residents.
Hunter is a pastor and CEO of Detroit Times Media, which publishes The Shot News. He said too many residents don’t know what the City Council does. Hunter said he’s skilled at communicating with residents about city programs and resources.
Adams also called for getting on a path to ending the land bank, saying it lacks accountability. He expressed frustration with “the same old promises” and the same leadership, arguing for residents to vote in new leadership in the council.
The race is nonpartisan, but Parker identified herself as a Republican and at times waved a “Make Detroit Great Again” sign created by President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. Parker said she’s not interested in fighting for “guilty immigrants” who came to Detroit illegally.
Waters said Detroiters should be good neighbors to undocumented immigrants but does not have a problem with the Detroit Police Department assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents.
“I believe (DPD officers) are more sensitive to our residents,” Waters said. “There’s nothing we can do to stop ICE. I am just hoping that your police department will develop a relationship with them so when (ICE) is going over here, (DPD) is going with, so we can help to protect our residents. That’s what I’d like to see.”
Waters said she would advocate for state public safety funding, support block clubs that keep neighborhoods clean, and create community land trusts that allow residents to pool resources and acquire property in their neighborhoods.
Adams, a police detective with DPD, said he doesn’t support ICE activity in Detroit. He said the city’s police force has enough work to do and shouldn’t be involved in federal immigration enforcement.
Adams said parental responsibility is important in keeping kids safe, and wants to create more resources for families to address mental health issues.
“Some of these kids are carrying trauma, and if we ignore it, it doesn’t go away,” Adams said. “If we want a safer Detroit we have to focus on what’s happening behind closed doors.”
Parker said police don’t come when called by residents either.
“We don’t trust them,” Parker said. “I don’t trust them.”
Hunter said residents aren’t respected by the City Council or the mayor. He pledged to create more inclusion in the city government, ensuring more local Black-owned businesses receive contracts from the city. Hunter also wants to beef up after-school programs.
Hunter said Black residents have suffered for years while the city struggled and new residents have enjoyed all the advantages of recent improvements. He said there’s still not enough opportunity for longtime Black residents.
“Let me say to the Caucasian and white people in the room, you keep hearing us talk about Black, Black, Black,” Hunter said. “I need white people to understand this: If you start loving on us, the people coming behind you will love on us right. We feel abused and misused. You may get tired of hearing it but I want you to get tired of hearing it till you think about doing something.”
Parker said she’s running for City Council because she’s angry at the poor education children are getting in public and charter schools.
“I call the City Council, and I’m still waiting for a phone call back, because our kids are in trouble and they tell me there’s nothing they can do about it,” Parker said.
Parker said mentioned Fred Durhal and Arnold Boyd as candidates she could support for mayor.
Waters said she’s undecided in the mayoral race while Adams declined to answer who he’s supporting. Hunter said he likes Boyd, a write-in candidate, along with Attorney Todd Perkins and businessman Joel Haashiim, who briefly attended the event to hand out campaign literature.