[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6326362,"mediaKeyId","2324736-af53b9b99be85630ee6b9f3bc46bfa50","parentId",2324736,"title","Council chair says city providing hotels, vans after Southwest Detroit water-main break flooded more than 150 homes","audioSeconds",9993,"startMs",1945000,"endMs",11938000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324736-af53b9b99be85630ee6b9f3bc46bfa50&start=1945&end=11938","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324736-af53b9b99be85630ee6b9f3bc46bfa50/thumbnail_1945000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6326362/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Council-chair-says-city-providing-hotels-vans-after-Southwest-Detroit-water-main-break-flooded-more-than-150-homes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326362-be1237a2f090d49af8b3a70582718158/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146511&Signature=OM3lofgQrc9lkJJZ9ancOQdzwBs5KG-tNLsLK5aS4rzL2wB1hpbXwlj3syvw1hGKCspNb7jflTJ2JXP5zyu3iW4eYWD8mGvxbToJYeq-y-M5B7UnA6wCACbpLf0D7CKDv8S8XMzCmcXgsh1S7h~myt~GA5Bw8xbN9RPYWP0CQRAEFabB3HUzPaRymgJloWh2IiYhmYKLCv5X6A2OEwpD09z0RVlIiGQY0B5YOS5YanBgC-QIqZkgWAYLwNRPnG7CatvMauSyxL-HGWw8asQa7h1DgsSaKKvqA18cfhQwC32EqVsHd8-uggx5vaau7u1dPyZ50lqbxNdMk5NL4RX7JA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Detroit, MI ","date","2025-02-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Detroit City Council’s Public Health & Safety committee heard emergency notices from Chair Gabriela Santiago Romero on a water-main break that flooded a Southwest Detroit neighborhood overnight, affecting “over 150 homes” and sending water into basements and, in some cases, up to the first floor.

“The city has turned off the water valve. The water should be rescinding,” Chair Gabriela Santiago Romero said during opening remarks. She said the city has vans and staff in the neighborhood transporting families and children to Patton Park and that the city is providing hotel rooms for families who have lost heat or power. She gave a resource number for people seeking assistance (313-224-2450) and said the administration will coordinate hotel placements and other short-term needs.

Why it matters: Residents described immediate housing and safety needs during near-freezing conditions. Committee members and multiple callers pressed the council for faster, broader housing responses and asked that ARPA and other funds be routed for emergency shelter.

Public-commenters who raised the issue urged longer-term protections and more consistent sheltering. One caller, Tahira Ahmad, demanded that “everybody who needs housing for any reason be given hotel rooms immediately during the wintertime” and asked that ARPA funds and the Progress Fund be used for emergency placements. Rick Shelton, another caller, said the city must use its various funding streams to address an estimated 9,000 people identified as homeless and asked for more transparency on shelter conditions.

Council response and next steps: Chair Santiago Romero said the city system for hotel placements was active but busy and encouraged residents to call 313-774-5261 for immediate placement help; her office also offered direct assistance via 313-224-2450. She announced an administration press conference and said she would be going into the neighborhood to do door-to-door outreach.

Committee context: The chair opened the meeting by noting the water emergency and then moved into the scheduled agenda, but allowed public commenters who had traveled to the meeting and callers online to speak about the break and homelessness-related needs. Several callers tied the flooding to broader concerns about shelter, Transit and the city’s use of ARPA and bond funds.

Ending: The committee did not take a formal vote on policy changes during the meeting related to the flooding; members requested follow-up from city departments and emphasized coordination with emergency housing and water departments to track placements and reimbursements for families forced from homes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Detroit City Council Public Health and Safety 02-17-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Detroit City Council’s Public Health & Safety committee heard emergency notices from Chair Gabriela Santiago Romero on a water-main break that flooded a Southwest Detroit neighborhood overnight, affecting “over 150 homes” and sending water into basements and, in some cases, up to the first floor.","taxTitle","Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan","taxId",48464,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6326352,"Council holds public hearing, advances 10-year Comcast franchise renewal despite public objections over term and fees",1386,3211000,4597000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324736-af53b9b99be85630ee6b9f3bc46bfa50&start=3211&end=4597","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324736-af53b9b99be85630ee6b9f3bc46bfa50/thumbnail_3211000.jpg","/articles/6326352/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Council-holds-public-hearing-advances-10-year-Comcast-franchise-renewal-despite-public-objections-over-term-and-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326352-8f1c6d069984019b0627a68659111baf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146511&Signature=hJV4pq~BJZrOvHr3rsBm4GVfxYB5vfuXElGGnLabSZnnaTeWWs-7QpW7c7a6428tlvCLj4z3~V4c9yp2~-b24TNW3CscB7TH5R9NTbgNC~vJWv0zYQm334ZyqZERPqAE04rXBUM-S4uW7G33s8bqT4GnpPnZOGcMj-dP2wRzXDQCISIrDqs2LFC6U5uGUw4P8JnbyovwO2q3YWxFU7YqVyGifG1rB1A8SuM~lVznVMPEHE0R20gewunGolThXseWR2NKLOsr-NqFYag~XfFM-ykM2rdaboqvSY3Uisg6GmaEZ8JLFtZo6ILalehaZTiyb-VHBBLpaXPDTUCGIukbCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Health & Safety committee conducted a 10:20 a.m. public hearing on a proposed amendment to Chapter 45 of the 2019 Detroit City Code to grant Comcast a uniform video service local franchise for a new 10-year period beginning July 29, 2024, and ending July 28, 2034.

