May 25, 2021
Friends,
I hope everyone is staying healthy and safe. I am writing to connect with you about some recent changes to public health orders, upcoming events, and a few important legislative and community updates below.
UPDATES ON MASK GUIDANCE, VACCINES AVAILABLE FOR AGES 12+
Following the CDC’s latest guidance on face masks, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has issued an updated public health order, effective June 1 through July 1. Fully vaccinated individuals will no longer be required to wear a face covering indoors. However, some businesses may continue to require face coverings inside their establishments regardless of a customer’s vaccination status. Individuals who have not been fully vaccinated must continue to wear face masks.
>> Click here for more information on the updated mask order.
The FDA has now approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 12 years of age or older. According to MDHHS, children between the ages of 10 to 19 made up 12.6% of COVID cases in Michigan since March 2020, with more than 102,000 cases statewide. More than 1,300 children under the age of 18 in Michigan have been hospitalized for COVID-related conditions since August 2020.
The Wayne County Health Department is administering vaccines to all Wayne County residents and workers (ages 12 and older), excluding Detroit, at six clinics located throughout Wayne County. Currently, walk-up vaccinations are available as well based on availability. Appointments are available by calling 1-866-610-3885, between 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Walk-in appointments are available at the following locations:
Wayne County Community College
Downriver Campus, 21000 Northline Road, Taylor, MI 48180
Walk-ins Welcome
Pfizer available for ages 12 and older
OPEN: Mon. – Sat. from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Schoolcraft College
VisTaTech Center, 18600 Haggerty Road, Livonia, MI 48152
Walk-ins Welcome
OPEN: Mon. – Sat. from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
1 Flat Rock Community Center
Maguire St., Flat Rock, MI 48134
Walk-ins Welcome
Pfizer available for ages 12 and older
OPEN: Mon. – Sat. from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Lincoln Park Community Center
3525 Dix Hwy., Lincoln Park, MI 48146
Walk-ins Welcome
Pfizer available for ages 12 and older
OPEN: Wednesdays from Noon – 7:00 PM
Wayne County Community College
Mary Ellen Stempfle University Center
19305 Vernier Road, Harper Woods, MI 48225
Walk-ins Welcome
OPEN: Wednesdays from Noon – 7:00 PM
In Detroit, you can make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine by calling 313-230-0505 or go walk in to get a vaccine without an appointment. Appointments are available at the TCF Center and various sites throughout the city including Clark Park, Riverside Park, Roberto Clemente Recreation Center, Chandler Park Aquatic Center, and Samaritan Center in our district.
>> Check out the city’s website for more information.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, May 26th from 6-7:30 PM – Trains, Trucks, and Traffic Town Hall via Zoom and Facebook Live
We will be joined by special guests Simone Sagovac from Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition, Stuart Batterman from University of Michigan School of Public Health, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Representative Darrin Camilleri, Detroit City Council Member Raquel Castañeda-López, and Kimberly Webb from MDOT.
>> For more information, please visit Facebook.com/StephanieChangMI or register to receive the information to join the Zoom meeting here.
Friday, May 28th at 10:30 AM – Virtual Coffee Hour
We will be discussing police accountability legislation and other updates.
>> For more information, please visit Facebook.com/StephanieChangMI or register to receive the information to join the Zoom meeting here.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Police Accountability and Transparency
One year after the death of George Floyd, I am hopeful that Michigan will pass meaningful legislation to address police accountability and transparency, especially regarding use of force. We continue to mourn the tragic deaths of Floyd and countless others across the country and know that many Americans still feel justifiable pain and anger. I am proud to work on this bipartisan legislation that will make a significant difference for our communities and prevent cases of police brutality. Change in our justice system is overdue and we have important work ahead to make these solutions a reality.
The 12-bill legislative package includes:
SB 473, sponsored by Sen. Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville), to require the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) to develop guidelines for independent investigations of officer-involved deaths and require each agency to develop a publicly available policy that meets those guidelines.
SB 474, sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), to require Use of Force violations to be included in separation records maintained by MCOLES.
SB 475, sponsored by Sen. Ken Horn (R-Frankenmuth), to allow MCOLES to revoke the license of an officer who used excessive force causing death or serious bodily harm.
SB 476, sponsored by Sen. Jim Ananich (D-Flint), to ban the intentional disclosure of the identity of a person who made a misconduct complaint against a law enforcement officer.
SB 477, sponsored by Sen. Adam Hollier (D-Detroit), to exempt a police union from representing a member in a disciplinary action if it is determined by the union that the grievance is without merit.
SB 478, sponsored by Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake), to ban the use of the chokehold as a restraint method except to save a life.
SB 479, sponsored by Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor), to ban the use of “no-knock” warrants except in certain circumstances and better define “knock and enter” warrants.
SB 480, sponsored by Sen. Ruth Johnson (R-Holly), to establish an affirmative duty to intervene to prevent the excessive use of force by another officer and allow for disciplinary action for those who fail to do so.
SB 481, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), would require Use of Force policies for all police agencies to include a use of force continuum, verbal warning, and exhaustion of alternatives before using deadly force.
