Dear Neighbor,
With the first month of the year already over, we’re one step closer to the end of winter and the start of spring! Before the snow melts and the ice thaws for the year, make sure you take part in the beauty and fun of a pure Michigan winter — from ice skating and fishing to snowboarding and tubing, there’s no shortage of frozen fun to be had!
As always, if you would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing or need assistance of any sort, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can email us at senmcavanagh@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-7748.
In service,
Mary Cavanagh
State Senator
District 6
Coffee & Conversation
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 28 from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Livonia Civic Park Senior Center – 15218 Farmington Road, Livonia, MI 48154
My monthly Coffee & Conversation events are a great way for me to hear directly from you about the issues you care about. I encourage you to stop by on Feb. 28 and share your thoughts on state government or issues our community is facing!
Second Ebenezer Church College Weekend
Schoolcraft College International Women’s Day
Rosedale Fun Litter Pick-Up Club
Join the fun! The Rosedale Fun Litter Pick-up Club is dedicated to beautifying our neighborhood through once-monthly litter pickups (on second Saturdays), fun, and fellowship. ALL ARE WELCOME! For more information, email funlitterpickupclub@gmail.com or call/text Mary Madigan at (313) 980-8850.
WHEN: Saturday, March 8, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Rosa Coffee Shop, 19180 Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI 48223
Honoring the Workers of our State on White Shirt Day
Tuesday, Feb. 11 was White Shirt Day, which marks the 88th anniversary of the end of the Flint sit-down strike when Michigan UAW members won the right to be recognized by General Motors.
Entire families — men, women and children — helped in the strike. Family members put their bodies on the line, forming a human shield around the plants to protect the strikers from violence and delivering food to the plants. They fought, and they won: higher wages, improved working conditions and better benefits — the opportunity to build a brighter future for their families.
Within a year of that strike that ended in 1937, the UAW grew from 30,000 to 500,000 members strong, and auto worker wages increased by as much as 300%.
Michigan didn’t just put the world on wheels. The courageous sacrifices these auto workers made 88 years ago changed the course of the labor movement — igniting a rallying cry for millions of workers around the country, ushering in a wave of intense union activity and ultimately unleashing the power of the middle class.
This month, I demonstrated my support for workers by joining with my colleague to introduce Senate Bills 74 and 75 to ensure workers, and their families, who have experienced severe workplace injuries or death, receive the support they deserve from their employers through workers’ compensation.
Investing in Michigan — Updates on the 2026 State Budget
This month, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer presented her recommendations for our next state budget. At this stage in the process, we’ve heard her priorities, and I’m pleased to see that we share many of the same goals — strengthening education, lowering costs for hard working families, supporting small businesses, and driving job growth to boost our economy.
I’ll continue to provide updates as the budget takes shape, so stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks!
Celebrating Black History This Month and Beyond
February is Black History Month, a designated time to honor and appreciate the contributions, cultures, histories, and achievements of African Americans. Michigan has long been home to a diverse range of Black historical figures whose legacies have left an indelible mark on the world, from abolitionist Sojourner Truth and civil rights activist Malcom X to the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin and the “mother of the freedom movement” Rosa Parks — whose birthday is annually celebrated on Feb. 4.
In the state Senate, we’ve fought hard to ensure Michigan is a state where anyone has an equitable opportunity to succeed, no matter their background or the color of their skin. From banning race-based hair discrimination and combating hate crimes to making Juneteenth an official state holiday and centering equity in our state budget investments, my Democratic colleagues and I are committed to uplifting communities that have been historically marginalized.
Want to get involved this Black History Month? Check out local events and some ways to celebrate here.
Supporting Moms & Workers: Updates from the First Month of the New Session
With the first month of 2025 over, I’m excited to share about the progress my colleagues and I have made so far on behalf of you and Michiganders around the state. In the past few weeks, in addition to introducing legislation to lower prescription drug costs and strengthen protections for workers, we:
- Voted to expand the state’s Freedom of Information Act to include the Michigan Legislature and governor. This legislation, Senate Bills 1 and 2, are now over to the House for consideration.
- Reintroduced bills to improve accountability and tackle racial and ethnic disparities in Michigan’s maternal health care system.
