Greetings!

It’s been a busy month in Lansing and in our community. We are still in budget season. We are keeping hope alive that we will get it done by the statutory July 1 deadline. Our school districts, in particular, need to know what they should expect in terms of funding for the upcoming school year. Stay tuned.

As the summer season kicks off, I want to encourage you to stay safe and hydrated. And I also encourage you to take advantage of the many free things to do in and around our district and the state.

During my June Community Conversation, I uplifted the Sounds of Summer.  We heard from representatives from Parks and Recreation in Detroit and Redford Township as they shared information about their upcoming summer concert series. Click these links to find Hart Plaza Events, the Redford Township Summer Concert Series and Livonia’s Music From The Heart.

If you’d like a guide to parks and campgrounds, you can reach out to my office, and we can mail you a guide. Just email me at [email protected] or you can call 517-373-2576.

Blessings!

In service,

Rep. Steph

State Representative

House District 16

From Lansing to the Community: Support for Returning Citizens’ Mental Health

The NEW Michigan Voting Rights Act Package

I was proud to stand with my colleagues in Lansing at a recent press conference about protecting our votes across the state.

Now, with the challenges happening at the federal levels to voting rights across the country, voter protection at the state level is even more important.

Dems in the House introduced a new four-bill package, House Bills 5969, 5970, 5971 and 5972 to create the Michigan Voting Rights Act and supporting components of policy that protect the voting rights of all eligible Michiganders.

This term, I sponsored House Bill 5970 in the new Michigan Voting Rights Act that creates the Voting and Elections Database and Institute Act. My bill sets up a central, statewide system for collecting and studying election data, housed in partnership with a public university. My bill is designed to make election information publicly available, organized, and easier to analyze.

At the time of this update, this four-bill package has been referred to the House Government Operations committee. 

$10 Million Supplemental Proposed for MORE Affordable Childcare in Michigan

Democrats introduced HBs 6034 and 6035, making the workplace childcare benefits offered by MI Tri-Share and Care-Share permanent with a $10 million supplemental to expand the program.

We know that MI Tri-Share works and is the fastest-growing solution to inaccessible childcare in our state.

There is a want and a need for this program in all 83 counties — so House Dems aren’t just working on making it permanent, but we’re also investing in its outreach to get relief to more parents now.

Michiganders should be able to afford to raise kids in the state they call home. You shouldn’t have to choose between a career, a family or having to leave the state. So we’re doing something about it: we’re investing in the childcare solutions that we know work — for families, for employers and for Michiganders in every corner of the state.

RxKids: Expanding the Benefits of Early Support for Mommas and Babies

Rx Kids is expanding, again, and to over 20 more communities to boot! Its success is proof that investing in families, babies and communities is always a good idea.

House Democrats first funded Rx Kids in the 2024 state budget because families deserve support, not impossible choices. Now the program is expanding to help even more Michigan parents.

From Muskegon to Flint to the U.P., Rx Kids is growing thanks to our continued investment in families. Helping parents afford the basics and keeping kids healthy shouldn’t be controversial.

Rx Kids is currently in 49 communities across Michigan, and starting July 1, five more are seeing this life-saving program in Calhoun and Kent counties! This little extra support for moms and babies now can set them up for a more stable lifetime.

Responsible Summer Fun

Having fun and productive things for young people to do during the summer is a great way to ensure they are safe and not getting into mischief.

In Detroit, Mayor Sheffield recently announced the “Occupy the Summer” initiative which provides FREE activities all summer-long in community and recreation centers throughout Detroit.

To register and plan to attend any of the free events for the Occupy the Summer initiative, visit Home | Summer in the D.

Additionally, for children 15 and under, a curfew of 10 p.m. will be strictly enforced and for 16- and 17-year-olds, the curfew is 11 p.m. DPD wants parents to know they are counting on them to ensure their children are in compliance. Fines for parents whose children violate curfew range from $250 for a first offense to $500 for subsequent violations.

Serving In Community for YOU!

I have had several good community discussions, all of which are available to view at your leisure on my Facebook.Here’s a quick recap of events:

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  • MiCare conversation with special guest state Rep. Carrie Rheingans (June 12): This conversation shared the plans to bring universal health care to Michiganders through HB 4407, a model for healthcare in our state. Specifically, this legislation was proposed as a universal, publicly funded healthcare program providing comprehensive coverage without deductibles, co-pays or caps. Let’s learn more together and keep the dialogue going about MiCare and YOU!

 

  • Cameras in our Communities: What You Need to Know (June 23): This webinar was birthed by residents in the district reaching out and sharing their concerns about Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in their neighborhoods and the impact on daily life and civil liberties. I co-sponsored recently introduced House Bills 5492 and 5493 that would help regulate this growing  industry. We had a good discussion with local officials, community and neighborhood leaders and residents about cameras in our communities.

  • Annual Small Business Resource Fair: Thank you to those who were able to join me at the annual Detroit Caucus Small Business Resource Fair. This was a wonderful opportunity for members of the small business community in Detroit to connect with funding and networking community resources to help start and/or grow their current small business. There were over 300 entrepreneurs and small businesses in attendance. A special thank you to all the funders who participated! If you couldn’t attend and would like access to some of the resources, please contact my office.
  • Juneteenth Celebration: The first of what we plan to be an annual Detroit Caucus Juneteenth celebration was a huge success with lots of free community resources, games, food, African drumming and dancing in the park with DJ Wax-Tax-N-Dre. It was a great honor to recognize the family of Delores Bennett in remembrance of her contributions to children and her community. The celebration was made even more special by having it in Delores Bennett Park in Detroit. Please make sure you check out my Facebook page for photos and videos from the event.

Minock Park Place Ribbon Cutting

What a great day for the Grand River corridor! I was honored to join the Detroit Mayor, city leaders, the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation and community partners to celebrate the completion of Minock Park Place.

This new mixed-use development brings 42 affordable homes for seniors ages 55 and older, along with commercial space that will help strengthen the neighborhood and support continued growth along Grand River.

I’m proud to have sponsored, alongside my colleagues, a $1 million grant that helped make this important project possible. Minock Park Place is a reminder of what we can accomplish when we invest in our communities and help longtime residents stay connected to the neighborhoods they know and love.