A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER A Voice for Working Families: A Letter from Darrin Camilleri As I go door to door across our community, I find an incredible number of stories so similar to my family’s and mine: Hard­working people who have gained access to opportunity and made the most of it. The economy is improving, but it’s not doing so fast enough or with enough progress for working people. We have a lot of work to do to ensure that the Michigan Dream is available to Downriver families again. I’m running for State Representative because I am committed to being the voice of working families in Lansing. I’m running for the senior in Gibraltar who struggles to make ends meet on a fixed income. I’m running for the parents in Woodhaven worried about the cost of sending their child to college. I’m running to stand up for the autoworker in Brownstown who has sacrificed so much to make every opportunity available to his children. And I’m running for the students in my classroom who overcome so much but are still incredibly optimistic about their future and the future of our state. I believe in the public trust, the idea that you believe in your elected leaders and they have a responsibility to work in your best interests, always. Too often our elected officials break that bond. But I am committed to serving our working families because I come from one, and I will not let you down. With these individuals and our community in mind, I’d like to share with you some proposals for policies that I believe will help us keep the promise and possibility of our shared Michigan Dream alive. I look forward to discussing these proposals with you and making them a reality if I am honored enough to be our next State Representative. For Downriver, Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER Contents 1. On Education 2. On Jobs & the Economy 3. On Roads 4. On our Environment 5. On Public Safety 6. On Transparency, Elections, and Campaign Finance 7. For Women 8. For Seniors 9. For Veterans 10. On LGBT Rights 11. On Civil Rights 12. On Health Care Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER On Education “As a teacher, supporting our classrooms and expanding opportunity for all our students is always foremost in my mind. We have a lot of work to do on education in our state, and I believe these proposals will direct us towards the education system we want to see for our students and teachers.” ­ Darrin Camilleri Defending Public Education ● We must restore K­12 education funding that has been cut during the current Republican administration in Lansing. A recent study commissioned by the Michigan House of Representatives revealed that our schools are not equitably funded, with them falling about $1,100 short in per­pupil funding relative to the cost of giving students the education they need to succeed in today’s competitive economy.1 ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will support an increase in per pupil funding for our public schools. ● Restoring funding is essential to ensuring small class sizes in our public schools, which studies consistently show is the key to student achievement and growth. 2 Research shows that if we can put our teachers in environments that set them and students up for success, our students achieve more. The average class size in Michigan public schools is 27 students.3 We have to prioritize this basic support for our teachers. Michigan is one of only five states that has gone backwards in 4th grade literacy rates since 2003.4 Ensuring smaller class sizes is a research­supported response to this issue. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work for smaller class sizes. 1
“Michigan Education Finance Study,” http://www.michigan.gov/documents/budget/Michigan_Education_Finance_Study_527806_7.pdf%20 2
Konstantopoulos, S., & Chung, V. (2009). What Are the Long‐Term Effects of Small Classes on the Achievement Gap? Evidence from the Lasting Benefits Study. ​
American Journal of Education​
, 116(1), 125‐154.Krueger, A., & Whitmore, D. (2001). The Effect of Attending a Small Class in the Early Grades on College‐ Test Taking and Middle School Test Results: Evidence from Project Star. ​
Economic Journal​
, 111, 1‐28. Krueger, A., & Whitmore, D. (2002). Would Smaller Classes Help Close the Black‐White Achievement Gap? In J. Chubb, & T. Loveless, Bridging the Achievement Gap (pp. 11‐46). Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press. 3
http://michiganradio.org/post/teachers­tell­us­class­sizes­are­getting­bigger­michigan#stream/0 4
“Michigan Achieves! 2016 State of Michigan Education Report” from Education Trust­Midwest, https://midwest.edtrust.org/michiganachieves/ Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER ●
Common Core Standards have brought a great deal of instability to our testing and evaluation systems. Republican legislators have continued to change their minds about what testing in our state looks like. Further, the transition from the ACT to the SAT did not keep our students’ best interests in mind.5 ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to stabilize our standardized testing system to give teachers and students clear long term targets for student achievement and growth, and limit the number of standardized tests required of students to ensure that we are prioritizing teaching and learning. ●
In light of these testing changes, we have to rework our teacher evaluation processes to ensure fairness and accuracy. Good teaching cannot be simplified to test scores, and we need to guarantee that evaluation more accurately studies a teacher’s impact on their students. A teacher who has an effect on lessening student absenteeism or improving students’ investment in their education should still be celebrated as great teachers. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to lower the significance of standardized tests in teacher evaluations. ●
Republican legislators are using the conversation around Detroit education reform as a mechanism for their anti­union and anti­collective bargaining agenda.6 ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will support legislation that makes it easier for teachers to unionize and protect their collective bargaining rights. ●
Another attack on teachers from Republican legislators is their plan to allow uncertified teachers to teach in Detroit schools. Our state has established quality traditional and alternative certification programs, and we should encourage pre­service teachers to pursue their certification through those programs. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to ensure that there are no uncertified teachers in any classrooms. ●
