What can the Human Rights Department do for Detroit?

By: Jacqueline Bejma

As I’ve been following the Detroit Charter Revision Commission, the various roles and responsibilities of different departments, commissions and boards have been discussed. This week, the Commission will tackle proposals related to city departments and services. There is some talk of a consolidation of departments in an attempt to decrease the size of city government for fiscal reasons, as well as to make government more efficient. Already, the Office of the Ombudsperson will be eliminated, with its role being assumed in part by a newly created Office of Inspector General and by district city council representatives. The next few editorials I write will address various departments, attempting to clarify their role in our City and how they may fit into our newly created district system. I begin this week with an exploration of the Human Rights Department, which I believe can work hand-in-hand with Citizen Planning Councils and other city departments to secure the human rights of every Detroiter in an equitable and sustainable way.

According to §7-1001 of the Detroit City Charter creates the Human Rights Commission and outlines a basic framework for the department:

The human rights department is headed by the human rights director
The human rights director and deputy director are appointed by the mayor for 4 year terms
The director and deputy director cannot be appointed or removed without the approval of the human rights commission
The mayor will appoint an 11 member human rights commission, with the approval of city council
Members must be residents of the city
Members should be representative of the total community
Membership terms last 3 years
The city will make an annual appropriation for the human rights department operations
The human rights department will: Investigate any complaints of discrimination; Secure the rights of citizens to service from the city without discrimination; Increase mutual understanding among community residents, promote good will, work cooperatively with other agencies
The department will, with consent of the human rights commission, create rules for its procedures
The department director has the power to hold hearings, subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony, require the production of evidence and issue orders
The department director may delegate the power to hold hearings, administer oaths and take testimony
Any appeal to a final order from the department will be taken to the appropriate court
The rules of the human rights department cannot diminish anyone’s right to immediate legal or equitable remedies in any court

According to the City of Detroit’s website, the mission of the Human Rights Department is to: “To remove discriminatory barriers through innovative, high quality, customer-driven programs that foster economic opportunity and empowerment and benefit Detroit residents, visitors, and the entrepreneurial sector of the local economy.” Currently, the Human Rights Department is the office in our city that facilitates MWBE certification and maintains an index of certified businesses in the city. The major goals of the department are to:

To ensure that internal and external customers are properly served
To optimize efficiencies and results by continually monitoring resources and activities
Explore alternative and innovative ways to fund and deliver services

This seems a strange disconnect with the charter language. What started as an effort to mitigate discrimination seems to have metamorphosed into a promotion of minority-owned businesses. A noble effort, but one that may seem better suited to the Office of Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization or the Planning Department. Or is it?

However, the current focus of the Human Rights Department is somewhat in line with a proposal that I have submitted for Citizen Planning Councils. It is necessary first, to define what is meant by human rights. Surely we can all agree that citizens of the city have a right to receive services without discrimination. Charter language states that the human rights department will attempt to “increase understanding among community residents” and “work cooperatively with other agencies.” This is a perfect starting point to create a restructured, effective Human Rights Department that will work in our new district system and be of real benefit to the citizens of Detroit.

In my view, human rights are numerous: no citizen should suffer any type of discrimination; all should have opportunity for personal and professional development; all should have access to education and sustainable, living wage jobs and all citizens should have input into Detroit’s future. Within our newly proposed district system, with 7 voting districts, each area could have representation in the Human Rights Department.

Recommendations:

Reduce the size of the Human Rights Commission to 7 members (one per district), appointed by the mayor and approved by 2/3 of city council
Director and Deputy Director are appointed by the mayor and approved by the Human Rights Commission and City Planning Council members
Members must be residents of the city
Members should be representative of the total community
Membership terms last 3 years
The city will make an annual appropriation for the human rights department operations
The Human Rights Department will consist of 7 commission members, a Director and Deputy Director and any staff as needed
The human rights department will: Secure the rights of citizens to service from the city without discrimination; Increase mutual understanding among community residents, promote good will, work cooperatively with other agencies; act as liaison between Citizen Planning Councils and departments of Police, Fire and Public Works