Dear Neighbor,

Welcome to my latest e-newsletter! Included in this edition are some important legislative and COVID-19 updates, along with a few resources I hope will prove helpful. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by phone at (517) 373-1788 or email at KyraBolden@house.mi.gov for questions about this or any other state-level issue.

In Service,

Kyra Bolden

State Representative, 35th House District

Upcoming Events

Please be on the lookout for my upcoming events. The best way for me to serve you is making sure your voice is heard. You can watch live on Facebook Live and Zoom:

Coffee Hour

 Please register for the March 22 event below.

 Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 918 7599 0807

Passcode: 767397

Frontliner

Help us recognize both a front-line worker and local business. Please send your nominations to me here: Suggest a Tribute.

Local Business

State Representative Kyra Bolden, with special guest state Senator Jeremy Moss, will be hosting a virtual event: COVID-19 Town Hall: The Vaccine is Approved. What’s next?. This will bring our State’s leaders and top health experts together to raise awareness about the effects of COVID-19 and discuss the health impact of the pandemic on Michiganders. Learn more about this event below and register here to join us live or receive a link to a recording.

COVID-19 Town Hall

Please register for the COVID-19 town hall here!

Legislative Updates

GOOD TIME CREDIT BILL

On March 10, 2021, I introduced HB 4489. This bill is a part of the good time credit bill package which seeks to provide time off for good behavior. The good time credit bill package is a sentence reduction given to prisoners who maintain good behavior while imprisoned.

CIVIL INFRACTIONS FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS

My bills, HB 4141 and HB 4154, were voted out of the House Judiciary Committee and recently referred to the House floor. Criminal justice reform and decriminalization is a top priority for me. HB 4141 and HB 4154 are a part of the decriminalization package, which would, in its entirety, change the penalty for driving on a suspended, revoked, or denied license from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction for the first and second offense with exceptions.

HB 4154 would remove the current requirement for the court to report the first and second offense of driving on a license that was suspended, revoked, or denied that are misdemeanors under current law. HB 4141 would make it a civil infraction for not properly registering or making this registration available upon the demand of a law enforcement officer (LEO) or not having a registration decal on a moped. Under current law, these violations are a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment up to 90 days and/or a $100 fine. A person’s livelihood and course of life should not be drastically altered for failing to provide proof of registration for a moped. A civil infraction is a just punishment for this offense.

COVID-19 Updates & Resources

The City of Southfield launched a COVID vaccine hotline to assist seniors in registering for eligible vaccination appointments. Click here to learn more.

COVID-19 Rent Relief

Through March, renters and landlords will be able to apply for the COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program by contacting their local housing providers. Renters in the eviction process will be prioritized because of the approaching moratorium expiration.

Click here for more information.

MDHHS Epidemic Orders

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) updated its Gatherings and Mask epidemic order, allowing up to 20% capacity in outdoor stadiums and arenas that establish infection control plans. The update also increases testing for youth ages 13-19 to ensure athletes can safely participate in sports, and addresses issues around cigar lounges and hookah lounges, requiring them to meet certain ventilation standards. The changes are designed to balance day-to-day activities while controlling the spread of COVID-19 and saving Michiganders’ lives. Although progress has been made, it is crucial that Michiganders continue to mask up and socially distance as we take steps to get back to normal. The changes to the order go into effect today and remain in effect through Monday, April 19.

COVID-19 Vaccination

BIG NEWS! Starting March 22, COVID-19 vaccine eligibility expands to anyone age 50 and older, regardless of health condition, and those aged 16 to 49 with a pre-existing condition. As you have likely heard by now, starting on April 5 everyone aged 16 and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

We know that this news comes with a lot of questions – most importantly, where you can get your vaccine. Here are some tips for getting an appointment:

  • Make sure you are eligible (see paragraph above).
  • Register in multiple places: Most vaccines are being administered by hospitals, local health departments, pharmacies and federally qualified health centers. For the most part, doctor’s offices are not yet offering the vaccine. Sign up for whatever waitlists are available in your area, recognizing that not all providers have waitlists. However, do NOT schedule multiple appointments. Once you get an appointment, either show up or cancel; don’t be a no-show.
  • Be Patient: The federal government has secured enough vaccines for every American who wants one, but it will take time to get these shots in arms. As access to vaccine appointments increases, be persistent and you will get an appointment.

At this point, retail pharmacies are the number one provider of vaccines to those starting the process. However, many places are only scheduling appointments a week or two in advance because of uncertainty about how many doses they will have available in a given week. Here is how to register with a pharmacy:

  • Meijer is creating waitlists and will text you an invitation to schedule a vaccine clinic. Here’s the link to the website to register. One downside: You can only register for a waitlist at one store.
  • Rite-Aid isn’t doing waitlists, but the advantage is that you can check availability at multiple locations. Here’s the website to schedule an appointment.
  • Walgreens is not doing waitlists. Here’s their website for scheduling an appointment, and you also can sign up for updates on availability.
  • Kroger is not doing waitlists. Here’s the link for scheduling an appointment.
  • Walmart is offering vaccines in some locations; the link for scheduling an appointment.
  • Some independent pharmacies also are offering vaccines. Check the CDC vaccine finder website to see a list of those pharmacies near you, as well as the contact information for those stores.
  • CVS Health announced Thursday that it will begin administering COVID-19 vaccines to eligible Michiganders as early as yesterday at five CVS Pharmacy locations in Metro Detroit and eight total statewide. Appointments became available for booking on Friday, March 19, and will continue to open as stores receive shipments of vaccine doses. You must register in advance on their website or through the CVS app.

To check vaccine availability at your local hospital, Google “COVID vaccine” and the hospital’s name. Most hospitals will require you to create an online account or download an app to get on a waitlist.

Ford Field Mass Vaccination: The state and federal governments are setting up a mass vaccination clinic at Ford Field in Detroit, where 8,000 people will be vaccinated a day, beginning on March 24. The site will operate from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. seven days a week through mid-May. Sign-up is available through these three options:

  • Online on Meijer’s website
  • Text EndCOVID to 75049
  • Call the MDHHS COVID-19 Hotline at (888) 535-6136 (press 1) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is expected that the call center will have long wait times, so calling is recommended only for people who cannot register online or by text.

After the registration process is completed, people who have registered will receive an invitation either by call or text when it’s their turn to schedule the appointment. Vaccine appointments will be scheduled a few days in advance.

At least 3.1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered with 24.9 percent of Michigan residents 16 and older have had at least one dose administered. That’s an increase of 15.5 percent from the week prior at 2 million people.

Among other states, Michigan is ninth in the nation for the number of people fully vaccinated, amounting to 1.134 million people. The state is 36th in the nation for percent of people with first doses and 14th among the most populous states.

For statewide vaccine distribution information, visit the State of Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine website.

Currently, Oakland County has started a “Save Your Spot” sign-up for the vaccine, which allows Oakland County to organize and distribute the vaccine. Follow these steps to reserve your spot:

  1. Visit the Oakland County Website provided and select “Save Your Spot”

○  Oakland County Vaccine Hub – Information and resources on the COVID-19 Vaccine

  1. Fill out your information and submit
  2. You will be notified via text, phone, or email when there are vaccine doses available