Our state government has also abused an emergency management system in order to gain leverage in collective bargaining processes. 7 We need to eliminate this failed system that has not only ran up enormous debts in Detroit Public Schools, but has had devastating effects on communities of color across our state. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to repeal the Emergency Manager law. “Michigan to Dump ACT for SAT,” ​
Detroit Free Press​
, SAT http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/01/07/michigan­replaces­act­sat/21385299/ 6
“Bill would prohibit teachers unions from bargaining on school year calendar,” http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/02/bill_would_prohibit_teachers_u.html 7
Conyers, John Jr. “Time to Rein in Michigan’s Emergency Managers,” ​
Detroit News,​
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2016/04/14/michigan­emergency­managers/83062404/ 5
Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER ●
Recent state education budgeting inches ever closer to providing public funding for private institutions. Governor Snyder’s recent education budget included a provision allocating $2.5 million public dollars to cover for the needs of private institutions. 8 This is not only a violation of law, but is an unacceptable step that threatens public education in our state. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight against vouchers and other forms of public funding for private institutions. ●
Education research is consistent that achievement and opportunity gaps begin even before students enter the K­12 domain. 9 For this reason, we need to prioritize expanding quality early education and childcare programming. Too often, there is a trade­off between affordability, accessibility, and quality when it comes to early childhood programs. We need to have a system that ensures families have access to these programs. Research has consistently shown the economic and educational benefits of investing in early childhood education. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will advocate for universal pre­K throughout our state. ●
One of the great challenges of public education is its commitment to serving all students. To support the diversity of student needs that exist, we need to ensure that schools are adequately staffed with school psychologists and social workers, which are research proven resources to schools and students.10 These vital professionals make possible the incredible stories of students overcoming serious obstacles to achieve above perceived expectations. In addition, we need to ensure that schools are adequately staffed with special education teachers and professionals in order to support all types of learners. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight to ensure that all of our students have the services they need to attain an excellent education. 8
“Gov. Rick Snyder being pushed to veto $2.5m in private school funding,” http://www.freep.com/story/news/2016/06/26/gov­rick­snyder­being­pushed­veto­25m­private­school­funding/8640
2496/ 9
​
Heckman, James J. "The Economics of Inequality: The Value of Early Childhood Education." ​
American Educator 35, no. 1 (2011): 31.Lee, Valerie E., and David T. Burkam. ​
Inequality at the starting gate: Social background differences in achievement as children begin school​
. Economic Policy Institute, 1660 L Street, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20036, 2002. Magnuson, Katherine A., and Jane Waldfogel. "Early childhood care and education: Effects on ethnic and racial gaps in school readiness." ​
The future of children​
(2005): 169­196. 10
​
Newsome, W. Sean, et al. "The Impact of School Social Work Services on Student Absenteeism and Risk Factors Related to School Truancy." ​
School Social Work Journal​
32.2 (2008). Franklin, Cynthia, Johnny S. Kim, and Stephen J. Tripodi. "A meta­analysis of published school social work practice studies 1980­2007." ​
Research on Social Work Practice​
19, no. 6 (2009): 667­677. Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER ●
Michigan’s state Board of Education has prioritized moving Michigan into the top ten of states nationally in education achievement.11 In order to do this, our schools will have to serve all students in culturally responsive ways.12 This not only means adjusting curriculum in ways that serves diverse communities and cultures, but we also need to commit to restorative practices in our schools that offer alternatives to suspensions and actually address student needs, rather than just contributing to a culture of absenteeism.13 ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to prioritize culturally responsive programs and restorative practices in our classrooms. ●
School choice is a failed model for ensuring that all families have access to high quality schools in their area.14 Instead, we should invest in strong, neighborhood public schools that serve students and communities. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight for our public schools everyday. Regulating Charter Schools ● Special interests15 in our state have dictated a nearly regulation­free charter school system that is accurately described as the “Wild West” of education. In order to put our students’ interests first, no one should profit off of our students. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to eliminate for­profit charter schools. ● In Detroit in particular, we need a Democratically­controlled regulatory body similar to the proposed Detroit Education Commission.16 This body would have the ability to control school openings and closings, but also offer systems for enrollment and record­keeping in an often transitory and decentralized educational environment. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to bring stability and regulation to Detroit schools. 11
http://www.michigan.gov/top10in10 ​
Ladson‐Billings, Gloria. "But that's just good teaching! The case for culturally relevant pedagogy." ​
Theory into practice​
34, no. 3 (1995): 159­165. 13
​
Van Ness, Daniel W., and Karen Heetderks Strong. ​
Restoring justice: An introduction to restorative justice​
. Routledge, 2013. 14
“A Sea of Charter Schools in Detroit Leaves Students Adrift,” ​
New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/29/us/for­detroits­children­more­school­choice­but­not­better­schools.html 15
“Rep. Daniela Garcia: The DeVos family's woman in Lansing,” ​
Detroit Free Press​
, http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/brian­dickerson/2016/02/24/devos­dps­plan/80800232/ 16
“Group calls for new Detroit Education Commision,” ​
Detroit Free Press​
