June 24,2020 Your Source for Livonia Happenings
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August 4th Primary Endorsements
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Martha Ptashnik endorsed for Republican nomination for State Representative
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Republicans have a choice on August 4th in the race for State Representative. The winner will take on Democrat incumbent State Representative Laurie Pohutsky. A campaign that will be watched across the state and is already being targeted by the Republicans who hope to win back a seat lost in 2018 when Pohutsky narrowly defeated Livonia City Councilman Brian Meakin.
FridayMusings has been following the Republican race, studying the endorsements, public statements and Facebook postings.
Regina Gargus, Penny Crider and Martha Ptashnik
are all on the face of it platform Republicans. Each are right-to-life, want to curtail spending and oppose any restrictions on guns. So the issue in deciding how and who to endorse comes down to how their message is being delivered, the style, content, and tenor of conversation.
Gargus is an enigma. Her opposition to the state-wide shutdown is loud and vociferous, using language or sharing memes at times that stop short of a rational discussion. And then she will post some wonderful recipes and comment positively on individuals on the city council who are diametrically opposed to her political positions. No endorsements and with a shrill approach to stating her positions she can not be considered a serious candidate. I think she could offer some serious discussion on a number of issues.
The race comes down to two wings of the Livonia Republican party. The first is the dominant paradigm of city politics that elected Jack Kirksey Mayor for 16 years. They have, with obvious connections in Lansing that may or may not be tied in to the Michigan Republican Party, who although neutral in the race clearly has a preference. Former Councilmen Jim McCann, John Pastor, Brian Meakin, John Walsh and current city councilwomen Kathleen MacIntyre and Cathy White have all endorsed Ptashnik. Add to that the Great Lakes Education Project, the major supporter in Michigan of for-profit charter schools, and you have a formidable candidate, who with little political experience is clearly in a position to win the nomination by creating an image of a well connected Livonia resident.
Another wing of the local Republican scene brings a solid candidate who articulates positions that have been hers for years, especially having worked as the district representative for State Senator Patrick Colbeck during his two terms. Her endorsement by Lynn Mills, Livonia's outspoken advocate of the right-to-life movement in Michigan brings solid support to Crider. Add to that the endorsement of pro-gun advocates like Roger Little, owner of Shooters Service, and pro-business leaders like George Demopolous, owner of the Senate Coney Island and the grassroots organizing that has been her hallmark for the 8 years of service to Colbeck actually make her the candidate to beat.
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Both Ptashnik and Crider received the endorsement of Right-to-Life of Michigan. Always a key endorsement in any primary. Look to those voters aligning with Mills to help get out the vote for Crider.
But the candidate who will bring the best campaign against Pohutsky in November is Martha Ptashnik.
One is a Churchill school teacher. One is a trained scientist. One supports for-profit charter schools. One supports our historic Public Schools. One is for a woman's right to choose. One adopts the position of right-to-life. A serious debate could be had on a number of issues. Michigan environment for one.
Ptashnik has waged a positive, marginally issue-oriented campaign based on a cliched approach to the issues. A headline without the substance of the issue. She will need to move more to specifics on issues to expect to win in November. Her strength as a public school teacher, support from those who know and have led Livonia in the past give her the advantage and should, if she is allowed to run her own campaign based in Livonia and not out of Lansing, could give Livonia a state representative race for the ages.
Martha Ptashnik has shown that she deserves your vote in the Republican primary for State Representative on August 4th.
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Victoria Burton-Harris for County Prosecuting Attorney--August 4th Primary
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There comes a time when a fresh face with a new perspective is needed in an elected position. This may be the time for that new approach in our Wayne County Prosecutor. Kym Worthy has done an admirable job, at times outstanding. But it is now time to move on.
FridayMusings is endorsing Victoria Burton-Harris for Wayne County Prosecutor in the August 4th Democratic primary. She is calling for the
end of mass incarceration, ending the cash bail system, redressing the wrongs of the failed war on drugs, and adopting restorative justice.
Burton-Harris was born in Flint, where she graduated from Flint Southwestern Academy. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2009 with majors in political science and African-American studies. She is a 2012 graduate of Wayne State University Law School. She lives in Detroit with her husband, Robert Burton-Harris, and their 2-year-old son, Langston.
Victoria Burton-Harris in challenging Wayne County's incumbent prosecutor, Kym Worthy, has chosen a mountain to climb that is not an easy one, but one that is impressive by its very attempt.
She began her legal career working with William W. Swor, where she honed her advocacy skills in the area of criminal law, both in state and federal court. In 2014, Victoria started McCaskey Law, in the heart of downtown Detroit, specializing in criminal and family law. At McCaskey Law, she has won cases on behalf of young people, community organizers, women experiencing violence, and victims of police brutality.
When Victoria started her law firm, she had the vision of being a “people’s lawyer” using her law degree to be a vehicle for change and a voice for the voiceless. Victoria’s passion for justice and equality for all have led to her involvement with several grassroots organizations as a legal adviser, including serving has served on the Legal Services Advisory Committee for HAVEN of Oakland County, developing trauma-informed training criteria and procedures for attorneys handling domestic violence cases. She currently sits on the New Lawyers Advisory Board for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, and the Board of Directors for Covenant House Michigan, a youth homeless shelter, where she developed a mentoring program for residents.
After years of witnessing over-charging, requests for excessive bail, and prosecutorial vindictiveness, Victoria realized that her efforts to end mass incarceration as a “people’s lawyer” would never be sufficient. Effective change would require a transformation in the gatekeeper to the criminal justice system - the county prosecutor.
Victoria Burton-Harris has shown that she deserves your vote in the Democratic Primary, August 4th, for Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney.
