REPARATIONS SURVEY


**CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT**


The data collected from this survey is completely anonymous. No personally identifiable information will be collected. The results of this survey may be shared with researchers and published in the final report of recommendations to the Detroit City Council.


Reparations are about justice, equity, and healing. Detroiters, we want to hear from you. What do you want the City of Detroit to provide to address past harms to Black residents in the areas of housing and economic development? Share your thoughts, and help shape the final report of recommendations to the Detroit City Council. We appreciate your help in this important process and encourage you to share this survey (using the QR code above) with your family and network to get as many voices included as possible.


ABOUT TO THE TASK FORCE:


In the November 2021 election, the voters in Detroit passed Proposal R by 80% urging the City Government to create a task force to make recommendations for Reparations to African Americans (AA) residing in Detroit. In February 2023 the Detroit Reparations Task Force (DRTF) was formed by the Detroit City Council and is comprised of 13 appointed members.


The task force is seeking your input to properly represent the will of the Black citizens of the City of Detroit. Please complete this brief survey to prioritize your ideas for potential reparations. Tentatively, a report of recommendations is scheduled to be provided to the Detroit City Council by March 2025. Finally, we are committed to securing funding for our recommendations without reducing any city services or otherwise penalizing the citizens of Detroit.


For more information call us at 313-542-5488 or email us at reparations@detroitmi.gov.

YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS

Instructions: Rank the following using a scale of 1 to 5


1 = Extremely Important

2 = Important

3 = Fairly Important

4 = Slightly Important

5 = Not as Important

HOUSING AND LAND USE

(Ensure housing and land restitution and justice)

1. Providing cash payments to Black Detroiters.*
2. Providing grants to Black Detroiters of up to $40,000 for a down-payment on a mortgage.*
3. Granting city land to Black Detroiters at no charge.*
4. Granting Detroit Land Bank homes to Black Detroiters with grants of up to $100,000 to bring them up to code.*
5. Prohibiting Wayne County from giving away the homes of Black Detroiters.*
6. Reducing the tax liability of Black Detroit homeowners who were overtaxed by 10% for 10 years.*
7. Granting Black Detroit homeowners the vacant lots adjacent to their property with no restrictions.*
8. Constructing public housing for Black Detroiters who live within the I-375 redesign footprint.*
9. Providing home repair grants of up to $40,000 for Black Detroiters.*
10. The implementation of urban development plans that prioritize and center the thrival of Black Detroiters.*

EDUCTION AND CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT

(Providing excellent education and cultural opprtunities)

11. Upgrading Detroit Public School (DPSCD) buildings to meet code requirements, to include water and sewerage infrastructure requirements*
12. Hiring an adequate number of teachers and teaching aides to ensure small class sizes of 20 or fewer students.*
13. Dismantling the DPSCD-DPD Command Center, a multi-million dollar technology surveillance center that is imposed upon Black students and families.*
14. Providing state-of-the-art laptops and technology instruction to every Black middle and high school student in Detroit.*
15. Providing free, nutritional lunch to every Black student.*
16. Providing free, district-wide bus transportation for Black school children.*
17. Funding and implementing a district-wide program to introduce new teachers to the philosophy and methods of a Black-centered curriculum.*
18. Providing effective programs for Black children who demonstrate exceptional potential in arts and technology.*
19. Designating funds to support an Office of Black Cultural Institutions, which would be responsible for providing funding and operational necessities to establishing and/or supporting Black cultural institutions.*

QUALITY OF LIFE

(Ensure a higher quality of life)

20. Increasing access to healthy foods by funding community cooperative grocery stores (and fruit and vegetable markets) for Black Detroiters in vulnerable areas.*
21. Providing grants and land at no cost to Black Detroiters to support community gardens and urban farms to increase access to fresh produce.*
22. Expanding food pantry programs and providing subsidies for healthy food options for Black Detroiters.*
23. Offering workshops on nutrition and healthy eating habits to Black Detroiters.*
24. Extending the DWSD Lifeline Program indefinitely to Black Detroiters so that there is an income-based tiered cost for water, drainage and sewage services to Black Detroiters.*
25. Investing in infrastructure to ensure clean and safe drinking water, including lead pipe replacement for Black Detroiters.*
26. Implementing air quality monitoring and pollution reduction programs in majority Black residential areas.*
27. Developing parks, recreational areas and green spaces to improve environmental health in Black Detroit communities.*
28. Providing professional counseling and other mental health services to Black Detroit families.*
29. Offering Black Detroit homeowners auto insurance at reasonable rates based on income, similar to the State of Michigan “Michigan Based” Homeowners Insurance.*
30. Eliminating the overcriminalization of Black residents for petty crimes like loitering and littering. Removing the punitive framework that criminalizes Black residents.*

DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS

Select
Caret IconCaret symbol
Select
Caret IconCaret symbol
Select
Caret IconCaret symbol
Select
Caret IconCaret symbol
Select
Caret IconCaret symbol
Privacy Notice|Report Abuse