Dear Neighbor,
I would like to wish those who celebrate a very happy Easter — may your day be as bright and cheerful as the springtime blooms.
As always, I hope this newsletter informs you of all the exciting things happening in the Legislature and District 1.
If you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or needs assistance of any sort, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can email us at SenEGeiss@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-7800.
Sincerely,
Erika Geiss
State Senator
District 1
In This Edition
- In Recent News
- AG Nessel Warns Renters, Homebuyers of Fraudulent Real Estate Ads, Zillow Scams in New Alert
- Equal Pay Day Dates in 2024!
- MDOT Urges Drivers to Utilize Zipper Merging to Reduce Construction Delays
- Community Center Grant Funding in Local Communities
- Legislative Update
- Senate Democrats Pass the Fertility Health Care Act
- Resources
- Virtual Resource Fair for Families of Children with Special Health Care Needs
- Small Businesses Impacted by Lack of Snow to Apply for Federal Funding
- Tax Help and Resources
- Community Update
- River Rouge Public Library Spring Break Events
- Ecorse Public Library Reopened
In Recent News
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a new consumer alert, Real Estate Scams – How to Avoid Being Taken in by Fake Listings, to educate renters and homebuyers on how to avoid property scams, spurred by recent reports. Fraudulent real estate listings often advertise properties that don’t exist, are not for sale or rent, or are not what they appear to be.
Nessel’s alert cites Zillow’s advice on the red flags homebuyers should look out for:
- Requests to wire funds.
- Long-distance solicitations.
- Requests for verification codes.
- Requests for personal or financial information.
- Grammar/spelling errors and sob stories.
- Conduct an online search.
- Examine the price of similar units.
- Look carefully at the property before you sign or pay.
- Never provide personal or financial information.
- Don’t pay with cash.
- Your local law enforcement agency;
- The FTC; and,
- The website where the ad was posted.
You can also file a complaint with the Department of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team:
It’s important to recognize that this day marks Equal Pay Day for all women, however, pay discrimination impacts women across ethnic backgrounds and racial groups — with significant disparities seen for Black, Native American, Latina, and Asian American, and Pacific Islander women.
- Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Women’s Equal Pay Day – April 3;
- LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day – June 13;
- Black Women’s Equal Pay Day – July 9;
- Moms’ Equal Pay Day – August 7;
- Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) Women’s Equal Pay Day – August 28;
- Latina Equal Pay Day – October 3; and,
- Native Women’s Equal Pay Day – November 21.
In recent years, wage disparities for women have been further increased by significant shocks to the economy, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senate Democrats are committed to strengthening the security of families, easing future retirement costs, and bolstering the economy with a goal of moving Equal Pay Day earlier and earlier each year until true pay equity has been achieved.
Every Michigander’s favorite season — construction season — is upon us, which means it’s time to gear up for the usual lane closures, traffic shuffles and detours ahead. Amidst these changes, it’s important to stay focused on the road and stay tuned in to updates, changes, or any potential delays.
To help ease the flow of traffic and minimize headaches, the Michigan Dept. of Tranportation (MDOT) is urging Michigan drivers to embrace the “zipper merge” technique when navigating through construction zones. Like the zipper on your coat, this method encourages utilizing both lanes until the merger point, allowing vehicles to take turns merging politely and orderly. MDOT says that by employing this approach, we can cut down on delays from two miles to just one mile, making the journey smoother for everyone. See how the zipper merge works here.
On March 1, 2024, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity announced $64 million in Community Center Grant funds for 100 Michigan municipalities and organizations. These grants will expand programming or work on capital projects to serve 1.6 million Michiganders and build on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s ‘Make it in Michigan’ strategy to win projects, invest in people and revitalize places. Community centers serve as a local resource hub for education, recreation, and fellowship.
The grantees provide the following services: after-school programming, workforce development, recreational activities, supporting older adults and more. Grants will be awarded to 69 nonprofit agencies, 22 local government agencies and nine schools and universities across the state.
- Freedom House Detroit: $1,000,000
- Heritage Works: $400,000
- Michigan Interfaith Power & Light: $998,638
- The Detroit Association of Black Organizations, Inc.: $1,000,000
To learn more about grant recipients, please click here.
Legislative Updates
Just weeks after the shocking Alabama court ruling that declared that frozen embryos have equal legal rights as children, jeopardizing fertility treatments such as IVF, Michigan Senate Democrats voted on the final passage of House Bills 5207–5215, which eliminate barriers to parentage in fertility health care and allows Michiganders more ways to grow their families.
Currently in Michigan, children born through assisted reproduction, such as IVF and surrogacy, have no clear legal link to their parents. Additionally, Michigan is the only state that criminalizes paid surrogacy which leaves many children in Michigan born through assisted reproduction or surrogacy without clear legal protection and vulnerable uncertainty regarding their legal status. This legislation will address these concerns to help keep families together, including same sex couples and those who choose IVF or surrogacy.
While reproductive rights face threats across the country, Michigan Senate Democrats are committed to dismantling barriers to ensure that those who want to start a family can.
These bills now head to the Governor’s desk for signature.
The Family Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs, Michigan Family to Family, and Michigan Family Voices are teaming up for a Virtual Resource Fair on May 7, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.
This event is meant to inform individuals with disabilities and their families, caregivers, youth, providers, and community support about the variety of services and resources available in Michigan for children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs, and their families.
As Michigan continues to face record-high winter temperatures, small businesses impacted by the lack of snow this winter are urged to apply for federal funding from the Small Business Administration (SBA). Amid the warmest winter on record, with days in February and March topping 60 degrees, federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available because of ongoing federal drought declarations affecting 42 Michigan counties.
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans are designed to help businesses through disaster situations that have impacted their economic well-being. Loans are up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. Businesses pay no interest on the loan for the first year and a maximum rate of 4% for the rest of the loan period. Businesses must apply by the application deadline for their county.
Submit applications and find additional disaster assistance information at lending.sba.gov. Call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech-related disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. Applicants may also contact the Michigan Small Business Development Center at 1-833-522-0025 or email sbdcmichigan@gvsu.edu.
It’s tax season! Remember that the deadline to file state and federal taxes is April 15. If you have questions about filing your taxes or want to check your refund status, view account information and more, click here.
Many Michiganders who are working hard but earning the least will now be able to keep more in their wallets thanks to the expansion of the Working Families Tax Credit, championed by legislative Democrats last year. Those who qualify began receiving supplemental checks earlier this month. If you are a qualified recipient and believe there was an issue with getting your check, the Michigan Tax Help Center may be able to provide additional help.
Community Update
Ecorse Public Library Reopened
The wait is finally over! The Ecorse Public Library is now reopened to the public—just in time for March is Reading Month! The new library hours are listed below.
- Library Hours
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Wednesday: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Thursday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday: Closed
- Saturday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: Closed