Rep. Arbit’s Chaldean American Month Bill Receives Hearing
Our Chaldean community’s expansive economic and cultural impact is self-evident not only here in West Bloomfield, Commerce, and the Lakes, but across Metro Detroit. I am proud to sponsor HB 4927 to designate every May as Chaldean American Month in the state of Michigan. In recognizing this month, Michigan will not only celebrate our Chaldean and Assyrian neighbors’ indelible impact on our state, but also preserve their stories for future generations.
Responding to Antisemitic Vandalism at Knollwood Country Club
Pro-Palestinian protesters deface Jewish country club with antisemitic threats; Rep. Noah Arbit underscores the importance of combating anti-Jewish hate crimes, intimidation, and institutional desecration.
“This despicable incident underscores a growing and horrifying trend of Jewish institutions targeted with grotesque, hateful, and threatening slogans by antisemites purporting to advocate for Palestinians. While it is not antisemitic to express concerns or criticisms about the actions of the Israeli military or government in the ongoing war against the terrorist group Hamas, there can be zero justification and zero tolerance for vandalizing Jewish institutions, threatening and assaulting Jews, or intimidating Jewish students on school campuses.
“I was elected on a promise to lead the fight against rising hate crimes, extremism, and antisemitism in the Legislature. My first bill signed into law, the Institutional Desecration Act, establishes penalties for vandalizing, destroying, or desecrating houses of worship or communal institutions, like Knollwood. I hope perpetrators of hateful acts of vandalism like this one can be identified and brought to justice under the full extent of Michigan law, which now includes the Institutional Desecration Act. Above all, I will continue to stand up for my community against rising antisemitism.”
Read the rest of my statement here.
The Latest from the Lakes
Remembering Sherri-Anne Wynter
Our West Bloomfield community suffered a devastating loss with the sudden passing of Sherri-Anne Wynter on Feb. 25. Her obituary can be found here.
Sherri Anne Wynter was a community leader and advocate of the highest order, as well as a devoted and beloved daughter, sister, mother, and friend. She served as co-chair of the West Bloomfield Diversity Task Force and President of the West Bloomfield African American Parent Network (WBAAPN), in addition to so many other roles. Sherri-Anne meant so much to our community and helped transform our community to ensure that Black residents of West Bloomfield felt heard and represented. What a contribution. It is unfathomable and devastating that she is gone. I am praying for her family, as I know so many across our community are. We will miss Sherri-Anne so much and will continue to carry forward her legacy of service.
May Sherri-Anne’s memory be a blessing to us all.
#BringThemHomeNOW:
Reflection on 150 Days Since Oct. 7
Here is my reflection to commemorate 150 days of innocent Israeli civilians being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza:
Our Michigan coat of arms bears the Latin word “Tuebor,” or “I will defend.” I think about this word a lot. Every day that I step into this chamber as representative for the people of Greater West Bloomfield and Commerce, I remind myself what exactly it is I am defending. What exactly it is I am fighting for.
Freedom. A word that is at once, so lofty, but so simple. At a very elemental level, freedom is what the human soul yearns for most. That fight for freedom, in one way or another, is what has brought each of use to the Michigan House of Representatives.
As we begin today’s session, I ask that we turn our hearts east, to a particular fight for freedom. I ask that we open our hearts to the 130 innocent civilian Israeli men, women, and children — including infants — who were stolen from their homes on October 7th and taken hostage to Gaza — all because they are Jewish.
May their call from freedom be heard in this House, as I receive the Acheinu, a Jewish prayer for the release of hostages, dating back to the 11th century:
Our brothers, the whole house of Israel, who are in distress, or in captivity — who stand either in the sea or on dry land — may the Omnipresent have mercy on them and take them out from narrowness to expanse, and from darkness to light, and from oppression to redemption, now, swiftly, and soon.
Blessed are You Adonai our God, King of the universe, who frees the captive.
Amen.
Tips for Tracking Legislation
If you are interested in monitoring the progress of a specific bill more closely, the Michigan Legislature website has a free notification feature that will send an email to you every time a bill updates or moves to a new step in the legislative process.
Visit www.legislature.mi.gov and select “Register” to create a free account. Once you are signed in, search up the bill you have interest in, and select the “notify of changes” option. This option only appears if you are signed into your account.
You can also track activity from different legislators and committees by visiting the “Notify” section and adding on your areas of interest. You will receive an email to notify you when a legislator introduces a new bill or a committee schedules a hearing.
If you ever have questions about the progress of a bill, you can also always contact my office.
Reasons to Contact Your State Representative
There’s no wrong reason to reach out to me! I can best represent our district when I know what issues are most important to you.
My team and I are eager to assist you with any of the following services:
- Unemployment insurance claims.
- Issues with state agencies like the Secretary of State, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Treasury.
- State income tax return questions.
- Legislative updates.
- Recognition for a small business or outstanding individual.
- Connections with local or federal leaders who serve our community.
- Other resources or assistance — if we don’t offer it, we’ll help you find it!
Thank you for reading my newsletter! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any comments, questions, or concerns that you have. Stay tuned for next month’s “Latest from Lansing and the Lakes!”
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