Detroit Water Activists are taking it to the streets again!
On Friday, they're starting a ten-day trek from Detroit to Flint, to draw attention to the plight of residents in both cities who lack access to clean, safe water. For complete details, please see the People's Water Board site.
Their introductory material:
The Detroit to Flint Water Justice Journey is about lifting up the need for clean and affordable water in Michigan. The walk will begin on Friday, July 3 in Detroit where tens of thousands of citizens have had their water shut off and where the 2005 Water Affordability Plan has been passed by the Detroit City Council but never implemented. From there, the walk will continue to Highland Park where the community has been threatened with mass water shutoffs after years of administrative mismanagement. The journey will conclude on Friday, July 10 in Flint where residents with serious health problems related to unsafe water from the Flint River - hair loss, autoimmune disorders, skin burns, and children with lead poisoning - share their stories. Along the way, the walk will pass through cities, rural areas, lakes, rivers, and watersheds.
I'm featuring Friday's events here, partly FYI and partly to see if I can drum up some company for the morning's events. (I may make it back for the Detroit Light Brigade in Ferndale in the evening as well--but there's no reason you-all can't do one or the other, or the Highland Park events too.) The weather should cooperate, which is nice. In case you don't already know what I look like, and you plan to attend, please drop me a Kosmail or reply in the comments. That way we can make plans to connect.
FRIDAY, JULY 3
8:00 AM: Prayer with a water theme, Underground Railroad Monument (Hart Plaza), led by indigenous water women
9:30 AM: Meet-up at Central United Methodist Church, walk to Water Department, and Spirit of Detroit.
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Send-off at Spirit of Detroit Statue (send-off is scheduled for 11:00 AM)
2:30 PM- 3:30 PM: Cultural Celebration, Nandi’s Café, 12511 Woodward Ave, Highland Park, MI 48203
4 PM to 5:30 PM: Voices from Highland Park-Town Hall Meeting, at location TBA
9:00 PM Detroit Light Brigade, 9 Mile and Woodward, Ferndale, MI
Please join me below the "stylized orange bear scat" for more Michigan news. (h/t to Ojibwa for that inventive description of the divider-doodle)
Hooray for Marriage Equality!
I've been out of town for the past several days, and so I'd like to say thank you to DoReMI for covering last Wednesday. Between last Wednesday and now, however, there were some pretty dramatic developments, wouldn't you agree? Lovely to have SSM now the law of the land in Michigan. One of my husband's colleagues was among those who celebrated fittingly: he and his partner of twenty years married each other on Monday. May all the newlyweds across the state and country enjoy at least as much married bliss as their heterosexual counterparts!
Big Changes for the MDP
The other big political news in the state (though it didn't come as a complete surprise if you read Eclectablog on a regular basis) is Lon Johnson's decision to run for MI-1, against Republican Dan Benishek. To do so, he has resigned his seat as the Michigan Democratic Party chair. Reports generally agree that Brandon Dillon, Democratic state representative from Grand Rapids, is the leading candidate to replace Johnson as party chair. I don't know anything about Dillon myself, so I'm interested in hearing from those who have an opinion about him.
And those who might want to meet Dillon in person are welcome to attend a fundraiser for the Black Caucus, Michigan Democratic Party, this Friday, July 3, at the Centre Bar and Grill in downtown Detroit:
Something else exciting to do in Detroit this Friday!
4th of July Washtenaw County Democratic Unity Walk in the AA Parade
Folks in Washtenaw County and environs are invited to join the Democratic Unity Walk in the annual 4th of July parade in downtown Ann Arbor this Saturday morning. We will convene at 9:00 near the SE corner of Maynard and William, spot #34, and start marching at 10:00. Here's the full rundown:
Join the Washtenaw County Dems, Ann Arbor Dems, Eastern Washtenaw Dems & Western Washtenaw Dems for a UNITY WALK during the annual July 4th parade through downtown Ann Arbor (State Street, Liberty, Main Street, William Street).... Look for our newly printed Dems shirts. Our parade cmte has prepared 30 signs, a Flip The House banner & tons of giveaways. Rep. Debbie Dingell, State Senator Rebekah Warren, State Rep. Jeff Irwin, the Jim Toy Community Center & many other friends will have their teams walking in the parade as well. Walk with your favorite candidate our join us for the UNITY WALK. To join us for the UNITY WALK, contact Patrick Boeheim at pjb234@comcast.net.
Followed by--
4th of July Cookout by the Ann Arbor Dems
Detroit News Threatens to Commit Journalism
A newsworthy development indeed, right? ICYMI, they've just published a
modest exposé of Dan Gilbert and Quicken Loan's responsibility for the massive wave of foreclosuresthat is now hitting Detroit. Takeaway: Quicken Loans isn't the worst of the bunch--though most of the worst of the lending profiteers have already gone out of business--and at least they seem to be doing something to compensate. Small consolation/remedy? Feel free to read and comment below.
Two Recent DKos Diaries Worth Visiting
Last Monday, Stephen Wolf published a diary, "Republicans rigged the House through gerrymandering. Democrats can fight back at the ballot box," naming Michigan as one of the key battleground states where pushing back against gerrymandering will be crucial:
So what states are next on the list? Key targets include Michigan, Ohio, and Florida—three big states that send far more Republicans than Democrats to Congress even though Barack Obama won them all twice. Several others are amenable to reform as well: Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Utah. Were independent redistricting commissions to take hold in all of these states, Democrats could stand to gain anywhere from nine to 17 seats after the 2020 Census—just by having fair maps.
We all know how important it is to make MI truly blue again. Please continue to watch this space for tips and invitations as to how YOU can help with this campaign.
Yesterday, LakeSuperior published "Battle Strategy Against Asian Carp in the Great Lakes -2015 Update," addressing a topic that is of vital concern to Michigan waterways. Please read that diary for the latest developments from the 2015 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework. For that matter, it's also a good idea to keep up with the Great Lakes Information Network, "a partnership that provides one place online for people to find information relating to the binational Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region of North America."
Candidate Training Weekend, Aug 8 & 9, in Ann Arbor
Many of you may already be familiar with Gooserock's exhortation that we MUST recruit and train good local candidates from ALL of our constituencies in order to win. If you know of someone who would be an excellent public servant, please encourage them to check this out:
Our local team is assembling over 20 experts, trainers, funding partners, and elected officials to speak, mentor, and train everyday people like you on the mechanics of running for office. This intensive 18-hour boot camp will equip you with the confidence and tools to run for office during the next political cycle if you choose. Attendees will learn about planning/strategy, campaign structure, fundraising/reporting, messaging/media relations, coalition building, securing endorsements, recruiting volunteers, social media/online campaigning, and much more. Attendees will also network with other successful candidates and build relationships with mentors. Register at annarbordems.org/train-to-win/
Lastly: Shameless Plug on behalf of a Fundraiser for Eclectablog
On July 11th, 2015, we will hold our 2nd Annual Eclectablog Fundraiser Party at Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery, 720 Norris St, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48198. This year, we are honored to have Former Congressman and Dean of the House John Dingell and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell as our very special guests. We will recognize John Dingell's legendarily hilarious Twitter feed -- we will crown him "The Dean of Twitter" at the event. Mr. Dingell has agreed to read some of his "greatest hits" tweets while we project them on a screen. Please share the Facebook event page as linked here!