I know that many folks were pretty distressed by my diary yesterday, so I thought I would give an update on the status of the effort to put the repeal of the Emergency Manager Law on the ballot. Short version: we're in VERY good shape.
Follow me over the curlicue squiggledigibbet.
Just ten short summer weeks after its start, Michigan Forward is reporting some good news. According to the Detroit Free Press, Michigan Forward is already half-way to having the required signatures to put the repeal of PA 4, the Emergency Financial Manager Law, on the ballot in Michigan.
Organizers of a drive to repeal Michigan's emergency manager law said Tuesday they have nearly half of their 250,000-signature goal.
They need 161,304 valid signatures to put the issue before voters. Organizers say they have 120,000 signatures, but want to get a cushion to account for invalid ones.
It appears that their goal of getting enough signatures by Labor Day, well in advance of the deadline, is quite achievable. Once the state has certified that enough valid signatures have been collected, the law goes on hold until the residents of Michigan can cast their vote.
By the way, don't you just love the way the Detroit Free Press puts the worst possible spin on this in their headline? "Drive to repeal emergency manager law still needs 130,000 signatures on petitions, organizers say". No bias there, uh uh, no way, no sir...
For more information on Michigan Forward, how you can get involved and a fact sheet on PA 4, click the links in the banner on the top of my blog.
UPDATE: As surelyujest points out in the comments, there is a need for volunteers for data entry, signature gathering and to help with a BIG push during the Labor Day parade/rally in Detroit next month:
If anyone is interested in volunteering please go to Michigan Forward to sign up. The repeal PA 4 effort is still in need of volunteers to collect signatures and to do data entry for the signature certification process.
Also, if you are in the Metro Detroit area on Labor Day there will be a parade taking place in Detroit with representation from many local groups, including Michigan Forward, labor unions, and Progressive radio host Tony Trupiano will be there. More info to come...
Cross-posted from Eclectablog.