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.
