Nov 29, 2024 Story by: Editor
The Detroit Reparations Task Force has publicly distanced itself from policy recommendations drafted by Co-Chair Keith Williams, citing a lack of input from the group. Williams, frustrated with the task force’s perceived slow progress, independently submitted a proposal to City Council President Mary Sheffield. The task force issued a statement clarifying that the document does not represent their collective work and should not be considered an official task force recommendation.
The task force, established in 2023 after Detroit voters approved a reparations ballot initiative, faces ongoing challenges. Recommendations are due by March 31, 2025, following a deadline extension by the City Council.
Williams, who played a key role in crafting the ballot proposal, has largely been absent from public and executive committee meetings, citing scheduling conflicts. “I’m trying to help facilitate this process,” Williams told BridgeDetroit. “We’ve been at this for almost two years. They’re taking too long to get this thing done.”
Williams described his recommendations as being submitted on behalf of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, not as a task force co-chair. His proposals focus on financial compensation, property access, homebuyer assistance, small business grants, scholarships, workforce training, and neighborhood investments. He estimates that staffing a reparations office would cost $2 million annually, excluding program funding.
Task Force Members Push Back
Co-Chair Cidney Calloway criticized Williams for undermining the task force’s work and causing confusion. Calloway stated the group is hiring a professional writer to draft its official recommendations and remains on track to meet the March 2025 deadline. “We’re all just blindsided,” Calloway said. “It’s not even like a leadership clash because, for there to be a clash, there has to be another part of leadership that has a following to it.”
The task force has faced obstacles since its inception, including the death of founding member JoAnn Watson and the resignation of several members. Improvements came after hiring project manager Emberly Vick, who was succeeded by Evan Daugherty.
Studies conducted by the University of Michigan and Columbia University highlighted discriminatory policies’ lasting impact on food access, housing, public safety, and economic development. Community surveys identified priorities such as improving schools, repairing Detroit Public School buildings, replacing lead pipes, and reducing tax liabilities for overtaxed Black homeowners.
Funding Challenges and Community Feedback
Potential funding sources include nonprofit foundations, corporate contributions, and marijuana tax revenues, but state law prohibits new municipal taxes, complicating revenue generation. The City Council has apologized to Black residents for systemic racism and detailed injustices spanning decades, including redlining, police discrimination, and the construction of highways through Black neighborhoods.
Sheffield, who co-led the ballot proposal with Williams, expressed optimism about the task force’s progress despite early challenges. “They had a rough start, but nonetheless you have members who are dedicated to doing the work,” Sheffield said. She added that reparations will require long-term strategies and policy commitments.
While Sheffield declined to comment on Williams’ independent submission, she noted the conversation around reparations would continue beyond the task force’s mandate.
Tensions Over Leadership and Collaboration
Williams remains frustrated with the task force’s pace, urging immediate action from the council. His recommendations, which include financial remedies and economic development initiatives, are rooted in addressing decades of disparities, including $42 billion in lost wages for Black Detroiters since 1929.
Williams acknowledged using ChatGPT to assist in drafting his report, a detail Calloway said undermined its credibility. Williams defended his approach, emphasizing his willingness to compromise. “Oh lord, in this world you’ve got to compromise,” he said. “But don’t take me on the journey that’s not gonna bring nothing to closure.”
The dispute highlights ongoing tension between Williams and task force members, who describe him as uncollaborative. Calloway stated that Williams has disconnected from the task force’s public engagement process, which aims to reflect community input.
“He has no idea what the work looks like, where we are in regards to any real movement, and how the public meetings have changed and evolved,” Calloway said. Source: Bridge Detroit
