Dear Neighbor,
I hope this letter finds you safe and healthy. With the sun shining and warm weather beginning, I encourage you to enjoy our state and the beautiful flowers blossoming outside. As your state senator, I am committed to keeping you informed about the latest events in our community! With May being in full swing, I encourage you to get involved in our area’s community events.
Featured in this newsletter:
- Legislative Updates
- Boosting Health Outcomes for Michigan Moms of Color
- May is Mental Health Awareness Month
- Planning Spring Yard Projects? Call Before You Dig
- Detroit Eastern Market Flower Day 2026
- Farmers Market Starting in May
As always, it is an honor to represent you and the residents of the 10th State Senate District, which include portions of Detroit, Warren, Sterling Heights, and the City of Center Line. If you would like any assistance with state-based issues, please feel free to reach out! You can email me at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov or call (517) 373-8360.
Warmest regards,
Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10
Legislative Updates
Along with working to craft a balanced state budget on time that delivers meaningful relief for Michiganders, my Senate colleagues and I have also been busy driving forward legislation to address critical issues facing residents and communities across the state. This past month, I’m proud to report that we’ve made some progress advancing bills to:
Narrow the gender wage gap — The gender wage gap in Michigan isn’t only one of the worst in the country — it’s growing. To help address this issue, my Senate colleagues and I passed legislation to ban employers from seeking irrelevant information about an applicant’s past pay and credit history while making hiring and compensation decisions. For too long, these practices have contributed to unfair employment-related decisions that unfairly impact women and prevent them from accessing the opportunities and wages they deserve. While it will take a comprehensive effort to close the gender pay gap in Michigan, the legislation we passed is a solid step in the right direction.
Support Michigan nurses — Despite already working long shifts, nurses are often forced to stay overtime, which could mean staying for shifts of 16 or more hours. Unable to say no, mandatory overtime isn’t only grueling for nurses, contributing to high burnout rates, but it also poses risks to patients and the care they are provided. To improve working conditions for our nurses and protect Michiganders seeking care, the Michigan Senate passed bipartisan legislation that would end this dangerous practice while also implementing additional safeguards to ensure nurses can get the rest they need.
Combat human trafficking — Building on our previous efforts to address human trafficking in Michigan, Michigan Senate is ushering forward a new bill that would help tackle the issue by requiring every hotel and motel in the state to prominently display the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline number. With Michigan positioned at the intersection of many highway corridors and crossing points, this legislation would help victims connect with critical support while also signaling a warning sign to traffickers. Passed out of the Senate last week, this life-saving legislation now heads to the House for consideration.
Boosting Health Outcomes for Michigan Moms of Color
For too long, women of color have systematically faced disproportionate outcomes in their birthing experiences due to maternal care systems that fail to truly listen and understand their needs, leading to preventable complications and high mortality rates for both them and their babies. During April 11-17, we recognized Black Maternal Health Week, and once again, Senate Dems joined the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to shine a light on the glaring systemic injustices in our maternal care system, along with solutions underway that seek to tackle them.
To ensure Black and Brown moms are treated with the care they deserve, the Michigan Senate passed a comprehensive slate of legislation last year that would improve maternal health outcomes in Michigan through equitable data requirements, anti-discrimination measures, patient protections, and more. Despite being passed out of the Senate with bipartisan — and some, even unanimous — support last April, these commonsense bills remain stalled in the Republican-controlled House. My Senate colleagues and I will continue to demand better for moms across Michigan, including by passing a Resolution last month that highlights the need for these critical bills.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
The month of May is a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind our community that support is available. If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which connects Michigan residents to trained, local counselors. In southeast Michigan, organizations like Common Ground provide crisis intervention, counseling, and connections to community-based mental health services for individuals and families. No matter the situation, reaching out is a sign of strength, and support is always available.
- Community Mental Health Services Programs (CMHSPs): These programs provide counseling, therapy, medication management, and help with coordinating care. They are available in every county and offer services on a sliding scale or even for free based on income.
- Crisis Hotlines: The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides immediate support if you’re in crisis.
- Peer Support Programs: These programs offer a supportive network for individuals facing mental health challenges.
- University Counseling Centers: Many universities in the area offer free or low-cost mental health services for enrolled students.
For more information on how to qualify and where to find support in your area, you can visit the Michigan Mental Health Department website or contact your local CMHSP.
Planning Spring Yard Projects? Call Before You Dig
Whether you want to install a fence or plant a tree, if spring fever has you itching to do some landscaping projects around the yard that involve digging, remember to first reach out to MISS DIG 811 beforehand so that underground utility lines can be marked for safety.
April is Safe Digging Month, an annual reminder for Michiganders’ legal responsibility to call 811 or head to MISSDIG811.org at least three days before they start a project that involves putting a shovel in the ground. Contacting MISS DIG 811 is free and allows crews to mark buried utility lines in advance to prevent costly damage, service disruptions, and risks of serious injury or death. Learn more here, and happy spring!
You can find more information in the Private Utility Locator Guide here.
Detroit Eastern Market Flower Day 2026
Flower Day is Sunday, May 17, 2026 from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Flower Day is an over 60-year tradition and annual event featuring vendors from the Metro Detroit Flower Growers Association, with added festivities such as live music and food! Flower Day is free to attend and open to the public.
Eastern Market will also have Flower Tuesday Markets in May: May 5, 12, 19, and 26 from 9:00 a.m.– 3:00 p.m. in Sheds 5 and 6. The Tuesday Markets will have flower selections from Eastern Market growers, smaller crowds, and easier parking. Beginning in May, find flower vendors in Shed 6 every day from sunrise to sunset.
Eastern Market is located at 2934 Russell St., Detroit, MI 48207. Call (313) 833-9300 for more information.
Farmers Markets Starting in May
- Fraser Fresh Farmers Market (Website): Stephens Park, 33000 Garfield Rd., Fraser, MI 48026
- Boyka’s DeCock Farms and Greenhouses (Website): 20555 23 Mile Rd., Macomb, MI 48042
- Warren Farmers Market (Website): One City Square, Warren, MI 48093
- Mount Clemens Farmers Market (Website): 141 N. River Rd., Mount Clemens MI 48043
- WIC and Project Fresh programs accepted here.
- New Baltimore Farmers Market (Website): Washington St., between Main and Front Streets
- WIC, Project Fresh SNAP/Bridge Cards, Market FRESH, and Double Up Food Bucks programs are accepted here.
- Shelby Township Farmers Market (Website): 49965 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Charter Twp., MI 48317
- St. Clair Shores Farmers Market (Website): Blossom Heath Park, 24800 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores, MI 48080