Strengthening public comments

This week, Detroiters organized to block an effort by the Board of Police Commissioners to eliminate public comments via Zoom. The motion to restrict virtual comments provoked a firestorm of resistance. A petition against the motion was circulating online, public letters had been written by advocacy groups, people called and emailed commissioners, and over 40 people signed up for public comments.

In response to this widespread criticism, Commissioner Henrietta Ivey wisely withdrew her motion. 

What had been shaping up as a confrontation between the community and some of the BOPC was averted. 

Commissioner Darryl Woods, who had initially supported the motion, acknowledged that in the intervening week he had heard from a number of community members and changed his mind. He said, “We stand ten toes down in protecting the civil liberties of others.”

Other commissioners, including those who opposed the effort, Darious Morris, Victoria Camille and Scotty Bowman, as well as those who made public remarks, thanked Ivey for her decision to withdraw the motion.

For her part, Commissioner Henrietta Ivey acknowledged she had endured an outcry from the community, some of which, she said, was rooted in “improper information and misinformation.” She said she had no intention of limiting access or restricting people’s voices. She was clearly angry that some of the backlash she received was directed at her personally.

No one should feel personally threatened because of an action they take as a public official. It was acknowledged in the meeting that all of the commissioners, regardless of their position on this issue, had received comments that diminish us as a community and turn public deliberations into toxic experiences. People received death threats, pictures of Ivey’s home were circulated via social media, and the only Muslim on the Board was labeled an Islamic terrorist. 

We hope that through this controversy, those of us committed to creating a more just and compassionate city will reflect on the consequences of such assaults on individuals. They dehumanize us all.

In many ways, this brief meeting of the BOPC was an effort to model how to work together to focus on issues rather than personalities. Commissioner Ivey had the strength to withdraw her motion, and those who opposed it accepted this shift with gratitude.

However, Commissioner Ivey and those who initially supported this effort need to be more reflective of their actions. Whatever her intentions, the effect of her very straightforward motion would have stopped online comments. How can those who supported this be so out of touch with the consequences of their actions? 

It was only the quick response of Commissioner Darious Morris that prevented the motion from taking effect this week. He asked that the motion be postponed so that he and other commissioners could consult with constituents. He noted that the motion was offered after public comments had ended for the day and there was no opportunity for input. The Board agreed to the postponement.

But there is clearly an underlying resentment toward public comments by some of the commissioners. After all of the commissioners expressed their desire to hear everyone’s voice, Chair Robert Jones immediately moved to cut down the time of public comments because of the large number of people involved.

Commissioner Bowman objected and asked the parliamentarian to rule on whether or not this was allowable.  The parliamentarian acknowledged that such an action required a supermajority to suspend the rules, and ultimately Jones withdrew his effort. He saw no irony in his effort.

It took a tornado alert to end the meeting abruptly.

But in the few minutes of public comments, we also saw the importance of people bringing issues to the commissioners.  We learned that the parking situation at police headquarters is limited for people with disabilities, having only three handicapped spots.  We also were reminded that DPD had pledged to do an evaluation of Shotspotter before the next contract period. Yet no follow-up has been reported.  And we learned that comments via email seem to disappear from view.

Public comments are an opportunity not only to hold officials accountable, but a means of collective governance, encouraging all of us to take responsibility for the life of our city. This week, the desire of Detroiters to have meaningful participation in the decisions that affect us was clear.