June 17, 2022 When we are not limited, we all thrive
Thank you, Chelsey Cox, USA TODAY, for this explanation of Juneteenth:

What is Juneteenth?
The holiday commemorates the Emancipation Proclamation in the U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued the proclamation to free enslaved African Americans in secessionist states on January 1, 1863, but enslaved people in Galveston, Texas would not learn of their freedom until two years later.
On June 19, 1865, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger informed the community of Galveston of Lincoln's proclamation. Though it was issued years prior, enslavers were held responsible for telling the enslaved they were free, and some ignored the directive. Maj. Gen. Gordon demanded Galveston locals comply with the proclamation.

Why is it called Juneteenth?
Texas was the last Confederate state where the proclamation was announced and the first to recognize the date of June 19 – Juneteenth – statewide. The inaugural Juneteenth to commemorate the official day enslaved people in Galveston were freed began in 1866. The holiday, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, spread across the country as African Americans migrated away from the South. 

Why is Juneteenth important?
It is a lesser-known fact that the Emancipation Proclamation did not result in all enslaved African Americans being freed. Juneteenth is part of recognizing the conditions underwent by some Americans unknowingly liberated by law. The proclamation moreover guaranteed freedom to enslaved people in secessionist states like Texas, but not Union states like Maryland, which did not secede during the Civil War. The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, freed all enslaved people in the country.

When did Juneteenth become a federal holiday?
Congress passed The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act in June 2021, a day after the Senate passed the bill with unanimous consent. Biden signed the bill into law on June 17 – two days before Juneteenth.
Livonia concerts kick off this Thursday and continues all Summer
This typewriter circles the calendar for August 4 and Steve King & the Dittilies and August 11 and Devin Scilliam & Arizona Son. I could enjoy all 10 concerts but really enjoy looking forward to two of my favorites.

How about you? A favorite? Reserved for date night?

I may not be a kid in the chronology setting but I enjoy the Tuesday Summer Fun Series and especially Guy Louis or Miss Paula and the Candy Bandits.

Why leave Livonia for summer night treats when Tuesday and Thursday evenings are in place for you and me to enjoy our hometown.

The bodyguard says it is okay to give out my schedule for Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Polehanki introduces
bills to attract and
retain teachers
Senate Democrats, led by Sens. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) and Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), introduced a package of bills designed to attract and retain teachers in Michigan to address the educator shortage that has been many years in the making.

In February 2020, just before the pandemic, the Michigan Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers released a report finding that newly issued teacher certificates were down nearly 25% between the 2013-2014 and 2017-2018 school years. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated the problem, and now, teachers are retiring faster than they can be replaced.

“Michigan’s teacher shortage is getting worse by the day, and it won’t go away unless we get proactive about recruiting and retaining excellent educators,” said Sen. Polehanki. “These bills will go a long way toward ensuring our hardworking teachers can stay in the profession long-term, so our students can have the world-class education they deserve at every level.”

The legislation in the package includes:
  • The Student-Teacher Stipend Act, which would provide a student-teacher stipend up to $9,600 in total for service as a student-teacher (Sen. Polehanki).
  • A resolution to eliminate higher education funding from the School Aid Fund. (Senate Joint Resolution Q, Sen. Polehanki).
  • A grant program to reimburse student teachers for the cost of childcare during their service by up to $10,000 (Senate Bill 1092, Sen. Brinks).
  • A grant program to pay for the cost of teacher professional development that is required with teacher certification (Senate Bill 1095, Sen. Brinks).
  • Expanded support for new teachers to provide coaching and a support system for teachers in their first three years of service (Senate Bill 1096, Sen. Stephanie Chang).
  • A loan repayment program for recently certified college graduates who commit to teaching, hold a valid teaching certificate and are employed in a school (Senate Bill 1098, Sen. Rosemary Bayer).
  • Elimination of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) requirement for out-of-state teachers with three years of successful performance evaluations in their previous state (Senate Bill 1097, Sen. Paul Wojno).
  • Eliminating the prohibition on wage and step increases, allowance of retroactive wage increases, and the insurance increases passed to employees when a contract expires (Senate Bill 1094, Sen. Marshall Bullock).
  • A no-cost pathway for support staff members to become certified teachers (Senate Bill 1100, Sen. Sean McCann).
  • A grant program for districts to provide hands-on learning experiences in grades 6-12 to encourage students to consider a career in education (Senate Bill 1099, Sen. Jeremy Moss).
  • A repeal of P.A. 53 of 2012, which prohibits school districts from collecting union dues or fees via payroll deduction (Senate Bill 1093, Sen. Erika Geiss).
  • A bill to eliminate cost-sharing of unfunded actuarial accrued liabilities (Senate Bill 1101, Sen. Jim Ananich).  
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

