Dear Neighbor, in this month’s newsletter, I am happy to share highlights from the past few months, including events I participated in and updates from Lansing. I helped out at the Romulus 28th Annual Clean Sweep and worked alongside Survivors Speak to speak out against the conditions within the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility.
Additionally, I’d like to share more on what I believe to be the U.S. president’s abuse of power. The president has launched what I view to be a reckless and unconstitutional war against Iran.
We must work together to put an end to the war and reject short term “deals” that risk innocent lives and are straining the global economy and Michigander’s wallets.
In Solidarity,
Dylan Wegela
State Representative
The 26th District
Included in this Newsletter
- Community Engagement Events
- Legislative Updates
- Contact information
Community Engagement
Coffee Hours
Please join me at our upcoming House District 26 coffee hour where I will share legislative updates from Lansing. If you live in Inkster, Garden City, Northeast Romulus, or Southeast Westland, please make sure to attend and share any questions you have for me. Our next coffee hour will be on Monday, Sept. 14, from 6-7 p.m. at the Leanna Hicks Public Library, 2500 Hamlin Drive, Inkster, MI 48141.
Romulus 28th Annual Clean Sweep
I joined this year’s Romulus annual clean sweep, a community clean-up event to celebrate Earth day. I joined together with neighbors to clean up litter around Romulus. It was a fun community event as we all came together to clean up our city. Thank you to the Romulus Athletic Club for hosting an Earth Day clean up event to support and strengthen our community.
Justice for Krystal Clark Press Conference
I recently visited the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility. I spoke with staff, leadership, and incarcerated women, including Krystal Clark. I saw firsthand how the mold and other conditions within the facility pose hazardous health concerns, while simultaneously being told by leadership there has never been any mold at the facility.
My office worked alongside Survivors Speak to write a public letter asking the governor to provide Krystal Clark with medical clemency and direct the Michigan Department of Corrections to test and mitigate the mold issues at Huron Valley. We later circulated the letter and collected signatures from various elected officials and organizations, and held a press conference to further escalate the matter. We have yet to hear back from the governor on mediating the conditions at the facility.
Anti-Data Center Rally
Nearly a decade ago, reporting showed that the three wealthiest people had more wealth than half of the country combined — today, wealth inequality continues to be a persistent problem. We are seeing big tech and Wall Street-owned utilities pour money into our elections and buy influence. I believe billionaires are developing AI technology to destroy the environment and consolidate wealth and power. We need to do everything in our power to stop AI data centers from being built.
In 2024, a bipartisan group of legislators passed tax breaks for data centers. I was proud to vote no then, and I am proud to have introduced legislation to repeal these tax breaks. We need to be doing everything we can to regulate and slow down AI. I introduced legislation to put a moratorium on data centers in Michigan; you can read my bill here.
Public Power
DTE has some of the highest rates in the Midwest coupled with the worst and most frequent blackouts. Following the most recent blackout just last month, three children tragically died in incidents related to gas generators. My sympathies to those families whose lives will be forever changed. Our unreliable grid and profit-driven utility companies have a real human cost.
I believe public power is the future for our state. We have seen it already, from the Lansing Board of Water & Light to the Marquette Board of Light & Power. We need to focus on creating communities with public power companies focused on lowering energy rates, minimizing and expediting power outages and repair times, and bringing back control to the people. When the House returns to session, I plan to re-introduce legislation to create a public power entity for Michigan.
Legislative Updates
Fighting for the Protection of our Data and Privacy
Flock is an automated license plate reader company. They store information about the date, time, location, and identifying features on your car every time you drive past them. Police do not need a warrant to search these databases, which poses Fourth Amendment concerns. In some cases, local law enforcement has collaborated with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide information from these readers.
Flock readers have not proven that they cut down on crime. I was proud to cosponsor legislation led by the ACLU of Michigan alongside state Reps. Wilson and Wozniak; House Bills 5492 and 5493 would put guardrails on the type of data Flock stores, how they are able to be used and how long that information can be stored.
War with Iran
Using the words of the president and secretary of war, I believe what is happening in Iran is a war. We cannot remain silent, read more on my statement here.
House Resolution 338
I recently introduced House Resolution 338 to call for a rejection of military mobilization against Cuba. U.S. actions have led to increased food insecurity for Cubans, tens of thousands of surgery delays, and rolling blackouts. The Trump administration has even resorted to deporting migrants to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. This facility is globally condemned for its history of torture. We must stand with the people of Cuba, say no to war and shut down Guantanamo Bay.
Contact Us
Comment on Legislation: You can stay updated on legislative advancements through my e-newsletters or by clicking here.
If You Need Help: If you have a problem dealing with any department of state government, such as accessing unemployment benefits, my office is available to help resolve it. While we usually cannot assist with local or federal issues, we will always do our best to help direct you to the appropriate person or organization for help.
Please reach out if you need anything: Call my office at 517-373-3818 or email me at [email protected].
Helpful Links
