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Stop This Madness: In February the State of Michigan will begin offering Retro license plates which Michigan first sold in the 1970s and 1980s

Starting in February, Michigan motorists will be able to buy a white-on-black plate or a blue Great Lakes plate. A red, white, and blue 1976 bicentennial plate is expected to be reissued in 2026. All for a reasonable extra cost of $55.00.

I must admit I like the simple white on blue, but what I like is not the point. When I travel I play the game enjoyed by the Joyner's and thousands of other families. "Who can identify the most states by the license plates on the back of cars?"

Now every state has 3, 4 or in some cases 5 different plates. So, 150-200 different plates.

State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, from Royal Oak, sponsored the legislation to reintroduce the legacy plates. She mentioned that car enthusiasts frequently inquired about the blue plates specifically.

According to McMorrow, the new law will offer drivers a unique way to accessorize their cars, celebrate car culture, and contribute to road repairs by generating potentially millions of dollars in additional revenue without raising taxes.

Comments from someone who appreciates and enjoys transformative change, just not this one. Personal choice. I want one plate identifying Michigan for travelers all across the nation.

On a more serious note: It is time for Livonia to speak up and out on

the Sheetz proposal for a gas station at Eight Mile and Newburgh.

On the surface, allocating space at Newburgh and Eight Mile for Sheetz might seem straightforward: approve it.

Sheetz has a stellar reputation for cleanliness, fresh food, and community involvement. So yes, on the surface, the Sheetz proposal makes perfect sense. Approve it.

However, this decision isn't as simple as it appears. Should we just accept the money? Do we get a quality company ready to collaborate on design and address environmental concerns? Will we receive the high-quality food products that Steve King often mentions? On the surface it sounds good to me.

But a good company in the wrong location is a bad result.

The property owner at the corner certainly has the right to sell and develop a business that allows him to recoup his investment. This is the system we work with in America. But as a community, we have the right to say no.

Sheetz has asked to rezone the area from C-1 local commercial to C-2 general commercial plus a variance to allow it to build a 24/7 gas station and a restaurant with a drive-through facility.

Common sense says another gas station is not needed in this corner of Livonia, let alone a 24/7 operation with bright lights, a restaurant, and a drive-through.

This entire southeast corner should be developed for community or recreational use.

Mr. Ian Wilshaw, chairman of the Livonia Planning Commission, speaking not as its chair but rather as a member succinctly sums up reasons for voting "no" when he says that "a rezoning of property from C-1 to C-2. . .raises the intensity use of this property by doing that rezoning. At C-1 it's a local, what's called local zoning. It allows for light commercial uses. I would say it's probably the best way to describe it. . . . There is a light commercial use north of this property, which is the daycare center in Farmington Hills. The remainder of this intersection, when you look at it, is residential and public land. It's parks, a golf course and residential properties, including right at the corner, which is highly unusual at most corners throughout our city to have residential right at the corner.

"When I look at this area, it's a very unique area in the sense of having so much open space. There are hundreds of acres of open land in the vicinity. And I'm also old enough to remember when many areas of the city were like this. But this exists nowhere else in Livonia at this point, and if I stand at this intersection, I can go one mile in almost any direction to get access to a gas station. I get access to a convenience store. I can get access to fast food restaurants, and many of those operate with extended hours, not necessarily 24 hours, but extended hours.

"I drive through the intersection of Eight Mile and Newburgh daily. I live right near there, and when I stop at that intersection, I say to myself, do I need gas at this corner? Do I need a convenience store at this corner? Do I need fast food dining at this corner, 24 hours a day? And the answer to that for me is no. So, rezoning the property to C-2 for those intended uses is increasing the intensity use, and I don't think it's appropriate at this location.” 



It's time to say no to Sheetz. I reminded Council President Brandon McCullough, who says that he is a "no" vote when the proposal comes to Council that Mayor Ed McNamara once told me at the Hill House as we pulled in on my last day working in his office, "This corner will be a gateway to Livonia, welcoming neighbors to our city." It was meant in his vision to be a showcase, setting the tone for visitors to Livonia.

A gas station buffering the open space of Whispering Willows and the historic space at Greenmead is not a welcoming approach/gateway to Livonia. It does not set the tone for visitors coming to town.

Sheetz does not fulfill that vision. No matter how you paint the picture it is still just a gas station. The decision to allocate space for Sheetz seems straightforward: deny it. Just say no.

Happy Birthday Anastasia and Katie's: The community came

out to help you celebrate and enjoy some birthday cake

As soon as the bodyguard and typewriter walked into A&K's you could tell it was a birthday celebration. Kayleigh Reid and Rob Drzewicki talking about Spree and St. Baldrick's. Renee Summers of the Telegraph Newspaper was holding fort with staff from A&K's. Kelly Rockwell, founder, was greeting folks.

But the stop off at A&K's was made complete when Mary, who calls me Johnny Cash, for the one time I

came in and sang. Well, sang one or two lines, as I couldn't remember any more than that. She handed me my specially made sweet tea. Oh, so good.

Alex King, who once sang with his choir for the Pope, and I led the gathering crowd in a rendition of Happy Birthday. And then the cake was cut just as Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan arrived to add to the conversational and celebratory flow of the morning.

Happy 5th Birthday Anastasia and Katie's. Sure hope the day after we left continued to be on point in acknowledging how special you are to the Livonia community.

Throughout 2025, Livonia's 75th, we will occassionally take a look at some of the assistance provided our hometown by those we elected to represent us. Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib.

Rashida Tlaib Sworn into

the 119th Congress

"I was sworn in to serve my fourth term in the 119th Congress and it continues to be the honor of my life to represent Michigan’s 12th District Strong.

"Thank you for believing in me to fight for you in the People’s House. I promise to always have your back and never sell out.

"Together, we will work to build a more just and equitable future for all.

"If you or your family need assistance or help with a federal agency, don’t hesitate to contact our Neighborhood Service Center at (313) 463-6220."

Rashida Tlaib Making an Impact

Working for You

Through her Neighborhood Service Centers, over $6.2 million were returned directly back into the pockets of 12th District residents, invested over $52 million in 12th District communities, and assisted more than 10,000 families.

"Most recently, we helped a Livonia resident who had been waiting over seven months for her Social Security Disability Insurance back pay. With our help, this week she received her $58,555.70 payment. It was a huge relief for her.

Another resident was a victim of a fraudulent university scheme that resulted in him still having a student loan payment. With our help, we were able to get his $36,809.28 loan discharged completely.

He now doesn’t owe the money to a school that was shut down for fraud."

Congresswoman Tlaib attends President Carter’s Funeral at the Capitol Rotunda

The numbers keep going up with one more packet for Council picked up, now at 6, and one more having filed, now at 2.

Mail Address

19514 Bainbridge 48152

E-mail address

rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com

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734-674-5871

Archive--Bill Joyner's FridayMusings