July 24,2020 Your Source for Livonia Happenings
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The race for a position for Livonia school trustee became just that.
A race with five now running for four positions
Madeline Acosta files for Livonia Board of Education
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Madeline Acosta has filed for a position on the Livonia Board of Education challenging four incumbents.
Until this filing it looked like incumbents Tammy Bonifield, Karen Bradford, Dan Centers and Crystal Frank would be unopposed.
That has all changed and it looks like when we open our mailboxes in November we will be faced with campaign literature from Presidential, United States Senate, United States Congress, Michigan State Representative, Wayne County Commissioner, Wayne County Circuit Court, Wayne County RESSA, and Livonia Board of Education campaigns.
By way of illustration lets look at the cost for one mailing for one candidate. If 20,000 households receive one piece of literature the cost for postage could be upwards of $6,000 depending on the mail house a candidate uses. Add printing to that as well.
There was a time when our Board of Education elections were held in the Spring but the Michigan legislature led by the Republican Party wanted all elections held at the same time so school trustees are now elected at the same time as Governor and then two years later with President.
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Acosta will have a tough time as the four incumbents are viewed by most observers as active and visible in the community and there is a sense of working together with other members on the Livonia Board of Education. Add to that their name recognition and they have a head start.
But recognizing that there has been some interest from those active in the school community to find a candidate with school district credentials to make this a race, it looks like that candidate has been found as reaction on the Facebook posting of the announcement that she is running has been positive. If she can pick up support from the school community and find a group of voters outside of the school community she could make this a real race.
Facebook reaction includes:
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Amanda Hernandez, "Go Madeline!!!! Is there anything we can do to help?!? I would love to pick your brain as well."
Michelle Kees added "Heck yeah! So glad to see Madeline Acosta running!"
Noemi Cortes Madeline Acosta you are the most qualified!! Best wishes for a successful run!
As is the policy of FridayMusings all the candidates can submit information, policy or position statements. Any and all statements will be welcome with the exception of attacks on the opponent. Best of luck in November.
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With two weeks left before the August 4th primary the race for State Representative and the right to challenge Laurie Pohutsky in November is heating up. Of the three candidates who will be the winner?
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Two weeks left to determine which of the three candidates for the Republican nomination for State Representative will win and have the opportunity to take on incumbent State Representative Laurie Pohutsky.
Will it be Penny Crider a six year district aide to State Senator Patrick Colbeck, second picture on the left? It could be Churchill High School math teacher Martha Ptashnik, third picture on the left. And there is Regina Gargus, fourth picture on the left, former
legislative assistant for former state Sen. Judy Emmons.
Most of the endorsements in the Republican campaign have been captured by
Crider and Ptashnik
. Both are endorsed by
Right to Life of Michigan
, putting them squarely at odds with
Pohutsky
who is endorsed by
Planned Parenthood
.
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Both
Crider and Ptashnik
have been given the highest rating by the
National Riffle Association (NRA)
. In contrast
Pohutsky
has been d
esignated a
Gun Sense Candidate by Moms Demand Action.
Both
Crider and Ptashnik
have been endorsed by
Citizens for Traditional Values
which
advocates for natural marriage (marriage between man and woman), religious freedom, educational choice (meaning charter schools) and limited government. They endorse candidates who will "
Enlighten families with the truth of our Christian heritage."
Ptashnik
has been endorsed by the
Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP)
which advocates for schools of choice and increased support for charter schools.
Pohutsky
on the other hand has been endorsed by the
Michigan Education Association
.
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Ptashnik
has been endorsed by the majority of former Livonia leadership including former Mayor
Jack Kirksey
, former city councilmen
John Walsh, Jim McCann and John Pastor
. Additionally she has the support of current elected city officials
Cathy White, Kathleen McIntyre
and County Commissioner
Terry Marecki
.
Crider
has been endorsed by current Plymouth Township Clerk
Jerry Vorva
, current Plymouth Township Supervisor
Kurt Heise
, former State Representative
Jeff Noble
, owner of the Senate Coney Island
George Dimopoulos
, owner of Shooters Service
Roger Little
, Right to Life advocate/activist
Lynn Mills
.
