At the Michigan Municipal League we advocate for communities. If you
have been reading my earlier posts you know that we and many others are
sold on the fact that rebuilding Michigan’s economy begins with
rebuilding the cities that we call home.
Local governments police your streets and pick up your garbage. They
patch pot holes and maintain parks. Water and sewer, libraries, little
leagues, ice rinks… you name it, it’s your local government that
provides these services.
If you really care about communities in Michigan, I implore you to
get involved in advocacy efforts to help them out. Too often “local”
issues get short changed in the legislative process because something
sexier or more tangible comes along to replace them. As a result,
legislators often don’t hear from their constituents before big votes
that affect communities.This needs to change if we want to refocus our
efforts in Michigan.
There are a number of very important community issues that are
currently before elected legislative bodies in Lansing and Washington.
In Washington there is a continuation of the unending fight to return a
fair share of federal gas tax dollars back to Michigan for roads and
transit projects. In Lansing they are considering rewriting several
major tax codes and changing the structure of local government. It is
vital that people who feel that the “city” perspective is important in
the debate become motivated to advocate for change.
The disinvestment in Michigan’s communities, particularly our core
cities, has got to stop if we hope to compete successfully in the new
global jobs market. Providing resources and an atmosphere for success
is crucial if we are to succeed. So don’t reserve your calls and
e-mails to legislators for the “once in a hundred years” issue. Contact
them regularly and ask what they are doing to assist your hometown in
meeting the needs of its residents.