, http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2015/01/28/group­calls­new­detroit­education­commission/
22477447/ 12
Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER ●
We also need to have a conversation about the role of charter schools in our communities. Charter schools began as alternative models of education to fill gaps in public education or offer alternative education opportunities for students with particular needs.17 ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight to stop the expansion of charter schools. ●
Charter school operators spend public dollars without any oversight. We need to require charter school operators to meet rigorous financial and legal transparency standards, like public schools, to eliminate corrupt contracts, check special interests and conflicts of interest, and ensure that funding is focused on student achievement. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to increase oversight and demand transparency of charter school operators. ●
Charter school teachers often face significant obstacles to unionization.18 We need to streamline the process by which charter school teachers can organize alongside local public school teachers in order to ensure that teachers voices are not marginalized when they are advocating for their students. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to ensure that all teachers have an easy path to unionization without fear or intimidation from their employers. ●
At times, it seems like nearly any organization can enter the education market in Detroit. We need to hold charter operators and their university authorizers accountable to student achievement expectations. Those charter operators and authorizers who routinely fail to meet these standards should not be able to expand. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to hold authorizers accountable to delivering a quality education. ●
Special education at charter schools often takes the form of services that are contracted out to businesses. We need to place additional regulations on these organizations who aim to profit off of working with students with the most unique needs. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to ensure that quality special education services are available to all students. 17
​
Lubienski, Christopher A., and Peter C. Weitzel. ​
The Charter School Experiment: Expectations, Evidence, and Implications​
. Harvard Education Press. 8 Story Street First Floor, Cambridge, MA 02138, 2010. 18
Gross, Allie. “How Far Will A Charter School Go to Stop a Staff From Unionizing,” ​
Metro Times​
, http://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/how­far­will­a­charter­school­go­to­stop­a­staff­from­unionizing/Content?oid=2
378232 Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER Expanding College Opportunities ● Over 98% of the 11.6 million jobs created since the Great Recession have gone to individuals with at least some college education and coursework. 8.4 million of these jobs went to individuals with a bachelor’s degree.19 To give students fair opportunities in today’s economy is to expand the accessibility of a college degree. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will support tuition or debt­free college education at our state’s public colleges and universities. ● As a result of Republican funding cuts to higher education, universities are less able to provide support for first­generation college students and resources for internship and co­op programs. If universities are actually going to improve the job prospects of Michiganders, we need to work to ensure that these institutions are adequately supported in providing these services. As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to ensure that colleges have funding to provide quality extracurricular programs. ● Recent changes in our state’s standardized testing plan raise even more questions about the legitimacy and purpose of the ACT/SAT in college admissions. We should encourage our public colleges and universities to consider student resumés more holistically in their admissions processes in order to expand opportunity more broadly. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to eliminate the ACT/SAT requirement from admissions applications. 19
“College grads are getting nearly all the jobs,” ​
CNN Money http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/30/news/economy/college­grads­jobs/ Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER On Jobs & the Economy “Far too often, Lansing puts profit over people and self­interest over common sense when it comes to doing what’s best for working families. We have to bring together working families, businesses, and communities, and I believe these policies are a firm starting point for these conversations.” ­ Darrin Camilleri Protecting Working Families ● Republicans in Lansing continue to serve special interests by targeting the ways that working families have succeeded in Downriver and across Michigan for generations. Right to Work has been a failure for our state, not only failing to bring businesses to Michigan but also damaging the unions that have historically protected workers and their families in our state. Collective bargaining and the prevailing wage are the keys to economic stability in Downriver, and we need to defend them. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to repeal Right to Work, defend collective bargaining, and protect the prevailing wage. ● Putting workers first means guaranteed wages that provide dignity and stability for working families. For this reason, our state should raise the minimum wage. As a result of inflation, the value of the minimum wage has decreased significantly in recent decades. To compensate, our state should consider raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, competitive with what other states are guaranteeing for their workers to keep up with the increased expense of a decent, dignifying standard of living. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight for a living wage of $15 an hour. ● Governor Snyder and Republicans in the state legislature have reworked the tax system in our state in service of big business and corporate interests, with working families bearing the burden of additional taxation. Under this plan, businesses pay nearly $2 billion dollars less than they did in our previous tax system.20 Unsurprisingly, our state simply has not seen the job growth state Republicans promised would occur as a result. Meanwhile, individuals and “Michigan taxes: Businesses pay less, you pay more” ​
Detroit Free Press​
, http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/raw­data/2014/10/04/michigan­taxes­snyder/16683967/ 20
Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER working families pay nearly a billion dollars more annually through the addition of the pension tax, the decrease in the Earned Income Tax Credit, and other taxes that work against most Michiganders.21 This burden on working families will only grow in years when corporate profits are down under Governor Snyder’s model22 Michigan’s previous tax code, specifically around businesses, was in need of reform. But what our current tax plan does is place an undue burden on working families so that nearly 100,000 businesses avoid paying state taxes altogether.23 We need a fairer tax system that lifts this undue burden off of working families and more equitably balances it across the interests that rely on publicly funded infrastructure and schools. Through this equity, we will be able to fund the additional programs and provide much needed services working families rely on to get ahead. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to repeal the pension tax and reinstate the Earned Income Tax Credit for working families. ●
All individuals should have the right to gain paid time off to attend to personal or family health needs. It is unacceptable that paid sick leave is not established for Michigan workers. Not only is the lack of paid sick leave a threat to public health,24 with sick employees in economically strapped situations being forced to report to work, but it is an inhumane business practice that should be eliminated in our state. For example, approximately 78 percent of food service and hotel workers do not have any paid sick leave.25 ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will support paid sick and family leave for everyone. ●
For Downriver families, economic stability also means having access to additional or ongoing job training programs that are often among the first programs cut when revenue streams dry up. We need to increase the tax incentives for hiring Michigan workers, while also ensuring that our labor force possesses the skillsets in demand in emerging industries. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to expand job training programs. Investing in Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs ● Barriers to entry for small businesses have increased, particularly with access to capital. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will support programs that provide low­interest 21
Ibid. Lawler, Emily, “Slumping corporate profits mean Michigan will collect less in taxes this year,” ​
MLive​
, http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/slumping_corporate_profits_mea.html 23
Ibid. 24
“Public Sick Days Improve Our Public Health,” http://www.nationalpartnership.org/research­library/work­family/psd/paid­sick­days­improve­our­public­health.pdf 25
Ibid. 22
Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER loans to startups who want to build and grow their companies here in Michigan, incentivize small businesses to provide healthcare coverage through a tax credit of up to 35% in order to help small businesses compete in retaining highly skilled employees, and work to create incentives for small businesses that invest in green technology or energy solutions in order to encourage economic investment and create jobs in these fields. On Roads and Infrastructure: Building a Michigan to Last ● Roads across our state are in disrepair, but the condition of our community’s roads, bridges, and other infrastructure are an economic drain and an increasingly serious safety risk. For the last six years, our legislators have shirked their responsibility to respond to this issue, passing inadequate roads plans, if even passing them at all.26 ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work toward​
​
a comprehensive infrastructure plan that also addresses the needs of our community. ● One example of this failure is the inability to raise the remaining funds needed to finally kickstart the grade separation project at Allen Road and Van Horn. This area is currently a significant economic drain on our area, and the rail crossing can block access to life­saving EMS and hospital services. We need to work with local, county, state, and federal officials to organize the resources to get this project done. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight for the remaining funding for this project and ensure that Downriver is a priority for infrastructure improvements. ● With an infrastructure plan in place, we also need to hold contractors accountable to the quality of their work and logistics corporations accountable when they exceed weight regulations in our state. Certainly our climate here in Michigan has a significant effect on our roads’ quality, but we also have an obligation to assure the quality of publicly funded projects and enforce regulations that protect taxpayers. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to lower the weight limit for heavy trucks and ensure transparency in public contracts. ● Recently, discussions about mass public transit systems have come to the forefront in our region. However, Downriver has consistently been on the sideline during these discussions. We need to fight for Downriver’s interests in these conversations, to ensure that federal “Gov. Rick Snyder vetoes roads bill, leaving 45 large cities with tab,” ​
Detroit Free Press​
, http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/01/snyder­vetoes­roads­bill­leaving­large­cities­tab/86600272/ 26
Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER investment in these projects benefits our communities. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight for quality public transportation for the Detroit region. ●
