Bill Joyner's FridayMusings 11/9/2022

FridayMusings Friday, November 9, 2022 Helping define Livonia Quality of Life

What motivates FridayMusings

We shouldn't define Livonia as taking small steps toward maintaining the way

things were. That will only give us mediocre outcomes.

Our goal in Livonia needs to be innovative and transformative.

Livonia results show that we will be represented by dynamic leaders in Lansing, Wayne County, Washington with school votes still being counted

Governor of Michigan

Gretchen Whitmer fought off a challenge from Tudor Dixon to win a second term as Governor of Michigan. Her support for traditional education values is widely assumed to have been the difference in an election that attempted to portray her as an autocrat despite the action she had to take to save thousands of lives in Michigan during a once-every-100-year pandemic. The large turnout Michigan-wide and the support for three ballot proposals also helped propel Whitmer to victory 53.2% -- 45%.

Michigan Supreme Court

The Associated Press has called the race for Michigan Supreme Court in favor of incumbents Richard Bernstein, nominated by the Democratic Party, and Brian Zahra, nominated by the Republican Party.

Endorsed by FridayMusings

Congratulations Laurie Poutsky on winning your 3rd term. We look forward to your continued leadership in Lansing.

Defeated Penny Crider.

Endorsed by FridayMusings

Welcome to Livonia Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. Looking forward to working with you in the new Congress.

Defeated Steven Elliott.

Endorsed by FridayMusings

Congratulations Glenn Anderson. Welcome back to representing Livonia, now as Wayne County Commissioner.

Defeated William Collop

Endorsed by FridayMusings

Congratulations Stephanie Young. Livonia looks forward to getting to know you as you

represent Livonia.

Defeated Keith Jones

Endorsed by FridayMusings

Not yet called with Matt Koleszar currently in the lead with 67% reported leading Cathryn Neracher.

17,176-14,897.

Endorsed by FridayMusings

Congratulations Mary Cavanagh as you represent Livonia in the Michigan Senate, joining Dayna Polehanki in the Senate.

Defeated Ken Crider

Endorsed by FridayMusings

Congratulations Dayna Polehanki on winning your second term in the Michigan State Senate. Look forward to continued Lansing leadership.

Defeated Emily Bauman

Michigan Attorney General

Dana Nessel, of neighboring Plymouth, was re-elected to a second term as Michigan's Attorney General.

Defeated Matthew DePerno

51.9%--45.7%

Michigan Secretary of State

Congratulations to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on winning her

second term in Lansing.

Defeated Kristina Karamo

54.6--43.6%

Endorsed by FridayMusings

Proposal One was adopted by the voters of Michigan changing term limits and would require certain state elected officials, Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and State legislators to disclose certain financial information such as payments and gifts received from registered lobbyists and sources of all forms of income. 65.5--34.5%

Endorsed by FridayMusings

Proposal Two was adopted by the voters of Michigan and would add several voting and election policies to the Michigan Constitution. Some of these policies would be new, such as early voting. Others exist as state statute and would be codified as constitutional law, such as the state's requirement that voters show identification.

58.6--41.4%

Endorsed by FridayMusings

Proposal Three was adopted by the voters of Michigan and would provide for a state constitutional right to reproductive freedom. The term reproductive freedom is defined in the proposal as "the right to make and effectuate decisions about all matters relating to pregnancy.

56.5--44.5%

Livonia Board of Education

Livonia voters will have to wait for the polling results to be announced as only 24% have been reported. As soon as the school board results are announced FridayMusings will update.

Hey candidates, how about pitching

in and helping the community now that you have received the votes

to return you to office

So the elections are over. We can now move on to governing. All the candidates that received the most votes and are pictured above now must prove that they were deserving of our votes, of your votes, of the community votes.

They have only won an election giving them the responsibility of putting into action the policy positions they ran on.

