The Ann Arbor City Council met Monday to discuss several key issues, including a proposed study on reparations, key infrastructure projects and efforts aimed at strengthening community engagement.
Ann Arbor resident Teesha Montague made an appeal for City Council to redress harm caused by the displacement of Black families and businesses within the city.
“By acknowledging the city’s painful past and seeking to make amends, the mayor and council are taking a crucial step to help heal the deep-seated wounds that affected so many while creating a more inclusive and ethical city for all residents,” Montague said.
Montague emphasized the ongoing economic challenges faced by families, referencing the recent sale of a historic Black-owned home due to financial strain, and advocated for reparations to address a history of displacement and redlining.
“The family couldn’t afford to maintain the house,” Montague said. “It needed multiple repairs and renovations, and they reluctantly sold. Take the old West Side: … back in the ’50s and ’60s it was predominantly occupied by African Americans. You see, these are just a few examples, but this is the story for so many.”
To address these inequalities, the council passed the DC-4 resolution. The resolution, sponsored by council members Cynthia Harrison, D-Ward 1; Chris Watson, D-Ward 2; Ayesha Ghazi Edwin, D-Ward 3; Lisa Disch, D-Ward 1; and Jen Eyer, D-Ward 4 aims at exploring probable resources — forms of reparation to aid Black families impacted by historic displacement.
Montague applauded the council for working toward studying reparations, stating that she had seen sister cities like Ypsilanti have important work come from similar programs. She said she hoped the initiative of DC-4 would be progress towards inclusivity.
“I look forward to seeing what more developments we have as you all move forward,” Montague said.
The meeting also focused on potential infrastructure developments, with a number of projects being discussed and approved.
The council approved a contract with Fishbeck, a construction and engineering consulting firm, for engineering design services regarding the Pontiac Trail Roundabouts Project. The project is intended to improve the flow and safety of particularly busy intersections in the city. The council also approved the purchase of a new street-sweeper to further the city’s commitment to clean and well maintained streets.
Matthew Carpenter, CEO of The Ride, talked about the organization’s progress and plans to expand public transportation services in and around the city.
“We are in the midst of delivering all that we committed to the voters under our 2022 millage proposal,” said Carpenter. “We have already for some time had additional staff at our transit terminals. In May, we implemented our first ever express route between downtown Ann Arbor and downtown Ypsilanti, cutting the travel time by about a third and bringing those two communities closer together … In August, we will be expanding our span of service.”
Carpenter included a note about a promotion with the Ann Arbor District Library, where library cardholders can receive free weekend rides as part of the Summer Game program running from June 15 to August 25. He also described ongoing plans for the Ypsilanti Transit Center, hoping to build new infrastructure similar to Ann Arbor’s Blake Transit Center.
To close the meeting, the council discussed the city’s participation in upcoming community events, including the Ann Arbor Fourth of July parades and the annual Juneteenth March and Celebration, events intended to provide opportunities for residents to connect, celebrate and engage with city initiatives. Council member Chris Watson, D-Ward 2, said he enjoyed participating in Ann Arbor’s Juneteenth celebration and would be hosting a listening session on Thursday.
“I was proud to participate, along with a number of my colleagues, in the Juneteenth March and Celebration this past Saturday,” Watson said. “Thank you to the NAACP for organizing the event and to all the community members who attended. Please join me for a listening session on Thursday … Come to discuss local issues as usual.”
Daily News Contributor Ariba Hassan can be reached at aribah@umich.edu.