Council Member, District 6· 2026-01-01 to 2030-01 (month-level start: January 2026; month-level end: January 2030, four-year term)
Gabriela Santiago-Romero
Detroit
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 100
- Total speaking time
- 27:51:39
- Avg per meeting
- 16:43
- Segments
- 28844
Want every word Santiago-Romero has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Santiago-Romero said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
Contaminated Dirt
City is covering testing and cleanup at no cost to residents; cost-per-hole figures not yet reported.
Voter turnout and election access
Approximately $45,000 for two drop boxes, funded via grants.
Proposed Interim Zoning Moratorium on AI Data Centers
DEGC notes data centers pay personal property tax that manufacturers don't — potentially significant revenue.
Detroit Water and Sewerage Infrastructure and Affordability
DWSD Director Gary Brown has said water rates will rise at least 4% every year.
Stockbridge Renaissance Center 600 Tower redevelopment incentives
$7.8 million value in OPRA abatement over 12 years plus a $16.7 million TIF capture, against an estimated $4.3 million net city benefit.
PILOT reconsiderations for Hyde Park and Prentis housing
The PILOTs replace traditional property taxes with a percentage-of-rent service charge for 15 years, reducing general fund revenue on those properties.
Zoning Reform for Strategic Density and Affordable Housing
Could lower housing costs long-term by enabling more housing construction, though no cost estimate was given.
Dangerous buildings and demolition costs
Millions in bond and blight funding — Young asked whether rising interest rates on general obligation bonds could cost taxpayers more.
RenCen Community Benefits and Revenue-Sharing Questions
Abatements worth about $5.2 million in tax savings, with a projected $4.27 million net benefit to the city over the incentive period.
Apartment complex tenant complaints
No dollar figure committed yet; historic tax credits and the PILOT program are potential funding tools.
Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE) updates
Eligible homeowners can now claim HOPE relief for two years instead of one, potentially thousands in property tax savings.
Emergency demolitions of dangerous residential properties
Combined contract amounts run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, largely from bond funds, including $54,566.35 at 8014 Foster.
Transit service and non-drivers
Advocates say significantly more funding is needed to expand DDOT bus service to the level residents deserve.
City-Owned Property Sales
An adverse outcome in the federal lawsuit could carry serious financial implications for the city, per the commenter.
Objection to officer indemnifications
Settlements approved today total roughly $598,538; referrals include settlements totaling about $358,895 more.
Property Tax Reform and Assessment Concerns
Rising property values support revenue but raise overassessment concerns; a 1-mill reduction equals about $7 million in revenue.
Supplemental checks for city retirees
$12 million total — $10 million budgeted plus $2 million from projected surplus.
Citywide PILOT program oversight
Callers argue forgone property taxes shrink the general fund that pays for city services.
Police Oversight and Appointment Controversy
None.
Data center tax revenue impact
Unknown — the analysis itself examines potential data center tax revenue for the city.
Decisions during term (2298)
Recorded while Santiago-Romero was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Receive and File: Butzel Family Recreation Center Parking Lot Transfer Memo
Approval of Minutes
Approval of Minutes
Status of Law Department — Chapter 17 claims ordinance amendment
Status of Legislative Policy Division — FY2025/FY2026 appropriations report
Status of Council Member Latisha Johnson — Monteith Library capital improvements
Status of Council Member Mary Waters — utility audit resolution
Status of Council Member McCampbell — FY27 Mayor's Office budget questions
Status of Council Member McCampbell — Auditor General claims award ordinance questions
Status of Council Member McCampbell — October 8 FY27 discussion follow-up
Status of Council Member McCampbell — 2023 property tax reform RFI addendum
Approval of Minutes (October 28, 2026)
Sharon Parker — Board of Zoning Appeals reappointment
