Senate District 1 News and Events

Friends,

I hope that you and your neighbors are doing well during this polar vortex. Here is a listing of warming centers that we are aware of in our area. Feel free to share this information with others!

I also wanted to let you know about my upcoming coffee hours in Senate District 1, as well as an open house for our new district office on Monday, Feb. 25th, and a voting rights and election issues town hall meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 27th.

Please read on for updates on legislation I introduced this month!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mark your calendars and stay on top of events by checking the list on my website!

Friday, Feb. 8th from 9 to 10 a.m.
Coffee Hour
*with special guest, Rep. Darrin Camilleri (D–Brownstown Twp.)
Panera Bread, 19440 West Road, Woodhaven, MI

Friday, Feb. 15th from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Coffee Hour
Mary Turner Center for Advocacy, 1927 Rosa Parks Blvd., Suite 110A, Detroit, MI 48216

Friday, Feb. 22nd from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Coffee Hour
Telegram Newspaper, 10748 W. Jefferson Ave., River Rouge, MI 48218 

Monday, Feb. 25th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Open House 
*Join me for a meet and greet with special guest, Rep. Joe Tate (D–Detroit) at our new district office!
Samaritan Center, 5555 Conner St., Suite 1400, Detroit, MI 48213

Wednesday, Feb. 27th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Town Hall Meeting about Voting Rights and Election Issues
*Speakers will include Sharon Dolente (ACLU of Michigan), Brandon Jessup (Promote the Vote), and more!
Bethany Lutheran Church, 11475 E. Outer Dr., Detroit MI 48224

Monday, March 4th from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Coffee Hour
*with special guest, Rep. Cara Clemente (D–Lincoln Park)
Bacon Memorial District Library, 45 Vinewood St., Wyandotte, MI 48192

Friday, March 22nd from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Coffee Hour
The Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Co., 3965 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48201

INTRODUCED LEGISLATION

My team and I hit the ground running and introduced five bills in January:

• Senate Bill 45 would require all state departments and agencies to provide equal access to government services for English language learners, and to develop language access plans.
  >> Read more about this legislation on my website.
  
  
• Senate Bill 51 is part of a four-bill package to repeal laws created in the 1930s regarding abortion procedures, which are currently legal under the Roe v. Wade decision.
  
  
• Senate Bill 59 would create a mechanism to freeze the property taxes for low-income senior residents who have lived in their homes for 10 years or more, as a way to prevent displacement.
  
  
• Senate Bill 60 would create the Air Quality Enforcement and Mitigation Fund, which would be supported through fines collected from companies that violate air quality standards. The money generated would be distributed to communities whose environments and public health were harmed due to those violations.
  >> Read more about this legislation on my website.
  
• Senate Bill 73 is part of a bipartisan, seven-bill package to better protect survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence from having their addresses and other personal information disclosed.

We have a number of legislative priorities we are working to reintroduce in the coming months on issues related to education, preventing sexual assault, environmental quality, housing, fair and affordable car insurance, and much more. Stay tuned! 

DISTRICT NEWS

McLouth Steel Site DEQ Violations

Last week, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality issued a notice to 21st Century Salvage & Next Generation Environmental and Crown Enterprises Inc. & MSC Land Co., LLC for four violations of the national Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants during their demolition and abatement of the McLouth Steel facility in Trenton.

When Rep. Camilleri and I found out about these violations, we immediately reached out to department officials to learn more and sought insight from environmental experts. I am glad to see the MDEQ on the case so quickly, and will continue to monitor the situation closely and advocate strongly to ensure that the state holds the parties involved accountable when the health of our residents may be put at risk.

>> Read more about this ongoing situation on my website.

Thank you for reading this update! Please reach out to my office anytime if we can be of assistance.

Stephanie