Noticing Bridge’s recent coverage of the effectiveness of Michigan Works agencies around the state, Tom Ivacko of the Center for Local, State and Urban Policy at the University ofMichigan directed our attention to two pieces of research at U-M. One casts the MW agencies in a good light; the other is not quite as favorable. […]
Derek Melot
Derek Melot is a former assistant editorial page editor, columnist and reporter at the Lansing State Journal, where he covered state and local issues extensively, earning awards from the Associated Press and Michigan Press Association. The Oklahoma native moved to Michigan in 1999, and served as Bridge editor through mid-2013.
Posted inMichigan Government
Redistricting poll is no triumph
Michiganvoters want a nonpartisan commission to take charge of drawing election lines in the state — a job now tightly in the grip of the Legislature. That’s the message the Michigan Redistricting Collaborative is trumpeting from a new poll it commissioned of statewide voters. (Note: The Center for Michigan, Bridge Magazine’s parent, is a member […]
Posted inQuality of Life
Mitten tussle warms map fan's heart
Michigan and Wisconsin have been tussling over the use of the term “mitten” to describe geography. Michigan long has explained its shape (at least for the Lower Peninsula) as a mitten. Wisconsin recently decided it liked the mitten idea and started promoting the idea on its TravelWisconsin site. In no surprise, plenty of Michiganians find […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“The knowledge of yourself will preserve you from vanity” — Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish novelist, poet and playwright. * If you are wanting to start the new year in a sunny frame of mind do NOT read Joseph Stiglitz’s piece in Vanity Fair this month. If you DO want to learn some important points about […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Snyder puts end to 'moderate' tag
Gongwer just reported that Gov. Rick Snyder has signed the legislation that bars local governments from making their own decisions on whether to offer benefits to adult partners of their employees. (No link; Gongwer is paywall protected.) He did this even though he said he didn’t want the bill to apply to universities and some […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Measuring the mood in 2012
During one of the busy points of a debate over welfare benefits in Michigan, someone asked me, “What do I get out of my taxes going to this? What’s the ROI (return on investment) for welfare?” I replied, “You don’t have to install bars over the windows of your house.” That’s far too flippant to […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan population shrinks
State Demographer Ken Darga reports that the most recent population estimates are out — showing changes among the states from 2010 to 2011. The news for Michigan will play negatively. The state lost 7,400 people in the period, about the equivalent of the city of Houghton. Michigan was one of only three states (Rhode Island […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“The more extensive a man’s knowledge of what has been done, the greater will be his power of knowing what to do” — Benjamin Disraeli, 19th century British prime minister, author and noted clothes horse. * The New York Times Magazine visits Benton Harbor: “Between the almost-delusional optimism of those who support the redevelopment of […]
Posted inMichigan Government
How to get a government's attention
A blog that focuses on doings in the city of Troy has published what appears, to my eye, to be a bombshell of a note from a major Troy employer to city officials. Keeptroystrong presents the memo as coming from Frank Ervin III, the government affairs manager for Magna International. The memo apparently is in […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Merger bills won't change names on fire trucks — yet
For years, officials charged with managing local government services and finances have pointed to a variety of provisions in state law they say make the sharing of services with neighbors financially unappealing. With Gov. Rick Snyder’s signature last week on a set of bills, the state believes it has removed a large hurdle to increased […]