The Latest from Lansing and the Lakes!

Dear Neighbor,

Welcome to my July 2023 newsletter — “The Latest from Lansing and the Lakes!” I hope you’ve had a chance to enjoy the sunshine on one of our many beautiful lakes or the West Bloomfield and Airline Trail! During the Legislature’s summer recess, I have the opportunity to spend more of our time in our community and prep legislation for when we resume session in early September. I hope to catch you at my next “Nosh with Noah” community conversation or bump into you at some of my favorite hangouts in our district, like Ellen’s in Sylvan Lake, Stage Deli in WB, or Lulu’s in Commerce.

This newsletter provides update on a few major items — with specific attention to the 2023-24 state budget. I was proud to cast my vote for major investments in health, education, public safety and environmental conservation. Read on to see more of how the budget will positively impact our community here in Greater West Bloomfield and Commerce!

I believe in listening, learning, and leading — in that order, which is why feedback from constituents like you is so important! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as often as you like. You can send me an email at NoahArbit@house.mi.gov or call my office at (517) 373-3816. It is an honor, a joy and a privilege to serve as your state representative; I strive every day to be worthy of the trust you have placed in me.

Make sure to follow my official Facebook page to keep up-to-date on upcoming events, legislation, and other announcements!

Sincerely,

State Representative Noah Arbit

Proudly serving West Bloomfield, Commerce, and the Lakes

Rep. Arbit Brings Home Record $1.6 Million in  Funding for Infrastructure in 20th District

I could not be more thrilled to have secured a record $1.6 million in funding for local infrastructure projects in the Greater West Bloomfield-Commerce area in the 2023-24 state budget — a larger investment than any community I represent has received in the entire past decade!

I couldn’t be more excited to share that in my first six months in office, I secured more funding for Greater West Bloomfield and Commerce in the 2023-24 state budget than our communities have ever received in at least a decade. After tireless advocacy on behalf of our communities, I’m proud to bring home funding for the following projects that will directly impact the lives of our neighbors:

• $1 Million for Commerce Township to enable ADA-compliant pedestrian access to the Commerce Township Community Library, increasing accessibility and public safety to a major community asset in the heart of Commerce.

• $500,000 for Keego Harbor to make critical repairs and reconstruction of the Willow Beach Street residential bridge, alleviating a severe safety and traffic hazard for residents of east-central Keego Harbor.
• $100,000 for Keego Harbor to fund recreational water safety tools to ensure everyone who enjoys their time on Cass Lake can do so safely.

Record Funding for School Districts, including West Bloomfield, Walled Lake, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham

Our education budget includes a 5% increase in per-pupil funding, resulting in a $54,550,373 increase from the last fiscal year in the seven school districts across House District 20. Our education budget also includes historic investments in student mental health, school safety, and our teachers. Some of my favorite items funded in this budget are:

• $328 million: Student mental health and school safety.
• $100 million: Paid breakfast and lunch for all public school students.
• $150 million: Tutoring aimed at helping students catch up after the pandemic.
• $25 million: Teacher recruitment and retention.

Our Budget Priorities: Health Care, Environment, Public Safety and Families

The 2023-24 state budget is the first passed by a Democratic majority in decades, and it was crucial for me to ensure the priorities of our community here in West Bloomfield, Commerce, and the Lakes were included. Our majority delivered! Together, we provided:

• 10% increase: Medicaid reimbursement for in-home skilled nursing care, physical therapy and nursing aide services that are crucial to seniors and the long-term care patients.
• $25 million: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, a tremendously effective new model for delivering mental health services to Michiganders with all types of insurance, or none at all.
• $79.8 million: Funding for mental health organizations across the state.
• $280.5 million: Investing in weather-resilience through water infrastructure loans, grants and direct funding to communities.
• $30 million: Renewable energy infrastructure grants for local communities.
• $1.9 million: Improve law enforcement ability to investigate gun crimes
• $166.9 million: Expanding access to child care across the state.
• $10 million: Grant funding to support maternal health programs.

And so much more!

State Budget: Combating Hate, Protecting Houses of Worship

Our budget supports businesses and communities that have been the target of violence and hate, while also making meaningful investments in programs that work to prevent hate violence in the first place. I proudly cast my vote for a budget that provides:

• $15 Million to the Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit to strengthen communal security at Jewish institutions across Metro Detroit.
• $574,000 for the Michigan Alliance Against Hate Crimes to support victims and communities who are targeted as well as combat the bias and hatred that fuels these crimes.
• $500,000 for the Zekelman Holocaust Memorial Center, the Arab American National Museum and the Charles H. Wright Museum.
• $800,000 for Community Violence Prevention, which has been proven the most effective approach to interrupting community-level violence.

Michigan AFL-CIO Announces Rep. Noah Arbit’s
100% Pro-Worker Voting Record!

The Michigan AFL-CIO recently released its legislative scorecard for members of the 102nd Legislature. I am proud to be recognized with a 100% pro-worker voting record. Our Democratic majority will continue working to build a Michigan where everyone has a chance to thrive — no matter where you come from, the color of your skin, the ZIP code of your home, how you worship or whom you love.

Rep. Noah Arbit Appears on Fox 2’s ‘Let It Rip’
to Discuss Michigan Hate Crime Act

This month, I appeared on Fox 2 Detroit’s “Let It Rip” program with Roop Raj and Charlie Langton to discuss my hate crime legislation passed by the state House! Check it out! You can watch my full segment here.

Events and Updates across Greater
West Bloomfield & Commerce

Mark Your Calendar — Next “Nosh with Noah” is Aug. 21!

Meeting constituents and hearing from you is not only one of my favorite parts of my job, but an essential part of my duty as your state representative. Join me for my next Nosh with Noah community conversation on Monday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m. at Rose Sortor Park in Keego. You can sign up to attend here.

Orchard Lake Road Construction:
All Businesses Open, Detours Posted

Orchard Lake Road construction began July 6 between Middlebelt and Commerce roads and is expected to last about 35 days. All businesses are open, and the road commission has posted detours for anyone trying to access or pass through the area. Please use caution if you are entering the work zone to ensure the safety of our workers and speedy completion of this long-anticipated project!

West Bloomfield Police Urges Residents to Familiarize Themselves with New Distracted Driving Laws

On June 30, the recently signed legislation updating Michigan’s distracted driving laws went into effect. Public safety departments across the state, including the Michigan State Police and West Bloomfield Police Department, are encouraging everyone to review the new laws that help keep drivers focused on the road. We all have to play our part to make our streets safer. Review the graphic below for the essentials you should know before hitting the road.

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 July 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!” newsletter!