As Musings went to press
Ptashnik
announced that the
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
has given her their endorsement.
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Pohutsky
has picked up endorsements for the November runoff including from
SEIU Michigan State Council, Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, The Sierra Club, Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 2 of Michigan, Clean Water Action of Michigan, AFSCME Council 25, Iron Workers Local Union No. 25, Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union, Michigan Nurses Association, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Michigan Credit Union League, Michigan Realtors, IBEW Local 58, AFL-CIO.
FridayMusings wishes all the best to the candidates and as always offer you the opportunity to present a final word to the voters before the August 4th election.
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All Summer long enjoy the culture of Livonia
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25
Wilson Barn Farmers Market
28
Drive in Movie @ 7:30
Livonia Parks and Recreation
30
Toppermost Beatles Tribute
Music from the Heart
August in Livonia
1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Wilson Barn Farmers Market
4
Primary Election--vote early and often by taking a neighbor to the polls
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Sinjon Smith
Music from the Heart
13
Devin Scillian and Arizona Sun
Music from the Heart
17
2020 Golf Outing Benefitting MiWorkMatters @ Idyl Wyld Golf Course
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Cruzin Jupiter
Music from the Heart
27
Cosmic Groove Band
Music from the Heart
30
The ARC NW 2020 Golf Outing
Fox Creek Golf Course
September in Livonia
5, 12, 19, 26
Wilson Barn Farmers Market
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Thomas A. Dooley Knights of Columbus Golf Classic @ Fox Hills $100 includes dinner and prizes. To sign up call John Glennon 734-968-2286 or Lou Fiorentino 248-808-3834
October in Livonia
1
1835 Livonia City Hall of Fame
Rosedale Presbyterian Church
Presenting Sponsor: Dan MacIver Financial & Portfolio Advisors
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Let's go golfing and support those supporting others.
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Livonia State Representative Candidate Counters Anti-Livonia Billboard with Message of Inclusivity and Support for Police
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This statements is printed in its entirety as submitted by Penny Crider with no editorial comments or changes by Musings.
Frustrated by a billboard which maligned a city she has lived in for most of her life, Livonia Republican State Representative Candidate Penny Crider has crafted her own billboard message supporting her hometown.
Beginning Thursday, a positive message regarding Livonia can be viewed on two billboards on Telegraph Road in Redford and another on I-275, north of Plymouth Road.
Last month, a billboard appeared at the same Redford Telegraph Road location, Livonia does not allow billboards in city limits, stating “Driving While Black? Racial Profiling Ahead. Welcome to Livonia.” For the District 19 candidate, a Livonia resident and graduate of Livonia’s Clarenceville High School, the message was not representative of the city she grew up in.
“We have a great, inclusive community where all are welcome,” said Crider. “We don’t have the divisive issues that many cities have. And believe me, anyone who knows our police force here knows they are fair and impartial. I have great respect for Chief Caid and his officers.”
Crider hopes that her “ALL are WELCOME in Livonia” billboard message will heal some of the negativity that resulted from the anti-Livonia campaign last month. “I love this city and it’s why I want to represent it. I could not understand how making an unsubstantiated racial profiling claim on a billboard could possibly bring a community together or resolve the beliefs of the group that posted it. I just hope our billboard campaign helps generate more pride for our residents for this great city. It’s such a fantastic community to live in.”
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Dan MacIver offers up a slice of Livonia
tracing back to our artistic roots
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House Passes Stevens-Backed National Defense Authorization Act Amendments
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This week Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) voted to pass the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a strong, bipartisan bill to strengthen America’s national security. The NDAA includes a three percent military pay raise, funding for pandemic preparedness, and initiatives to advance justice in the military through sexual assault prevention, combating racial disparities, and removing the names of Confederates from U.S. military bases.
“The FY21 NDAA strengthens our national defense, gives our servicemembers a long-overdue pay raise, and takes important steps to increase diversity and justice in our military,”
said Congresswoman Stevens.