Josephina Ramon — Tenants' Rights Commission reappointment
Maria Muhammad — Property Tax Board of Review reappointment
Jacqueline Robinson — Property Tax Board of Review reappointment
Walk-on interviews: Tiffany Franklin and John George
9.1 — Tenants' Rights Commission stipends ordinance
9.2 — Angela T. Jones labor petition
9.3 — Detroit First Jobs and Opportunities Ordinance
Voting record (219)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Approval of Minutes (October 26, 2026)
Contaminated Dirt Sites — Site-by-Site Accounting (6.15)
Soave Enterprise Alley Vacation Petition x2026-099 (6.16)
Right of Way Construction and Restoration Memo (6.17)
Monteith Branch Library $2 Million Allocation (6.18)
Paid Bulk Collection Service Memo (6.19)
Waive Privilege of Site-by-Site Accounting Memo (6.20)
Prop N and Contaminated Soil Remediation Memo (6.21)
Health Department Medical Vending Machines Extension (7.1)
September Administrative Contracts Report (7.2)
Business License Ordinances, Chapters 18, 20, 32, 34, 36 (7.3–7.7)
DDOT KPI Metrics Report Q2 and Q3 2026 (7.8)
Marijuana Ordinance Amendment for Substance Use Prevention Funding (7.9)
Traffic Safety Assessment — Greydale and Grand River (7.10)
Michigan Deed Fraud Legislative Bill Package Resolution (7.11)
Whitfield-Calloway, reso. autho. Legal Representation and Indemnification for PO Yvette Hudson
Whitfield-Calloway, reso. autho. Legal Representation and Indemnification for PO Yvette Hudson in lawsuit James Underwood III v Alex Thomas et al
Legal representation for Officers Thurman and Hudson (17.2–17.3)
NCAA Special Event License ordinance, Chapter 28.5 (20.1)
Approval of Minutes
Contract Amendment for Detroit Detention Center Services
Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Grant Walk-On
16.1 — Hyde Park PILOT (2028 Hyde Park Dr.)
16.2 — 632 and 634 Prentis PILOT
Saw it as a housing subsidy preventing displacement, not a developer subsidy.
17.1 — $60,000 Settlement, Ware v. Engelman and City of Detroit
17.3–17.9 — Legal Representation and Indemnification for seven employees
18.1 — 30-Year Hangar Ground Lease, Coleman A. Young International Airport
19.10 — Resolution Supporting E-Bike Regulation Legislation
Confirmation of Harvey Santana to Board of Police Commissioners
Voted in opposition to the appointment.
Approval of Park Video Surveillance and Lighting Contract
Voted against the contract for park surveillance and cameras.
Contract No. 6007193 - 100% City Funding – To Provide Park Video Surveillance Systems, Network Connectivity and New Lighting for Walkways and Parking Lots, throughout Chandler Park, Eliza-Howell Park,
Appointing Harvey Santana to the Board of Police Commissioners beginning Immediately and expires September 23, 2031.
19.1 Ordinance rezoning 5130 14th St & 2150 Putnam to PD district
19.2 Ordinance rezoning 15321 Wyoming to B4 General Business
Zoning Reclassification for 14632 Mack Avenue
Commercial Facilities Exemption Certificate for 525 W Lafayette
Approving a Commercial Facilities Exemption Certificate on behalf of PSSF I-AREP V-HV Detroit, LLC in the area of 525 W Lafayette, Detroit, MI in accordance with Public Act 255 of 1978 (Petition # 202
Dangerous buildings: 5970 Proctor ordered demolished 2-1
The property has been a problem for District 6 residents for over a year and must be addressed or demolished.
$2.2M federal justice grant application rejected
Legal representation for TEO Dorian Cox approved
Legal representation for TEO Maurice Hushour approved 5-3
Steve Ogden appointed to DDA board — over two no votes
DTE easement at 11446 Van Dyke approved 5-2
Groundhog-infestation speaker request denied 3-4
APPROVED 6-3. MEMBERS SANTIAGO-ROMERO, MCCAMPBELL, AND JOHNSON VOTED NO.
APPROVED 6-3. MEMBERS SANTIAGO-ROMERO, MCCAMPBELL, AND JOHNSON VOTED NO.
APPROVED 6-3. MEMBERS SANTIAGO-ROMERO, MCCAMPBELL, AND JOHNSON VOTED NO.
Contract No. 3092660- Notification of Emergency –100% Blight Funding – To Provide Emergency Commercial Demolition 17893 Dequindre.
Contract No. 6004334 - A1 100% City Funding – AMEND 1 – To Provide an Extension of Time and an Increase of Funds for the Subscription Based Gunshot Detection, Location, and Forensic Analysis Service.
ShotSpotter Contract Extension
Opposed the contract, noting lack of demonstrated effectiveness and preference for community investments.