Detroit Election 2021

Voting in local elections is the act of crafting and carving your future. The goal is to elect people that reflect you and support your needs, the needs of your family, community, and future. Local elections let you pick the people who determine our city’s daily operations. Local leaders appoint and dismiss key department heads. Together, they address issues including land use and development, housing, job programs or incentives, transportation policies, investment in parks or libraries. There is no level of government that is more directly responsible for serving the community than local elected officials. Local government can affect almost every aspect of your daily life.

Highlighted are areas of responsibility for local elected officials:

• Local school quality
• Policing and public safety (and holding police accountable)
• Rent costs and affordable housing
• Public transit
• Alcohol and marijuana ordinances
• City colleges and job training programs

. . . the list goes on and on, all the way down to your recycling options and garbage collection. To sum it up: your local government has a lot of money and influence to decide what your community’s priorities are and how it will be run. The City of Detroit is governed by 2 doctrines that establish the city’s structure and code of conduct. These documents are the City Charter and The City Code. All local elected officials must meet the following criteria to run for office: o US Citizen o Resident for at least 1 year prior to filing o Live in the District they are attempting to represent o Remain living there throughout their term Detroit’s Government Structure has: The City of Detroit’s has a heavy mayoral, executive branch form of government in which the Mayor is the major decision-maker. City Council makes up the Legislative branch which establishes and enacts city laws and ordinances. Detroit’s City Council is a 9-member body with 7 members representing City Council Districts and 2 at-large members representing all of Detroit. The Administrative aspects of the city government are handled by the City Clerk.

This voter education series is brought to you by Riverwise Magazine and Detroit is Different. Information for this video series was made using the Detroit City Charter and Detroit city code.

The Mayor is accountable to the citizens of Detroit. This position is the chief executive and administrative officer in charge of carrying out the policies set by the council and seeing that local laws are enforced. The Mayor is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the city. Resolving citizen issues, negotiating contracts on behalf of the city, bringing new development and industries to the city, and implementing the spending of the city’s budget just to name a few.

The Mayor is responsible for the hiring and firing of at a minimum of 19 Department heads- 5 Staff Departments:

• Budget Department develops the city’s budget and performs department audits
• Planning and Development focuses on city development and recruits businesses to the city
• Finance Department collects money on behalf of the city; rent taxes, etc and disburses city funds
• Human Resources Department- assures fair employment practices for city employees
• Buildings, Safety, Engineering, and Environmental Department- addresses land usage for the safety of residents- health, safety, and environmental priorities And 14 Programs and Services Departments (here are some)
• General Provisions- pertains to all programs existing before the 1997 City Charter
• Health and Sanitation- provide adequate physical and mental health services to residents and well as the disposable of waste that is not harmful to the environment
• Arts- operates the Institute of Arts
• Public Works- a collection of garbage and debris, construction and demolition sidewalk and public space maintenance
• Fire – protects the life and property of Detroiters
• Historical – Oversees the Historical Museum • Human Rights – investigates complaints of unlawful discrimination
• Police -Preserve public peace, prevent crime, arrest offenders; protect the rights and property of Detroiters
• Public Lighting- supervise and control all public lighting
• Recreation – operates all recreational facilities, providing programming
• Transportation – maintains and operates the public transportation system
• Water and Sewerage -Supplies water, drainage, and sewerage services within and outside of the city
• Zoological Park- operates city zoological services
• Television Channels- operates and maintains TV channels for the benefit of citizens of Detroit- broadcasting official city business
• Department of Neighborhoods- a direct link to the city- focused on fighting blight and rebuilding communities There are a number of Divisions and Commissions within these departments giving the Mayor the potential to appoint approximately 65 residents to serve in an advisory capacity.

This voter education series is brought to you by Riverwise Magazine and Detroit is Different. Information for this video series was made using the Detroit City Charter and Detroit city code.

The lawmaking body of the city government. Their role is to create and make sure that the enforcement of city laws is occurring; including the creation of penalties and fines that address these violations. Council approves civil ligation settlements against the city. Approves the city’s budget and makes sure that privatization of services is fair to residents. Council members are divided into 5 Committees to address city needs and concerns.

They are:
o Budget and Finance
o Neighborhood and Community Service
o Human Resources
o Law and Safety
o Planning and Development

These Committees review and vote on issues that come before them with the residents of the city’s best interest at heart. The Council also appoints residents and oversees the Zoning Board which hears appeals and reviews building permits within the city. They also enforce Zoning ordinances. Appointees by Council are unpaid while Mayoral appointees are typically paid positions. City Council has approval power that impacts how things are carried out in the city.

Council approves:

• City’s Budget
• Mayoral appointees
• Purchase and sale of City property
• Ordinances after public hearings and 2/3 majority vote
• Civil ligation settlements against the City
• Independent Contractor Agreements
• Privatization of city services
• City’s recycling plan

Council also Establishes:

• Penalties for code violations
• Processes for collecting taxes, tolls, rent related to the city’s budget.

This voter education series is brought to you by Riverwise Magazine and Detroit is Different. Information for this video series was made using the Detroit City Charter and Detroit city code.

The City Clerk serves as Official Notary for City and Co-Chair of Election Commission Primary Duties include:

• Manages/oversees Department of Elections- monitoring all activities and operations in conducting elections
• Services as Clerk for City Council -Keeps records for Council regarding ordinances and resolutions
• Administers oaths of office
• Takes affidavits regarding city business
• Certifies corporate seal on official documents.

This voter education series is brought to you by Riverwise Magazine and Detroit is Different. Information for this video series was made using the Detroit City Charter and Detroit city code.

The Board of Police Commissioners is an 11-member body, seven are elected by the people representing council districts. 4 are appointed by the Mayor. The Commission has supervisory control and oversight of the police department. In consultation with Police Chief

The Board of Police Commissioners responsibilities are to:

• establish policies
• rules and regulations
• review and approve department budget before submitting it to Mayor
• final authority in imposing discipline on employees
• conduct search for viable candidates for the Chief of Police position
• provide recommendations to Mayor.

This voter education series is brought to you by Riverwise Magazine and Detroit is Different. Information for this video series was made using the Detroit City Charter and Detroit city code.