Detroit, Michigan, Proposal R, City Reparations Committee Advisory Question (November 2021)
| Detroit Proposal R | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 2, 2021 | |
| Topic Local race and ethnicity | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Referral | Origin Lawmakers |
Detroit Proposal R was on the ballot as a referral in Detroit on November 2, 2021. It was approved.
A "yes" vote supported creating a city reparations committee tasked with making recommendations for housing and economic development programs for Black Detroit residents. |
A "no" vote opposed creating a city reparations committee tasked with making recommendations for housing and economic development programs for Black Detroit residents. |
Election results
|
Detroit Proposal R |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
72,490 | 80.14% | ||
| No | 17,959 | 19.86% | ||
-
- Results are officially certified.
- Source
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Proposal R was as follows:
| “ | Should the City of Detroit establish a reparations committee to make recommendations for housing and economic development programs that address historical discrimination against the Black community in Detroit? | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
- City Council President Brenda Jones[1]
- City Councilmember Mary Sheffield[1]
- City Councilmember Janee Ayers[1]
- City Councilmember James Tate[1]
- City Councilmember Roy McCalister Jr.[1]
- City Councilmember Scott Benson[1]
- City Councilmember Andre Spivey[1]
- City Councilmember Raquel Castaneda-Lopez[1]
- City Planning Commission Chair Lauren Hood[1]
- Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus[1]
Arguments
- Council President Pro Tem Mary Sheffield, who sponsored the resolution, said, "Today was a monumental step forward in the history of our City and the Nation with the passage of the resolution placing a Reparations question before the voters in Detroit. ... The measure, which was unanimously supported by City Council, will help move the conversation from talk to action and towards making amends for the most egregious discriminatory and racist practices of the past. Ultimately, this is about repairing the damage done to the African American community and leveling the playing field so the aggrieved have an equal and real opportunity for success and a better quality of life."[2]
- Lauren Hood, chair of the City Planning Commission, said, "What we are deciding on isn’t what to give to people, we’re deciding on a process that analyzes what happens and addresses conversations on what would make people who have been harmed whole again. Who would reject that?"
Opposition
If you are aware of any opponents or opposing arguments, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Medial editorials
Support
- Detroit Free Press: "We believe that exploration of this subject is long overdue.Reparations measures have passed in California, North Carolina, Vermont, and the cities of Evanston, Ill., St. Paul, Minn., Providence, R.I., and Asheville, N.C. But it's important to understand that approval of Prop R would not authorize the city to initiate a reparations program. The compensation options it proposes to examine include subsidies and grants."[3]
Opposition
If you know of media editorial board endorsements that should be posted here, email editor@ballotpedia.org.
Background
City council resolution to establish reparations process
On June 15, 2021, the Detroit City Council unanimously passed a resolution that "establishes a reparations process to, within the next year, develop short, medium and long term recommendations to specifically address the creation of generational wealth and to boost economic mobility and opportunity in the black community." The committee proposed by the advisory question would be a part of the recommendation process. [4][5]
To read the full resolution click here.
Other measures on reparations
In 2021, at least one other jurisdiction, Greenbelt, Maryland, was set to vote on a reparations commission ballot measure. The ballot measure was designed to create a 21-member commission to review, discuss, and make recommendations on local reparations for African American and Native American residents of Greenbelt..
Path to the ballot
In Detroit, Michigan, the city council may vote to refer ballot measures to the ballot via a simple majority vote. The measure must be referred at least 70 days before the election date.[6]
Council President Pro Tem Mary Sheffield proposed the measure on July 13, 2021. On July 20, the Detroit City Council unanimously approved the resolution. The measure must be approved by the city's election commission before it is certified for the November ballot. The election commission is made up of the city clerk, the president of the city council, and the corporation counsel. The commission must "make a determination as to whether the question can lawfully be placed on the ballot and report their conclusions to the City Council."[1][7]
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Detroit News, "Detroit City Council votes to add reparations committee question to November ballot," July 20, 2021
- ↑ Click On Detroit, "Detroit City Council votes in favor of reparations commitment," July 20, 2021
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, "Endorsement: Vote yes on Props R and E, no on Prop S, on Detroit's Nov. 2 ballot," October 17, 2021
- ↑ Detroit City Council, "Resolution Supporting Community Reparations for Black Detroit," accessed July 22, 2021
- ↑ Detroit City Council, "Resolution to Place Reparations Initiative on the November 2021 Ballot," accessed July 22, 2021
- ↑ MuniCode, "Section 3-105 Detroit City Ordinances," accessed July 22, 2021
- ↑ MuniCode, "Section 12-108 Detroit City Ordinances," accessed July 22, 2021
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