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Cole, Newton & Duran CPAs 20th Largest Accounting Firm
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Cole, Newton & Duran CPAs was recently ranked the 20th largest accounting firm in Michigan by Crain’s Detroit Business. The ranking is by the number of Michigan employees.
“We are very proud and honored to have been recognized as the 20th largest accounting firm in Michigan,” said Christopher Boloven, managing partner of Cole, Newton, & Duran CPAs. “It gives our brand added credibility with our clients. At CND, our core values of ethics, quality service, caring for one another, and financial stability form the foundation on which we act and provide service – a way in which we provide the CND Experience to our clients.”
For more than 50 years, Cole, Newton & Duran CPAs has been providing quality assurance, tax, consulting, and financial guidance to a variety of clients. Our office is located in Livonia, consisting of more than 50 staff members, including nine partners and 17 CPAs.
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Musings checks in on our city council
June 22-Study & June 22-Regular
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August 4
Proposition O
Wayne County Operating Millage Renewal
Endorsed by FridayMusings
Prosition P
Wayne County Parks Millage Renewal
Endorsed by FridayMusings
Wayne County Circuit Court
You may vote for two in the August primary with the top 4 advancing to November with two being elected to the Wayne County Circuit Court
United States Senate
Gary Peters (D-I)
John James (R)
United States House of Representatives
Haley Stevens (D-I)
Endorsed by:
Michigan Education Association
Frank Acosta (R)
Kerry Bentivolio (R)
Whitney Williams (R)
Endorsed by:
Eric Esshaki (R)
Michigan House of Representatives
Laurie Pohutsky (D-I)
Endorsed by:
Sierra Club
Clean Water Action
SEIU
Emily's List
UniteHere! Local 24
Iron Workers Local Union No. 25
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan
Michigan Council of Carpenters & Millwrights
Congresswoman Haley Stevens
Michigan Teamsters Joint Council 43
Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union
Michigan Nurses Association
Endorsed by:
Former State Senator Patrick Colbeck
Former State Representative Jerry Vorva
Former State Representative Kurt Heise
Former State Representative Jeff Noble
George Dimopoulos, Senate Coney Island
Lynn Mills, Right-to-life advocate
Canton Township Supervisor Pat Williams
Roger Little, owner of Shooters Service
Former State Senator Mike Kowall
Right to Life of Michigan
Martha Ptashnik (R)
Endorsed by:
Primary endorsement by FridayMusings
City Council President Kathleen McIntyre
City Councilwoman Cathy White
Former State Representative John Walsh
Former City Councilman Brian Meakin
Former City Councilman Jim McCann
Former State Representative John Pastor
Former State Senator Mike Kowall
Wayne County Commissioner Terry Marecki
Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP)
Michigan Freedom Network
Small Biz PAC
Right to Life of Michigan
Wayne County Commissioner
Terry Marecki (R-I)
Nothville Supervisor Bob Nix
Nancy Darga (D)
Endorsed by
Former County Commissioner Lyn Bankes
AFSCME Council 25
Schoolcraft Trustee
Brian Broderick (I)
Joan Gebhardt (I)
Terry Gilligan (I)
Livonia School Trustee
FridayMusings endorses the following 4:
Dan Centers (I)
Karen Bradford (I)
Tammy Bonifield (I)
Crystal Frank (I)
Clarenceville School Trustee
Matt Boettcher (I)
Brenda Uren (I)
Shari Krazel (I)
Jeffrey Bunker (I)
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Livonia Top Ten most Liveable City
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FridayMusings thanks the Livonia Chamber of Commerce for posting this information that in its third annual study, SmartAsset crunched the numbers to find the most livable small cities in the U.S. They compared 287 cities with at least 65,000 people but fewer than 100,000 across 10 metrics related to home affordability, healthcare accessibility, income equality, entertainment options and commute times.
Livonia ranks among the 10 most livable small cities nationwide. For more details, check out the table below.
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Be a part of creating a community project that promotes human connection, an appreciation of diversity and a realization that we all have something in common. Be one of the first to place your yarn and watch how our community is weaved together.
This event takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. next to our Summer Fun Series and Music From the Heart so you can enjoy music while making public art.
UNITY, an interactive public art project, was conceived as a response to the divisiveness and negative rhetoric in American politics. It was created to raise consciousness about the labels we give ourselves and others and explore how those labels both support and limit building interconnected, interesting communities. UNITY is a larger-than-life structure that helps us celebrate our uniqueness and strengthens our ties to each other. The project consists of 32 posts, each with identifiers such as, “I’m a parent; I speak English as a second language; I identify as LGBTQ,” etc. Participants tie colorful yarn to posts that reflect their identities. Their yarn intertwines with others’ to create a web of interconnectedness. In the end, we see that we are all connected by something, and it's our diversity that builds a strong and vibrant community.
This event takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. next to our Summer Fun Series and Music From the Heart so you can enjoy music while making public art.
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Get ready Livonia starting July 9
Music From the Heart is back
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Livonia Arts Commission Music From the Heart has a new location this year!! All concerts will take place on the east side of the Jack E. Kirksey Recreation Center, 15100 Hubbard. Please plan on parking in the Five Mile lot. Alternate parking is available in Rec Center parking lot.
Music From the Heart, our Summer Concert Series, runs Thursdays through July and August. Put your dancing shoes on, bring a chair/blanket and enjoy the music!! Events are subject to change, cancellation and social distancing restrictions due to COVID-19. For more information, call (734) 466-2540.
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July 9
Music From the Heart featuring Steve King
and the Dittilies
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July 16
Music From the Heart Featuring Major Woody
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July 23
Music From the Heart
Weekend ComeBack
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July 30
Music From the Heart featuring Toppermost
"Beatles Tribute"
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August 20
Music From the Heart featuring
Cruizin' Jupiter
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