CAC Letter to Council

5/22/2018 CAC Letter to Council

1/3

July 22, 2014

Detroit City Council

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

2 Woodward AvenueDetroit, MI 48226

Dear Honorable Council Members:

The 2012 Detroit City Charter allows for the formation of Community Advisory Councils (CACs)

in each of the City Council Districts. The CACs represent a new opportunity for Detroiters to

connect with their elected officials and local government decision-making. Residents need to

receive accurate information about the process and timeline for creating CACs and the role

CACs will play once established.

This year, the CAC ordinance was passed by City Council on April 1 st and petitions to create

CACs were made available on April 23rd. Since that time, the work to inform communities,

voters and city residents about the CACs has been led mostly by the volunteer efforts of

residents, canvassers, and community organizations. Residents in each council district have

joined forces in an effort to inform citizens of the role of the CACs and the purpose for

establishing a CAC in their respective districts. However, despite the good faith efforts of

hundreds of citizens, they have not been properly supported by the City of Detroit agencies

responsible for informing the general public about the process and timeline for establishing

CACs.

As a potential ballot item, it should be the responsibility of the City Clerk and/or the City ofDetroit Election Commission to notify voters in a mass mailing. Additionally, the Department of

Elections has not communicated the cut-off date for returning collected signatures to establish

a CAC. This leaves the deadline required to be able to vote for CAC representatives in 2014

highly subject to speculation. There have been no clear guidelines posted in writing or

effectively communicated to citizens by city officials. Questions arising from community

members about the process have been met with differing answers depending on the person

and/or department with whom a citizen speaks.

Citizens want to take informed action on this issue, but the lack of clear communication about

the process may well impede efforts to establish a CAC in a district, placing voters andcanvassers at a disadvantage.

We understand that citizens seeking to have their name on the November 2014 ballot for a CAC

election must turn in their nominating petitions by July 22, 2014. It is also understood that

candidates cannot begin this process until their CAC has been established by petition. However,

the following critical questions have arisen:


2/3

What will happen if a CAC is established after July 22 ndbut before the November 4th,2014 election?

o Will the issue still appear on the November 2014 ballot?o Will citizens have the opportunity to vote for write-in candidates?o What will be the deadline for creating a CAC in either of the above scenarios so

the option for citizens to vote for write-in candidates will appear on theirNovember 2014 election?

What will be the next opportunity after the November 2014 election that citizens willhave the opportunity to elect their CAC representatives?

Under what circumstances would City Council members be allowed to appoint the 5elected members of their districtsCAC prior to the citizens of that district having an

election for their CAC?

We are aware of a memo from the City of Detroit Law Department dated May 7, 2014

concerning CACs. This memo states that in the event of a vacancy in an established CAC, the

City Council Members for that district will be allowed to appoint members to that CAC for apartial term (until the next election opportunity for CACs). To allow appointments by City

Council members for the 5 elected CAC seats runs in direct opposition to the language and

intent of the city charter and CAC ordinance.

We strongly oppose any attempt by City Council to appoint members for these 5 elected seats

for any district CAC in the absence of an election by citizens of that district.

In order to remedy these concerns and questions and ensure a fair and equitable process, we

are asking this honorable body to:

Extend the canvassing period; Provide concrete deadlines and guidelines; Provide information to all registered voters regarding the CACs and its potential to

appear on the ballot;

Extend the deadline for candidates to acquire signatures to seek CAC positions; and Refrain from appointing any members to an established CAC prior to an election being

held where citizens can vote for their CAC members.

Any consideration you give this request will be greatly appreciated.

Respectfully Submitted,

Wanda Lowe Anderson, Boynton Subsector 48217 Core Group, District 6 Resident

Alicia Biggers, 12thPrecinct Neighborhood Coalition, District 2 Resident

Linda Campbell, Peoples Platform (Citywide organization), District 2 Resident

Eric Dueweke, District 4 Resident

Aaron Goodman, Community Development Advocates of Detroit, District 6 Resident

James Grenwick, PresidentCornerstone Village Community Association, District 4 Resident


3/3

Aaron Handelsman, Peoples Platform, District 6 Resident

Dana Hart, WKL Community Association, District 5 Resident

William Hickey, District 1 Resident

Bobbi Johnson, Franklin Park Association, District 7

Kashaka Kikelomo, Warren/Conner Community Development Coalition, Districts 4 & 5

Khalil Ligon, District 4 Resident (Airport District)Michelle Martinez, District 6 Resident

Jacqueline Perkins, Great Community Now! Coalition, District 4 Resident

Gloria Rivera IHM, District 6 Resident

Delphia Simmons, District 5 Resident

Steve Walker, Michigan Spanish-Speaking Democrats, District 6 Resident

Contact information:

Latoya Morgan, Public Policy Manager, [email protected] Goodman, Community Outreach Associate, [email protected]

Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD)

440 Burroughs St., Suite 340 Detroit, MI 48202

Ph: 313-451-0687 or 313-832-4566

www.cdad-online.org
http://www.cdad-online.org/http://www.cdad-online.org/http://www.cdad-online.org/

Documents

CAC Letter to Council