Dear Neighbors,
With summer officially over and the cool autumn air arriving, the Michigan Legislature has returned to Lansing for the fall session. I look forward to working with my colleagues over the coming months to deliver solutions to lower costs for Michiganders, strengthen workers’ rights, protect our state’s natural resources and more.
In this newsletter, I am excited to share a few updates on our first weeks back in session — including details on legislation I introduced to address the pressing needs of District 27 residents. Also included below are details on upcoming events and community resources I hope you can find helpful.
Thank you again for your time, and for being an integral part of our community. Together, we are creating a brighter future for all residents of our district. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at (517) 373-0142 or SenJCherry@senate.michigan.gov with questions or concerns.
Working for you,
John Cherry
State Senator
District 27
Featured in this newsletter:
- Community Updates
- Legislative Update
- Upcoming Events
- Helpful Resources
Community Updates
Last week, I was honored to host my very first porch conversation at the Flint home of Kim and Willie Robbins III. I provided a legislative update, answered questions for the friends and neighbors in attendance and listened to residents of Genesee County as they shared how our community can continue to thrive. I am proud to be part of such a wonderful community, and I look forward to participating in many more of these conversations as I continue to serve as your State Senator.
Flint River Watershed Coalition Legislative Paddle
Many thanks to our friends at the Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC) for inviting me to participate in their annual legislative paddle. It was a wonderful day to be on the water, and I thoroughly enjoyed the awesome experience of kayaking Thread Lake right in the heart of Flint. To learn more about FRWC and paddling opportunities throughout District 27, please visit FlintRiver.org.
Legislative Update
Since taking office, I have listened to the concerns of mobile home community residents facing difficult living conditions. Currently, they are experiencing significant issues in their mobile communities — including high rent increases, crumbling infrastructure and health and safety issues related to water. This is because an increasing number of private equity firms and other bad actors from outside the state have been purchasing parks only to increase rent, seeking to profit off of residents while neglecting resident issues in their communities.
To address the issues residents are currently facing, I worked with colleagues to introduce Senate Bills 486–492, which would expand protections for residents and increase regulation of mobile home parks. This legislation would ultimately empower residents and the state of Michigan to improve living conditions for homeowners and renters alike. More specifically, these bills would:
- Update licensing standards for mobile home parks to encourage accountability and fix titling issues;
- Give LARA and EGLE increased authority to promulgate rules to enforce health and safety standards; and
- Prevent mobile home parks from taking unfair advantage of residents by restricting resident fees, encouraging inspections, ensuring that residents have the right to know what their utilities charge, restricting parks from charging utility rates beyond what is required for the service, and more.
These bills have been referred to the Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services.
Upcoming Events
Drive-Thru Vaccine Event
Join Genesee Health Plan (GHP) for their annual Drive-Thru Vaccine Event on Friday, September 22 in Flint Township. Flu, COVID-19 & other vaccines will be available along with FREE ice cream, giveaways and health care coverage enrollment. Learn more on GHP’s website or their Facebook page.
WHEN: Friday, September 22, 2023, from 3-6 p.m.
WHERE: Genesee Health Plan, 2171 S. Linden Road, Flint, MI 48532
Lake Sturgeon Reintroduction
Help release Lake Sturgeon on Saturday, September 23, in the Saginaw River system. Releases will reintroduce more than 100 hatchery-raised sturgeon into each tributary of the Saginaw River system (Cass, Flint, Shiawassee and Tittabawassee rivers). Learn more here.
WHEN: Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Flint River Paddlers’ Landings at Mott Park Recreation Area, off of Sunset Drive, near Ballenger Highway and Mclaren Hospital, Flint, MI 48503
Helpful Resources
The Fall Legislative Session Has Begun: Learn More with Eight FAQs
Legislators have returned to Lansing, back from a summer filled with in-district events, tours and stakeholder meetings. As we plan on having a robust legislative schedule for the fall, I invite you to learn more about the “what, where and how” of session and how you can participate in the legislative process.
Understanding how to find, track and stay informed about the actions of your legislators is key. Click here to learn more and stay up to date on what’s happening in your Michigan Legislature.
Free Well Water Testing Available Through EGLE
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) is excited to announce a special program to provide Michigan residents with free well water testing and help families know the quality of their well water.
Most wells get checked when they are first built; however, EGLE and local health departments know water wells should be checked more frequently, as water quality may change over time. If you have a private well and want to know the quality of your water, here’s what you can do:
- Contact your local health department. They can tell you about the water in your area and recommend any specific tests to perform.
- Visit the EGLE website gov/EGLEPrivateWells. Here, you can add your information to ask for a water test. You will also learn more about how to collect your own water sample to send into the lab.
- Don’t worry if you’re not sure what the results mean. EGLE and local health department officials are available to help you understand the results and will guide you on next steps, if necessary.
Learn more here.