Emails show how the city rushed to put up murals; investigations ongoing

Detroit’s planning director is under investigation after he slacked off in his rush to paint murals downtown ahead of the NFL draft. He even nearly completed the painting on historic buildings, according to email correspondence obtained by the Free Press, while dismissing the possibility of breaking the law.

Detroit authorities and a New York City artist group quickly commissioned the murals as part of the city’s planned beautification efforts. But authorities bypassed the permitting process required by the city charter to install the first phase of the “Detroit Be the Change” murals through Street Art for Mankind Corp., which selected artists from around the world to create the murals. The group repeatedly pressed city authorities for a signed contract, according to emails obtained by the Free Press through a Freedom of Information Act request.

After several discussions, Antoine Bryant, planning and development director, signed the six-figure contract, which embroiled him in controversy for neglecting the city’s permitting process. Due to the department’s actions, the Detroit City Council refused to pay for the artwork because it violated city charter.

The Detroit Board of Ethics subsequently launched an investigation into Bryant after BridgeDetroit reported a review of emails. Questions surrounding the project sparked a community outcry when local artists realized that none of the muralists were from Detroit.

Emails obtained by the Free Press show frantic communication between city officials and Thibault and Audrey Decker, co-founders of Street Art for Mankind. Records show artists began work without a contract and were told they shouldn’t have started. The Free Press initially requested a batch of emails about the project, but the city estimated it would cost $17,000 to release the records. In a follow-up request, the Free Press narrowed its request, asking for less information at a lower price.

Because the project was completed without prior approval from aldermen, the Detroit City Council in January rejected a $215,000 contract to pay the muralists. Bryant had admitted to carrying out the contract and apologized to aldermen in a November memo, records show.

“The entire process was very quick. SAM’s unexpected return and rapid start of work do not excuse PDD’s failure to follow all required purchasing protocols,” Bryant said in the November memo. “I take full responsibility for the processes and procedures that were missed. I apologize for any errors made and sincerely hope that your honorable board will approve this request for payment for services already performed in good faith.”

Representatives for Street Art for Mankind have not responded to requests for comment since January, and the Free Press can find no evidence that the city paid for the work.

Investigation against Bryant

The Detroit Board of Ethics is tasked with resolving complaints about potential violations of the city’s ethics ordinance. Executive Director Christal Phillips said the council met on June 4 and decided to open an investigation into Bryant for “potential violations” of the ethics policy.

“This recommendation was based on Mr. Bryant’s signing of a $215,000 contract with Street Art for Mankind Corp. without proper approval from the Detroit City Council,” Phillips said in an email.

Specific violations have yet to be identified, but Phillips confirmed that the commission will investigate at least five areas: willful neglect of duty, self-serving regulation and involvement, improper use of city property, incompatible employment or provision of services, and representation of a private individual, business or organization.

“My recommendation to open an investigation would have been presented to the Ethics Council months ago, but without a full council we could not reach a quorum to hold a meeting,” Phillips said.

There were two vacancies on the board earlier this year. The June 4 board meeting was the first since April 2023 when the board was fully staffed, Phillips said.

Bryant was attacked over a different issue at the January City Council meeting when the payment was denied. Council President pro tempore James Tate told members that Bryant had bypassed the council once before by approving a sale amendment for the Brodhead Armory without its approval.

“I am very concerned about the way this planning director has operated. I have also spoken about the lack of communication and the lack of contacts that this person has attempted to establish, even with the chair of the Standing Committee on Planning and Economic Development and other members. So I am concerned about the way he has approached this and other projects,” Tate said at the January meeting.

In their correspondence

Emails from September 2023 show that Rochelle Riley, who heads the city’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship, is coordinating with other city officials to launch the project. But angry artists vented their frustration after one of them in particular, Sydney James, noticed the project’s launch, as Outlier Media first reported. James told the Free Press she was frustrated by the lack of community engagement and failure to include Detroit artists.

“The most important takeaway for me and the artists in the community. It highlighted what needs to be adjusted. When there is a policy, it is not enforced,” James said, adding that the artists are working to propose a policy to city officials to ensure fair payment and equal access when commissioning artwork.

By early October 2023, Thibault Decker asked Riley and Bryant to return a signed contract. Riley, a former longtime Free Press columnist, noted that the Planning Department funded the project and had to sign it.

“Could you please let me know if we can get this document back signed today?” Decker said.

After learning that the group had started working, Riley wrote back: “Your team is working without the contract between you and PDD??”

“Yes… that was the purpose of my message,” Decker said. “We signed it and sent it back filled out. But we haven’t received it back countersigned yet.”

“Oh, Thibault,” Riley said. “Then you shouldn’t have started work. Antoine will look at it first thing in the morning, but at this point you have to live with the contract he signs.”

Debate about historic buildings

Audrey and Thibault Decker received a final contract for review and approval from Eric Larson, CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership, in an email with Riley and Bryant on October 20, 2023. Larson acted as a liaison and helped the partners secure space on Ilitch properties while discussions were underway over whether they could paint historic buildings, which required approval from the Historic District Commission.

“I’m afraid, gentlemen, that this project is lost if we don’t soon find four other buildings that are NOT in a historic district here,” Riley said, telling the partners a few days earlier that they could not work on some of the historic buildings without the commission’s approval.

Bryant suggested continuing.

“Or we could start the buildings, finish the work (mostly) and still file papers for the November meeting. The worst that could happen is that we would be ‘cited,’ which I can sort out internally,” Bryant said.

“Your decision, my liege. Then let us begin these projects!!! Thank you!!”, Riley replied.

Eventually the murals were painted in other locations.

At one point, Riley told Decker she didn’t know why he didn’t understand “the local artists’ problem” and said he should have reached out to her if he was having trouble reaching artists. James said she was contacted by Street Art for Mankind via an Instagram message to design a mural on October 5, 2023, before it was too late. But she didn’t see the notification.

“It wasn’t an email, it wasn’t a formal communication. It was a (direct message). I didn’t realize that until later,” James said.

Riley told Decker the city has “dozens of world-class Detroit artists” to choose from.

“Next time, use your partner!” Riley wrote.

Decker later said that a second phase would also involve local artists.

“People are furious. We have stopped Sydney James’ attempt to discredit him,” Riley wrote in an Oct. 11 email.

Like the Deckers, Bryant did not respond to requests for comment. Instead, Detroit COO Brad Dick told the Free Press that the city has “complete confidence” in the planning director.

“The Legal Department has indicated that it will advise Mr. Bryant on the ethics investigation,” Dick said in a statement.

The contract is signed

The emails show that Bryant signed the contract after repeated requests from Thibault Decker. In early October, Decker asked the city administration to “keep its promises and send us the contract signed by all parties.”

“This is the second time we’ve been promised it for a Monday and not received it,” Decker said in an email dated October 10, 2023.

Riley responded that Bryant had signed it the day before. However, the next day, Decker claimed the group had not received it.

“Can we please have a little respect for SAM and get this contract properly signed and executed today before Antoine leaves?” Decker wrote.

On November 1, 2023, Decker wrote that the group’s “lack of communication” was beginning to cause concern.

Larson emailed the Deckers the completed contract for them to review and approve on October 20, 2023. He said he was “here to help,” but the necessary paperwork would have to go through the city. Larson also told Bryant that if the Deckers approved the contract, he would have to bring it to the City Council for approval at the following week’s meeting. The contract was not on the agenda until January 16.

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