Dear Neighbor,
I hope everyone had a great week since we last spoke! The past few weeks have been busy in the House of Representatives, as we have been working on passing a variety of legislation that supports all Michiganders. I look forward to seeing many of you at my upcoming district events in the next few months.
As always, you can contact my staff and me at (517) 373-0828, by email at DonnaLasinski@house.mi.gov or by visiting my website at RepLasinski.com with any questions, thoughts, or suggestions.
Executive Update
On June 9th, in honor of Great Lakes and Freshwater Week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer along with state environmental and workforce leaders announced that 16 K-12 institutions, school districts, and educational partnerships have been awarded $205,028 to develop Great Lakes-based science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educational programs for students. Of the $205,028, Washtenaw Intermediate School District, which includes Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Saline, and Ann Arbor, was awarded $20,000. This grant will be used to build a foundation for cross-district collaboration to expand our students access to freshwater literacy and place-based STEM education.
Additional information: https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/press-releases/2022/06/09/whitmer-boosts-funding-for-16-schools-to-expand-programs-to-prepare-students-for-in-demand-jobs
Legislative Update
SMART (Student Mental Health Apprenticeship) Internship Grant
Last week in session, I voted YES on HB 6020 which will establish an internship grant program with the goal of incentivizing and attracting student mental health professionals to schools. I voted YES on this bill because it will create a streamlined pathway for students to capitalize on their education with a good job and will reduce egregious staff shortages in our public schools. It also provides a second source of income for eligible college students, who have been hit hard by economic downturns brought on by the pandemic. Students will have access to funds, networking opportunities, career openings, and hands-on experiential education. On June 9th, HB 6020 passed in the House with a 93-12 vote and has been referred to the Senate Health Policy and Human Services Committee. I hope you support me and my decision to vote YES on HB 6020.
Allow 17-year-old To Serve, Sell Alcohol
I voted NO on HB 4232 to amend the “Michigan Liquor Control Code of 1998” to alter the age that a licensee may allow an individual to sell or serve alcohol to 17. I voted NO on this bill because while the Senate-passed version of the bill is an improvement and I understand the workforce challenges that small businesses face, allowing 17-year-olds to sell or serve alcohol on-premises present unknown health and safety concerns for the server and the customer. On May 19th, HB 4232 passed in Senate with a 25-11 vote and on June 7th, the bill passed in the House with a 78-29 vote. On June 14th, HB 4232 was signed by Governor Whitmer. I hope you support me and my decision to vote NO on HB 4232.
You may wish to sign up for committee notices in order to receive the most up-to-date information on bills. By doing so, you will receive notifications as soon as the committee chairs post the next meeting’s date and time, making you among the first to know when committees will be meeting and what legislation is placed on the agenda for debate. For your convenience, the link to the sign-up page is below:
https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(0sq0jlmp14nw4vdjilzlwfcr))/mileg.aspx?page=listserverSignup
Information continues to change rapidly, and we are working hard to share updates and information as quickly as possible on social media. Please take a moment to like and follow me on Facebook, as this is where information will first be shared.
District Programs
Washtenaw County Health Department Hearing and Vision Screening
All children starting kindergarten or preschool must have their hearing and vision tested before starting school. The Washtenaw County Health Department offers free office appointments for hearing and vision screenings throughout the summer for children entering school in the fall.
Appointments are currently available from May until August 2022. Call 734-544-6786 to schedule.
More Information: https://www.washtenaw.org/1133/Hearing-Vision
Upcoming Time with Donna
We are actively planning new coffee hour dates for the summer and fall, as soon as we have the information we will share here and on our social media pages. We are looking forward to seeing you in person!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/replasinski/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonnaLasinski
What to Do in HD 52
Dexter District Library Summer Reading Kickoff
Celebrate the start of the Dexter District Library Summer Reading Program with a pirate party! Teens and tweens can take part in pirate-themed games and activities like making your own Jolly Roger flag and competing in Pirate Project Runway. Don’t forget to sign up for the Summer Reading Program while you’re at the library!
This event is open to grades 5-12. Registration is required and is currently open.
When: Wednesday, June 22nd, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Where: Dexter District Library 3255 Alpine St, Dexter MI 48130
More information and registration: https://dexter.lib.mi.us/events/teen-tween-pirate-party/
Chelsea Sounds and Sights on Thursday Nights
Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights offer Arts, Entertainment, & Musical acts performed at various and separate stages throughout historical downtown Chelsea. Every week brings something new, is family friendly, and free!
Kids will enjoy acts like magicians, circus acts, jugglers, face painters, balloon artists, the ‘How to Chalk’ themed art stage and much more. While music enthusiasts will experience many genres of music all in one night – bluegrass, americana, folk, rock, celtic, blues, jazz, country and everything in between.
When: Every Thursday, June 2 – July 28, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Historical Downtown Chelsea
More Information: https://chelseamich.com/sstn/
Helpful Resources
Do you know of any potholes that need fixing or road issues that need to be solved?
The Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC) makes reporting non-emergency road problems fast and easy. On their website under “report an issue”, the WCRC Fix It tool allows you to choose where the issue is occurring, select a service category, and upload any additional details. Use this website to report an issue:
https://www.wcroads.org/residents/report-an-issue/
For residents across Michigan, MDOT also has a reporting tool for potholes.
https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/travel/commuters/potholes
To learn about local road work projects in your area, the WCRC has many useful resources on past, current, and upcoming road work. Under the Road Work & Construction tab, you can find a map of ongoing projects, a weekly road work schedule for each Washtenaw Township, and much more. Check out the links below for more info:
Current Road Work and Construction: https://www.wcroads.org/road-work-construction/projects/
Weekly Road Work Schedule: https://www.wcroads.org/weekly-road-work-schedule/
Past Road Work and Construction Projects: https://www.wcroads.org/road-work…/past-projects/
Where to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine in Washtenaw County
The Washtenaw County Health Department hosts a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at their offices in Ypsilanti. All three FDA approved vaccines and boosters are available. Please note that you must now schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine, the clinic is only allowing walk-ins during clinic hours Monday-Friday 9an-11:30am and 1-3:30pm.
Where: Washtenaw County Health Department 555 Towner St. Ypsilanti, MI 48198
When: Please sign up for a timeslot here, if no times are available, please check back as appointment slots are updated regularly.
The Washtenaw County Health Department’s website has a list of locations in Washtenaw County where you can sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This list gives the location and any links needed to schedule your vaccine appointment. Find the list here.
Additionally, if you need assistance getting to a COVID-19 vaccination site in Washtenaw County, you can book a FREE door-to-door ride through the AARP Ride@50+ Program. This program can be used by any person of any age in Washtenaw County.
Phone Number: 844-900-4892 Code: Vaccinate Washtenaw (if this number is busy call 734-773-0907)
We will continue to provide information for vaccination clinics throughout the district as they get scheduled.
Order Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Every home in the U.S. is now eligible to order 4 free at home COVID-19 tests and are estimated to ship in 7-12 days. Order your tests here and have them when you need them.
COVID-19/Coronavirus Resources
You can receive continual updates from the MI Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) by clicking here.
Washtenaw Community Mental Health (CMH)
A 24-hour crisis services and mobile crisis team that can assistance navigating mental health care services. You can call or text the CARES team at (734) 544-3050.
I Want to Hear from You
During this challenging time, I want to hear from you. What do you need? How can we help you? Please, reach out to me at DonnaLasinski@house.mi.gov.
Sincerely,
Donna Lasinski
State Representative, House District 52