Mark Brewer's presentation on Gerrymandering and Other Election Related Legal Action
NMC SCHOLAR'S HALL Just when we needed a shot of positive energy, Atty. Mark Brewer gave us both hope and a dose of reality. Mark Brewer was the chair of the Michigan Democratic Party for many years. Currently, he is working on the gerrymandering case that was supported by the Federal Court. This week the 3-judge panel ruled that 34 districts need to be redrawn before the 2020 election. They unanimously supported all the evidence that League of Women Voters MI vs. Benson pre
Harm Reduction Syringe Service Grant
I was at the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners meeting on April 18, 2019, when three Commissioners voted against the Harm Reduction Syringe Service grant (grant information starts on page 132 of the meeting packet). The grant would provide funding, at no cost to the County, for staffing, HIV/Hepatitis C testing, gas, travel, mobile units, supplies and testing kits, education, syringe disposal service and outreach. The County funding cannot be used for needles, syri
County Commission Meeting Notes April 17, 2019
Call to Order: Opening ceremonies included an invocation and pledge of allegiance to the flag. Roll Call: one commissioner absent. First Public Comment: Approximately 10 people came to the podium to comment. Comments were equally divided between citizens making their disapproval known regarding changing time of these meetings from the evenings to 8:00 in the morning--making it hard to attend and the clear cutting of trees at the Traverse City Airport. CONSENT CALENDAR Two ite
TC Central High School Senior Projects Showcase Future Leaders
Report on Traverse City High School Project Hagerty Center, Thursday April 16, 2019 On Thursday, April 16, 2019, I and a group of four other members of Indivisible TC and the GT Dems, acted as facilitators for groups of students participating in Traverse City Central High School’s Senior Project. Sean Jones, one of the Faculty Advisors for the Project, spoke to our group explaining that the project was begun about ten years ago to answer student questions: "What do we want
The Governor Visits
Governor Whitmer held a town hall at Traverse City High School to deliver her goals and intentions for budget, education, and taxes. She sees serious shortfalls in education, roads, and safe water. She proposed major increases in spending on education and roads. To meet the shortfalls she sees the need for an increase in the tax on gasoline. In the town hall, Whitmer was hosted by Traverse City Area Public Schools Superintendent Paul Soma. In this blog I will attempt to wa
Coffee with Rep. Larry Inman
This morning Rep. Larry Inman met with concerned citizens Berta Meserve, Lynne VanNess, Kathleen Steeves and myself. Rep. Inman was cordial, pleasant and evasive. We spent an hour discussing various issues. A member of our group was curious about why the Representative will not complete the 2018 Political Courage Test despite repeated requests from Votesmart.org. Inman said he receives so many surveys that many end up in a box in his office. He said he is unfamiliar with th
Letter to City and County Board of Commissioners RE: Airport Tree Cutting
Dear City (County) Commissioners, Based on my experience when I was a JAG attorney for the US Air Force, when the government gives orders and makes decisions, it does so in writing, and it makes a record of its decision-making. I expect the FAA, Airport Commission, and City make decisions the same way. The record supporting the Airport’s decision to clear 40-acres, and exempt it from zoning, is slim. When the Airport and FAA decided to cut trees west of Cherry Capital Airport
Coffee Hour with Sen. Wayne Schmidt
Mayor Jim Carruthers started the session off by saying that SB 853 and SB 389 were passed with the Senator’s support to stop Michigan municipalities from banning plastic bags. The Mayor said that plastics are a real issue for us here in the Traverse area. There is plastic trash all over the beaches, parks and woodlands. While we are doing a good job recycling, it is not enough to solve the problem. We need to make changes and we need laws banning plastic bags. Senator Sch
Goodbye Trees, Hello Confusion
April 3rd Grand Traverse County Board Meeting
With weeks of animosity seemingly behind us, the board seems to be getting along much better for now. There seems to be some confusion on the airport cutting down so many trees. Whether the FAA has mandated the clear cutting or not seems to be a debate that some paperwork would clear up instantly. Some on the board look forward to the chance to see this mandate in writing. Outside of that, this meeting moved along briskly and
REPORT ON MEETING WITH SEC. OF STATE, JOCELYN BENSON
The Secretary announced that she is on a tour to visit every Sec. of State office in Michigan. She feels that we are in great place in Michigan right now. We have a great Governor, a great Attorney General, and new bold leadership at the top. She thanked everyone who worked so hard here on the ground, the volunteers for Voters Not Politicians door knocking campaign, the volunteers getting petitions signed that ultimately got Propositions 2 and 3 on the ballot and passed. R