“This strong, bipartisan legislation also included several bipartisan amendments that I proudly co-sponsored. These amendments will increase funding for PFAS research, denounce military aggression by the Government of the People’s Republic of China, secure critical domestic supply chains, and boost American semiconductor manufacturing. Congress has a constitutional obligation to provide for the common defense, and I am encouraged by our bipartisan cooperation on this critical legislation to support our troops and protect our nation while investing in manufacturing supply chain capabilities that are critical for our national security.”
The legislation also included several bipartisan amendments co-sponsored by Congresswoman Stevens:
Increasing funding for PFAS research
. Introduced by U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), this
amendment
will increase funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study of PFAS health implications from $10 million to $15 million.
Expressing concern about Chinese military aggression.
Introduced by U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), this
amendment
expresses the Sense of Congress that there is significant concern about the continued military aggression by the Government of the People’s Republic of China along its border with India and in other parts of the world, including with Bhutan, in the South China Sea, and with the Senkaku Islands, as well as the Government of the People’s Republic of China’s aggressive posture toward Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Creating a National Supply Chain Database
. Introduced by U.S. Representative Norma Torres (CA-35), this
amendment
creates a National Supply Chain Database run by the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers to connect small and mid-size manufacturers and prevent supply chain disruptions.
Promoting American semiconductor manufacturing
. Introduced by U.S. Representative Doris Matsui (CA-06), this
amendment
restores American leadership in semiconductor manufacturing by increasing federal incentives to enable advanced research and development, secure the supply chain, and ensure long-term national security and economic competitiveness.
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Western Wayne County high school students from the Michigan Youth Activism Society organized a” Shut Down Line 5 “protest event
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This month marks the 10th anniversary of the Enbridge Kalamazoo River oil spill, an event in which 1.1 million gallons of oil were accidentally spilled into the Kalamazoo River following the bursting of an oil pipeline operated by Enbridge In, a Canadian oil and gas company. This event was one of the largest inland oil spills in U.S. history and cost the taxpayers of Michigan millions to clean up and counteract.
This past Friday, a group of western Wayne County high school students from the Michigan Youth Activism Society organized a” Shut Down Line 5 “protest event at Ford Field in Northville, for the purpose of informing the public of the risks of oil contamination that the Great Lakes face and the dangers thereof should the lakes be contaminated in such an event similar to the Enbridge spill in Kalamazoo.
Today line 5, a pipeline operated by Enbridge, poses such a risk to the Great Lakes. “The “SHUT DOWN LINE 5”, event at Ford Field in Northville was an informative wake up call for me ,” says Nancy Darga, a candidate for Wayne County Commission . I did not realize there has been over 33 breaks in the line already leaking over 1 million gallons of oiI into our Great Lakes. During the event, Rachel Hu and Rishika Neole, the heads of the Michigan Youth Activism Society and organizers of the protest gave presentations detailing extensive research on the threat line 5’s continued operation poses to the lakes.
Similarly, Dr. Aaron Payment, Chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie, Tribe of Chippewa Indians and President of the United Tribes of Michigan, wrote a letter on how Line 5 provides no value in the Upper Peninsula, while Representative Matt Koleszar spoke to the students about the pending deliberation in the State House of Representatives, on the issue of the proposed tunneling of the pipeline and its dangers.
Representative Koleszar also pointed out how the jobs being promised by Enbridge were minor and temporary when compared to the long lasting positions and good that clean energy alternatives offered.
Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull sent a letter expressing his support for the student’s efforts to bring public awareness to the hazards of the oil line. The students are demanding that the pipeline be shut down and that Governor Whitmer revoke the 1953 easement giving permission for Enbridge to operate in the Great Lakes. “We mainly wanted to spread awareness of the issue with Enbridge Line 5 to our peers and get them to take action with our Email Writing Campaign to Governor Whitmer,” stated Rachel Hu. It is by informing the public and prompting them to take action in writing to Governor Whitmer and other respective representatives that Hu hopes to finally prompt the shutdown of line 5 and protect our lakes.
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Livonia Kiwanis Early Riser
Fernon Feenstra Scholarship Winners
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The typewriter will be sharing an essay from one Livonia Kiwanis Early Riser Fernon Feenstra Scholarship Winner each issue over the next two weeks.
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