My number one goal, as a public official is to keep Clinton Township residents safe.

This issue is personal for me…

https://www.facebook.com/PG4CTT/videos/842678666504607

I know that my job is about more than just dealing with the Township’s finances; it’s also about being a leader and speaking up on issues, anticipating problems, and working towards solutions.

I’ve done that in response to COVID….and I’ll explain how, but, for me, this issue hit closer to home. If your in your mid to late 60s or 70s, or older, you’ll have a better sense about what I mean.

I grew up with Polio!?! I didn’t have polio, but I grew up with a mother who did.
Dr. Jonas Salk won the Nobel Peace Prize for developing the vaccine that mostly eradicated the spread of Polio for Americans and most of the industrialized world in 1953. That summer, before the vaccine was distributed, my grandmother took my then 3 year-old mother, and her two older siblings to the Detroit Zoo.   

While my Aunt and Uncle had severe flu-like symptoms, my Mother confronter a much tougher reality; isolation in hospitals, braces, legs and feet not the same size, mobility challenges, chronic pain throughout her life time, and now, the debilitating effects of post-polio syndrome.

Some had it dramatically worse, facing complete paralysis and death. During the onset, fear overwhelmed.

The anguish in my Grandmother’s eyes is a vivid memory to this day–when she shared stories of tape around her home, the dread she saw in the faces of fellow parishioners at Saint Raymond’s Catholic Church and ‘Grammar’ School, and the fear of not knowing how long she’d have to abandon her child at Herman Kiefer Hospital.
While I didn’t always understand, I grew up with and felt the ravages of a communicable virus.

It’s why I studied the public health data and tried to understand the serious nature of the health crisis.

During the initial COVID surge, I:

• voted to approve a local state of emergency in order to send a clear message and secure federal relief dollars,
• pushed for the immediate closure of township offices and congregating sites like the Senior Center, so safety protocols could be developed,
• developed safety protocols for the Treasurer’s office staff, so we could continue serving the public while more permanent standards and protections could be developed,
• pushed for and voted to approve a resolution, asking the state to temporarily prohibit foreclosures, and provide mortgage and rent assistance,
• supported a waiver from late fees for water bills,
• introduced a resolution calling for refunds and reductions on auto insurance premiums,
• pushed for hazard pay for police and fire personnel, and our general township workforce, using grant funding.

Because we took swift action, because we took this seriously, and because we built in the protections that keep our employees and the public safe, or at least to the extent possible, mitigate risks, we were able to re-open the Township as an essential service on June 15th, as opposed to some local governments that are still not open to the public.

Moving forward, I know we need to do all that we can within our purview, to help our residents and our businesses recover, economically. Some of the items above speak to help for residents. For more info on helping our businesses, see Economic Development under the Issues tab.