Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Welcome to my latest e-newsletter! It is a privilege to represent Livonia, Redford Township and Detroit, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our community in Lansing. I encourage you to stay up to date on what’s going on in Lansing and continue to let me know about the issues that matter to you.
If there is anything I can do to help you and your family, please do not hesitate to call my office at (517) 373-1530, or email me at LauriePohutsky@house.mi.gov. You can also catch me on Facebook.
Legislative Update
Michigan House Passes State Budget
Last week, the Michigan House of Representatives passed its recommended fiscal 2023-24 budget. It includes the largest investment in education in Michigan’s history, and substantial investments in workforce recruitment and retention, infrastructure, and public safety. Hundreds of millions would go toward local road repairs throughout the state.
The School Aid budget includes a transformative investment in the Great Start Readiness Program to make preschool accessible for every student and provide free breakfast and lunch to every student in the state. It also supports the MI Kids Back on Track program, which provides tutoring to help kids catch up following the pandemic and mental health funding to address the youth mental health crisis. The budget would increase the school operations budget by 6.4% for a total of over $1.5 billion in operational funding.
The budget includes major investments in lead line remediation and water infrastructure upgrades totaling nearly half a billion dollars. It also would provide grants for renewable energy facilities, supporting job creation and climate resiliency, while devoting millions to help communities recover from flooding and other climate disasters. I was proud to support these historic investments, and I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues as the budget process progresses.
Session Update
Follow this link to see what we have been voting on over the last couple of weeks. As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at (517) 373-1530 or lauriepohutsky@house.mi.gov.
Constituent Resources
Protect Michigan’s Waterways
As Michiganders head outside to begin their summer lawn care routine, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is reminding homeowners and businesses to use phosphorus free fertilizer.
Michigan’s fertilizer law restricts the use of phosphorus fertilizers on residential and commercial lawns, including athletic fields, cemeteries, parks and golf courses statewide. Both homeowners and commercial applicators must follow the phosphorus application restrictions.
In general, most established lawns and plants do not require additional phosphorus for healthy growth. When purchasing lawncare products, consumers should review the product’s label and ensure the product is phosphorus free.
Other steps you can take to protect water quality include:
- Follow Michigan’s phosphorus-free requirements.
- Do not leave fertilizer material on impervious surfaces (driveways, sidewalks, patios, etc.) following application. Sweep the fertilizer back onto the lawn or turf to be utilized rather than potentially running off into a storm drain.
- Keep leaves and lawn clippings out of your gutters, streets, and ditches.
- Never wash or blow soil or grass clippings into the street.
- Pick up pet waste promptly. Pet waste can contain harmful bacteria as well as nutrients that cause excess algae and weed growth in lakes and rivers.
- Help control soil erosion. When left bare, soil is easily washed away with rain, carrying phosphorus with it. Soil erosion can be prevented by keeping soil covered with vegetation or mulch.
$15 Million MI Impact Grant for Nonprofits Open for Applicants
Last week, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity announced the $15 million MI Impact Grant application is now open. Michigan nonprofits who provide programming to lift people out of poverty should apply by June 23.
The grant program, which is designed to support the critical work of nonprofits who provide meaningful and sustained impact in the communities they serve, will prioritize partnerships with larger nonprofits that share the state’s commitment to providing services that help lift Michigan residents out of poverty and above the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold.
Large nonprofits could receive one-time grant funds between $1 to $2 million for the time period of Aug. 24, 2023, through Aug. 24, 2025, to create programming or expand current programming that supports disproportionately impacted communities in their recovery from the pandemic. To be eligible for this funding, organizations must be a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) nonprofit or a fiscally sponsored project by a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19). Nonprofits that have demonstrated experience and success in providing programming and resources to support the communities they serve while prioritizing equitable outcomes, are encouraged to apply for the funding. Nonprofits must submit the application by noon on Friday, June 23.
For more information, and to apply for the grant, visit the Michigan Poverty Task Force’s nonprofit webpage or email LEO-PovertyTaskForce@michigan.gov.
Community Update
Livonia’s Passport to Safety
Mark your calendars! Passport to Safety is back for 2023 on Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Livonia Police Department and Livonia Fire & Rescue headquarters on Farmington Road. Passport to Safety is a day of learning about safety in a fun, family setting. The event includes food, entertainment, and 10 safety stations geared toward kids ages 3-10 including fire safety, bike safety, and 911 training.
The June Jubilee
The June Jubilee: A Celebration of Freedom will take place June 22-25!
Details were announced at Central United Methodist Church, a church involved with the 1963 Walk to Freedom and where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered several sermons.
Organized by Detroit Branch NAACP, the celebration will feature topical summits with presenters including Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and professor Kimberlé Crenshaw. US Senator Raphael Warnock will provide a keynote address and hip-hop entertainer Doug E. Fresh will be joining as a special guest.
Festivities also consist of an MLK statue unveiling, the Freedom Walk and more.
Register and learn more at detroitnaacp.org or call (313) 871-2087.
Events
Water Affordability Community Conversation
My office will be hosting a water affordability community conversation on Monday, June 12, from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Redford Township District Library (25320 Six Mile Road Redford Charter Township, MI 48240). The event will include a panel of environmental experts and activists that will discuss the impact of water affordability issues in our district and across the state. I will also be sharing an update on how my colleagues and I in Lansing are taking action.
Coffee Hours
I hope you can join me for one of my upcoming coffee hours! I look forward to having an informal conversation with you about the issues families face in our community. I host two coffee hours a month, one in-person and one virtual. The location for in-person coffee hours will rotate throughout the year between Livonia, Redford Township, and Detroit. My in-person June coffee hour will be held at Motor City Java House in Detroit (17336 Lahser Road Detroit, MI 48219). You can join the livestream for my virtual coffee hours on my Facebook page.
In-Person: Saturday, June 3, from 2-3 p.m.
Virtual: Monday, June 19 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Never hesitate to reach out to me or my staff if you have any questions or concerns!
Sincerely,
Laurie Pohutsky
Speaker Pro Tempore
17th House District