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Dear neighbor,
Below you will find legislative updates from the state Capitol that are important to the residents of western Oakland County. You also will find important updates and communications on my website: SenatorJimRunestad.com.
Serving you,
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Senator Jim Runestad 23rd State Senate District
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Subscribe to my email newsletter
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If you are not already subscribed, you can sign up to receive my email newsletter here. Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends, neighbors and anyone else who would like to stay up to date on what is happening with state government.
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Accountability needed for the Michigan State Police
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Below is part of my editorial opinion piece criticizing MSP leadership that was featured in the Detroit Free Press last Friday:
As minority vice chair of the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, I am often reminded of the admiration that we should all have for the MSP troopers.
Unfortunately, I am also reminded that the top command at MSP deserves the kind of leadership in which the public can have confidence. It is clear to me that the MSP has become a dysfunctional, disappointing department that lacks proper leadership and oversight.
The state of Michigan needs a citizen oversight committee like the one the Detroit Police Department currently boasts. The members of an MSP Oversight Committee should come from various areas, including law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys and citizens.
I will be introducing such legislation in the near future, with more details to come. In the meantime, we need to restore confidence in our troopers that they will have effective and ethical leadership. It is time for us to help.
You can read the full article at www.freep.com/story/opinion/readers/2024/07/27/michigan-state-police-turmoil-sterling-grady-reform-letter-to-editor-detroit-free-press/74529913007.
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Future of Oakland Community College campus land uncertain
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The Oakland Community College campus in Waterford Township is set to close in 2026 and the future of the land is uncertain.
The campus has not only served as an educational facility over the past decades but also as a place for local residents to gather and enjoy the nature trails and forest that make up this 160-acre parcel.
News of its closure came early in 2023 when OCC announced that in-person classes are on the decline as students prefer the convenience and flexibility of online classes. For over 60 years, OCC has served the public, but they can no longer justify keeping the site at Cooley Lake and Hospital Road in Waterford Township open.
Neighbors are very concerned about what will become of this land. As of now, Waterford Township has agreed to purchase 51 acres of the southern portion of OCC’s campus for $2.8 million for a new recreational center. This purchase is contingent on Waterford Township passing a bond proposal regarding the purchase of the property that will be on the Nov. 5 ballot. Residents will decide if having an updated facility that houses both a senior center and recreational facility is worth the property tax increase.
But what is to come of the remaining 105 acres if the bond proposal is passed? Neighbors are now very concerned about what will become of the place. Members of the local group Conservation of Waterford Lands (COWL) expressed concern over the possibility of losing the woods to developers. COWL believes several developers have been out to look at the property and it’s possible the green space might be developed. On the other hand, OCC states their focus will continue to provide educational needs to the local community and they are not at the point of entertaining interest from developers.
Like any pending governmental decision, it’s best for local residents to get involved early, educate yourself and voice your opinion. For those who have an interest in ensuring this land is used in a way that supports the needs and the best interest of the community, I urge you to keep up to date on this issue and begin attending meetings and reviewing agendas and minutes of OCC board meetings. Don’t let this issue get too far down the road without letting your voice be heard.
Click here the link below to review agendas, meeting minutes and upcoming board meetings.
Next OCC Board Regular Meeting Date: Tuesday, Sept. 17 Time: 6 p.m. Location: Auburn Hills Campus, Room G-240
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Whitmer signs bills that strip ability to investigate election fraud
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Senate Bills 603 and 604 strip away time-honored election integrity provisions that have been around for almost 70 years.
I recently spoke on the Steve Gruber Show about how new bills signed into law by the governor will remove “fraud” as a reason an individual or other entity could request a recount of election results.
Listen to the interview here.
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Runestad secures funding for Meals on Wheels
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The dream that started back in 2021 will finally be celebrated this coming September.
I secured funding to support a dedicated location for the operation of the Livingston County Senior Nutrition and Western Oakland Meals on Wheels. This money will allow the Meals on Wheels program to move into its very own facility and grow in its capacity to feed vulnerable members of our senior community.
Prior to opening their new facility in Brighton, these organizations worked out of a high school cafeteria and rented storage space at multiple locations. Certainly not ideal or efficient for an organization that delivers over 1,500 meals each day by hundreds of dedicated volunteers.
You are welcome to join me to celebrate the grand opening of the Meals on Wheels on Monday, Sept. 23, from 2 – 4 p.m.
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Tour of the Mackinac Bridge
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I was very excited and honored to tour the Mackinac Bridge and learn valuable information about the bridge and the great economic value that it brings to the state.
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Senator Jim Runestad 7500 Connie B. Binsfeld Office Building P.O. Box 30036 Lansing, MI 48909-7536
Visit my website at: www.SenatorJimRunestad.com
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