Budget wins for House District 16 and Surrounding Community
I’m thrilled at the budget that we passed just as summer began. We secured investments for Detroit and surrounding communities! We’re investing millions into public safety, education and community development. From enriching our museums to empowering the minds of students, we’re building a strong Michigan for all.
Our strategic investments are securing brighter futures for Detroit and surrounding communities! This state budget allocates a whopping $75 million for public safety, $5 million for street maintenance and $500K for fixing Detroit’s sidewalks among many other strategic investments that strengthens our commitment to building a strong Michigan.
Among the many appropriations include $1 million for Detroit Blight Busters, $3 million for the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Michigan, $1 million for the Detroit/Wayne Port Authority, $2 million for Starfish Family Services and more.
Medical Debt Roundtable Includes Federal, State and Local Officials
In August, I participated in a roundtable on medical debt organized by U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib. The panel consisted of people deeply involved in the issue, that included Rohit Chopra, director of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Madiha Tariq, deputy county executive for Oakland County; Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, director of Wayne County Health, Human & Veterans Services; Linda Atkins, CEO of Western Wayne Family Health Centers; Angela Aaron, director of financial mobility services for Wayne Metro Community Action Agency; and Michael Klotz, director of federal affairs for the city of Detroit
It’s estimated that Americans owe at least $220 billion in medical debt. This is an issue that the Michigan Legislature is addressing. In the current year budget, the Legislature appropriated $4.5 million for a medical debt relief pilot program, operated by a nonprofit organization. Helping an individual address medical debt is an important tool; however, it is also important that we address the underlying reason for the debt — the ever-soaring price of medical care in this country. Michigan House Democrats have been at the forefront of enacting legislation to ensure that health care is both accessible and affordable.
Police Annex Will Service the Neighborhood
Following years of conservation efforts and rehabilitation work, the city of Detroit and Detroit Police Department officially opened the DPD’s 8th Precinct Annex in my 16th House District with a celebratory ribbon-cutting.
The historic former library will now serve as the main workspace for the 8th Precinct’s neighborhood police officers (NPOs), as well as a space for community events, and I look forward to hosting Community Conversations there. The annex was originally built as the Redford Village Hall in 1925. It was converted to the Redford Branch Library in 1926 when it was annexed by the city of Detroit. It was slated to be demolished along with the old Redford High School, but the city and developer reached an agreement to save it and another pre-existing building to use for the 8th Precinct.
Childcare Roundtable on Tap
Please join me for a Childcare Roundtable that addresses the National Childcare Crisis at Home on Monday, Oct. 14 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Wayne County Community College Northwest Campus, 8200 W. Outer Drive, Detroit, in the Denise Wellons Glover Welcome Center Atrium.
Special guests include Mothering Justice, Michigan AEYC/T.E.A.C.H., MiRegistry/MiLEAP and more.
I’ve been working as a policy fellow with a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that connects policymakers to community-led policy interventions.
The topic of childcare in America is one we need to tackle. We’re currently facing a childcare crisis. In fact, in Michigan, 14% of parents left a job in 2023 due to childcare issues, and more than half of working parents in Michigan made major adjustments to their working schedules to accommodate the shortfalls for childcare.
As chair of the House Committee on Families, Children and Seniors, I am working toward solutions for Michigan’s working families. That’s why I need to hear from you — I’m calling all parents, childcare providers, advocates and business owners — I want to hear from you about what you need and how we can solve the childcare crisis together. I want to make sure working parents can afford to raise a family and have affordable childcare that will enable them to go to work or advance in their careers.
We know we have to do something to increase access to affordable childcare in our communities. Your voice matters and is important in helping us figure this out.
To register and save your spot, please click the following link to RSVP: http://bit.ly/RSVPYoungCCRT
Upcoming Coming Community Conversation
Here are the remaining dates for the Community Conversation and preliminary plans for 2025:
Oct. 14: Redford Community Center, 12121 Hemingway St.
Nov. 18: Detroit 8th Precinct Annex, 21555 W. McNichols Road
Dec. 9: Virtually join the Zoom meeting by clicking the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81476197524?pwd=OFVieEFlMUNYbmg3NnRiYUZlR3JwZz09
Meeting ID: 814 7619 7524
Passcode: 356437
Please remember you call see all my past Community Conversations on my Facebook page by clicking the following link: RepStephanieYoung
FYI – 2025
January 13: Virtual
February 10: Virtual
March 10: Livonia
April 14: Redford Community Center, 12121 Hemingway St.
May 12: Detroit 8th Precinct Annex, 21555 W McNichols Road
June 9: Livonia
July 14: Redford Community Center, 12121 Hemingway St.
August: NO MEETING
September 8: Detroit 8th Precinct Annex, 21555 W McNichols Road.
October 13: Livonia
November 10: Redford Community Center, 12121 Hemingway St.
December 8: Virtual
Labor Day Draws Thousands
Thousands of union workers celebrated Labor Day with their annual parade in Detroit’s historic Corktown Neighborhood.
Union members and their families from every profession from the skilled trades and laborers to stagehands and educators were represented in a rainbow of different colored T-shirts. The parade concluded at the historic Michigan Central Station, where the massive crowd heard from elected union officials and politicians.