Municipalities in our state rely on revenue sharing to provide many localized services to their residents. This model, however, has proven inadequate in many ways, specifically when municipalities are now tasked with responsibilities that were traditionally under the purview of state­funding, like roads. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to restore state revenue sharing. On our Environment “Our community has been blessed with incredible environmental assets and wonders that we have a responsibility to protect. Our state as a whole has a lot of work to do to to protect our natural resources and ensure that we do no harm to our environment or our residents.” ­ Darrin Camilleri In Downriver ● We have a responsibility to protect the marshlands and International Wildlife Refuge that are in our area. Further, we have to work with state and local governments in our region to ensure that they are doing all they can to positively contribute to our local environment’s health. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to protect Downriver’s natural resources. ● There are serious pollution­based health problems that exist in our community, including industrial sites that produce a great deal of airborne pollution or run­off pollution in our area that must be kept in check. People in our area face significant health problems, primarily asthma and resulting developmental and cognitive delays, while also significant economic burdens suffered as a result of living in such a toxic environment.27 ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight for clean air. ● The Detroit River is one of the many jewels of our area that we have a responsibility to protect. While recent efforts have improved its quality, we still have much work to do to ensure that our upstream neighbors are working with us in protecting this environmental resource. Similarly, we also have much work to do in lessening the human contribution to algal blooms in the Great Lakes, which have a significant impact on the potability of drinking water, the health of lake ecosystems, and tourism in our region. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight for clean water. 27
“Choking to Death in Detroit,” http://www.newsweek.com/2016/04/08/michigan­air­pollution­poison­southwest­detroit­441914.html Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER In Our State ● Environmental racism runs rampant in Michigan, and various aspects of policy will need to come together to address these complex situations. The disaster of the Flint water crisis, combined with other environmental issues facing people of color across our state, must be relieved through state support. We have a lot of work to do in Flint, from replacing lead service lines to funding additional education programs to lessen the enormous, lasting burden of lead poisoning that has occurred in the city. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to reform state agencies like the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and reduce lead from infrastructure across the state. ● Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline is simply too structurally compromised, and any oil spill will spread toxins across the Great Lakes and their ecosystems.28 Previously, this company has shirked responsibility for ensuring its pipelines are safe, and we cannot allow this line to continue operating.29 We must establish a more robust regulatory system around these pipelines if we are to have a fair chance of preventing the scale of environmental disaster that a significant oil spill in the Great Lakes would be. We must require companies like Enbridge to have established practices and procedures in the case of oil spills. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight to shut down Line 5 and require more regulation around pipelines. ● As the realities of climate change become more clear, we have a responsibility to require energy providers to invest in green, renewable sources of energy production. In exchange, these providers are guaranteed a certain portion of their customer base. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to increase our renewable energy standards and prioritize energy efficiency gains to ensure that we move towards fossil fuel independence in our region. ● It has become clear that we do not have the full picture of the environmental impact of fracking, regardless of the specifics of the technical approach. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to ban fracking in our state. 28
“​
Recently released Enbridge report shows areas of corrosion along Line 5,” Mark Brush, ​
Michigan Radio, http://michiganradio.org/post/recently­released­enbridge­report­shows­areas­corrosion­along­line­5#stream/0 29
Palmer, Brian, “5 Years Since Massive Tar Sands Oil Spill, Kalamazoo River Still Not Clean,” ​
EcoWatch​
, http://ecowatch.com/2015/07/25/tar­sands­oil­spill­kalamazoo/ Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER “Providing stable and safe neighborhoods for our families to thrive in is a primary responsibility of elected officials. We must put properly fund our police and fire departments to ensure that our communities are safe.” ­ Darrin Camilleri On Public Safety Too often policies created in the name of public safety only further fracture families and communities. Our approach to public safety should be defined by our commitment to preventing crimes and rehabilitating those individuals who have already made their way through the criminal justice system. ● Regarding the Second Amendment, we must uphold this constitutional right while also allowing for common sense policies that keep weapons of war off the street and guns out of the hands of those who might threaten our communities. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work for universal background checks for gun purchases. ● Our jails and prisons too often serve as mental health and substance abuse programs. We need to support intervention and treatment programs that help keep people from criminal activity and redirects them towards treatment and job training. Over 20% of our state’s prisoners show the symptoms of severe mental illness, but of those 20%, 65% have not received any mental health treatment within the last year.30 ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will advocate for expanded mental health services. ● We have to end the era of mass incarceration in our state. This starts with reconsidering the fundamentals of our justice system from sentencing norms, improving public defender systems, and reconsidering whether jail or prison is an appropriate route for an individual given certain first­time, nonviolent crimes. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to reform our criminal justice system and end for­profit, private prisons. ● Our schools are perhaps our greatest tool in guaranteeing public safety. Expulsion and suspension have a negative effect on students’ behavior and academic achievement. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to invest in alternatives to suspension, but also provide additional alternative programs for at­risk students. ● The instability of our revenue sharing model has hurt police and fire departments in municipalities across our state. We must rework this model to provide greater stability and “Majority of mentally ill inmates don’t get treatments,” ​
University of Michigan ​
study, http://ns.umich.edu/new/releases/7620­majority­of­mentally­ill­inmates­don­t­get­treatment 30
Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER resources to these vital public safety departments. 31 ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to restore funding to our municipalities. ●