Graham Anderson of the Law Department described the ordinance as complying with state law’s uniform-video-service framework and said the draft primarily updated the code reference year and the franchise term. \"This franchise agreement provides Comcast cable and Internet to all Detroit residents. This is a 10 year agreement, and it's all pursuant to the uniform video service local franchise act,\" Anderson told the committee.

Public commenters raised concerns about a 10-year contract length, Comcast pricing, diversity and local benefits. Several callers asked for a shorter extension (five years) and questioned PEG funding and the company's record on discrimination; one commenter noted Byron Allen’s recent lawsuit against Comcast. Others asked whether Comcast would offer low-cost service or enrollment assistance for residents.

Committee action: A council member moved and the committee approved a motion to send the ordinance to formal session with a recommendation to approve. The hearing record shows no changes to the franchise fee or PEG fee in the draft; Attorney Anderson said the PEG fee remains the same and was set by statute.

Why it matters: The franchise governs access to public, educational and government (PEG) channels, local public-access operations and fees paid to the city for cable services. Residents and community groups asked the council to weigh shorter renewal terms and to consider local providers; the law department said state law sets many parameters for local franchise terms and fees.

Ending: The committee advanced the ordinance to formal session for a council vote; the law department committed to provide the exact PEG fee number on request.","The Public Health & Safety committee held a public hearing on a proposed 10-year renewal of Comcast's local franchise and voted to send the ordinance to formal session with a recommendation to approve.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6326357,"DDOT director reports improved service metrics; advocates press council for large general-fund boost",3252,4638000,7890000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324736-af53b9b99be85630ee6b9f3bc46bfa50&start=4638&end=7890","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324736-af53b9b99be85630ee6b9f3bc46bfa50/thumbnail_4638000.jpg","/articles/6326357/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/DDOT-director-reports-improved-service-metrics-advocates-press-council-for-large-general-fund-boost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326357-2715a169817a30fe771335b41773e572/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146511&Signature=F8xUKHdDSCTY7LLCDcKQ3hBq5HQ~N9Llk3e9JnMeLZydNN0Db~tOIwnU38ZDHwtOsw5YIJtcS1AyR1PRe02xN3o4o0dO4T0AifnjBZKOTHpAWxM1~TWd5w4xrSFCYh5WUnhFio8BFCmqG~yt6mICh7OhnJziV42iJcGesk0nxcnR3tfJlT6Vf5JIj2mm0o1BJ2xDpwR14493j1F-4ykaABXl~gXZ4p9rIfMo3s6m0CgXQJVhsgvpPzQU-r9WM5R6dvV7HpiyxWvDPC0RuIdfbwETpL8GJi6CAEjebHhbLvOtY-avyE5AcdZiltC-eOUv8pfC47vAdolx0CNYdHveAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Detroit Department of Transportation Executive Director Robert Kramer told the City Council Public Health & Safety committee his first quarterly update since taking the job shows measurable operational gains while highlighting remaining gaps in service and equipment.

Kramer said DDOT provided about 96–97% of scheduled revenue miles in the quarter and reported a year-over-year ridership gain: December ridership was up about 14% compared with December 2023. On-time performance, Kramer said, rose from the mid-60s last year to the mid- to upper-70s this quarter; the department’s goal is 85%.

“We take our role and our impact on people’s lives very seriously,” Kramer said, describing efforts to expand operator classes, boost maintenance hiring and reduce missed trips. He told the committee DDOT had increased active transit-equipment operators (TEOs) by graduating new classes and had more than 500 active TEOs for the first time in a long time.

What’s still short: Kramer and staff said missed trips remain roughly 3–4% (with a program target closer to 2%), maintenance staffing needs continued, and several older buses remain out for heavy repair. He said the agency expects delivery of nine new diesel-electric buses in June and anticipates 45 new buses by year end, but added manufacturers have experienced delays.

