Posts published in “Guest Column”

The public ought to be concerned — deeply concerned — about the operation of its local government when it comes to public health. I serve as the health officer for six counties and two local…

For months, a group of mothers of seriously injured auto crash victims — including myself — have been begging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for a few minutes of her time. Not as Democrats, Republicans or a…

It’s an exciting time in Michigan right now as voters — not politicians — are drawing the maps for our elected officials for the first time in state history. Unfortunately, we’ve seen increasing efforts to…

  A couple months ago at a hockey rink in Kalamazoo, I enjoyed seeing democracy in action at one of the 15-plus public hearings held around Michigan by the new Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC).…

The pandemic has brought a welcome and long-overdue focus on child care as the bedrock component of a functioning economy and an essential service to support working families. Yet the simple fact remains: Wages for…

The Michigan Supreme Court recently held in Taxpayers for Michigan Constitutional Government v. State that there is nothing in the Michigan Constitution that prevents the state from orchestrating a financial swindle of local governments and…

With the new school year approaching, students have a lot more to deal with than which classes to take. It’s an understatement to say that the pandemic has created new challenges for many students that…

Here’s the truth: Without child care, parents can’t go to work and if they can’t go to work, they aren’t able to pay for child care. I’ve spent time in both the workforce development sector…

Michigan, as many other states in our nation, has had a long, distressing struggle with the opioid crises. Our attention to this crisis as of late has been diverted. COVID-19 has rightfully dominated our medical…