Michigan officials miss budget deadline but pass bill to stop state government shutdown
Bridge Magazine
Michigan lawmakers on Tuesday failed to finalize a new state budget by midnight, missing a constitutional deadline for the first time in 16 years but later passing a stopgap spending bill to fund the government another week as talks continue. While a similar impasse prompted a state government shutdown in 2009, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer insisted earlier Tuesday that operations would “continue as normal” this week while the budget is finalized. In a brief memo released shortly after midnight, Whitmer told state Budget Director Jen Flood that maintaining “continuity of government operations and services” is necessary to “support public health and welfare.”
Related: How the federal government shutdown impacts Michigan: mail, benefits, parks
Sherry Gay-Dagnogo selected as Detroit’s next ombudsman
Bridge Detroit
Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education Member Sherry Gay-Dagnogo is set to resign her post to become the city of Detroit’s next ombudsman. The Detroiter was selected for the post during the City Council’s formal session on Tuesday by a 6-3 vote. Council Members Scott Benson, Angela Whitfield-Calloway and Gabriela Santiago-Romero cast their votes for other contenders – Gail Barnard and Tiffany Tilley, respectively – after the field was winnowed to three finalists from a ballot with 10. Gay-Daynogo, 58, had a strong showing of support during public comment from figures including DPSCD Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, Board of Police Commissioners Darryl Woods and Linda Bernard and the Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit Branch of the NAACP, among others.
Michigan Expands Reentry ID Program to Wayne County, A Lifeline for Detroiters Returning Home
Michigan Chronicle
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson underscored what is at stake. “People deserve to be able to move forward after serving their time. Having an ID is a critical first step,” she said. “You need an ID to apply for a job. You need an ID for housing. You need an ID to enroll in education and training programs.” Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington pointed to the scale of the issue: about 60 percent of people incarcerated in the jail last week did not have valid identification. “We’re looking forward to changing that,” he told reporters. The program has been underway since 2020 and has already provided identification to roughly 20,000 people leaving Michigan prisons and jails. By extending it to Wayne County — home to Detroit, the state’s largest Black population — the state is addressing one of the clearest barriers to reentry.
Detroit eyes zoning overhaul to boost housing
Bridge Detroit
Zoning changes meant to encourage construction of more housing could take a major step forward this week. The Detroit Planning Commission is holding a public hearing Thursday and is expected to vote after on whether to recommend its approval to the City Council. If recommended, the council would have until Nov. 25 to authorize the changes before concluding the year’s legislative session. Amendments to the zoning code under consideration would expand residential zoning districts to allow for multi-unit buildings, promote infill housing on vacant lots by changing dimensional requirements, allow accessory units also known as carriage houses in more places and reduce parking requirements.
Gateway Industrial Serves Up Community Spirit at Second Annual Cookout
Gateway Industrial hosted its second annual community cookout last week. The event brought together more than 200 neighbors, employees, and community leaders for a day of food, fun, and fellowship, reinforcing the company’s deep commitment to its local community. The successful gathering drew several notable guests, including Detroit City Council Member James Tate and dedicated leaders from the Schoolcraft Improvement Association, who came out to support the community-building initiative. They mingled with residents and enjoyed the festive atmosphere created by Gateway Industrial co-owner Trae Allen and his team. The event also provided valuable resources, with organizations like Detroit at Work present to connect with residents. Activate Detroit was proud to be a part of such a vibrant and positive event. We congratulate Gateway Industrial on another successful cookout and thank them for their continued investment in the people of Detroit.
Michigan lawmakers might impose big fee hikes on EV, plug-in hybrid owners
The Detroit News
The road-funding plan Michigan lawmakers are mulling would hike registration fees for electric vehicles by about 63%, while largely leaving user fees and taxes for gas-powered vehicles unchanged. The owners of plug-in hybrids would pay approximately 83% more in additional annual registration fees, assessed around the owner’s birthday. The House passed a bill in March that would increase the motor fuel tax on gasoline from 31 cents per gallon to 51 cents per gallon, an increase that would largely be balanced out for gas-powered vehicles by a separate elimination of the 6% sales tax on gasoline. The Senate has yet to vote on the bill.