Public commenters and council members pressed for more resources. Transit advocates and riders urged the council to “double DDOT” and named a $150 million to $250 million general-fund ask; one speaker asked for at least $250 million from general funds to support service improvements. Several commenters proposed targeted free-fare programs for veterans and people experiencing homelessness.

Committee decisions and contracts: While the committee did not adopt an immediate budget increase, it approved two DDOT contract amendments for planning, engineering and program management services: HNTB Michigan (contract 603776, amendment 2) and WSP Michigan (contract 6001851, amendment 2) were extended and sent to the formal agenda with recommendations to approve. The committee also accepted a memo asking the administration to study the feasibility of reinstating bus routes; the item will return to committee in two weeks.

Why it matters: Riders and advocates said the city needs faster frequency and more reliable pullouts to reduce missed trips—especially during extreme weather—so that transit becomes a viable daily alternative rather than a last resort.

Ending: The committee directed DDOT to return with more specific staffing and budget numbers for the council’s upcoming budget deliberations; members said they want concrete asks that tie staff, vehicles and maintenance capacity to specific reliability targets.","DDOT reported revenue miles near schedule, rising ridership and stronger on-time performance but missed-trip rates remain above targets. Advocates at public comment urged doubling DDOT funding or a $250 million general-fund subsidy; council discussed contracts and asked the department for further budget requests.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6326348,"Auditor General presents toll-rate commission resolution; committee forwards recommended tow-rate changes to council",192,4891000,5083000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324736-af53b9b99be85630ee6b9f3bc46bfa50&start=4891&end=5083","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324736-af53b9b99be85630ee6b9f3bc46bfa50/thumbnail_4891000.jpg","/articles/6326348/Detroit/Wayne-County/Michigan/Auditor-General-presents-toll-rate-commission-resolution-committee-forwards-recommended-tow-rate-changes-to-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326348-cde585a6fe22e4b8c5338c56adc1d7f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146511&Signature=jgtnmWXYEh~oOTnQc84je25JXEam-WflBZwgXX593cISSWO8WSZoqJgrrLK2J-cNwIUjdJTvIks-R3jD6H8ruTLJu9LtViAKg9UWdph2uv3jK44kl3gXvHyxgbozwtv29k2LW1xTmsi1kamOWe-b4aHy0UQncY6WmPDjHUGDeEUB2eeZVsrGQ2g7DXALisjpysPP9Rp50JeIDW3ly1drQxVjxXlIOJhAPSj-p6KJ3HdCVJYNOZgHWXCErrr4W0KUnMFecB1UEPfLL6QW0oCxMrXJ5dJHD0wDKTdvybs6Zrh7U0WDitCiWY4EuX9OhbKGxhtcJC9ncu6UQgYJul9Iiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Auditor General Laura Goodspeed told the Public Health & Safety committee she chaired the Toll Rate Commission that reviewed police-authorized tow rates in 2024 and proposed changes that she described as necessary because rates had not changed since 2012.

\"These rates represent an increase in tolls, as well as some changes to the classification of tolls,\" Goodspeed said. She told the committee the proposed rates would go into effect on July 1, 2025. The commission sought further documentation and asked that commissioners continue to gather supporting information ahead of the next convening in 2026.

Committee action and next steps: The chair asked the Auditor General to resend the resolution to the clerk and committee; members then moved to attach the resolution to item 7.2 and voted without objection to send the item to new business with the committee recommendation to approve. The Auditor General said commissioners representing towing stakeholders had been asked to continue research so the commission will have additional information when it reconvenes in 2026.

Why it matters: Police-authorized tow rates are a regulated municipal fee that affects motorists and the small towing businesses that perform impounds. The Auditor General noted police-authorized towers operate at lower, city-regulated rates than some private towers and said the commission considered both consumer protection and operator-economic viability.

Ending: Committee forwarded the resolution to new business for full council consideration; the Auditor General said commissioners would reconvene to collect additional supporting documentation for future rate reviews.","Auditor General Laura Goodspeed presented a resolution from the 2024 Toll Rate Commission proposing increases and classification changes to police-authorized tow rates that would take effect July 1, 2025. Committee members attached the resolution to the agenda and voted to send it to new business with recommendation to approve.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council chair says city providing hotels, vans after Southwest Detroit water-main break flooded more than 150 homes

Council holds public hearing, advances 10-year Comcast franchise renewal despite public objections over term and fees

DDOT director reports improved service metrics; advocates press council for large general-fund boost

Auditor General presents toll-rate commission resolution; committee forwards recommended tow-rate changes to council