City Chatter: Council member's data center worries

• In a press release, Jenkins said she hopes to see Benson as governor and sees Benson working to understand "the people on the front lines doing the work."

🏢 Secure buildings: Detroit's law department advised city council in recent weeks that the lawmaking body can't legally ban or limit ICE operations — but it can implement policies restricting use of city property for assisting ICE.

• After that, Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero requested the city draft an ordinance barring federal law enforcement agencies from conducting operations on city-owned property.
• She wrote that her request came "in light of continued reports of aggressive, quasi-legal tactics being deployed by (ICE) in the Detroit Metro area and across the nation …"

👀 Immigrant affairs leadership: During Sheffield's 2026-27 budget presentation Monday, she said the city picked a director for its newly organized Office of Immigrant Affairs and Economic Inclusion — but didn't name them yet.

• The mention came as Santiago-Romero asked how the city will support immigrants, many of whom she said are vulnerable, quiet and scared.

⛔ No thanks: Another council member, Scott Benson, wants Sheffield's administration to commit to a two-year moratorium on the development of data centers, which have drawn controversy in other Michigan cities.

• Benson sent a memo asking for a resolution to be drafted. City council would then need to vote on that resolution, which would formally request Sheffield enact a moratorium.
• Benson wants to hold off on data centers until the city can study best practices around water consumption, noise pollution and economic impact.