Michigan’s fireworks legalization has been met with mixed reactions publicly. We should encourage state agencies to investigate the extent to which fireworks can actually be used safely in public and the amount of financial benefit fireworks legalization gives our state, which thus far has fallen short of projected revenue.32 They have a serious impact on veterans struggling with PTSD. Fireworks are dangerous for their users, observers, our environment, and our pets. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will advocate a limit to the fireworks law. “Too often democracy has been under attack in our state. We need a new commitment to our democratic principles to ensure that everyone’s voices matter in our elections and our government.” ­ Darrin Camilleri On Transparency, Elections, and Campaign Finance ● Our state recently ranked last in a recent study published by the Center for Public Integrity. Michigan received an “F” rating, with the lowest composite score of all 50 states.33 From campaign finance and the public’s ability to access government documents to ethics enforcement and executive accountability, our state simply does not have the laws necessary to promote government transparency and accountability. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will advocate for an open, transparent state government. ● The Flint water crisis made clear the issues that arise when we lack the laws that allow the public to hold officials accountable. That our state’s governor is able to place non­personal emails outside of our FOIA process is unacceptable. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to add the governor and legislature to our FOIA laws. ● Lobbyists and outside groups too easily gain influence and control of politicians in Lansing. This control is exerted through campaign finances and advertising by outside groups who do not have to disclose the source of their funding. A candidate can help an outside group raise “How Michigan’s revenue sharing ‘raid’ cost communities billions for local services,” ​
MLive​
, http://www.mlive.com/lansing­news/index.ssf/2014/03/michigan_revenue_sharing_strug.html 32
“​
Lawmaker hopes Labor Day sparks fireworks law repeal,” ​
Detroit News,​
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/09/04/lawmaker­hopes­labor­day­sparks­fireworks­law­repeal
/71726750/ 33
“Michigan ranks last in laws on ethics, transparency,” ​
Detroit Free Press​
, http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2015/11/09/michigan­ranks­last­laws­ethics­transparency/75288210/ 31
Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER funds that are not regulated by the rules for campaign committees. We need a system that demands these disclosures take place, to reveal special interests’ influence. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to limit the influence of money in politics. ●
Our state fails in requiring top public officials to release financial disclosure information that would highlight conflicts of interest and corruption. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will support a disclosure requirement system that ensures that legislators and other elected officials are working for their constituents, not special interests. ●
Michigan law does not prevent legislators from moving into lobbying firms immediately following the end of their term in Lansing. This is unacceptable and is an example of how our lack of transparency laws allow lobbyists and legislators to too easily conspire against the interests of Michiganders. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will advocate for an end the revolving door and ensure that former legislators are not easily influencing their former colleagues. ●
Emergency management has proven a failure for our state, and this law should be immediately removed from our state government. From the start, emergency management has been a subversion of democracy. In practice, it has proven to be a system that fails to protect communities of color and only worsens financial crises in municipalities and institutions.34 Alternative mechanisms for supporting those municipalities in crisis should be developed, but only if they are consistent with amplifying community voice and upholding our democratic values. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight to repeal the Emergency Manager law. ●
Election laws in Michigan are used as a political weapon to suppress voter participation. We need to encourage voter participation in our state. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to create automatic (pre)registration programs, ensure a no­reason absentee ballot application access, allow early in­person voting and expand poll hours. ●
Another process that has become a political weapon in our state is the redistricting process. As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will advocate for a nonpartisan commission that 34
​
Kirkpatrick, L. Owen and Breznau, Nate, The (Non)Politics of Emergency Political Intervention: The Racial Geography of Urban Crisis Management in Michigan (March 24, 2016). Available at SSRN:​
http://ssrn.com/abstract=2754128 Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER is in charge of designing the districts that compose our state, ensuring that all citizens’ voices matter and that gerrymandering is simply outlawed. “My mother raised my siblings and me to work hard and live a life of integrity in service to others. I come from a family of strong women, like my grandmother who became the first in her family to graduate from high school and raised three kids while working full­time. We have a lot of work to do in order to give women equal opportunities here in Michigan, especially by fighting for equal pay for equal work and paid sick and family leave. As Downriver's next State Representative, I will stand up and speak out as we continue the fight for equality.”​
­ Darrin Camilleri For Women Darrin Camilleri understands that every issue is a women’s issue, with it in mind that other issues impacts on women cannot be ignored or slighted. The policies outlined in particular here focus on the sources of gender­based discrimination that all too often appear in our state. ● Women in our state make only 77 cents to every dollar a man makes.35 This type of gender discrimination is unacceptable, and it is disturbing that Republican legislators have not prioritized this issue in Lansing. The wage gap exists across industries and education levels, and it cannot be explained away by maternity leave or child rearing. Instead, this persistent form of gender discrimination has been allowed to continue because of Republican commitments to gender inequity. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight for equal pay for equal work. ● Alongside paid sick leave, we also need to guarantee access to lengthy maternity leave for each working mother in our state. It is unacceptable that women might have to choose been making ends meet and nurturing a newborn child. We are better than this, and we should 35
