April 22, 2022 When we are not limited, we all thrive
Some in Livonia move to establish
an identity as Art Friendly

Another opportunity for Livonia's fun-loving, concert-going, jazz-loving, art-supporting folks to share an evening with like-minded folks. Still time to get those tickets at LivoniaParks.org or in person at the Kirksey Recreation Center for one heck of a good time to be shared with Alexander Zonjic.

This typewriter and bodyguard will be there and hope that you will be as well. Out showing support for our hometown art community.
Some in Livonia move to create an
identity as sustainable friendly
Mail Address
19514 Livonia 48152
E-mail address
rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com
Cell address
734-674-5871
2022 ELECTIONS
A regular Friday posting.

Primary election Tuesday, Aug. 2
General election Tuesday, Nov. 8

Livonia Board of Education-November

Colleen Burton incumbent
Liz Jarvis incumbent
Mark Johnson incumbent

Clarenceville Board of Education-November

Cindy Immonen incumbent
Dennis Myers incumbent
Michael Liss incumbent

Schoolcraft College Board of Trustees-November

Brett Gierak incumbent
Carol Strom incumbent
William Erwin incumbent

Governor

Gretchen Whitmer D-incumbent

Donna Brandenburg (R)
Michael Brown (R)
James Craig (R)
Ryan D. Kelley (R)
Michael Jay Markey, Jr. (R) 
Ralph Rebandt (R)
Garrett Soldano (R)

Wayne County Executive 

Monica Conyers (D)
Warren C. Evans (D) incumbent
Beverly Kindle-Walker (D)
 
Mark Ashley Price (R)

Wayne County Sheriff

Joan Merriewether (D) 
Raphael Washington (D) incum.
Walter Epps (D)

Congress--12th District

Rashida Tlaib (D) incumbent
League of Conservation Voters
SEIU
Michigan Teamsters #43
Planned Parenthood
Hospitality Workers #24
Jewish Voice for Peace
Friends of the Earth
UFCW Local 876

Janice M. Winfrey (D)
Kelly Garrett (D)

James Hooper (R)

State Senate--5th District

Dayna Polehanki (D) incumbent
SEIU-Michigan
Bricklayers #2
Mi Nurses Association
Sierra Club
Mi Bldg Construction Trades
Mi Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights
Velma Jean Overman (D)

Emily Bauman (R)
Leonard Scott Jr. (R)
Jody M. Rice-White (R)


State Senate--6th District 

Mary Cavanaugh (D)
Vickie Barnett (D)
Betty Jean Alexander (D)
Darryl D. Brown (D) 

Ken Crider (R) 

State Representative
16th District

Ismail Terry (D)
Stephanie Young (D)

Gabriel Rees (R) 
Keith Jones (R) 

State Representative
17th district

Laurie Pohutsky (D) incumbent
Mi Nurses Association
SEIU-Michigan
Sierra Club
Emily's List
Clean Water Actioon
AFSCME Council 25
AFL-CIO
MEA

Penny L. Crider (R)
Jeff Vega (R) 


No Republican announced

State Representative
22 District: 

Matt Koleszar (D) incumbent
SEIU- Michigan
POAM
Sierra Club
League of Conservation Voters
Mi Regional Council of
Carpenters and Millwrights
Mi Nurses Association
Small Business Assoc of Mi.
Mi Professional Firefighters
MEA
AFL-CIO
Teamsters


Cathryn Neracher (R)
Rob Donovic (R)

County Commissioner
12th District

Glenn Anderson (D) incumbent

William J. Collop (R)

County Commissioner
District 9

Terry Marecki (R) incumbent
Unopposed- no Democrat and no Republican filed in opposition
Thank you Vote. Run. Serve. Livonia for this educational update on the infrastructure listening session last week.
Infrastructure across Michigan, and particularly Wayne County, has gotten lots of attention. On April 7th, Livonia’s state representative Representative Laurie Pohutsky hosted a infrastructure listening session with colleagues State Representative Matt Koleszar (Plymouth), State Representative Stephanie A. Young (Detroit), and State Representative Mary Cavanagh (Redford).

