A unique Detroit ordinance gives residents a say in major projects. But is it enough?

Tonya Myers Phillips, an attorney for Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice, spoke at the meetings and called on the city to expand the impact area.

"The community benefits ordinance is a floor, not a ceiling," she said. "The City of Detroit has chosen the smallest possible impact area allowable by law. It has drawn lines to exclude and mute neighborhood groups and residents that have engaged with the hospital for years, like the 15th Street Block Club." … see full story at Detroit News

Inside an industry fueled by climate change

There are few options to hold companies accountable. After Hurricane Katrina, workers successfully turned to the courts to demand unpaid wages. Fourteen years later, the COVID-19 pandemic created a unique opportunity to demand protective equipment and better conditions, said John Philo, a lawyer who now represents many disaster-restoration workers in another labor-related lawsuit.

In 2020, Resilience Force and the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice sued a Servpro franchise in Michigan and three subcontractors for allegedly mistreating workers who cleaned up after major flooding driven by unseasonably heavy rains in Midland, Michigan. The workers allege that in the midst of the pandemic, they were denied proper health and safety gear as they tore down water-logged buildings filled with mold. … see Center for Public Integrity

An autoworker's guide to determine eligibility for jobless benefits during the strike

Tony Paris, the lead attorney at the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice in Detroit, said his main takeaway is this: "Any worker who is laid off, furloughed, faces a reduction in hours or is separated during the strike should still file a claim for benefits to shift the burden to the employer to have to show a nexus or connection between their layoff/separation and the strike." … In this situation, the clearest dividing line is the union contract, said Jacob Fallman, the UIA policy coordinator for the Sugar Law Center. If a Detroit Three worker at a non-striking plant is laid off because of the strike and they are covered by the contract, Fallman said they would likely not qualify for benefits. … see full story at Detroit Free Press

Some who received Covid unemployment benefits now told they need to pay it back

"The collection arm doesn't seem to know what the decision arm is doing," said unemployment attorney Tony Paris. He says what is happening is a big issue. "July 6, 2022, she's still getting a bill a year later from it being waived. Now, that's the real problem," he said. Paris said that it was a good idea to give benefits to people who otherwise wouldn't have qualified for unemployment. However, it overloaded antiqued software. … see full story at Fox 2

Free legal representation now available for many Detroiters facing eviction

Residents have been pushing for months for the city to move faster and do more to fully implement the right to counsel ordinance, which was originally approved last spring.

“It just doesn’t seem to be a high priority,” said Tonya Myers Phillips, an attorney and project leader for the Detroit Right to Counsel Coalition. “It’s certainly taking a long time to see the city carry out what they said they were going to do.”

One basic thing, Tonya Myers Phillips said, would be to open up a hotline.

“I would think that’s the minimum of what you should do,” she said, noting that the right to counsel ordinance called not just for hiring attorneys, but for the creation of the Office of Eviction Defense. “Just like any other office in government, there should be a phone number people can call and receive help and be connected to resources.” … Michigan Public Radio

Detroit’s lawyer says City Council doesn’t need to follow surveillance law

Attorneys with the Detroit Justice Center, Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice and Schulz Law argue residents were deprived of key information that would have helped shape public opinion on police surveillance tools. They’re aiming to nullify two contracts worth $8.5 million that were approved last year.

The lawsuit carries broader implications for the expansion of police surveillance in Detroit. A pending contract seeks $5 million in federal pandemic relief funds for license plate recognition cameras that collect data on vehicles. The Board of Police Commissioners, a civilian oversight body, is holding a public hearing on surveillance technology May 11 at the Crowell Recreation Center. … see full story at Bridge Detroit

'Transformational' community benefits plan for District Detroit advances

During public comment, Tonya Myers Phillips, director of partnerships and development at the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice, urged the group to take more time before voting on the agreement.

"I am asking you to take additional time to review this agreement, to negotiate for more benefits that have long term systemic equitable outcomes for Detroiters ..." Myers Phillips said. "We need more time. We deserve more time."

In the project, the developers are seeking nearly $800 million in local and state tax incentives and reimbursements. … see full story on Detroit News

Groups File Lawsuit Against Detroit ShotSpotter Contracts

Leaders behind the complaint are Eric Williams and Nancy Parker of the Detroit Justice Center; Tonya Myers Phillips and John Philo of Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice; and Jack Schulz of Schulz Law PLC, all based in Detroit.

They claim that Detroit Police Department violated Chapter 17 of the 2019 Detroit City Code, the Community Input over Government Surveillance Ordinance which requires that the city put out a report reviewing and examining the technology, including any disparate impacts, at least 14 days prior to discussion of new technology. The ordinance is a direct response to Detroit Police Department's renewal of a 2017 contract with DataWorks for facial recognition surveillance technology. … see full story at GovTech.com