Dear Neighbor,
This Memorial Day weekend, let us honor the lives of those servicemen and servicewomen we have lost and send love to their families and friends. And as the weather gets warmer, it’s a wonderful time to fire up the barbecue, gather with loved ones, and enjoy the outdoors.
The Michigan Senate and the House have both passed their Fiscal Year 2025 state budget proposals and are now ready to negotiate with the governor’s office to ensure that we are placing our state dollars towards our people and the places we call home. This newsletter will continue to serve as a great update on what we’re accomplishing here in Lansing on your behalf.
As always, 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
- $20 Million Available for Michigan’s First-Ever Environmental Justice Impact Grants
- Loving Homes Needed During Foster Care Month
- EPA Awards Michigan with Historic Investment in Solar Energy for Low-Income Residents
Legislative Updates
- Working to Deliver Innovative “Building up Michigan” State Budget
- 70th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education Decision
- Senate Democrats Fight to Expand Access to Mental Health Care
- Senate Introduces Bipartisan “Safer Michigan Act” to Reduce Future Crime
Resources
- Storm Resources from EGLE
- Explore High-Wage, In-Demand Careers During Professional Trades Month
Community Update
- Detroit City Council Passes Fugitive Dust Ordinance and Tenant Rights Commission
- Gordie Howe Bridge Update
- River Rouge Splash Pad
- Melvindale Days 2024
In Recent News
$20 Million Available for Michigan’s First-Ever Environmental Justice Impact Grants
Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate (OEJPA) is launching a $20 million Environmental Justice Impact Grant program.
My Democratic colleagues and I secured funding for this program in our 2024 state budget to help reduce environmental health burdens in Michigan’s environmental justice communities.
Applications are now open for place-based, equity-focused projects.
- Eligible projects include:
- Improving local public health.
- Monitoring pollution.
- Removing blight.
- Cleaning up contamination.
- Enhancing indoor air quality in schools and childcare facilities.
Federally recognized tribes, community-based nonprofits, local governments, schools, and childcare centers can apply for up to $500,000. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2024, with funds awarded by early September 2024.
Loving Homes Needed During Foster Care Month
This May is Foster Care Month, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) wants to spread the word that more loving foster families are needed to temporarily care for children while the state works to reunify them safely with their parents.
Michigan has approximately 10,000 children in foster care, and temporary foster homes are needed for children of all ages, especially teens, sibling groups, and youth who have special needs. These children have been victims of abuse and neglect and need a nurturing environment until they can be safely reunified with their parents or — in a smaller number of cases — until they can find adoptive homes when it’s not safe for them to return home.
MDHHS has shared several stories about people who have made a difference in the lives of youth in Michigan in Faces of Foster Care. To learn more about foster care, visit Michigan.gov/HopeforaHome.
EPA Awards Michigan with Historic Investment in Solar Energy for Low-Income Residents
Local and state leaders from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO), City of Detroit, community organizations and state legislators are celebrating a historic $156 million investment in solar energy by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the state of Michigan to accelerate the deployment of community and rooftop solar for thousands of low-income households across the state.
The initiative, known as the Michigan Solar for All (MISFA) program, aims to reduce utility costs for families, foster job creation, and strengthen Michigan’s advanced clean energy sector — all while moving the state toward its MI Healthy Climate Plan goals. The program is expected to make a substantial impact by providing low-income households across Michigan with access to affordable renewable energy and by enabling home repairs, reducing their energy bills by up to 20%.
To stay informed with MISFA updates, please sign up via the MI Solar for All Interest Form.
One Year of Hands-Free Driving Laws
It has been one year since the new Distracted Driving Laws went into effect. The new laws updated Michigan’s distracted driving laws to include watching or recording videos and engaging in social media, among other uses. Additionally, the law provides accountability for drivers who put themselves and others in danger and requires the Michigan State Police to submit a progress report on the effectiveness of the new law 3.5 years after it is enacted.
Additional information regarding this legislation and the penalties associated are available at Michigan.gov/DistractedDriving.
