Dear Neighbor,
Over the last few months of summer, we’ve had a busy schedule in our neighborhoods across the district, covering Washtenaw, Wayne and Oakland counties. My team and I stayed on the move, meeting at local coffee shops, neighborhood celebrations, visiting local farms and joining gatherings throughout the district.
From ribbon cuttings and local celebrations to neighborhood coffee hours and community parades, it was a full summer of connecting face-to-face with our community! Here’s a look at where we’ve been spending our time over the last few months.
Election Security Town Hall: Monday, Aug. 17, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Washtenaw Community College (4800 E Huron River Dr. in Ann Arbor)
Housing Options and Affordability
Buying a home or finding an apartment you can afford in southeast Michigan has become increasingly difficult for young people, growing families and seniors. Starter homes sell almost instantly, and rent increases take up more and more of people’s paychecks.
This crisis is nationwide, but Michigan’s issues have some specific causes: a massive shortage of housing supply, coupled with outdated zoning rules that make it difficult and expensive to build low-cost options. When supply is stagnant while demand keeps growing, prices increase while regular people are pushed out of the market entirely.
I sat down with Yes In My Back Yard (YIMBY) Plymouth, Abundant Housing Michigan, Nolan Gray and Dawn Crandall to talk about some of these challenges. We discussed statewide policy changes that clear away red tape, encourage multi-family housing options and make it easier to build homes people can actually afford.
Expanding our housing supply protects our neighborhoods from price hikes and creates opportunities for adult children to afford to live near parents. Long-time residents will have more options to stay in their communities as they age. It’s time Lansing gets to work and makes this possible.
Keeping Parks Accessible and Kids Cool
Summer heat waves make it an unfortunate reality that kids are spending a lot of time indoors. There are options, but commercial water parks and private pools make it hard for parents managing tight budgets.
On July 10, my team and I joined local officials and the Ann Arbor Parks Department staff to cut the ribbon on the new splash pad at Bicentennial Park. This investment gives neighborhood kids a clean, safe and entirely free place to play and stay cool all summer long.
If you take the kids down there before summer ends, remember to stand back from the big water bucket unless you plan on getting soaked!
Strengthening Local Food Access in Ypsilanti and Washtenaw County
Grocery store bills remain high, and many urban areas lack reliable access to fresh, healthy produce that hasn’t been shipped across the country. Our food system relies on long distribution supply chains, and when shipping costs rise or corporations adjust prices, local consumers will keep less of their hard earned money.
I spent time with Julius and the team at Growing Hope’s Urban Farm and Farmers Marketplace in Ypsilanti. They convert unused urban lots into working greenhouses and direct-to-consumer farm stands.
Supporting urban farming keeps your food dollars inside our local economy. It ensures that fresh, healthy produce is grown right down the street, making our communities less dependent on corporate grocery chains.
Welcoming Communities and Equal Rights
On August 1, I joined local leaders and neighbors for Washtenaw County’s Pride celebration and flag raising. I also introduced legislation this term to clean up outdated language in state statutes to protect civil rights for everyone, regardless of what happens at the federal level.
Clear legal protections guarantee that every person in our community receives fair treatment under the law, making our district a safer and more welcoming place for everyone to live and work.
Thank You for Staying Engaged
Everything we work on in Lansing starts with conversations at home. Thank you to everyone who stopped by a coffee hour, called or emailed my office, or shared your thoughts at a community event this summer. Your input directly drives our priorities.
As we head into the fall legislative session and come to the end of the year, my team and I will keep fighting to lower costs, fix our infrastructure and strengthen our neighborhoods.
In solidarity,
Jason Morgan
State Representative
Michigan’s 23rd House District
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