Dear Friends,
Welcome to our first District 10 e-newsletter! It’s my job as a legislator to not only fight for you here in Lansing, but also keep you up to date on what the legislature is working on and other updates and resources to keep you informed about what is happening in our community.
Featured in this newsletter:
- Legislative Update
- Black History Month
- Upcoming Event
- Tax return fraud prevention
- Applications open for Grow Detroit’s Young Talent program
- Low-cost dental hygiene clinic now open at Macomb Community College
- Public hearing for proposed area code overlay in 313 area
- District Map
If you have any questions, want to comment on pending legislation, or resolve any issues in state government, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at (517) 373-8360 or by email at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov.
Warmest regards,
Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10
LEGISLATIVE UDPATE
The new Senate Majority started the 2023-2024 term by introducing six bills to improve the lives of all Michiganders. I was proud to cosponsor all six bills that will provide financial relief, increase healthcare equitability, and expand protections for Michiganders:
- Senate Bill 1, introduced by Sen. Kevin Hertel, would repeal the retirement tax on Michigan seniors.
- Senate Bill 2, introduced by Sen. Erika Geiss, would repeal Michigan’s 1931 statute that criminalizes abortion care.
- Senate Bill 3, introduced by Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet, would enable workers to keep more of their hard-earned dollars through an increased Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
- Senate Bill 4, introduced by Sen. Jeremy Moss, would expand Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include anti-discrimination protections for sexual and gender identity.
- Senate Bill 6, introduced by Sen. Veronica Klinefelt, would restore the state’s prevailing wage law.
- Senate Bill 34, introduced by Sen. Darrin Camilleri, would restore workers’ rights by repealing the so-called “Right to Work” policy.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
This month we celebrate Black History Month, a month during which we reflect on the extraordinary accomplishments and advancements the Black community has made, as well as the hardships and injustices they face every day in this country. In February and beyond, we must uplift Black voices and implement policies to break down systems of racial oppression.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Detroit Taxpayer Resource Fair
The Detroit Taxpayer Service Center invites you to the first Taxpayer Resource Fair, where residents can get information about available resources regarding property taxes, including:
- Current year tax bill questions,
- Plan Ahead Program: learning convenient ways to pay your taxes,
- Delinquent tax questions,
- IRSPA Program,
- Pay As You Stay (Wayne County),
- HOPE Program,
- Exemptions.
WHEN: Friday, February 24, 2023, from 1 – 4 p.m.
WHERE: Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers, Detroit, MI 48235
TAX RETURN FRAUD PREVENTION
The Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) has resources to protect yourself against fraudulent tax return preparation. Feel free to read through their resource, the “Top 10 Questions to Ask a Tax Preparer: Tips, Hints & Warning Signs.”
This document is a free resource available in both English and Spanish, providing information that taxpayers should keep in mind if they decide to hire a paid tax preparer. It also features a glossary of common income tax terminology and legal information for reporting suspicious activity.
If you have additional questions, or if you would like to become a partner in this program, please contact Rachel Reardon at (248) 267-3725, or by email at rreardon@micpa.org.
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR GROW DETROIT’S YOUNG TALENT PROGRAM
The ninth year of Grow Detroit’s Young Talent, the City of Detroit’s summer work experience program for Detroit youth, has officially opened its application, with a goal of providing over 8,000 summer employment opportunities for Detroit youth aged 14-24.
8,068 Detroit youth were employed through GDYT during the 2022 program, the eighth straight year of exceeding the program’s target of 8,000. To maintain social distancing protocols, GDYT made more than 5,500 of the 2022 summer opportunities virtual or hybrid, and the program will provide similar accommodations in 2023.
While the target for total GDYT enrollments for 2023 will remain at 8,000, the program will introduce new enhancements for the 2023 program year, including:
- Continuing to further embed conflict resolution and problem solving into the program.
- Incorporating additional Financial Literacy training into GDYT to help youth better prepare for the future. Youth will gain an understanding of financial literacy concepts in order to properly manage their money even in a tough economy.
- Including additional Consumer Education to assist young adults who utilize social media in correctly identifying issues that concern the public as well as how to protect themselves.
- Expanding efforts to service youth with disabilities by partnering with additional agencies/resources.
