Dear Neighbor,
Michigan’s infamous winter weather is here! As temperatures drop, I hope you are staying safe and warm. Be sure to take extra care when going outside or traveling in these conditions: bundle up, watch out for ice, and pay attention to the changing weather. Please know that warming centers are also available for those looking to escape the cold temperature.
In this newsletter, I want to take a moment to catch you up on the many things happening across our lakeshore district — including our upcoming events and some investments we’re making to improve our community’s water infrastructure.
As always, please feel free to reach out to share your thoughts or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments — we are here to serve you. You can reach my office by emailing SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov, calling our Lansing office at (517) 373-7315, or calling our district office at (586) 252-2157.
Sincerely,
Kevin Hertel
State Senator
District 12
- Two exciting water infrastructure projects in Grosse Pointe and St. Clair Shores are set to commence, helping us improve water quality and protect Lake St. Clair. Read more below.
- If you, a loved one, or a neighbor need a place to escape the frigid temperatures, there are several warming centers located throughout our community. Find a list here.
- Join me for my upcoming Coffee and Conversation event on February 21 at 11:00 a.m. at our District Office (28800 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores). RSVP here.
Kicking Off 2025 With a Coffee Hour
Our first coffee hour of 2025 is in the books! A big thank you to everyone who braved Michigan’s cold temperatures to come out and share their thoughts on what they want to see prioritized in the new legislative session. We had a lot of good conversations about government transparency, legislation to support workers, and most importantly: the Lions!
We already have another coffee hour on the calendar for February. Keep reading or click here for more details. I hope to see you there!
Touring the Detroit Arsenal
Michigan’s defense sector not only plays a pivotal role in our national security, but it also serves as an economic engine for our region. As Chair of the Military, Veterans and State Police Appropriations Subcommittee, I am committed to ensuring our state is making the proper investments in our military assets, including Selfridge Air National Guard Base, and all they provide for our community. Recently, I had the chance to sit down with U.S. Army leadership at the Detroit Arsenal to discuss this work and learn more about how we can work collaboratively to achieve continued growth of this sector.
Welcoming Tombstone Brewery to Chesterfield
While Tombstone Brewery joined the Chesterfield community last year, we just had the chance to celebrate their addition to our business landscape. Thank you to Francis and the whole team for welcoming us to your brewery to see all the amazing work you’re doing. I wish you many more years of success, and I look forward to stopping by again for a pint!
Celebrating the Grand Opening of Dox in St. Clair Shores
Just before the new year, I had the opportunity to celebrate the grand opening of Dox Grillhouse in St. Clair Shores alongside local leaders, business owners, and community members. Patti and Anthony — you’ve got a whole community cheering you on! We look forward to seeing all the success you achieve.
Thanking Our First Responders During the Holidays
While many of us gathered with friends and family on the holidays, firefighters across our community were hard at work helping keep us safe. To thank them for sacrificing their time, comfort, and safety, our team dropped off turkeys to stations around the district.
Shorewood Kiwanis Club Turkey Distribution
It was a pleasure teaming up with the Shorewood Kiwanis Club to distribute over 40 turkeys to ensure families in our community can enjoy the holidays. And big thanks to Meijer and UFCW Local 951 for helping make this event possible. Partnerships like these are what make the District 12 community so great!
Grosse Pointe to Receive Grant for Flood Mitigation Project
Over the past several years, severe rain events and flooding have impacted communities across our lakeshore district, including the Grosse Pointes. To help bolster flood mitigation efforts in the area, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Grosse Pointe the first phase of a $29.2 million project to help construct higher-capacity storm sewers. The initial $1.14 million they are receiving in this first phase will fund the project scope through design services, permitting, and preparation of construction plans.
Learn more about the project here.
St. Clair Shores Water Infrastructure Project Set to Commence
Starting in February, Jefferson Avenue between Nine Mile and Ten Mile will be under construction as a five-phase water infrastructure project is set to commence. With heavy rain events that overwhelm our local water system becoming more frequent, increased processing and storage capacity is needed.
Over the summer, I joined Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller and St. Clair Shores Mayor Kip Walby for a conversation by the lake to discuss this project and others we’ve been working on to improve local water infrastructure and protect Lake St. Clair. Read more here.
This project, made possible in part to a $5 million appropriation I worked to secure in last year’s state budget, seeks to add another pipe in the Martin Drain District to provide additional capacity and cut down on the amount of untreated water being discharged into Lake St. Clair. Work is estimated to take 24-30 months, with the end product resulting in residents being able to enjoy a cleaner lake and less basement flooding.
