April 29, 2022 When we are not limited, we all thrive
Livonia Road Millage

FridayMusings is endorsing a "YES" vote for the City of Livonia's road millage renewal that goes to voters on Aug. 2.

This 0.89-mill levied for 10 years, will add at least $3.5 million a year toward Livonia's neighborhood streets, roads, and sidewalks. This millage has been in place since 2002, having been approved initially in 2002 and renewed by the voters in 2012.

While the county and state continue to work out ways to fund and repair major roadways throughout Wayne County and the State of Michigan our city of Livonia continues to take the lead in the maintenance of our neighborhoods.

This renewal will continue improving our hometown's quality of life and continue to maintain strong housing values, another reason why Livonia sets the pace for strong and innovative governance.

When you vote in August FridayMusings strongly endorses a "YES" vote for the road millage renewal.
State Senator Dayna Polehanki

Dayna Polehanki is a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate, elected in 2019. Prior to winning the election Polehanki had almost 19 years of experience as a teacher and was named Teacher of the Year in 2018.

During her first term in the Michigan Senate Polehanki was accessible and as a result of her visibility in the community showcased that she was willing and able to listen to the issues being faced by those she represented.

Now running in a brand new district, District 5, which comprises the southwest portion of Livonia and all of Canton Twp, Westland, Garden City, and Inkster.

She calls herself a fierce advocate for teachers, students, parents, and public schools.

Her endorsements early in this year's election include SEIU-Michigan, Bricklayers #2, Mi Nurses Association, Sierra Club, Mi Bldg Construction Trades, Mi Regional Council of Carpenters, and Millwrights.

Community leaders from throughout District 5 have lined up to support Polehanki including Livonia Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan, Westland Mayor Bill Wild, Garden City Mayor Randy Walker, and Canton Township Supervisor Anne Marie Graham- Dudak, State Representatives Laurie Pohutsky, Matt Koleszar, Kevin Coleman, Ranjeev Puri.
Not many expected Pohanki to pull off what was at the time called the biggest upset in Michigan. But she did. Not many expected her to be so accepted on the national stage with her strong advocacy for gun reform. But she was. Not many expected her to be a point person in Michigan on education reform. But she is.

Her platform speaks volumes. Volumes that speak to the values of her hometown:

Support public education in Michigan by increasing funding to K-12 schools, removing the profit motive in education, and making college affordable for working families.

Build strong families with good-paying jobs by defending our right to organize and collectively bargain and by promoting the skilled and technical trades in our schools and communities.

Preserve our water by protecting our Great Lakes from corporate abuses and fixing our broken water infrastructure.
 
Protect public safety by recruiting a high-quality police force, embedding social workers in police departments to assist with mental health calls, and improving accountability measures and training of law-enforcement officials. 

Ensure that voters’ voices are heard at the ballot box by fighting anti-voter scams and election lies.

Defend reproductive rights by protecting Roe v. Wade at both the federal and state levels.
  
Enact common-sense gun safety laws like background checks, “red flags,” and safe-storage laws.

FridayMusings believes that Livonia would be well-served with the re-election of Dayna Polehanki to the Michigan State Senate.

Other candidates include Velma Jean Overman in the Democratic primary and in the Republican primary, Emily Bauman (R), Leonard Scott Jr. (R), Jody M. Rice-White (R).
Community
Endorsement
The Livonia Democrats are partnering with the Livonia chapter of Blessings in a Backpack and Livonia Kids & Families to help these great organizations provide food for Livonia school kids in need.

How can you help? Donate some Mac & Cheese-it really is that easy!

The community goal is to collect 1,500 boxes, one month’s worth of Mac & Cheese, of either Kraft Macaroni & Cheese or Meijer brand Macaroni & Cheese. For standardization purposes of each food distribution, they would greatly appreciate it if you stick to either one of these two brands of Mac & Cheese as shown above.

Pick up some extra Mac & Cheese the next time you buy groceries and then deliver your donation to the Livonia Senior Center - you’ll find the LDC collection box inside the lobby.

FridayMusings believes this is a community project in which your help is needed and encourages your support.
"Non-profits are the economic drivers that make Livonia a great place to live, work. learn, play or start a small business. This is the result of the work of our non-profit and volunteer organizations. We can not put a price tag on the value of that work."

Maureen Miller Brosnan quoted above and with a background in working with and for non-profits before being elected Mayor shared her vision for a strong volunteer sector in Livonia, "harnessing our non-profits.

"Every volunteer hour has a price tag. There is value in engaging people to volunteer."
LaShawn Thomas, Director of Government Relations and Community Outreach, coordinated the Mayor's Non-profit Summit with over 60 community non-profit leaders attending.

Rotary AM Club, Lions, Kiwanis, Civic Chorus, Symphony Orchestra, Youth Orchestra, Paul Shepich, Dan West.

Brian Meakin, Greenleaf Commission on Sustainability, Robb Drzewicki, Karla Tuxall. And so many more from so many organizations where you could see the synergy already at work.

Speaking directly to those in attendance Brosnan says that Livonia wants to be a city with which people want to look to and engage with.

She drew from the tenure of Ed McNamara who saw to it that the volunteer sector shared information and coordinated calendars to avoid conflicts.
Thomas invited Becky Hermann, DREAM Program Manager at Vista Maria to share her expertise in volunteer management and recruitment garnered from her 16 years of non-profit experience.

Hats off to this room filled with volunteers and volunteer leaders. It goes without saying that this city government under the leadership of Mayor Brosnan is coming out of the pandemic with energy and vision.

Congratulations to LaShawn Thomas for spearheading this communication effort. She promises more to come.

Livonia is a better hometown thanks to our volunteer sector. Bank on it.
Hot Meals. Meals-on-Wheels
Get ‘em while they’re hot! The Hot Meals and Meals-on-Wheels program returns Monday, May 9. Hot meals will be served Mondays and Tuesdays at the Civic Park Senior Center, with a three-pack of frozen meals delivered Thursdays to cover Wednesday-Friday meals each week. Reservations will be required in advance and the suggested donation will remain $3 for seniors ages 60 and older, and $6 for non-seniors ages 59 and younger. An advance 24-hour reservation is required by signing up at https://secure.rec1.com/.../117a93c8692588667374c474d526a... (save the link for closer to the start date) or calling (734) 466-2555 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visit Livonia.gov/1880 via LivoniaParks.org for more information.
Mail Address
19514 Livonia 48152
E-mail address
Cell address
734-674-5871
2022 ELECTIONS
A regular Friday posting.

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

Ballot Proposals to date

Livonia road millage renewal

Endorsed by
FridayMusings
Livonia Chamber of Commerce

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

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

Endorsed by:
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

Endorsed by:
FridayMusings
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

Endorsed by:
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

Endorsed by:
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
Zonjic Live in Livonia, May 6th.
Fresh off a road tour to
New Jersey and North Carolina.
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