“Michigan Women and the Wage Gap,” http://www.nationalpartnership.org/research­library/workplace­fairness/fair­pay/2014­mi­wage­gap.pdf Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER commit to expanding maternity leave access across our state. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will advocate for paid maternity leave. ●
In addition to pay inequity, gender­based workplace discrimination also persists in our state. We have an obligation to protect women working as volunteers, interns, and paid employees from sexual harassment in the workplace. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to expand protections against sexual harassment. ●
I believe in a woman’s right to choose, and my stance on this issue was deemed 100% favorable by Planned Parenthood.36 We have an obligation to protect women’s privacy in their healthcare decisions, which should be made between a woman and her doctor. Our state government should stay out of women’s medical decisions, and far too often Republican plans to protect women actually decrease the accessibility of procedures that are fundamental to women’s health. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will protect a woman’s right to choose. “Our seniors have worked so hard their entire lives, and we owe them the dignity of protecting what they’ve earned. I’ll fight every day to defend our seniors, especially from attacks on their pensions and healthcare.” ­ Darrin Camilleri For Seniors ● The Republican pension tax must be eliminated. Not only does it create a burden on seniors, but this type of tax on what seniors have already earned is a disservice to the individuals who have worked throughout their lives in service of our communities and families. This pension tax robs Michigan seniors and working families of over $200 million annually.37 ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to repeal the pension tax. ● Seniors are the foundation of our communities. We owe them the full funding and staffing of senior and community centers so that they have access to the type of social and recreational opportunities as the rest of our community. Often, these are some of the first things cut from local budgets, and we have to revisit our revenue sharing model to ensure municipalities have the resources they need to serve seniors. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to fully fund and staff senior and community centers. 36
http://miplannedparenthood.org/wp­content/uploads/2016/02/PPAM_PrimaryEndorsementGuide_2016_v5.pdf “Michigan Taxes: Businesses pay less, you pay more,” ​
Detroit Free Press​
, http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/raw­data/2014/10/04/michigan­taxes­snyder/16683967/ 37
Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER ●
The inadequacies of our funding to various state and municipal level programs often results in the privatization of services that have historically been publicly provided. We must stop this trend of privatization and ensure that public agencies that are already overseen are service providers to our seniors. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight against the privatization of public services. ●
Medicare Advantage programs should be made available to all seniors. This program already gives seniors more freedom in their healthcare choices. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to expand Medicare Advantage programs to give more of our seniors the type of flexibility with their medical decisions that they deserve. ●
We must also work to combat fraud in our state, especially that which targets seniors. Too often, seniors on fixed incomes are the targets of schemes that simply do not benefit them. We have to further regulate our reverse mortgage industry to prevent seniors from being taken advantage of when they are facing financial problems. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight against fraud and abuse. “Veterans have served our country with courage and conviction. We have a duty to serve them and their families when their service ends, and our state simply isn’t doing enough to support our heroes.” ­ Darrin Camilleri For Veterans ● Conditions at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans have gotten a great deal of deserved media attention as of late, because our lax approach to oversight in privatization efforts cuts corners rather than serving veterans. We need to stop contracting out these vital services, and we should pass legislation that requires further oversight over these facilities. Deplorable and inhumane conditions are unacceptable for our veterans.38 ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will fight against privatization of veterans’ services. ● Often during their service, veterans gained vital job skills that are in demand in our domestic economy, too. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will support streamlined job training and hiring programs for our veterans so that these highly skilled and disciplined individuals have access to the jobs for which they are excellent candidates. “Veterans testify about care at residence run by the state”, ​
Detroit Free Press​
, http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/06/13/veterans­testify­lousy­care­home­run­state/85832624/ “Michigan veterans affairs chief replaced after audit,” ​
Detroti News,​
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2016/02/19/veterans/80607754/ 38
Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER ●
We also have a responsibility to cut through bureaucratic red tape to ensure that veterans of World War 2, Korea, Vietnam, and all other military operations have access to the quick healthcare services that they deserve. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to ensure that health care covers the full cost of any procedures, services, or prescriptions. ●