Ballot Proposals to date

Livonia road millage renewal

Endorsed by
FridayMusings
Livonia Chamber of Commerce

Proposition J 
JAIL MILLAGE RENEWAL

Endorsed by
FridayMusings

Livonia Board of Education-November--3 elected

Colleen Burton incumbent
Mark Johnson incumbent
Reina Vendramini challenger

Liz Jarvis incumbent
Endorsed by:
FridayMusings

Clarenceville Board of Education-November--
3 elected

Cindy Immonen incumbent
Dennis Myers incumbent
Michael Liss incumbent

Schoolcraft College Board of Trustees-November--
3 elected

Brett Gierak incumbent
Carol Strom incumbent
William Erwin incumbent

Wayne County Executive 

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

Wayne County Sheriff

Raphael Washington (D) incum.
Endorsed by:
FridayMusings

Walter Epps (D)
Joan Merriewether (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)
Steven Elliott (R)
Hassan Nehme (R)


State Senate--5th District

Dayna Polehanki (D) incumbent
Endorsed by:
FridayMusings
Livonia Mayor Maureen Brosnan
Westland Mayor Bill Wild
Couny Commissioner
Glenn Anderson
UAW
MEA
SEIU-Michigan
Bricklayers #2
Mi Nurses Association
Sierra Club
Mi Bldg Construction Trades
Mi Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights

Velma Jean Overman (D)
Endorsed by:
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib
County Commissioner
Sam Baydoun
Inkster Ministerial Alliance
Inkster City Council members
Kim Howard
George Williams
Western Wayne Black Caucus


Emily Bauman (R)
Endorsed by:
ABC Michigan

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


State Senate--6th District 

Vickie Barnett (D)
Endorsed by:
FridayMusings

Mary Cavanaugh (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:
FridayMusings
Mi Nurses Association
SEIU-Michigan
Sierra Club
Emily's List
Clean Water Actioon
AFSCME Council 25
AFL-CIO
MEA

Penny L. Crider (R)

State Representative
22 District: 

Matt Koleszar (D) incumbent
Endorsed by:
Michigan Education Association
SEIU- Michigan
UAW
Police Officers Association of MI
Sierra Club
League of Conservation Voters
Mi Regional Council of
Carpenters and Millwrights
Mi Nurses Association
Small Business Assoc of Mi.
Mi Professional Firefighters
AFL-CIO
Teamsters


Cathryn Neracher (R)
Endorsed by:
Right to Life of Michigan
ABC Michigan

County Commissioner
12th District

Glenn Anderson (D) incumbent
Endorsed by:
FridayMusings

William J. Collop (R)

County Commissioner
District 9

Terry Marecki (R) incumbent
Unopposed- no Democrat and no Republican filed in opposition
We’re excited to announce work will soon begin on the Ben Celani Play Area remodel. The playground and pavilion combo in the southeast corner of Bicentennial Park will soon receive a facelift as a new accessible playground, pavilion and senior-focused outdoor fitness equipment will surround a new plaza and new paved parking lot with additional parking spaces.

Construction on the plaza space will begin in a few weeks, followed by the parking lot, with the playground and fitness equipment following in late summer, and the pavilion expected to wrap it up in 2023.
Representative Matt Koleszar, District 22 incumbent, supports the election of
gun-smart candidates

"4 years ago, I was a teacher who knew our students deserved more than lockdown drills & ALICE Training. So I ran against my State Rep who wanted more guns in schools. And I beat him.

"But the fight isn’t over. We must re-elect gun-smart candidates like me and flip the Michigan House.

"More people are like you and me than they want us to believe. The majority who believes in gun safety measures is sadly out-ruled by an out-of-touch majority in Lansing. It’s time to change that."
Cathryn Neracher, District 22 Republican challenger, proud to receive Michigan
Right to Life endorsement

"I am proud to be endorsed by the Right to Life of Michigan PAC.
I previously served on the AAA Pregnancy Center’s Board of Directors, devoted to helping pregnant women who are struggling.

"I look forward to serving Michigan’s 22nd House District as your next 100% pro-life representative."
State Senator Dayna Polehanki, incumbent 5th District is asking for your support by requesting a yard sign

"It’s time to request your Dayna Polehanki for State Senate yard sign for the August 2nd election!"

"If you live in the southwest portion of Livonia or anywhere in Canton, Westland, Garden City, or Inkster, click here and one will show up in your yard beginning in mid/late June when absentee ballots are mailed.

"Thanks for showing your support for our campaign!"
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Incumbent 12th District, receives endorsements from clean air and water organizations


"I have been a fighter for environmental justice from day one. I serve as a member on the House Natural Resources Committee, I'm Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on the Environment on the House Oversight Committee. I helped establish Get The Lead Out Caucus to remove every ounce of lead and toxins in our water lines.

"I will never sell out. I have been standing up to corporate polluters and calling out those who put the health of residents after profits.

"With grassroots climate organizations and activists taking the lead, our communities can transform not just to a better and livable climate, but also transform our economy into a powerhouse engine through the Green New Deal.

"Our campaign is proud to receive endorsements from clean air and water orgs across the country. They are a badge of honor telling us we are on the right side of this issue."
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