Legislative Updates
Working to Deliver Innovative “Building up Michigan” State Budget
Last year marked a significant milestone for Michigan Democrats as we capitalized on their first trifecta in 40 years to spearhead a transformative budget — directing vital resources into historically neglected sectors like infrastructure, education, and local communities. This comprehensive budget, encompassing various offices, departments, initiatives, projects, and programs, follows an annual funding cycle, necessitating the State Legislature to craft a new budget each year.
Crafting this state budget is a collaborative effort involving negotiations between both legislative branches and the governor, resulting in a new state budget being signed into law each year to distribute funding to residents, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and more.
Currently, we’re in an exciting moment with our budget process, continuing the transformative investments of the previous year and taking an innovative approach to addressing the needs of all Michiganders. Highlights of our “Building Up Michigan” budget proposal include record school funding, increased access to community college for students, significant funding for local communities and efforts to lower costs for state residents.
As we work to deliver a final budget by the end of June, I encourage you to learn more about the process and the investments we’re looking to make to support communities across Michigan — read more here.
70th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education Decision
May 17 marked the 70th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education milestone Supreme Court decision which ruled that separating children in public schools based on race was unconstitutional. While we honor this important victory in our country’s history and the civil rights progress that has been made thus far, let us also recommit to the necessary work ahead to make our systems and communities more equitable and inclusive for all.
Senate Democrats Fight to Expand Access to Mental Health Care
Throughout our state, communities are grappling with the issue of having too little access to mental health support — a crisis particularly affecting young Michiganders and our veterans. That’s why Senate Democrats took action and made critical investments in the 2024 State Budget to address this gap in coverage and ensure all Michigan residents who need assistance can access it. A few highlights of the investments we have made thus far in mental health care include:
- $280 million for certified community behavioral health clinics to expand access to care.
- $328 million in the education budget to address the mental health and safety concerns of students and teachers.
- $1.2 million for suicide prevention programs to help military veterans and their families.
As we recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month and as we continue to craft our budget for 2025, my colleagues and I remain committed to ensuring every person in our state can access essential services and programs to improve their mental health and overall well-being. Together, we can break down barriers to care and create a healthier, more resilient Michigan.
As always, if you or someone you know is in a crisis, call or text the National Crisis Hotline 988 for help.
Senate Introduces Bipartisan “Safer Michigan Act” to Reduce Future Crime
Last week, a bipartisan group of Senators introduced a package of bills known as the “Safer Michigan Act (SB 861–864) to establish Productivity Credits, which provide incentives for eligible inmates to participate in and complete programs proven to reduce the likelihood of future crime. Productivity Credits are a proven safety strategy to reduce recidivism and prepare people who are incarcerated to return to their communities.
The Safer Michigan Act is sponsored by Sen. Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) (SB 861), Sen. Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville) (SB 862), Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) (SB 863), and Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Waucedah Twp.) (SB 864) and has the support of thousands of crime victims, as well as law enforcement, business leaders, and faith groups in Michigan
Resources
Storm Resources from EGLE
With the tragic devastation caused by the tornadoes that recently ripped through southwest Michigan, the realities of storm season are fresh on our minds. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) encourages Michiganders to prepare as much as possible for severe storm events prior to them occurring. Here are some resources they recommend starting with:
- The MIReady Webpage provides ample resources to help residents prepare for emergencies like natural disasters, homeland security threats, and power outages.
- The EGLE Storm Recovery Webpage page provides resources that help local officials, emergency responders, recycling and disposal vendors, and residents respond to storm emergencies. It provides details on managing storm debris, how to stay informed during an emergency, and how to get an emergency disposal permit in the aftermath of a storm.
- Local officials, disposal and recycling vendors, and emergency responders are encouraged to use EGLE’s NEW Storm Debris Planning Tool before a storm occurs, to troubleshoot how to remove excess waste during an emergency, preventing a nuance, public health threat, or environmental threat.
Explore High-Wage, In-Demand Careers During Professional Trades Month
With more than 520,000 Michigan jobs and approximately 45,500 annual openings in the professional trades projected by the year 2030, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) to proclaim May as Professional Trades Month. The annual observance honors hard-working Michiganders in professional trades while encouraging students and adults to explore education and career opportunities leading to high-wage, in-demand careers.
