Hello Neighbor,
Thank you for staying connected and engaging with the work I am doing in Lansing for our Downriver and Western Wayne communities. I was so grateful to celebrate Juneteenth and Pride in the last few weeks, and I hope you and your family are enjoying all that our district has to offer.
I wanted to share what my team and I have been working on both at home and in our state’s capitol. There are always many things that my team and I are working on, but the Legislature is particularly busy as we finish budget negotiations for the upcoming fiscal year. Please continue to stay involved, as your voice is essential to ensuring that your tax dollars are being spent on what matters most to your community.
As always, my office is available to answer your questions, hear your concerns, and provide any assistance that you may need. Please do not hesitate to contact our email or call my office at (517) 373-7918 if you are in need of assistance.
In Solidarity,
Darrin Camilleri
State Senator
District 4
Our community continues to show what makes District 4 so special. Last month had many meaningful activities I was grateful to join in on. Below is a snapshot of what was happening close to home.
Southgate Heritage Day Parade and Festival
It was so enjoyable to join families at the 50th anniversary of the Southgate Heritage Day Parade and Festival. There were so many events including a carnival, live entertainment, wonderful food sampling, and of course, the classic parade. Thank you to everyone who joined us, said hello, and came together to celebrate. It is events like these that bring our community together and remind us why Southgate is so special. To see more: Click Here
Romulus Juneteenth Celebration
Joining the Romulus community to celebrate Juneteenth was a wonderful time. I was so proud to stand with my neighbors and reflect on the fight for freedom. I want to extend my sincerest appreciation to all of the organizers and the community members who made the celebration so incredible. This day is a moment to honor resilience, acknowledge history, and celebrate the ongoing pursuit of equity. To see more: Click Here
Keeping ICE Out of Our Community
We had a huge victory for the district this month when ICE abandoned their plans to build a detention center in Romulus. I was always aware that this ICE facility was unwanted and unwarranted in our community. I am so thankful that our community came together with local and state partners to fight back. I am also incredibly grateful to the Romulus community, Mayor McCraight, Reps. Dingell and Tlaib, and Attorney General Nessel for standing their ground and fighting for our neighbors.
The legislature can move quickly and staying informed should never be difficult. Below are a few of the legislative updates from the last couple of weeks including bills I am working on, policy developments, and resolutions. Your voice guides my work here, and I always welcome feedback.
Addressing the Rising Cost of Fuel
I know that gas prices right now are completely unmanageable. While the Trump administration continues the war in Iran, gas prices continue to rise. Michigan is taking action to help ease the burden on families. I am so grateful to help save families a bit of money through Labor Day. I heard the voices of my community and introduced a resolution to extend the emergency order that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued in April. This would help to drive down fuel costs in some parts of the state. Without this extension, Michiganders would be forced to pay for more expensive gas.
Holding Data Centers Accountable
Another concern for Michigan residents has been data centers. I have been working with my colleagues to hold developers accountable, and to make sure environmental and ratepayer protections are in place. I was proud to introduce three bills in a bill package to shield Michigan workers, consumers, and natural resources from the impacts of data centers. The three bills I introduced are the last three bills of this package, Senate Bills 1049, 1050, and 1051. These bills prohibit public officers from signing non-disclosure agreements with data centers and require agreements between local communities and data center owners prior to construction.
Additionally, Senate Bill 1046 was introduced by Sen. Bayer, which would establish guidelines for consumptive water use and gives the Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy the ability to monitor the water use of data centers. Senate Bill 1047, introduced by Sen. McMorrow, aims to hold data centers accountable for their utility use, not Michigan residents. Finally, Senate Bill 1048 was introduced by Sen. Hertel and creates labor protections for the development of data centers.
I look forward to sharing more updates with you in two weeks! I hope the information was both helpful and insightful as we work to move our state forward. Again, if you have any questions, concerns, or comments please do not hesitate to contact us by email or call my office at (517) 373-7918.