Senate District 12 News & Updates

Friends,

With the holiday season right around the corner, November can be a stressful and busy time for all. Please remember to take precautions to protect yourself and your family from the COVID-19 and flu viruses so that we all may enjoy happy and healthy holiday gatherings.

Featured in this newsletter is an announcement about an upcoming virtual event, updates regarding my work trying to promote awareness of poverty and homelessness in Michigan, and a highlight about the HOPE candlelight vigil I attended acknowledging the start of Homelessness Awareness Month. With the cold weather on the horizon, you’ll also find a few important tips on how to stay warm this winter.

As always, if I can be of any assistance to you or your family, please call my office at (517) 373-2417, or email me at SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov.

Be well, 

Rosemary Bayer
State Senator
12th District

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

WHAT: Virtual Community Conversation

WHEN: Nov. 22, 2021, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. via Facebook Live

TOPIC: Self-Respect, Self-Care, and Stress Management 

DESCRIPTION: The last two years have been a difficult and stressful time for people worldwide, including here in Michigan. Join me and very special guest Michelle Reiter-Miller, Dean of the College of Social Science and Education, Psychology Program Director and Associate Professor at Baker College, to discuss the important and timely topic of mental health management. Ms. Reiter-Miller will explain the importance of self-care and simple ways to manage stress while we continue to struggle with the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming holiday season, which can be a stressful time for many. Please take an hour out of your busy month to prioritize yourself and learn a few new coping strategies from the comfort and convenience of your own living room.

 

PROPOSAL TO MAKE NOVEMBER POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS MONTH

Poverty and homelessness are two issues that are not often discussed despite their prevalence throughout Michigan. These issues affect more than 8,000 of our state’s residents on any given day, according to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. In addition, when it comes to Michigan’s student population, a report from Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan found that in 2015-16 school year, Michigan ranked sixth in the nation for having the most homeless students.

This is unacceptable and why both Representative Brenda Carter and I have proposed Senate Resolution 95 and House Resolution 190, which would designate November as Poverty and Homelessness Awareness Month. Our hope is that by reflecting on this issue, and raising awareness of it, the necessary actions that are needed to respond to this distressing situation will be created. I stand ready to work with my legislative colleagues in delivering relief and assurance to the people of Michigan.

 

HOPE VIGIL FOR HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS MONTH

On Monday, Nov. 1, I attended a Candlelight Vigil, hosted by HOPE, to acknowledge the start of Homelessness Awareness Month in Michigan. Others in attendance were Rep. Brenda Carter and local community leaders, including Pastor Doug Jones, Elizabeth Kelly of Hope Shelter, Pontiac City Councilperson Mary Pietila, and Melanie Grund from Oakland County. Together, we acknowledged, supported, and met with Michiganders who are facing homelessness and poverty. 

 

APPLY NOW FOR THE CHILDCARE STABILIZATION GRANT
The Childcare Stabilization Grant is a non-competitive grant for child-care providers who are looking for financial support. Applications for this grant open on 11/8/21 and close 12/8/21 and all Pontiac childcare providers are urged to apply.

Grants for home-based licensed providers start at $3,300, and grants for centers start at $9,200.

For more information about the grant and to watch a recorded webinar that explains more, please visit Michigan.gov/MDE. You can also contact your Great Start to Quality Resource Center for one-on-one assistance with your application by calling 877-614-7328, or call the Child Development and Care Call Center at 866-990-3227.

WINTER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TIPS

With winter weather approaching and Nov. 7-13 recognized as Winter Hazards Awareness Week, the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) is encouraging Michigan residents to prioritize winter emergency preparedness.
To prepare your home for winter:

• Weatherproof your home by installing weather stripping and caulking and insulating walls, doors, and windows.
• Insulate any water lines that run along exterior walls, so pipes are less likely to freeze.
• Lock in a propane rate now and have a backup heating plan, such as a generator, wood stove, or fireplace.
• Have gas or oil furnaces inspected by a qualified professional and change the air filter every two to four months.
• Have your fireplace and chimney cleaned and inspected. Contact your local fire department for a referral or look for a local inspector online.
• Install battery operated carbon monoxide (CO) detectors near sleeping areas. CO poisoning is more common in the winter months when furnaces are turned on and portable generators are often used for electricity during power outages.
• Clean gutters to prevent ice dams from forming. Roof ice dams can cause water to build up, leading to interior damage.
• Clear storm drains along the curb to enable water to drain. If plugged, water has the potential to go into low-lying areas and flood basements.
• Have an emergency preparedness kit stored safely in your house that includes water, nonperishable food, a first aid kit, extra batteries, a battery or hand-crank powered radio, emergency lighting or flashlights, extra blankets, and warm clothing.

To prepare your vehicle for winter:

• Have your radiator system serviced, replace windshield wipers, and refill wiper fluid.
• Replace any worn tires and check air pressure regularly.
• Have your brakes, brake fluid, oil, car battery, heater, and exhaust checked to make sure everything is running efficiently.
• Keep an emergency preparedness kit in your vehicle stocked with batteries, battery powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight, windshield scraper, jumper cables, mobile phone charger, shovel, blankets, first aid kit, non-perishable food, and bottled water in the event you get stranded or stuck.

For more tips, visit Michigan.gov/MIReady or follow the MSP/EMHSD on Twitter at @MichEMHS.

AG NESSEL REISSUES CONSUMER ALERT FOLLOWING FTC WARNING ON FAKE IRS EMAILS

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reissuing a consumer alert focused on federal stimulus payment scams following a release by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about fake IRS emails that are showing up in peoples’ inboxes.

Late last month, the FTC warned consumers of an email offering an Economic Impact Payment (EIP) if the recipient clicks a link. Clicking it creates an opportunity for a scammer to steal the person’s identity. If consumers receive a text, email, or phone call from someone claiming to be from the government with a check for them, they should not fall for it. These scams will likely ask for bank account information or other personal information that can then be used to steal identities. 

Consumer complaints can be filed online at the Attorney General’s website, or by calling 877-765-8388. 

MICHIGANDERS REMINDED TO CHECK CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS AS COLD WEATHER HITS

As the temperatures continue to drop and winter approaches, Michiganders are urged to take action to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a gas that forms whenever a fossil fuel is burned. You cannot see, taste, or smell CO, but it can be deadly when you breathe it in. CO is dangerous because it blocks your body from taking in the oxygen it needs and can cause serious illness or death in just minutes.

Symptoms of overexposure to carbon monoxide include headache, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, and confusion. At high levels, carbon monoxide can cause death within minutes. If you suspect you may be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, or your detector sounds an alarm, head outside immediately for fresh air and call 911.

Hospitalizations for carbon monoxide poisoning are preventable when people are prepared. To protect from carbon monoxide, follow these safety tips:

• Make sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors. Detectors on every level of your home, including the basement, are strongly recommended.
• Have your furnace or wood-burning stove inspected annually. Hire a professional to make sure it is functionally sound and vents properly outside the home.
• Never run a gasoline, kerosene, or propane heater or a grill (gas or charcoal) inside your home or in an unventilated garage. Any heating system that burns fuel produces carbon monoxide.
• Generators should be run at a safe distance (at least 20 feet) from the home. Never run a generator in the home or garage or right next to windows or doors.
• Never run a car in an enclosed space. If a vehicle is running, you must have a garage door open to the outside.

Visit Michigan.gov/MiTracking for more information about carbon monoxide poisoning.