We Love Where You Live

Host:
Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guest:
State Rep. Padma Kuppa (D-Troy)

In our last episode, we heard from State Representative Mark Huizenga on how he successfully used his local government experience to run for statewide office – and win. In part two on the topic of using local government experience to run for state office, we welcome another perspective. State Representative Padma Kuppa, a former Chrysler engineer, is the first Indian-American woman and first Hindu to serve in the Michigan Legislature. She got involved in local government in many ways – including on the Troy Planning Commission. Representative Kuppa shares how she’s using her power to empower other immigrant voices, the value of social capital when running for state office, and her gratitude for the women who reached back with both hands to help her get a seat at the table – and how she’s now reaching back with both hands herself.  

Host:
Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guest:
State Representative Mark Huizenga (D-74th District)

For some local leaders, running for state office is the next logical step. But what's the difference? How can officials translate their local experience to a statewide race? What should those considering a run for higher office be thinking about and focusing on? We dive in on those questions and more with our guest, State Representative Mark Huizenga (D-74th District). Rep. Huizenga shares his path from planning commissioner to city commissioner to mayor of the City of Walker and how that led him all the way to his current seat.

Host:
Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Tom Daldin, Producer, Under the Radar
Jim Edelman, Producer, Under the Radar

In a way, the Under the Radar TV show on PBS has a similar mission to the League. Producers Tom Daldin and Jim Edelman highlight all the cool people, places and things in Michigan. In essence, they're covering all the people who love where they live - which just happens to be the League's motto. Tune in and hear some of their adventures covering the things that make our state great.

Host:
Tony Minghine, Deputy Executive Director & COO, Michigan Municipal League

Guest:
John Philo, Executive and Legal Director, Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice; Lead Counsel, Headlee lawsuit

In 2016, Taxpayers for Michigan Constitutional Government filed suit against the State of Michigan for violating the Michigan Constitution by not applying the Headlee amendment appropriately, leaving local governments struggling for revenue. John Philo, lead counsel on the Headlee lawsuit, discusses the case as it winds its way through the courts.

Host:
Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League

Guest:
Crystal Proxmire, Publisher/Editor, Oakland County Times

Matt Bach sits down with fellow-journalist Crystal Proxmire, publisher/editor of the Oakland County Times, which she founded in 2009. Her mission is to cover local community and government issues which impact the cities, villages, and townships of Oakland County. Many of the issues covered in the Oakland County Times are the same ones the League focuses on for our member communities, i.e. voting laws, medical and recreational marijuana, real estate development, and non-discrimination ordinances. Proximire strives to be a resource for Oakland County residents when issues hit their community. For more information on the Oakland County Times, visit http://oaklandcounty115.com/. 

Host:
Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director, Michigan Municipal League

Guest:
Melissa Milton-Pung, Program Manager, Policy Research Labs, Michigan Municipal League

League CEO Dan Gilmartin sits down with Program Manager Melissa Milton-Pung to highlight community investment vehicles available to small investors who want to make a difference in their community. Many people are familiar with donation-based crowdfunding, such as the Public Spaces, Community Places program where the Michigan Economic Development Corporation matches donations raised by the community for a public quality of life project. To date, over 200 projects have successfully raised funds through this program. Another vehicle is investment crowdfunding, wherein investors get a return on their investment, possibly with interest. Detroit City Football Club and the Tecumseh Brewing Company are two organizations that have benefited from investment crowdfunding. For more information on both types of community investment, visit http://www.crowdfundingmi.com/

Host:
Tony Minghine, Deputy Executive Director & COO, Michigan Municipal League

Guest:
Debra Horner, Project Manager, University of Michigan Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP)

On this episode, the League's Tony Minghine talks with U-M's Debra Horner, who heads up the annual public policy survey conducted by the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP). For the past 10 years, CLOSUP has been surveying Michigan's cities, villages, townships, and counties on a variety of topics, including fiscal health, poverty, energy, opioids, and - most recently - relationships on their councils and boards. Based on the survey results, they compile a variety of reports to help municipalities in their policy-making decisions. The data is also available online at http://closup.umich.edu/

Host:
Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guest:
Matt Resch, Founder, Resch Strategies

In August 2018, Michigan saw overwhelming success with hundreds of proposals on local ballots. Of the 847 local proposals Michigan residents voted on, 808 - or 89% - were approved. Michigan residents stepped up to invest in local services. But what makes – or breaks – a local ballot proposal? As more communities explore revenue-generating options, a successful proposal requires significant groundwork, including smart messaging and voter engagement. On this episode of Limelight, Matt Resch, founder of Resch Strategies - a communications, public relations, and issue management firm - shares his on-the-ground expertise. 

Host:
Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Andrew Brisbo, Executive Director, Marijuana Regulatory Agency
Christopher Johnson, General Counsel, Michigan Municipal League
Jennifer Rigterink, Legislative Associate, Michigan Municipal League

Michigan recently released the emergency rules for adult use/recreational marijuana. In this episode, we talk with Andrew Brisbo, head of the state's Marijuana Regulatory Agency, about some of the specifics and the fast-approaching deadline for communities to opt in or out of permitting recreational marijuana establishments.

Host: 
Craig Fahle

Guest:
Tony Minghine, Deputy Executive Director & COO, Michigan Municipal League

The League's Tony Minghine appeared on The Craig Fahle Show on Deadline Detroit to discuss municipal finance, our SaveMICity initiative, and our advocacy for major changes in how Michigan funds cities, villages, and townships. Listen to this great interview!