Nadia Ziyad
@nadiaziyad.bsky.social
21- She/her- Detroit Documenter with Outlier Media
Peer Money Mentor
Assistant Producer on The Metro WDET 101.9FM
Peer Money Mentor
Assistant Producer on The Metro WDET 101.9FM
If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at [email protected] with "Correction Request" in the subject line!! Don’t forget to visit documenters.org ❣️
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November 19, 2025 at 1:52 PM
If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at [email protected] with "Correction Request" in the subject line!! Don’t forget to visit documenters.org ❣️
Moving on to the Resolution. To clarify, they’re voting ‘yes’ to keep them suspended- and ‘no’ to overturn it.
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It was approved with no objections.
This meeting is adjourned at 3:54pm.
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It was approved with no objections.
This meeting is adjourned at 3:54pm.
November 18, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Moving on to the Resolution. To clarify, they’re voting ‘yes’ to keep them suspended- and ‘no’ to overturn it.
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It was approved with no objections.
This meeting is adjourned at 3:54pm.
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It was approved with no objections.
This meeting is adjourned at 3:54pm.
These name tags are so blurry! This next councilwoman asks if they’re also investigating treatment of subcontractors, and if they’re getting paid.
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The answer is basically… yes.
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The answer is basically… yes.
November 18, 2025 at 8:50 PM
These name tags are so blurry! This next councilwoman asks if they’re also investigating treatment of subcontractors, and if they’re getting paid.
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The answer is basically… yes.
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The answer is basically… yes.
A Councilwoman says,
“If the city owes this company any money while this investigation is in process- we should pay them.”
Saying that if they’ve already done the work, they should get paid so they can pay their workers.
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A response is that substantial sums have been given to Gayanga.
“If the city owes this company any money while this investigation is in process- we should pay them.”
Saying that if they’ve already done the work, they should get paid so they can pay their workers.
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A response is that substantial sums have been given to Gayanga.
November 18, 2025 at 8:47 PM
A Councilwoman says,
“If the city owes this company any money while this investigation is in process- we should pay them.”
Saying that if they’ve already done the work, they should get paid so they can pay their workers.
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A response is that substantial sums have been given to Gayanga.
“If the city owes this company any money while this investigation is in process- we should pay them.”
Saying that if they’ve already done the work, they should get paid so they can pay their workers.
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A response is that substantial sums have been given to Gayanga.
However! Another councilman says he’s absolutely uncomfortable with voting on this issue until they can confirm if the dirt was from a public source or not.
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And they can’t. The OIG can’t tell us that information until after the investigation is over.
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And they can’t. The OIG can’t tell us that information until after the investigation is over.
November 18, 2025 at 8:45 PM
However! Another councilman says he’s absolutely uncomfortable with voting on this issue until they can confirm if the dirt was from a public source or not.
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And they can’t. The OIG can’t tell us that information until after the investigation is over.
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And they can’t. The OIG can’t tell us that information until after the investigation is over.
The question of postponing this issue comes up, and goes right back down. It seems like the council is voting today.
November 18, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The question of postponing this issue comes up, and goes right back down. It seems like the council is voting today.
Gayanga has filled 24 hundred cites in Detroit.
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The OIG says again that due process is irrelevant here because no one has been debarred.
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The OIG says again that due process is irrelevant here because no one has been debarred.
November 18, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Gayanga has filled 24 hundred cites in Detroit.
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The OIG says again that due process is irrelevant here because no one has been debarred.
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The OIG says again that due process is irrelevant here because no one has been debarred.
A question about Detroit’s integrity when giving dirt for public sources is raised. To which the OIG basically replies,
It’s part of our investigation- it’s self reported if Detroit actually tests this dirt or not- which is why we’re still investigating
It’s part of our investigation- it’s self reported if Detroit actually tests this dirt or not- which is why we’re still investigating
November 18, 2025 at 8:37 PM
A question about Detroit’s integrity when giving dirt for public sources is raised. To which the OIG basically replies,
It’s part of our investigation- it’s self reported if Detroit actually tests this dirt or not- which is why we’re still investigating
It’s part of our investigation- it’s self reported if Detroit actually tests this dirt or not- which is why we’re still investigating
‘The required action of a suspension is that contracts are cancelled’ - to which the attorney says,
“The effects are the same…Once you get that reputation, once you get that stain that someone operates in a nefarious manner- you won’t be able to do business.”