Learn more about the project here.
Dr. Martin Luther King’s Address in Grosse Pointe
On March 14, 1968, just three weeks before his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. addressed a crowd of 2,000 people at Grosse Pointe South High School. In his speech, “The Other America,” Dr. King talks about the two versions of America that exist: An America that is prosperous, where people have food and housing, education, freedom, and opportunities. He also talks about an America, though, where despair overtakes hope, where people search for jobs that do not exist, and where people do not have access to a safe place to call home or a good school to send their children too. These two Americas were divided by race and class, and while they’re not as profound today, these divisions still persist.
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I stopped by Grosse Pointe South and spoke about what this speech means to us today. Click here to listen.
In the more than five decades since Dr. King gave this speech, we’ve made a lot of progress with the passage of the federal Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, and here in Michigan we’ve banned race-based hair discrimination, expanded historic protections for our LGBTQ+ community, passed legislation combating hate crimes, and permanently established Michigan’s Black Leadership Advisory Council.
Nevertheless, there’s still more work that lies ahead of us to ensure that the first America Dr. King described is a reality for Michiganders across race, place, and economic status. It’s a tough task, but I know we can achieve it together. As Dr. King said in that speech, “However difficult it is to live amidst the constant hurt, we shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”
Read the full speech courtesy of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society here.
Local Warming Centers
With Michigan’s infamous cold weather here, please make sure to stay warm. If you, a loved one, or a neighbor need a place to escape the frigid temperatures, below is a list of warming center locations in or around District 12 that are heated and open to the public.
- Chesterfield Township Library | (586) 598-4900 | 50560 Patricia Ave., Chesterfield Twp. | See hours here.
- Clinton-Macomb South Library | (586) 226-5070 | 35891 South Gratiot Ave., Clinton Twp. | See hours here.
- Harrison Township Government Office | (586) 466-1400 | 38151 L’Anse Creuse, Harrison Twp. | See hours here.
- Martha T. Berry Medical Care Facility | (586) 469-5265 | 43533 Elizabeth Rd., Mount Clemens | See hours here.
- Macomb County Sheriff’s Department | (586) 469-5151 | 43565 Elizabeth St., Mount Clemens | See hours here.
If possible, call ahead to ensure the warming center has space and capacity. For additional locations, please dial 2-1-1 or find a complete map online here.
Utility Assistance Programs
Winter can become stressful with high utility costs. Depending on your household income, you may qualify for assistance:
- State Emergency Relief – State Emergency Relief is a crisis intervention program that provides assistance for energy-related expenses like heating fuel, electricity, and home repairs. Those who can demonstrate need are encouraged to apply online through MI Bridges.
- Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) – The Michigan Public Service Commission administers the MEAP, helping establish and administer statewide programs that provide energy assistance and self-sufficiency services to eligible low-income households. To seek help, contact 2-1-1 or your utility company to find programs in your area.
- Weatherization Assistance Program – The Weatherization Assistance Program provides free home energy-conservation services to low-income Michigan homeowners and renters. These services can reduce energy use and lower utility bills. Some of the services include insulation, air leakage reduction, smoke detectors, and dryer venting. You can contact your local weatherization operator to start the application process.
It is one of my top goals as your State Senator to have myself and my office be as accessible to you as possible. To share your thoughts on legislation or seek assistance with an issue, please join me at one of our upcoming district events:
February Coffee Hour
WHEN: Friday, February 21 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: District Office, 28800 Harper Ave., Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081
District Office Hours with Staff
WHEN: Every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and by appointment
WHERE: District Office, 28800 Harper Ave., Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081
Please note: the office will be closed on Thursday, January 30 as our full team will be up in Lansing for the day. We will resume our regular office hours on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
If You Need Help: If you have a problem dealing with any department of state government, such as accessing unemployment benefits, my office is available to help resolve it. While we usually cannot assist with local or federal issues, we will always do our best to help direct you to the appropriate person or organization for help.
You may always feel free to email me at SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov. You can also call our Lansing Office at (517) 373-7315 or our District Office at (586) 252-2157.
Keep Up to Date: Our bi-weekly newsletters are full of updates on what Team Hertel has been working on both in Lansing and District 12 to deliver results for Michiganders. To keep up to date with what we’ve been up to — sign up here to receive my bi-weekly newsletter, or access previous editions online here.
For more frequent updates, I also encourage you to follow our team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.