They were joined by Wayne County Commissioner Terry Marecki, Beverly Watts, Director, Wayne County Department of Public Services, Animesh Aggarwal, Deputy Director, Wayne County Department of Public Services, Mark Polsdofer, Michigan State Transportation Commission and Policy Advisor, MDOT, and Hallie Fox, State Government Affairs Coordinator, Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

Where we are now?
In 2019, a Wayne County audit of roads and bridges found that 59% were in poor condition and it would cost $3 billion to fix. A shortage of funds and political turmoil in Lansing has led to the road conditions continuing to deteriorate.

The good news?
A recent unexpected surplus in the state of Michigan, along with recent federal legislation, means there is A LOT of money coming to the State of Michigan to address long-standing our infrastructure issues. This will enable Wayne County to spend $90 million in 2022 - more than twice the amount of what was spent in previous years.
Additionally, the $10 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure bill has yet to be unallocated to Michigan’s city’s and counties. These funds will be dolled out by Treasury, independent of the state legislature.
These dollars will go a long way, stressed Fox, – allowing Wayne County to do more large projects beyond the ‘band aid’ approaches the county has relied on in the past. Additionally, these dollars are also allocated towards other initiatives such as groundwater systems, and lead and other contaminate abatement. This will enable projects like the recently granted Bell Creek erosion study, valued at $1 million.

Hallie Fox, State Government Affairs Coordinator for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, said that Michigan’s water infrastructure is in horrible shape and emphasized the need to address lead service line replacements.

Fox also pointed out that these issues are interconnected and used flooding as an example – when roads are flooded, it can prevent someone from going to work, flood their basement and destroy their water heater, furnace, etc. The impact on daily lives is too great to do nothing.

How can Livonia get their voice heard?
Livonians can voice their infrastructure priorities by completing the following survey - https://housedems.com/infrastructure-survey/
Livonia faces new districts and new names
A look at 3 districts. More on Monday.
State Senate 5th District-
incumbent Dayna Polehanki

Canton's Leonard C. Scott has filed along with fellow Republicans Emily Bauman (Westland) and Jody M. Rice-White (Livonia) for State Senate. The Democratic candidates are Velma Jean Overman (Inkster) and incumbent Dayna Polehanki (Livonia).

The district includes Westland, Livonia, Canton, Inkster and Garden City.

State Representative 22nd District-
incumbent Matt Koleszar

Plymouth's Matt Koleszar was the lone Democrat to file for State Representative in the 22nd District. The Republican candidates are Rob Donovic (Livonia) and Cathryn Neracher (Northville).

The district includes the City of Plymouth, western Livonia, eastern Plymouth Township, northern/eastern Northville Township, and the Wayne County portion of the City of Northville.

County Commissioner-
incumbent Terry Marecki

This is one elected position that Livonia will not have to study while deciding who to vote for as County Commissioner Terry Marecki is unopposed both in the August primary and November general election.

The District includes Northville City and Township along with the northern part of Livonia.
Sens. Polehanki, McCann Introduce EV,
Charging Station Rebate Bills
 
Sens. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) and Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) introduced legislation this week to create an electric vehicle (EV) and charging station rebate program for Michigan residents which, if enacted, would take effect later this year.

“We can think of no better investment to make than that of our residents who will have invested their time and energy to engineer, construct, and produce these exciting innovations in mobility,” Sen. Polehanki said. “Michigan’s auto workers have been working day and night to create the next generation of automobiles, and the legislature must do a better job supporting these innovations as they come to market. We look forward to working with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to raise awareness of the economic benefits Michigan stands to gain from these bills.

Senate Bills 1016 and 1017, sponsored by Sens. Polehanki and McCann, respectively, would create a rebate program for the purchase of electric vehicles and charging equipment for residents who install at-home charging equipment for EVs and hybrid vehicles. The bills provide for a rebate up to $2,000, if the owner applies within 120 days of buying their vehicle, and would only apply to new vehicles bought after Oct. 1, 2022.

The legislation introduced is an extension of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s budget recommendation, which included a $50 million one-time investment into EV and Charging Equipment Rebates to accelerate the purchase of new electric vehicles by Michigan residents. The State Budget Office has estimated this incentive will support the purchase of more than 18,750 new electric vehicles.

Senate Bills 1016 and 1017 come on the heels of recent, historic investments in electric vehicles from Michigan’s biggest automobile manufacturers. General Motors has committed to 30 new global EVs by 2025, Ford plans to produce more than 2 million EVs annually by 2026. Chrysler plans to become all-electric by 2028.
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