SB 482, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), to require training standards regarding de-escalation, implicit bias, and behavioral health be developed by MCOLES and require continuing education for law enforcement officers.
SB 483, sponsored by Sen. Michael D. MacDonald (R-Macomb Township), to direct MCOLES to commission a study on the recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers to discover barriers to attracting and retaining high quality individuals.
SB 484, sponsored by Sen. Marshall Bullock (D-Detroit), to specifically include tampering with body cameras or intentionally turning off the camera for the purpose of interfering with an investigation or proceeding in the crime of tampering with evidence.
Drive SAFE Bills
On May 11, Senator Winnie Brinks and I introduced Senate Bills 433 and 434, the Drive SAFE (Safety, Access, Freedom, and the Economy) bills. The bills would make non-commercial Michigan driver’s licenses and state identification cards available to applicants who do not have proof of legal presence. The bills eliminate the “legal presence” requirement for standard licenses and they would specify types of documentation allowable for proving Michigan residency and identity.
Michigan is home to nearly 700,000 immigrants and guaranteeing them access to licenses and state identification cards would allow them to contribute to our local economies by allowing them to get to work or drop their kids off at school. Unlicensed drivers are much more likely to get into a fatal car crash, so ensuring that all drivers take driver’s training, pass the road test, and get insured would improve safety on the road. Much of Michigan’s agricultural economy would also benefit from these bills because migrant workers need to be able to get to work safely and without fear. These commonsense bills will enhance road safety, grow our agricultural economy, and protect human dignity.
Protecting Environmental Justice Communities
Last week, I introduced Senate Bill 439 to protect communities that shoulder a disproportionate burden of environmental pollution. I am proud to collaborate with Representative Abraham Aiyash on this legislation, which will allow the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to make decisions on the permitting of facilities by considering environmental justice in communities already overburdened by adverse factors. The status quo fails to protect our most vulnerable communities from the adverse public health consequences caused by decades of saturated environmental pollution.
BUDGET UPDATE
Last week, the Michigan Senate and House each voted on a series of budgets, and those bills have now gone to conference committee so that differences can be resolved. I voted no on most of the Senate budget bills because they did not reflect the values that we need to uphold as we get ourselves out of the COVID-19 pandemic. We must prioritize worker safety, better unemployment benefits, childcare affordability and accessibility, education, water infrastructure, and much more. Budgets reflect our values and I hope that, later this year, we can pass a budget that better serves Michigan.
Secured $250,000 for Know Your Rights Outreach
The Senate adopted my budget amendment last week for $250,000 in additional funding to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) for know your rights outreach about discrimination and hate incidents. With the recent doubling in numbers of Michigan incidents reported to the STOP AAPI Hate organization, the funding is greatly needed.
Enbridge Lawsuit Funding in State Budget
Senate Republicans voted last week to spend your taxpayer dollars on paying the lawyers for a Canadian oil company (Enbridge) involved in the lawsuit related to Line 5. Yes, you read that right. Remember that this is a pipeline through which most of the oil goes from Canada, through Michigan, to another part of Canada. Line 5 endangers the Great Lakes and our public health.
>> Click here to watch what I had to say about this legislation.
20% Cut to MIOSHA
The budget passed by the Senate includes a 20% cut to MIOSHA, our state’s agency dedicated to protecting worker safety. I offered an amendment to restore this funding, but it was unfortunately defeated.
During this time when more workers will be headed back to in-person work, it is more important than ever that we have a strong MIOSHA, not a weaker one. Workers deserve to know their workplaces will be safe and that precautions are being taken to prevent COVID-19 transmission from their co-workers or customers. Likewise, small businesses need technical assistance and support from MIOSHA to be able to implement safe workplace best practices.
>> Click here to watch my remarks at Senate session on my amendment to support MIOSHA.
WAYNE STATE STUDY — AGING AND CHANGING NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
The Aging & Changing Natural Environments in Detroit (ACNED) research project is a collaboration between Wayne State University’s School of Social Work and the Healthy Urban Waters initiative. This unique study, headed by Dr. Tam Perry, seeks to better understand the impacts of climate change, changing natural environments, and water and housing concerns of older adults in Detroit. We hope this study will inform future research and policy advocacy for issues related to the environment and our beloved elders in our Detroit communities.
Any Detroit resident aged 55 or older is encouraged to participate! To take the online survey, simply copy and paste the link to your browser: bit.ly/ACNED-Survey.
Those interested in setting up a phone survey, phone or Zoom interview or sign-up for a Zoom focus group should contact Project Director Evan Villeneuve at 313-332-8267 or ee8332@wayne.edu.
D1 HEROES AWARD — TEACHER/SCHOOL NOMINATIONS
My office and I have been honoring community heroes who have made an impact during this COVID-19 pandemic in Senate District 1 (Detroit and Downriver). Community heroes take all different shapes and forms. In June, we would like to honor a teacher or school administrator.
Do you have a friend, neighbor, or family member who you want us to highlight? Please let us know by filling out this nomination form online at bit.ly/D1heroes!
Thank you for reading this update. As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (517) 373-7346 or senschang@senate.michigan.gov if we can assist you in any way.
Stephanie Chang
State Senator
District 1