Businesses across Michigan need highly skilled workers in sectors such as agriculture, construction, education, energy, healthcare, hospitality, information technology, manufacturing, mobility and outdoor recreation. Many of these high-demand, high-wage careers do not require a four-year degree and have pathways that focus on credentials, certificates, on-the-job training and Registered Apprenticeships.
To learn more about high-wage, in-demand career opportunities in the professional trades, Michiganders can explore the following resources:
- State Apprenticeship Expansion, which allows users to explore registered apprenticeship opportunities in the state, offering paid work experience, related classroom instruction and a national industry-recognized credential upon completion
- Going PRO Talent Fund, which helps individuals secure employment, industry-recognized credentials and strong wages by providing training grants to Michigan businesses to support employees in high-demand, professional trades industries
- Pathfinder, which is the State of Michigan’s official career exploration resource that allows users to explore careers and identify educational opportunities
- Pure Michigan Talent Connect, which is the state’s online platform for connecting job seekers and employers
Community Update
Detroit City Council Passes Fugitive Dust Ordinance and Tenant Rights Commission
Fugitive Dust Ordinance: Council member Gabriela Santiago-Romero’s Fugitive Dust Ordinance passed the Detroit City Council. The ordinance will improve accountability for facilities contributing to air pollution through fugitive dust. Fugitive dust is “particulate matter that enters the atmosphere without first passing through a stack or duct designed to direct or control its flow,” With this ordinance in place, mitigation efforts will be implemented to address the communities concerns regarding air quality.
Tenant Rights: The Detroit City Council passed an ordinance to establish a Tenants’ Rights Commission. The commission will consist of 9 members who will develop policy recommendations to reduce evictions, enforce landlord compliance and assist city departments with tenant and landlord outreach.
Gordie Howe Bridge Update
The Gordie Howe International Bridge reached an important milestone as they began the final steps to connect the bridge deck over the Detroit River. While there is still more work to be done, this is a huge milestone.
Traffic Alerts: Starting May 20, 2024, Bridging North America will temporarily close southbound I-75 Service Drive between McKinstry Street and Clark Street for siphon work. This closure will be in place until May 27, 2024.
On May 21, 2024, Bridging North America will implement intermittent shoulder and single lane closures on Fort Street, Springwells Street, Springwells Street ramps, southbound and northbound I-75 Service Drives, West End Street and Green Street for fine grading, landscaping, and tree planting. These closures will be in place until June 28, 2024.
- The right or left lane of southbound I-75 Service Drive will close intermittently to the west of Springwells Street from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily as needed.
- The right or left shoulder of the southbound I-75 on-ramp will close intermittently at Springwells Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily as needed.
- The right or left lane of the northbound I-75 off-ramp will close intermittently at Springwells Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily as needed.
- The right or left shoulder of the northbound I-75 off-ramp will close intermittently at Springwells Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily as needed.
- The right or left lane of southbound I-75 Service Drive will close intermittently between Springwells Street and Central Street from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily as needed.
- The right or left shoulder of northbound I-75 on-ramp will close intermittently at Springwells Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily as needed.
- The right or left lane of northbound I-75 Service Drive will close intermittently between Springwells Street and Central Street from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily as needed.
- The right lane of northbound or southbound West End Street will close intermittently at Fort Street from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily as needed.
- The right lane of northbound or southbound Springwells Street will close intermittently between southbound I-75 Service Drive and Olivet Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily as needed.
- The right lane of northbound or southbound Springwells Street will close intermittently between Fort Street and northbound I-75 Service Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily as needed.
- The right shoulder of northbound or southbound Green Street will close intermittently between Fort Street and northbound I-75 Service Drive from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily as needed.
- The right shoulder of northbound or southbound Green Street will close intermittently between southbound I-75 Service Drive and Lafayette Boulevard from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily as needed.
- The right shoulder of eastbound or westbound Fort Street will close intermittently between the corner of West End Street and the corner of Springwells Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily as needed.
For more information about active road closures, I encourage you to visit the project website at GordieHoweInternationalBridge.com.
River Rouge Splash Pad
River Rouge Splash Pad will be opening this weekend, Friday, May 24, 2024—just in time for the warmer weather!
Melvindale Days 2024
