Dear Neighbor,
Here is some information that I hope you will find helpful, including news and resources from your state government.
Anti-SLAPP Legislation Passes House Judiciary Committee
My legislation (House Bill 4045) to allow a court to dismiss what are known as strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) passed the House Judiciary Committee last week and is now awaiting a vote on the House floor. SLAPP suits are retaliatory lawsuits intended to silence, intimidate or punish an individual who speaks out on an issue of public interest. They have been used against environmentalists, scientists, citizen activists and sexual assault survivors. Michigan is one of only 14 states that has not enacted an anti-SLAPP law. Individuals should be able to exercise their First Amendment rights without fear of being sued and buried in legal fees.
City of Lansing Now Collecting Curbside Yard Waste, Delhi Township Offers Free Brush Drop-Off Dates
The City of Lansing is collecting yard waste on a weekly basis. Residents should follow yard waste guidelines and leave materials at their curbside to be picked up on their regularly scheduled collection day. More information can be found here.
Delhi Township is offering free brush drop-off days on Saturday, May 17, and Saturday, June 21, from 8 a.m. to noon, at Delhi Publicly Owned Treatment Works, 5961 McCue Road, in Holt (enter through Recycle Center on Grovenburg Road). Waste will only be accepted in paper yard waste bags, and bags over 30 gallons will not be accepted. Brush and tree trimmings should be no longer than 4 feet and less than 4 inches in diameter and tied with string or twine into 12 inch bundles. Each bag or bundle should not exceed 30 pounds. Load sizes are restricted to no trailers larger than 5 foot x 8 foot or the back of a full-size pick-up truck. Tandem trailers or cube type vehicles will not be permitted. Proof of residency is required. More information can be found here.
Upcoming Event: Senior Scam Town Hall
Please join me on Friday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Sam Corey Senior Center, 2108 Cedar St., in Holt, for a town hall on scams that target senior citizens. I will be joined by special guests from the Department of Attorney General, state Sen. Sarah Anthony and Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth. Presenters will go over the common warning signs of phone, mail, email and text scams, and provide tips to help seniors protect themselves. Please register for the event here.
Sincerely,
Kara Hope
State Representative
In Case You Missed It…
Recycle-Rama Helps Dispose of Unwanted Items
Mid-Michigan Recycle-Rama is taking place on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ingham County Health Center, 5303 S. Cedar St., in Lansing. This event is open to the public and no registration is required. Learn more here.
I have volunteered at Recycle-Rama, so I know firsthand that it is a very popular community event!
Attorney General Launches New Form for Reporting Social Security Disruptions
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently launched a form for residents to report disruption to their Social Security benefits or services. The information collected on this form will help identify ongoing issues affecting Social Security recipients in Michigan and may be used for future legal action. No personal information that is collected will be shared without the individual’s consent. The form can be found here.
Residents who need assistance with their Social Security claims or benefits should contact their representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives or U.S. Senate for assistance. Contact information for your federal representatives is below.
Senator Gary Peters
DC: (202) 224-6221
Lansing: (517) 377-1508
https://www.peters.senate.gov/contact/email-gary
Senator Elissa Slotkin
Phone: (202) 224-4822
https://www.slotkin.senate.gov/contact-your-senator
Congressman Tom Barrett
DC: (202) 225-4872
Lansing: (517) 993-0510