Press Contact: 313-523-2499
For Immediate Release
JoAnna Underwood Calls Out Governor Whitmer’s Abuse of Power
Governor Gretchen Whitmer is attempting to deny Detroit residents’ right to vote on the Detroit Charter Revisions.
Detroit, MI
Governor Gretchen Whitmer is following the long line of Governors abusing their power over Detroit like Jennifer Granholm and Rick Snyder. The Michigan State Constitution’s Home Rule Act is being misinterpreted by the Governor, which could have grave repercussions for municipalities all across the state if she is successful in Detroit. The recent ruling from Judge Kinney, from Livonia, in the 3rdCircuit Court was based on case law not state statute, and could disenfranchise half of the Black population in Michigan. The Michigan Supreme Court just sent back the ruling to the Court of Appeals to review the decision, as the law is very clear that Detroiters have the right to vote on their City Charter.
Detroit is the largest concentrated Black city in America, with its 500,000 African American residents making up half of the state’s Black population. Alongside Mayor Duggan, the Governor is trying to keep the residents of Detroit from being able to vote on their newest revision of their City Charter. False numbers were presented to the public with unsubstantiated claims that the new revisions could plunge Detroit into another bankruptcy and increase the budget by $2 billion per year. The factual numbers show that the total cost of the new revisions will only increase the city’s budget by $7 million per year.
Some of the changes proposed in the new Charter Revisions include protection of fair elections with a new, independent Election Commission voted into office by the people. Creating a water affordability plan that will help residents who have had their water shut off since 2014 be able to turn their faucets back on, a plan that not only helps residents but protects public health. Changing the Area Median Income used for housing affordability in the City to be based on a local income rather than a regional income that currently includes affluent suburbs that continues to keep Detroiters out of affordable housing. Creating a fair contracting practice for city contractors to help minority contractors and Detroit-based businesses receive more city contracts. Additional revisions include ensuring a prevailing wage for city workers, protecting union jobs, ending privatization of city services for garbage and protecting Detroit’s public transportation, and providing proper oversight of the local private authorities including the Detroit Land Bank and the Great Lakes Water Authority.
Underwood states “This Charter revision creates a pathway for all Detroiters and Detroit communities to have inclusion in government operations and processes by creating an open, transparent government that is accountable to all of its people, not just the rich and white. As we fight to be able to place this Charter Revision on the ballot for all Detroiters, I want to remind the Governor and the Mayor that throughout this revision process we have included residents and been transparent with every aspect of our decision-making. The Civil Rights Act of 1965 and the historical legacy of Detroit’s African American community fighting for their right to vote continues, and this city has a long memory.”
JoAnna is a current sitting Detroit Charter Commissioner and is running for Detroit City Council in District 7.
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