_____________________________________________________________________________________

April 25, 2022

Mary Sheffield
City Council President
City Council Office 2
Woodward Ave., Suite 1340
Detroit, MI 48226

Dear Council President Sheffield,

On March 11, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act
(ARPA), a $1.9 trillion dollar coronavirus relief package that brings much needed aid and
support to communities across our nation.

According to a document prepared by the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

(NCBCP), Michigan received between $5.9 and $6.6 billion dollars in state fiscal relief, $4 billion
dollars in local fiscal relief, $3.814 billion in relief for K-12 schools, and the City of Detroit
received roughly $826 million dollars.

As Executive Director of SEIU Local 517M, a Labor Union representing countless City employees,
I know firsthand the toll this pandemic has taken on our members and am asking that the City
of Detroit recognize their sacrifice and commitment throughout the pandemic.

This can be achieved by providing ARPA funds in the amount of $2,000 per person for ALL
Civilian Employees within the Detroit Police Department who have and continue to provide
essential/critical public services to all Detroiters.

Moreover, these $2,000 payments should be expanded to all City Employees as a show of
recognition, appreciation, and respect for the tremendous job they did throughout the
pandemic on behalf of the residents of Detroit.

Lastly, I am asking that City of Detroit, in partnership with SEIU Local 517M, lift up May 1-7 as
Public Service Recognition Week, which has been observed nationally since 1985.
The purpose of this recognition would be to acknowledge the work City employees provide and
highlight the immense need and value of public service within our communities.

Thank you for your consideration of these requests and your leadership during these difficult
times. If you have any questions or wish to discuss this request in more detail, please feel free
to reach out to me or our Labor Relations Representative, Dominic Barbato directly.

In the meantime, rest assured that our members will continue doing the necessary work to
keep Michigan and the City of Detroit moving forward.

Respectfully,

Jeremy Tripp
Executive Director
517-482-1737
jtripp@seiu517m.org

Cc: James Tate, City Council President Pro Tem - District 1

Angela Whitfield- Calloway, Council Member – District 2
Scott Benson, Council Member – District 3
Latisha Johnson, Council Member – District 4
Gabriela Santiago-Romero, Council Member – District 6
Fred Durhal III, Council Member – District 7
Mary Waters, Council Member At Large
Coleman A. Young II, Council Member At Large