Southfield residents warn of bogus voter-registration mailings; one recounts armed police stop

Garland McWills, a 30-year Southfield resident, told the council he has received two mailings he believes are “bogus” voter-registration applications and asked the city to warn residents not to rely on them. “I just got another one in the mail,” McWills said during public communications, and he urged broadcasters and the clerk to advise residents to throw the mailings away and go vote.

Michael Humphrey, a 26-year resident, recounted a May 6 incident in which “four armed policemen came to my door” and said officers forced him to put his hands on the window and answer questions. “I thought they was going to kill me,” Humphrey said. He asked whether he had requested a police report, said he would pursue the matter in court, and described a contemporaneous dispute with the IRS as possible context.

Councilwoman Banks, responding during the communications period, said mailings from outside groups have been common historically and that such organizations have a right to send materials. “It seems like you get mail…from outside groups and it is a Lancing address,” Banks said, adding that residents should check for the city'9s address when in doubt.

Multiple residents also criticized inconsistent enforcement of public-comment rules. Pamela Gerald said council presidents have applied rules differently over time and asked for consistent policies; Greg Keeler said speakers'9 remarks have on past occasions been misrecorded or misrepresented.

The city'9s announced rules, read at the start of the meeting, state that the council will not respond to public comment during the meeting but will provide a more formal response later if the speaker supplied contact information. The clerk accepted materials from McWills for follow-up.

The council did not take immediate action on the concerns raised during communications; the clerk and staff indicated the city will follow up as allowed under the public-comment procedure.