District 6 Newsletter - February 2019

Dear District 6,   Budget Season officially starts March 7 with the Mayor's Budget Proposal. It is important for residents to engage in the process so we on City Council and the Mayor's Office make sure we are address Detroiters' concerns. Find the dates/times for the Mayor's Budget Proposal and all the budget hearings in this issue! Also included in this issue:   - Grow Detroit's Young Talent Job Program - Tax Foreclosure Prevention Workshop - Marathon Request for Variance Updates   Take Care, Raquel Castañeda López Detroit City Council Member, District 6 #WeRDistrict6 #TeamRockyD6

City Council held its Evening Community Meeting in District 6 this past week! Thank you to Voyaguer Academy for hosting us and for the cool swag! 

Check out our monthly constituent case report for January!    Our office is able to help constituents report city concerns, connect to resources, and navigate city services.    If you require assistance, please call us at 313-224-2450.

Community Events

The Saturdays in the D program will provide free enrichment classes for K-12 youth! Classess will range from SAT prep, swimming, and life skills Classes will be from from 9-1:30PM.    Click here or view the flyer on the right for more information on how to register!

 Business owners - attend a workshop that covers how to prepare for small business financing. Businesses affected by the Vernor & Bagley Streetscape projects are strongly encouraged to attend.

Date: February 26

Location: 2835 Bagley Ave, Ste. 600

Time: 4:30-6PM

Attend a community land trust information session and learn how to protect affordable housing in your neighborhood!    Date: March 2  Location: Bridging Communities (6900 McGraw) Time: 10-12:30PM

Join Urban Neighborhood Initiatives for a Land Bank Fair! Find out how to obtain free trees, buy a sidelot, build birdhouses and rain barrels, and more!    Date: March 2 Location: Palabra de Vida Lutheran Church Time: 10AM-12PM

CHASS Center is hosting a celebration for International Day for the Woman! You will be able to participate in free health, wellness, self-esteem, and art therapy workshops.    If you have questions, please call 313-849-3920 ext. 5163.    Location: CHASS Clinic Date: March 8  Time: 9AM-2PM

Are you a part of a neighborhood association or a block club? Do you want to host your meeting at the Detroit Historical Museum?   You can do so on March 9 between 10AM-5PM! You will have the opportunity to attend a film screening and obtain free parking and admission to the museum!   Please RSVP and reserve your meeting with Katherine Brown at katherineb@detroithistorical.org.  Click this link for more information.

Attend a tax foreclosure prevention workshop in District 6 to learn about resources that can help get your home out of property tax foreclosure!   Spanish and Arabic translators will be available.   Date: March 9  Location: Patton Rec Center (2301 Woodmere) Time: 10-1PM.

Attend a meeting to provide input on the Ralph C. WIlson, Jr. Centennial Park! There will be a presentation of design changes.    Location: Detroit PAL Corner Ballpark (1680 Michigan Ave) Date: March 19  Time: 5:30-8PM

News & Policy

Residential Parking Ordinance Update

• Our office is co-sponsoring an amendment to the City's residential parking ordinance with Council President Pro Tem Sheffield. The proposed updates will allow some neighborhoods to request parking permits for residential parking in areas that experience heavy commercial and non-residential parking demands. For the entire Revised Ordinance Proposal, email searcye@detroitmi.gov.

• A public hearing is scheduled on February 25 at 10AM, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 13th floor.

Marathon Updates

• Visit this website to obtain information and submit a comment regarding Marathon's request for a variance from certain provisions from the Bulk Solid Material Ordinance. Comments accepted until March 18. 

  • The Great Lakes Environmental Law Center has also summarized information regarding this request and compiled relevant documents on their website. 

  • To view comments submitted by Council Member Castañeda-López regarding Marathon's request for a variance, click here. 

  • Council Member Castañeda-López's recently requested an additional public hearing on the variance request.

• There will be a Committee of the Whole meeting on March 12 at 2PM to discuss Marathon Petroleum Detroit Refinery, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 13th floor. Agenda to be announced.

 Key Council Approvals 

• Funding for construction oversight services for the renovation of Clark Park, which includes planning and facilitating community engagement with translation services, drafting the work plan for the park improvements, and managing the contractors performing the construction

• AAA Triple A Michigan awarded the City of Detroit Police Department with  the AAA Grant for Impaired and Drugged Driving Prevention  to provide educational opportunities for Detroit school-age children to experience effects of alcohol and drug-impaired driving in a controlled and safe environment.

• Resolution to support Governor Whitmer's Executive Order to create a new Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy from the current MDEQ. 

Board of Zoning Appeals Updates

• The Southwest Detroit Business Association requests to construct a mixed use residential and commercial building on W. Vernor between Hubbard St and Palms St. They are requesting a variance from height and loading dock requirements. February 26, 10AM, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Suite 212. 

Budget Season Updates 

• A public hearing is scheduled on February 26th for the City Capital Agenda, a 5-year capital strategy. The Capital Agenda creates a plan to ensure the City is addressing long-term needs. Public Comment to follow the hearing. 2PM, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. 

   

NEW! The Plan Ahead Program is a way for city residents to spread payment of property taxes over twelve months instead of a one-time payment! You can pay at any of the 60 DivDat kiosks across the city or through the DivDat mobile app. 

Jobs

• Development Director at Brilliant Detroit. 

• Director of Human Resources at Alternatives for Girls.

• Learning and Development Manager at the Detroit Institute of Arts. 

Growing Detroit's Young Talent (GDYT)

¿Eres un residente de Detroit entre 18-24 años y quieres obtener experiencia práctica para mejorar tu currículum? Visita GDYT.org para aprender más sobre este programa de verano! Las aplicaciones se cierran el 15 de marzo. Si tiene más preguntas, llama al 313-664-5575.  هل انت من مواطني مدينة ديترويت ومهتم بإكتساب خبرة عملية في الصيف ليساعدك في بناء مهاراتك التي ستكون مفيدة بحياتك .زور GDYT.ORGلتعرف اكثر عن كيفية تعبئة الطلب :الطلبات ستكون متوفرة عن طريق الموقع الالكتروني من تاريخ31 يناير إلى 15 مارس 2019.للمزيد من الاستفسارات يرجى الاتصال على 5575-664

Team Rocky is also hosting GDYT Application workshops! See the flyer to the left for more information.    ¡Nuestra oficina va a llevar a cabo talleres para aplicar para el programa de GDYT! Vean el volante a la izquierda para más información.    مكتبنا أيضا يستضيف ورشة طلبات التقديم على GDYT. أنظر للملصق على اليسار للمزيد من المعلومات

Resources

Need to get your taxes done? Check out Account Aid Society's tax preparation sessions at different locations throughout the city!

The Judith Diane Jackson Scholarship is a $1,000 (renewable for 4 years) award to current high school seniors graduating in Spring 2019 and planning to attend a 4-yr, 2-yr, or trade school. Applications due MARCH 4, 2019. 

The Detroit ID is for ALL Detroiters, including returning citizens, homeless individuals, and immigrants regardless of immigration status. Use it to:

• Access city services: interact with the Detroit Police Department and Detroit Public Schools

• Open utility accounts with DTE and Detroit Water and Sewerage Dept.

• Open a checking or savings account with One Detroit Credit Union

• Receive discounts at dozens of local businesses and cultural activities across Detroit

Want more updates? Follow Team Rocky on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

© 2016 Council Member Raquel Castañeda-López, Detroit City Council Member, All rights reserved.