Three Things Thursday: September 22, 2022
Dear Michigan LCV Family,
Welcome to the September 22, 2022 edition of Three Things Thursday!
Happy Autumn Equinox! The first day of fall and, indeed, the temperature has quickly dropped to reflect the season. The leaves are slowly starting to change and… next week marks the first day Michigan voters can begin casting their ballots in the general election! Speaking of which….
1. Team Michigan LCV is knocking doors in Traverse City today!
The Michigan LCV team is on the ground today in Traverse City canvassing for Betsy Coffia, who is running for State Representative in Michigan’s 103rd House district.
Michigan LCV’s Advocacy & Outreach team with Betsy Coffia (middle) before today’s Traverse City canvass!
With early in-person voting starting next week, our team is focused on supporting our endorsed candidates across the state with in-person and virtual canvasses to get out the vote. The race in the 103rd is of particular interest, as this year presents an opportunity to elect an environmental champion to represent a district that includes the Leelanau Peninsula and Grand Traverse County for the very first time!
Getting Betsy’s briefing on the district before hitting the doors.
Believe it or not, there are only 46 days before November 8th! We would love to have you join us for one of our canvasses! Here are some of our upcoming opportunities, with links to sign up to join the Michigan LCV team:
Canvass for Padma Kuppa for State Senate and Sharon MacDonell for State Representative
Sept. 28 from 3 – 5 pm
Troy, MI
Canvass for Winnie Brinks for State Senate and John Fitzgerald for State Representative
Oct. 1 from 11 am – 2 pm
Wyoming, MI
Canvass for Betsy Coffia for State Representative
Oct. 1 from 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Traverse City, MI
Canvass for Veronica Klinefelt for State Senate
Oct. 4 from 1 – 3 pm
Farmington Hills, MI
I hope to see you out there!
2. Filter First legislation passes the Michigan Senate
Earlier this week, the Michigan Senate passed critical Filter First legislation – Senate Bills 184 and 185 . After several years of advocacy around Filter First bills, Tuesday’s Senate vote marked the first critical step in much-needed victory for a broad coalition working to ensure clean drinking water in schools.
As you know, there is no safe lead level for human exposure. The Filter First legislation works to protect our kids from harmful contaminants and the strategy to do so is fairly straightforward: instead of undertaking massive service line replacement projects while the school year is in full swing, the legislation requires the installation of filtered hydration station water fixtures that meet the NSF 53 standard for lead reduction and NSF 42 for particulate reduction, standards that are proven to remove lead that often leaches into water as it travels through pipes, fixtures, and fittings.
Please know that with the passage of Senate Bill 565 earlier this year, the state has already put $50 million on the table to cover the cost of implementing Filter First in schools and childcare facilities–it just needs to get across the finish line in the legislature.
Here is what the Filter First bills – Senate Bills 185 and 186 – will do to ensure clean, safe drinking water in Michigan schools and childcare facilities:
Senate Bill 184 will:
- Require schools to develop a drinking water management plan and regularly update that plan with EGLE’s guidance, as well as install filtered bottle filling stations at a rate of 1 per 100 occupants by the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
- Require schools to sample filtered water outlets once a year to maintain filters.
- Direct EGLE to work with schools to address and remediate any failing filters (i.e. filters with samples above 5 parts per billion of lead).
Senate Bill 185 will:
- Require childcare centers to develop a drinking water management plan and submit it to LARA – Childcare centers would not be required to install filtered bottle filling stations, but are eligible for state funding from SB 565 if they choose to do so.
- Provide childcare facilities the option to provide drinking water to children from all the of the following:
- A filtered bottle filling station
- An on-tap filter
- A pitcher filter
- Water delivery service
- Require childcare centers to maintain records of filter replacements and maintenance.
- Require local health departments or LARA to sample drinking water once every two years to ensure filters are working properly.
- Require childcare center staff undergo training once every 5 years on filter operations and sampling protocol.
The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives where – as crazy as it sounds – there is sure to be opposition. Please know that the Michigan LCV team will do everything we can to ensure the passage of this critical legislation.
#OurWaterOurFuture
3. Detroit Gala…this year we have a silent auction!
For Michigan LCV’s upcoming 2022 annual Gala, we are partnering once again with the Glass Academy. Not only is the Academy creating this year’s awards, their amazing team has donated some amazing hand blown glass for our (new) silent auction!
All of this beautiful glass will be auctioned off during next week’s Gala!
The creative brainchild of artists Michelle Plucinsky and Chris Nordin, the Glass Academy is a renowned, family-owned, artist-driven hot glass studio that has been a staple of the Dearborn community for nearly 20 years.
F0r this year’s gala, the Glass Academy crafted several stunning silent auction items that are an ode to the Great Lakes – created exclusively with their 100% recycled lake blue glass, hand blown at their Dearborn studio, and intentionally designed for our partnership.
We are thrilled to continue this strong relationship with the Glass Academy, and extremely excited for you to check out these beautiful silent auction items!
I hope you’ve already gotten your tickets to the event, but if you haven’t please do so ASAP. We are running out of room! You can purchase tickets here.
Thank you for all you do to support our work!
Onward!
Lisa