- Heard testimony from workers on several bills that were passed by both the House and Senate last session but are now being held up unconstitutionally by new Republican House leadership. The legislation they spoke in favor of a couple of weeks ago would boost retirement benefits for state corrections and conservation officers as well as lower health care costs for firefighters, teachers, and other public sector employees. Read on for more information.
Senate Democrats Stand Strong for Michigan Teachers, First Responders, & Corrections Officers
On Dec. 20, 2024, House Bills 4177, 4665–4667, and 4900–4901 of 2023 and House Bills 5817–5818 and 6058 of 2024 were passed by the Senate and returned to the House for presentation to the governor. However, House Republicans took illegal action to block these nine bills — which lower health care costs for teachers and first responders and improve retirement benefits for corrections officers — from being presented to the governor.
We will not let the constitution go ignored, and we will not let the needs of hardworking public servants go unmet. That’s why Senate Majority Leader Brinks has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Michigan Senate to require House Republicans to abide by the constitution and rightfully send this critical legislation, which was passed by both chambers, to the governor. We won’t stop fighting to protect the sanctity of our constitution and stand strong for Michigan workers.
We participated in numerous community events this past month, including a celebration for housing projects in the Grandmont-Rosedale Neighborhood, a Livonia Seniors “Contemporary Issues” group meeting, and a Small Business Resource Fair with the Detroit Caucus. We also provided legislative updates at community clubs, neighborhood organizations, and more! The past month’s events were reminders of how caring, active, and engaged the residents of District 6 truly are.
New Housing Projects in the Grandmont-Rosedale Neighborhood
Our district team joined the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation and Cinnaire Solutions to celebrate two of their housing projects in the Grandmont-Rosedale Neighborhood! Renovations made to the “Residence at West Outer Drive” will bring 35 new units of affordable housing to Detroit’s west side, and the construction of “Minock Park Place” will lead to the first affordable senior community in Grandmont-Rosedale. It was inspiring to see the work being done to build up our district and make affordable places to live for our residents of all ages!
Livonia Seniors Contemporary Issues Group Meeting
I was honored to be a part of one of the most recent Livonia Seniors “Contemporary Issues” group meetings! This group of politically engaged Livonia residents meets weekly to discuss the most important ongoing news in the city. I provided updates about the end of last year’s “lame duck” session, gave a rundown of my top priorities as a state Senator, and answered questions about the impact of ongoing legislation on District 6. Thank you to the Livonia Seniors for letting us participate and for caring so much about your communities!
Small Business Resource Fair with the Detroit Caucus
Our district team attended a Small Business Resource Fair with the Detroit Caucus, aimed to help local entrepreneurs connect with each other and with materials to help them thrive. This event and the community leaders who spoke were inspiring and highlighted the importance of strengthening local business owners and economies!
Wayne County Warming & Cooling Centers | Homeland Security & Emergency Management
MPSC Winter Weather Safety Alert
When severe weather develops, it is critical that we assist our neighbors in being safe and prepared. Explore the Michigan Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) winter weather resources, from winter storm safety or consumer tips on using portable generators safely. They also have an entire webpage dedicated to helpful tips and information related to outage preparedness, which includes links to all available outage maps across Michigan.
Reminder: Severe weather can create a mess in both our yards and our communities. After a winter storm passes, it may be tempting to get outside to begin yard clean up or branch disposal. However, it is important to watch for downed lines during any yard clean-up! It’s important to remember that a downed power line can resemble branches and twigs and can hide beneath normal yard items. Should you notice a downed line, stay at least 25 feet back and keep others away from the area! Immediately alert local authorities and always assume the power line is live. To learn more safety precautions, check out this resource on downed wire safety.
You may also benefit from the following resources during cold or severe weather:
- Warming Center Information:
- During times of hardship or need, MDHHS can provide immediate help to individuals and families facing conditions that may threaten health and safety:
- General Hotline: (517) 241-3740
- Drinking Water Hotline: (844) 934-1315
Should power outages occur, you may also benefit from the following information during severe storm events:
- How to stay safe during a power outage: Power Outages | Ready.gov
- FEMA Power Outage Tips