Detroit City Council honors Mike Duggan for 12 years as mayor; some residents criticize praise amid rising poverty
Detroit City Council President James Tate recognized former Mayor Mike Duggan for 12 years of leadership during Tuesday’s council session, offering a formal farewell to a mayor who took office during the city’s bankruptcy and left it after a third term.
Duggan became mayor in 2014, later ran for governor, dropped out of that race and recently joined the law firm Honigman as a partner.
Council members said Duggan’s record included new development, job training programs and efforts to stabilize Detroit’s finances.
Council member Coleman Young II said cooperation was Duggan’s most lasting contribution.
“I think the greatest legacy you will leave behind is the spirit of cooperation,” Young said.
Duggan thanked the council and said he will soon travel to Harvard University to discuss Detroit’s community violence intervention program. He said the program has been studied by Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
Duggan called the invitation a sign that Detroit’s work reaches beyond the city.
“It’s a good reminder that the work that you’re doing here is not just benefitting Detroiters; it’s benefitting people all across the country,” Duggan said.
He added that Harvard was “a school I could have never gotten into.”
The tribute drew pushback from some public commenters, who criticized the council for praising Duggan and raised concerns including Detroit’s rising poverty rate.
Duggan’s appearance before the council came as the city begins the mayoralty of Mary Sheffield.
At the same session, Sheffield announced a new domestic violence role tied to her office. She appointed Kyla Williams, a former Detroit police domestic violence unit leader, as a domestic violence specialist.
Sheffield said Williams will identify gaps between existing services and what people experiencing domestic violence need.
The mayor also directed the city’s human resources department to create a domestic violence employee support plan and provide all city employees with information about policies and available resources.
Sheffield ordered city officials to distribute lists of domestic violence resources publicly and post them in all city buildings.
