At this time of year, Michigan is usually not a great place to live, unless 1) you like snow and 2) you actually have some snow on the ground. (FTR: I do like snow, and no, we don’t have any at all where I live, in SE MI).
So we’re already at least one strike behind, and then what’s worse, we are facing all manner of horrible antagonists who continue to strive to do us harm. It’s not a coincidence that so many of those antagonists are indeed Republicans who are presently ensconced in the Michigan Legislature and state-wide executive offices. I’m sure you’ve been aware of those shenanigans for a while.
#ArrestGovSnyder
The story image above advertises plans for regular protests in Ann Arbor in front of Snyder’s condo: Every Wednesday, from 5:30 PM-whenever, until such time as we get better results. Let me know if you plan to attend and we can meet there.
Flint Water Congressional Hearings available to watch/hear on C-Span
Just in case you missed it, or you weren’t able to watch it, please take a look at some of the testimony today from the Congressional Hearing about the Flint Water Crisis. Here’s the link to it, with transcripts, on C-Span. H/t to Brainwrap for his recommended post today about the hearing.
How YOU Can Help the Children of Flint
Today, the Flint pediatrician, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, spoke at the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Her talk WILL be available via the SPH website after it has been captioned. (I’ll update this post when the direct URL is known.) A friend of mine who attended her talk reports:
[Dr. Hanna-Attisha] stated very clearly that at this point they do not need more water -- "we have more water than we know what to do with." Her argument is that what is needed is public health intervention for all the children in the affected areas -- pre-school, health screening, mental health support, etc for many years to come. Flintkids.org is the website that is raising funds for this long-term effort.
This link explains the overarching goals for long-term support. This link goes to M-Live coverage of her talk.
Speaking of U-M and Flint: A Call for all associated with U-M (including community members) to read and sign a letter to U-M President Schlissel regarding appropriate research practices
The following paragraphs are taken from a letter to U-M President Schlissel. If you would like to read and possibly sign the full document, let me know and I will send you the link to the Google document.
We – University of Michigan faculty, staff, alumni and students – are writing to you with appreciation and concern regarding the upcoming meeting of UM, UM-Flint and UM-Dearborn faculty this Friday, January 29th. We thank you for your timely reaction as details of the Flint water crisis emerged. ...
Historically, relationships between researchers and marginalized communities have been fraught with extractive methodologies that benefit academics but leave communities unchanged or worse-off than they were before. We also recognize that a massive influx of researchers wanting “to learn” something about the traumatic “experience” of others could reinscribe harm through the research process. While universities have taken steps to avoid the most egregious abuses of power, we still have much to learn. Given our power and privilege, our actions must demonstrate respect for local knowledge and needs. We must act as allies that recognize civic leadership and place-based collective priorities in our efforts to support the communities we work in and with.
In light of this, we are deeply concerned by the lack of community engagement leading up to Friday’s meeting. It is our understanding that community representatives and organizers have not been invited to this meeting. The complicity that led to the current crisis includes the complete disregard for the concerns voiced by Flint residents over the course of two years. In order to serve the people of Flint, we must vigilantly work to dismantle the concentration of knowledge and power that created the Flint water crisis, and to ensure that the same denigrating and dismissive systems are not replicated through the University’s response. Flint residents must be integral to any research initiatives undertaken in and for their community.
[More detailed requests follow.]
It would be terrible if this disaster did not include the people of Flint as full, active, and informed participants in projects intended to bring them relief.
What the MI GOP Legislature Wants to Do Now: Penalize Teachers — and Unions — for the EM’s Mistakes
The following announcement comes from the AFT of Michigan:
The Senate Education Committee rammed through three bills — SB 713, 714, and 715 — despite overwhelming opposition testimony and they’re now on the fast track in the Michigan Senate.
If these bills pass, if one or more public school employees is found to have engaged in an illegal work stoppage to effect change in working conditions, the following would happen:
The union would not be allowed to represent employees for at least five years Individual teachers engaging in illegal strikes would lose their teaching certificates School districts would be fined five percent of their state aid payments if the administration failed to fine themStaggering, isn’t it? Let it sink in a little—and then call and spread the word.
Time for a Motor City Kossacks meet-up
I’m going to suggest the late afternoon of Saturday, February 20th in the Ann Arbor-Ypsi area. My motivation is in part to see if there would be a contingent who would be interested in taking in a concert afterwards: the jazz group Straight Ahead at the Kerrytown Concert House that evening. Only $15 for general admission seating—a great deal for some excellent music. What do you think about either one or both? Let us know in the comments.
Please help us build this weekly Michigan thread so that it includes any information relevant to turning MI Blue again that you would like me to highlight. MI contributors are always welcome! You can reach me through kosmail at peregrine kate. Or say hi through email here: peregrinekate@gmail.com And please follow me on Twitter @peregrinekate
Please feel free to drop in on ANY State Open Thread! So far, we have these regulars:
Colorado: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Mountain
Michigan: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Eastern
North Carolina: Sundays, 1:00 PM Eastern