Southfield (WWJ) -- Meeting together for the first time since winning the election, seven of the nine members of the incoming Detroit City Council gathered at the WWJ studios to answer questions about the future of the city.
The newly elected council members discussed new ways the city could raise revenue to help offset the budget deficit, receivership, crime, and the use of city cars. Ken Cockrel Jr. and Joann Watson couldn't attend.
Council members, who take office in early January, said they'll do everything in their power to ensure that the city does not fall into receivership.
Saunteel Jenkins warned the city has to get its act together now, before next fall's gubernatorial election.
"The likelihood is that our next governor will be Republican, and may not be as Detroit-friendly and receivership will be even more real at that point," Jenkins said.
When asked if they would give up their city-furnished vehicle and security protection to help pare down Detroit's huge budget deficit, incoming council president Charles Pugh said no. But Pugh said he'll use the city car only for city-related business.
"I'm going to be doing the City's work. This is not just a privileged position and a vehicle just to go back and forth to the store," Pugh said.
But another new council member, Saunteel Jenkins, said she doesn't need to have a car.
"If we're asking city workers to make sacrifices, that's certainly one I'm willing to make," Jenkins said.
Voters also passed a proposal to move the Detroit City Council to a district system, as opposed to a city-wide vote for all members, by 72 percent.
“Already we're talking about how we're going to do our particular district, when right now our responsibility is the entire city of Detroit," said elected Incumbent Kwame Kenyatta.
Councilman-elect James Tate said he thinks crime is not just a police problem, but a people problem. So, he said, they have to start looking at how they deal with the community from the inside.
Tate, a former Detroit Police department spokesman, said his goal is to work on those internal issues in addition to better funding for the police department.
In all, there will be five new members when the council begins its term Jan. 5.
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