We Love Where You Live

Host: Matt Bach, Communications Director, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Phil Power, Founder and Chairman, The Center for Michigan

Following a long career as owner of a variety of local newspapers in Michigan, Phil Power still wanted to make a difference in his state. Find out how he started and fostered The Center for Michigan based on sensible, rational, common sense political discussion.

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

Guest: Khalil Rahal, Executive Director, Economic Development Corporation, Office of the Wayne County Executive

Michigan made a valiant effort to lure Amazon's second headquarters to our state, but we fell short. Khalil Rahal shares some of the reasons we lost out. Chief among them is the lack of a municipal finance structure that would enable us to provide adequate public transit, workforce development, and many of the other factors necessary to attract businesses and talent.

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

Guest: Bruce Katz, author, "The New Localism: How Cities Can Thrive in the Age of Populism"

Bruce Katz believes that cities are the engines of the national economy, so he has long wondered why American cities can't fund valuable services like infrastructure and early childhood education. On this episode of the Economics of Place podcast - and in his new book - Katz shares some of the lessons he has learned from European countries about unlocking public wealth.

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

Guest: Charles Mitchell, Senior Assistant City Attorney, City Attorney's Office, City and County of Denver

Colorado was the first state to legalize both medical and recreational marijuana. In this episode, attorney Charles Mitchell shares some of the benefits, challenges, and legal issues that have arisen in Colorado since marijuana legalization, and lessons learned along the way. Mitchell was also a speaker at the Michigan Municipal League's 2018 Convention. View his presentation, HR up in Smoke: The Intersectoin Between Marijuana Legalizaton and Employment Law.

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

Guest: Catherine Bostick-Tullius, 2017-18 Michigan Municipal League Board President; Councilmember, Lapeer

Emily sits down with Catherine Bostick-Tullius, 2017-18 League Board President, to reflect on her experience as president and her hopes for the League moving forward.

Host: Lisa Donovan, Communications Specialist/Editor, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Michael Lesich, Fraser Councilmember and member of Fraser First Booster Club
Christina Woods, Director, Fraser Parks & Recreation Department
Sherry Stein, President, Fraser First Booster Club

The city of Fraser was honored with the League's 2018 Community Excellence Award at our annual Convention in Grand Rapids. They won for McKinley Barrier-Free Park and Playground. Hear how a 12-year volunteer effort led by the Fraser First Booster Club transformed an underused park into a place that children and adults of all abilities can enjoy. 

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

Guest: Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05)

Tony talks with Congressman Dan Kildee about his ideas for promoting a national agenda around strengthening communities. From the federal standpoint, we should plan for investment in communities and ensure less volatility as the economy goes through up and down cycles.

Host: Lisa Donovan, Communications Specialist/Editor, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Brian Ewanciw, Founder, Wayne Bicycle Club
Jamie McCloskey

Bicycling Means Business and Friendship in Wayne, Michigan was a finalist in Michigan Municipal League's 2017 Community Excellence Awards competition. Brian Ewanciw shares how the Wayne Bicycle Club got started and the benefits it has generated for participants and the city as a whole. Read more in the Sept/Oct 2018 issue of The Review.

 

Host: Lisa Donovan, Communications Specialist/Editor, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Carla Filkins, Mayor, Cadillac

The Plaza at Cadillac Commons was a finalist in Michigan Municipal League's 2017 Community Excellence Awards competition. Mayor Carla Filkins shares how the project got its start with the League's PlacePlans program and is now revitalizing a key area between downtown and the waterfront. Read more in the upcoming Nov/Dec 2018 issue of The Review.

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

Guest: State Senator Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City)

Matt Bach sits down with Sen. Wayne Schmidt in his hometown of Traverse City to talk about a variety of challenges facing Michigan communities, including affordable housing, road funding, and revenue sharing. Sen. Schmidt also gives some insight into how legislatiors are receiving the message of Michigan Municipal League's SaveMICity initiative.