How to get involved
Detroit youth interested in a summer job should visit GDYT.org to apply. The registration portal will be open until May 31, 2023. Organizations interested in becoming a sponsor or providing summer work experiences for Detroit youth may also register at the GDYT website.
There are several ways to partner with GDYT:
- Become a Funding Partner by making a financial contribution to the GDYT program to support summer work experiences for Detroit youth.
- Become an Employer Partner by providing a job at your designated worksite and sponsoring a six-week paid work experience (120 hours).
- Be recognized as an Affiliate Partner by directly hiring youth through an existing summer program that you operate.
- Volunteer to support key program components (career fairs, work-readiness training).
- Explore options to provide year-round and/or permanent employment opportunities to Detroit youth.
Process for Successful Youth Applicants
After an individual expresses interest in summer work experience through GDYT.org, the applicant will be randomly selected through a lottery system. Selected youth must complete all enrollment forms and upload the required documents into the CareerEdge portal. All properly registered GDYT youth will receive a minimum of 12 hours of work-readiness pre-training prior to the start of their summer employment.
During May and June, select partners will have the opportunity to interview youth candidates at a GDYT-sponsored career fair for Career Pathways Internships, Industry-Led Training, and Pre-Apprenticeships, or through a virtual Career Fair. Successful GDYT-registered youth will also attend a Youth Orientation where they will receive additional materials regarding timekeeping, benchmark achievements, and the GDYT Handbook. For more information about the youth applicant process, refer to GDYT’s Roadmap to Success at www.GDYT.org.
LOW-COST DENTAL HYGIENE CLINIC NOW OPEN AT MACOMB COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Macomb Community College opened its dental hygiene clinic this week and is now accepting patients.
The new clinic provides low-cost preventative dental care to residents, including:
- Dental cleanings
- X-rays
- Fluoride treatments
- Athletic guards
- Teeth whitening
- Sealants
- Gum disease treatments
All services are performed by Macomb dental hygiene students under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist and registered dental hygienist.
Pricing for dental services provided by the new clinic are below current market rates; an adult dental cleaning is $30, and x-rays run from $2 for a single x-ray and $25 for full-mouth imaging. There are additional discounts available for senior citizens, military veterans, and Macomb students.
Emergency or general dentistry procedures such as root canals, fillings, tooth extractions, implants or dentures are not available from the clinic.
Patients will be provided with a referral to a dentist if necessary. Those requiring further care than what is offered at the Macomb clinic who need financial assistance to support additional needed services will be referred to the nonprofit MyCare Health Center in Center Line for further follow-up.
The new state-of-the-art Dental Hygiene Clinic at Macomb Community College is located adjacent to the MCC South Campus at 27956 College Park Drive, Warren, MI 48088. For more information and to make an appointment, call (586) 445-7161.
For clinic hours and a full list of services and costs, visit their website. The clinic accepts credit cards and cash. Insurance is not needed or billed.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED AREA CODE OVERLAY IN 313 AREA
Detroit’s 313 area code is projected to run out of unassigned telephone numbers in 2025, and a proposal has been made to add a new overlay area code (area code 679) covering Detroit and its nearby suburbs. While local calls will continue to be billed as local, this proposed change would require all callers to begin including the area code when dialing.
The 313-area code covers Detroit, its enclaves Hamtramck and Highland Park, and the suburbs of Allen Park, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Ecorse, the Grosse Pointes, Inkster, Lincoln Park, Redford Township, River Rouge, and Taylor.
The Michigan Public Service Commission is hosting a public hearing to take comments on the proposal.
WHEN: Thursday, March 9, from 1:30-3:00 pm
WHERE: Frank Hayden Community Room, Wayne County Community College, 1001 W. Fort Street, Detroit, MI 48226
MPSC Staff will be providing a presentation summarizing the proposal. Anyone is welcome to attend and encouraged to provide comments.
Should you not be able to attend in person, you may send a written comment:
Executive Secretary, Michigan Public Service Commission,
PO Box 30221, Lansing, MI, 48909
Or comment via email: mpscedockets@michigan.gov by March 20, 2023.
Please refer to Case No. U-21337 with any written comment.
For more information on this event, please visit the Commission’s event page.
DISTRICT MAP
I am proud to serve Michigan’s 10th Senate District which includes portions of Sterling Heights, Warren, Detroit, and all the City of Center Line. Feel free to visit the interactive map on my website for more information.