“The effects are the same…Once you get that reputation, once you get that stain that someone operates in a nefarious manner- you won’t be able to do business.”
November 18, 2025 at 8:34 PM
‘The required action of a suspension is that contracts are cancelled’ - to which the attorney says,
“The effects are the same…Once you get that reputation, once you get that stain that someone operates in a nefarious manner- you won’t be able to do business.”
“The effects are the same…Once you get that reputation, once you get that stain that someone operates in a nefarious manner- you won’t be able to do business.”
The attorney says alleged slander- and fact that Brian McKinney can no longer work while suspended- causes him suffering like it’s more than a suspension.
November 18, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The attorney says alleged slander- and fact that Brian McKinney can no longer work while suspended- causes him suffering like it’s more than a suspension.
‘You mentioned fundamental fairness, and due process, but none of those are violated under what the charter says.’
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This councilman is not letting up, very clearly saying his question (and the question we’re all here for) has not been adequately answered.
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This councilman is not letting up, very clearly saying his question (and the question we’re all here for) has not been adequately answered.
November 18, 2025 at 8:29 PM
‘You mentioned fundamental fairness, and due process, but none of those are violated under what the charter says.’
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This councilman is not letting up, very clearly saying his question (and the question we’re all here for) has not been adequately answered.
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This councilman is not letting up, very clearly saying his question (and the question we’re all here for) has not been adequately answered.
He claims that an individual can never win an abuse of discretion case if they don’t see the allegations against Brian McKinney as worthy enough for the level of presentation seen at this hearing.
November 18, 2025 at 8:28 PM
He claims that an individual can never win an abuse of discretion case if they don’t see the allegations against Brian McKinney as worthy enough for the level of presentation seen at this hearing.
“What is it that you can state- throwing out these other things that we’re not bounded by…. what is your argument that the OIG SPECIFICALLY violated their discretion…?”
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The attorney cites ‘Fundamental fairness and due process’
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The attorney cites ‘Fundamental fairness and due process’
November 18, 2025 at 8:25 PM
“What is it that you can state- throwing out these other things that we’re not bounded by…. what is your argument that the OIG SPECIFICALLY violated their discretion…?”
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The attorney cites ‘Fundamental fairness and due process’
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The attorney cites ‘Fundamental fairness and due process’
‘Generally the target of the investigation is interviewed at the end’ is the OIG’s response to lack of communication. This seems to take Gayanga’s attorneys aback. He sort of cringes upon hearing it.
November 18, 2025 at 8:23 PM
‘Generally the target of the investigation is interviewed at the end’ is the OIG’s response to lack of communication. This seems to take Gayanga’s attorneys aback. He sort of cringes upon hearing it.
The attorney clarifies that this allegation has been around for five months- and in those months he feels like the OIG has deliberately denied them accurate correspondence or information. Therefore abusing his discretion.
November 18, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The attorney clarifies that this allegation has been around for five months- and in those months he feels like the OIG has deliberately denied them accurate correspondence or information. Therefore abusing his discretion.
“What is the definition of an abuse of discretion?” the councilman asks,
The response is kind of confusing. But the speaker sums it up as ‘ a really tainted decision.’
The response is kind of confusing. But the speaker sums it up as ‘ a really tainted decision.’
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
“What is the definition of an abuse of discretion?” the councilman asks,
The response is kind of confusing. But the speaker sums it up as ‘ a really tainted decision.’
The response is kind of confusing. But the speaker sums it up as ‘ a really tainted decision.’
Another councilman asks ‘Where is the abuse of discretion on behalf of the Investigator General?’