But one question for all of these candidates. You collectively raised and spent well over $20 million (a low estimate) statewide. Local candidates collectively raised and spent well over $2 million dollars, either raised or special interest groups spent on their behalf.

Right now the Livonia Historical Society is implementing two programs that you can donate to or help them raise money for:

$5,000 for an historical marker for Bentley High School
$20,000 to take every second grade student for a day at Greenmead. That's nearly 50 classes in Livonia and Clarenceville at approximately $400 per class

Word on the street says that the Clarenceville Marching Band may be looking at new band uniforms. Some Clarenceville parents have discussed ways to provide the funding.

Support for our dynamic theatre organizations continues to grow and could benefit from your support. Two, in particular, Barefoot Productions and Livonia Community Theatre.

How about joining and becoming active in our hard-working service club networks ranging from Jaycees to Kiwanis to Lions to Rotary Noon to Rotary AM among others?

Did you know that we have a volunteer organization that builds bunkbeds and delivers them to families throughout southeast Michigan where the children have no bed and sleep on the floor?

And that is just a start as I know there are other groups out there raising funding, some are successful, and some are struggling. If you have a special interest let me know and I will hook you up with a group filling a need.

When state legislative candidates raise and spend over $150,000 per race is it now time to raise and spend some funding with your fundraising ability to help the community that just voted you either into or back into elected office.

So how about pitching in some extra funds from your campaigns or contacting your special donors and asking them to pitch in?

Let me know and I will be happy to put you in contact with some of the groups that now need your help.

Livonia supports the League of Women Voters work of voter engagement and education.

Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church walking the walk

not just talking the talk

Two weeks and now I am ready to drive again after the bodyguard made sure that the car keys were not available. Aside from not driving and only getting out of the house for brief periods of time, like 30 minutes or less at a time, and only when the bodyguard drove I was able to find some new British mysteries to watch, downloaded two new books for holiday reading, ordered up some Christmas gifts for Colorado and rearranged items on the desk at least 20 times.

One event missed that I am personally upset about. Wanted so much to attend the Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church Veterans service this past Sunday. But after surfing the net I found a picture and a posting by my favorite stringer, well actually not a stringer, but she is the Mayor:

"I was honored to be asked by Pastor Kellie Whitlock to recognize Livonia Emergency Preparedness Director Brian Kahn for his work as a first responder. Today was the Veterans Service at Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church — Military, First Responder & Their Families Sunday.

"The church has created a unique and important ministry serving those who serve all of us. And today, in addition to the moving service, Rev. Whitlock and Dave Laycock (Ret. Sergeant Major, US Army) cut the ribbon on The Psalm 91 Room, a space created in the church for members of the military and first responders to go and rest and be fortified."

One of my first trips after being released from home confinement will be to Rosedale to tour the new Psalm 91 Room to take a look at this new space and to personally thank the Church for their continued support of our First Responders.

Some talk about their support, show up for pictures, smile, and go about their way having paid lip service to these important community supporters.

Others, like our Faith Community, put their words to actions and boy, is it impressive.

Seedlings Braille Books 7th Annual Online Auction continues through Nov 13th.

View your bidding options here of all of the items, over 200, up for bidding and running through the 13th.

The exciting items include two nights at the Grand Hotel, lunch for five with Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan, a foursome at any of the three Livonia golf courses, a one-hour photo session with Katelynn Lucas, Detroit Zoo membership for 4 children and 2 adults, dinner with Councilman Brandon McCullough, any number of oil changes, wine club memberships, and on and on with now 238 items ready for you to bid.

Musings looks forward to helping Seedlings out again as they reach for their goal of $50,000. Can't wait to announce their total on the 14th. Am betting that the largess of Seedling supporters will put them over the top. Let's do it friends of this awesome program that ships braille books to all 50 states and countless countries worldwide.

Mail Address

19514 Livonia 48152

E-mail address

rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com

kventittelli@ameritech.net

Cell address

734-674-5871