Welcome back. I’m still Malachi Barrett.

Philanthropy is funding planning efforts to create a new Office of Neighborhood Safety under the Sheffield administration.

The Hudson-Webber Foundation awarded the Detroit Public Safety Foundation with $200,000 to design and launch the office. The funding will develop a strategy to coordinate the city’s various violence prevention programs, which are currently spread across several departments.

Funds will be used to procure the services of the National Institute of Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR), which will work with city leaders and community stakeholders to develop an implementation plan for sustainable violence reduction.

The NICJR has worked with cities throughout the country to create local offices of violence prevention, including the State of Michigan’s newly established Office of Community Violence Intervention Services.

The Detroit Public Safety Foundation was established in 2011 as a nonprofit supporting the city’s police and fire departments with needs that aren’t covered with public funding.

Show me the money 

City contracts are still approved while the council is on break through a recess procedure. Here are some notable spending items. 

A skate park is coming to the Littlefield Playfield through a donation from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation valued at $300,000. The donation will go to the Littlefield Community Association.

Romanowski Park will receive renovations through a $493,920 contract with WCI Contractors Inc.

Sidewalk Detroit donated various enhancements to the Eliza Howell Park Bioswale Area valued at $92,384. The donation includes seating, signage, shade trees and play equipment. City records also show plans for sculptures of a frog and caterpillar.

A consultant was hired to develop digital tools that help the Department of Transportation build business models for autonomous vehicles. WSP Michigan Inc. was provided a two-year contract valued at $66,196. 

Detroit continues to build safety upgrades at high-crash intersections near bus stops through a $25 million federal grant. A $1.4 million contract with HNTB Michigan and a $1 million contract with WSP Michigan for engineering services were approved.

Federal funding will help reduce truancy at two Detroit junior high schools with grant-funded mentoring and academic programs. The Detroit Public Safety Foundation is using $90,640 from the U.S. Department of Justice. A Board of Police Commissioners report shows the programs will serve 30 students at each school. 

A construction firm donated funds to help police buy ballistic helmets and shields. The Ideal Group gave the Detroit Public Safety Foundation $25,000 for equipment in the 4th Precinct. 

Overheard in CAYMC

Here’s a summary of issues raised by residents who spoke during public comment, and other pieces of intrigue.

Tenants of the historic and neglected Leland House , who were evicted in December over outstanding debt owed by the building’s owners to DTE Energy, will be given another two weeks to stay in hotels provided by the city. Santiago-Romero said tenants haven’t been able to access the building since being evacuated, and many need to recover items like clothes, toiletries and personal documents.

Developer, author and businesswoman Sabrina McKenzie said she needs the council’s help with a new housing project in Russell Woods. McKenzie said two unhoused people died this winter and “countless women and children” are sleeping inside abandoned buildings.

A delegation of city officials from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, are visiting Detroit this week to learn about strategies to address blight, affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization and economic development. Baton Rouge Chief of Operations Christel Slaughter said they met with the Detroit Economic Development Corporation on Monday.

The Detroit Justice Center rejected a legal opinion issued by the city’s Law Department that finds it impossible to enact a “right to renew” ordinance that would ensure good renters have the option to extend their lease. The Detroit Justice Center was asked to weigh in by the Detroit Tenants Union, an independent organization formed last year.

“Supporters of the proposed ordinance should not accept the Law Department’s conclusory determination without demanding more rigorous legal analysis,” DJC said in a statement. “It is our opinion that a well-drafted Right to Renew ordinance, carefully framed to supplement rather than conflict with state eviction procedures, would likely withstand challenge under Michigan law.”

Santiago-Romero tried to explain the negative impact of public comments from Betty Lyons, who admonishes Santiago-Romero and other council members with religious-themed, homophobic and racist remarks nearly every week for the last year. Santiago-Romero said the words “really do hurt” residents who text her after Lyons makes public comments.

“I often ignore you, because you’re allowed to say whatever you want, but ma’am, I’m just telling you that your words do make an impact,” Santiago-Romero said. “They do hurt, but I pray for you. I hope everything goes well for you but I’m going to continue to make sure I’m serving everybody.”