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‘When you levy an allegation of fraud- and don’t have any specifics… I think that is an abuse of aggression’ paraphrasing Brian’s Attorney.
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‘When you levy an allegation of fraud- and don’t have any specifics… I think that is an abuse of aggression’ paraphrasing Brian’s Attorney.
November 18, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Another councilman asks ‘Where is the abuse of discretion on behalf of the Investigator General?’
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‘When you levy an allegation of fraud- and don’t have any specifics… I think that is an abuse of aggression’ paraphrasing Brian’s Attorney.
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‘When you levy an allegation of fraud- and don’t have any specifics… I think that is an abuse of aggression’ paraphrasing Brian’s Attorney.
He also brings up how a press release alleging fraud was released already- which he does not take lightly.
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The council asks if OIG taking a more special stance on this case, and going out of their way to do it differently than others. The rely is a resounding ‘No, too many tests came back bad.’
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The council asks if OIG taking a more special stance on this case, and going out of their way to do it differently than others. The rely is a resounding ‘No, too many tests came back bad.’
November 18, 2025 at 8:14 PM
He also brings up how a press release alleging fraud was released already- which he does not take lightly.
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The council asks if OIG taking a more special stance on this case, and going out of their way to do it differently than others. The rely is a resounding ‘No, too many tests came back bad.’
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The council asks if OIG taking a more special stance on this case, and going out of their way to do it differently than others. The rely is a resounding ‘No, too many tests came back bad.’
A claim that the business is currently suffering catastrophic delays during this suspension is made. Which is why Gayanga’s lawyers are making that stance.
November 18, 2025 at 8:11 PM
A claim that the business is currently suffering catastrophic delays during this suspension is made. Which is why Gayanga’s lawyers are making that stance.
The OIG says that their source was credible, and asserts to some degree that the dirt used was indeed from a private source. (Iron heart)
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A councilman also reminds us that this conversation is about a suspension- not yet disbarment.
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A councilman also reminds us that this conversation is about a suspension- not yet disbarment.
November 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
The OIG says that their source was credible, and asserts to some degree that the dirt used was indeed from a private source. (Iron heart)
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A councilman also reminds us that this conversation is about a suspension- not yet disbarment.
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A councilman also reminds us that this conversation is about a suspension- not yet disbarment.
Another attorney speaks up about how it’s DETROIT’S responsibility to test backfill provided in public sources.
November 18, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Another attorney speaks up about how it’s DETROIT’S responsibility to test backfill provided in public sources.
The next councilwoman asks Gayanga’s Attorney if it was their responsibility to test the soil- regardless of where it comes from.
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The response is… sort of no. That buying into expensive backfill should ensure its quality. He does not believe that it was their responsibility.
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The response is… sort of no. That buying into expensive backfill should ensure its quality. He does not believe that it was their responsibility.
November 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
The next councilwoman asks Gayanga’s Attorney if it was their responsibility to test the soil- regardless of where it comes from.
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The response is… sort of no. That buying into expensive backfill should ensure its quality. He does not believe that it was their responsibility.
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The response is… sort of no. That buying into expensive backfill should ensure its quality. He does not believe that it was their responsibility.
A councilwoman asks the first question on their end- asking if it’s true that they just received their documents today. She asks when the documents were uploaded for the public eye, and sent to them.
The OIG responds that they sent them out last week- or rather- given them to someone else to do it.
The OIG responds that they sent them out last week- or rather- given them to someone else to do it.
November 18, 2025 at 8:05 PM
A councilwoman asks the first question on their end- asking if it’s true that they just received their documents today. She asks when the documents were uploaded for the public eye, and sent to them.
The OIG responds that they sent them out last week- or rather- given them to someone else to do it.
The OIG responds that they sent them out last week- or rather- given them to someone else to do it.
He continues into how well documented the company’s actions are- and asks that Brian’s suspension be immediately overturned.
November 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM
He continues into how well documented the company’s actions are- and asks that Brian’s suspension be immediately overturned.