Another missed deadline: Detroit Reparations Task Force seeks extension to complete report

The 13-member task force is seeking a new deadline of Oct. 31, which is one year after its initial deadline

DETROIT – After multiple missed deadlines, the Detroit Reparations Task Force is requesting another extension to deliver its report to the Detroit City Council that focuses on recommendations to address the legacy of discrimination against Black Detroiters.

The 13-member task force is seeking a new deadline of Oct. 31, which is one year after its initial deadline.

“We finally got to hire our writer, attorney Desiree Ferguson, to compile our report,” said Cidney Calloway, the task force’s co-chair. “The delay comes from the amount of information that we want to ensure is included in this report.”

The task force was created after voters in November 2021 passed a proposal urging City Government to create the task force. It was formed in February 2023.

The group’s recommendations are centered around housing and economic programs.

“We’re talking about generations of harm, and trying to compile that into a digestible report takes a lot of time. We’re trying to make sure that it makes sense, that it’s organized fairly well,” Calloway said.

Members are also working to determine who should be eligible for the reparations program and are seeking community input through a Reparations Eligibility Survey.

The Detroit Reparations Task Force is hosting a public session on Saturday, June 21, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Butzel Family Recreation Center.

The session will feature updates on the progress of the task force.

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