For more recent veterans, we must improve the reintegration process through job training programs and mental health supports. As we learn more about post traumatic stress disorder, its prevalence among veterans is finally being more fully understood. This also means sensitivity in our approach to issues like continued fireworks legalization and other issues that cause PTSD episodes. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to support our veterans with the proper mental health programs and resources to ensure we do everything we can to serve those who were willing to put their lives on the line for our freedom. “Americans’ attitudes on LGBT rights are changing dramatically. Our policies should reflect not only the growing consensus around LGBT equality, but also our responsibility to protect all Michiganders regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.” ­ Darrin Camilleri On LGBT Rights ● In Michigan, any employee can be fired, dismissed in a hiring process, or refused a promotion because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. This is simply unacceptable. These individuals are left with no legal options despite the clear injustice of which they have become victims.39 ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to amend the Elliott­Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976 to include sexual orientation and gender identity. ● Beyond employment discrimination, it is also legal in our state to refuse service to LGBT individuals at restaurants, stores, and hotels. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to block bills that serve as a form of state­sanctioned discrimination. ● So­called “bathroom bills” are a disgrace to our state and its civil rights history. Transgender individuals have been safely using the bathroom that matches their gender identities for decades, and to make this unfounded issue a priority reveals the discriminatory foundation of Republican lawmakers’ views on LGBT issues.40 In reality, violence against transgender individuals is on the rise, and the fact that Republican lawmakers would ignore this fact in 39
https://www.equalitymi.org/issues/discrimination “Transgender bathroom bill is bad for Michigan’s soul,” ​
Mlive​
, http://www.mlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/05/transgender_bathroom_bill_is_b.html 40
Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER favor of talking about a non­issue is unsettling to say the least. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will advocate against so­called “bathroom bills.” ●
As a teacher, I know that LGBT students still face a great deal of challenges in and around school. The Michigan State Board of Education released a set of recommendations for public school districts in supporting these students through creating safe cultures and spaces for LGBT students.41 Districts should implement this guidance fully, as these are proven research­based practices for improving academic outcomes for LGBT students and ensuring their safety in public schools. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will encourage public schools to implement these policies for LGBT students. “We still have a lot of work to do when it comes to dealing with historical injustices and moving towards a state focused on justice, fairness, and equality for all.” ­ Darrin Camilleri On Civil Rights Historical injustice is one of the defining features of American society. From Native American groups in our region to African Americans who migrated north following the end of slavery, Michigan has a history of injustices to marginalized people that must still be further investigated and addressed. Real justice is not possible until we have more fully understood the historical forces of injustice in our state. ● Communities of color still face great discrimination in our state. From emergency management laws to state legislators trying to have different standards for different schools across our state, we have to combat structural racism in our state. From the carceral state and failing schools, students of color in our state often have fewer opportunities for advancement than white students in Michigan. We also have a responsibility to address environmental racism that is a reality in our state and in Downriver. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I work to end structural racism in our state, including reforming our criminal justice system and drug laws. ● Republican lawmakers are committed to finding alternative ways to continue to disenfranchise voters of color in our state. We have to call out this disenfranchisement and work to combat it. Election laws in Michigan are used as a political weapon to suppress voter participation. We need to encourage voter participation in our state. By creating automatic (pre)registration programs, ensuring no­reason absentee ballot application access, allowing 41
“State Board of Education Statement and Guidance on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Students,” http://everyvoicecountsmi.org/wp­content/uploads/2016/03/SBE­Statement­on­LGBTQ­Youth­2­9­2016­v2.pdf Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated. A PLAN FOR DOWNRIVER early in­person voting, and expanding poll hours, we can ensure that our elections are accessible and voters feel welcome to participate in them. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will support expanded ballot access. “Your state representative has a responsibility to provide for public health in our area. There is much we can do to improve health care and health coverage for Downriver working families.” ­ Darrin Camilleri On Healthcare ● Substance and drug abuse are significant problems in our community. We need to prioritize fighting these problems through education and treatment programs that prioritize job training and expanding access to other community services. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will advocate for education and rehabilitation programs to assist substance abusers. ● Mental health services should be made more widely accessible in our community. These programs have been deprioritized in Lansing and this has only worsened the social stigma around these issues. We have to commit to changing the culture around mental health services in our state. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to recommit funding to mental health services. ● Committing to quality healthcare and senior living facilities in our state means expanding regulation and combating the ongoing privatization of these facilities in our state. We have a responsibility to ensure that we have safe conditions in these medical facilities, and we have to ensure our state agencies are properly holding operators accountable to having healthy environments for treatment and recovery. ​
As Downriver’s next State Representative, I will work to keep senior living facilities and nursing homes clean and safe. Paid for by Friends of Darrin Camilleri, PO Box 818 Trenton, MI 48183 Printed in house. Labor donated.