CRAG Note April 9

Hello CRAGgy Friends,
Welcome new people! (join here)

1. Updates and thoughts
2. Upcoming Local Township/city meetings CALENDAR
3. Events, meetings, and organizing CALENDAR

“It is not shameful to do little.  It is shameful to do nothing.” Alexie Navalny (1978-2024), Russian opposition leader, anti-corruption activist, and political prisoner. (h/t CW)
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photo credit Beth F.

1. Updates and thoughtsYesterday I attended two meetings, the Keweenaw Historic National Park Advisory Council, and Houghton County Commissioners.

• At the Park meeting, I learned that funds have still not been released for several safety projects that had received grants from the Abandoned Mine Land program. The park has been able to hire summer people, but the federal hiring freeze is preventing them from filling open positions. Parks will not be exempt from the overall attacks on federal workers. Please let park employees know that we are on their side.
• Issues at the HoCo meeting included upcoming public meets on the new jail proposal (see dates below), recycling, and a proposed millage to support elder food programs (Meals on Wheels). I made the following remarks:
• i am Sarah Green of Calumet Township.
  I am here to again express alarm at the ongoing federal chaos and draw your attention to local impacts.
  I have three short points today.
  1. Tariffs
  We have just seen the imposition of hugely irresponsible tariffs, widely condemned by business people, are likely to increase costs for all construction projects, including the jail currently being discussed.
  2. The Head Start regional office serving Michigan shut without notice this week.
  Head Start is federally funded and operated locally. These regional offices help match the funding to local needs and provide training and oversight.
  In Houghton County 293 kids are enrolled in Head Start programs, which include special education.
  As Commissioner Roy Britz mentioned earlier, these modest investments in children have huge returns in the long term.
  For perspective, in 2024 the entire federal budget for the Child Care and Development Fund, which includes Head Start, was $12.3B, which is about 0.03 ElonUnit, (3% of Elon Musk’s wealth).
  Cutting programs for children does nothing to improve our economy.
  3. As we have just heard, Meal on Wheels and other food programs receive federal funds, which also help our local small farmers.
  Meals on Wheels is requesting that local taxpayers help support the program, already inadequately funded before current cuts.
  We can clearly see that when federal funding goes away, the needs don’t. Nor do we see federal tax breaks to compensate for the loss of services because the federal tax cuts enacted in 2017, and scheduled to be renewed, are overwhelmingly skewed toward extremely rich people.
  I urge the commission to communicate our concerns to state and federal representatives and to take steps to protect your constituents.

Other issuesRule of law. In my focus on local actions, I have not posted to CRAG about the deeply alarming attacks on the rule of law. Recent cases of deportation without due process are extremely frightening because they cut to the fundamental right to habeas corpus first articulated in the year 1166 and subsequently enshrined in the Magna Carta (1679) and the U.S. Constitution.
Since I don't have the expertise to analyze the current situation, I'll direct you to this amazing collection of photos from the last time the United States invoked the Alien Enemies Act.
Tariffs. MI-01 residents might be interested to know that our rep, Jack Bergman, considers tariffs to be a tool "in the toolbox of economic development". I've called to ask him to explain but I haven't received a response yet.

2. Upcoming Local Township/city meetings CALENDARWe are trying to get someone to speak up at every possible local meeting. Stand up, say your piece How are government actions affecting you? How do they hurt your community? You don't have to say a lot; some people just say a sentence or two "I'm worried about Medicaid cuts"; "I don't want Elon Musk having access to my private data."
As examples, my statements to all bodies are posted on Substack. (I can post yours, too, if you want to share.)
Week of April 6:

• April 9, 5:30 pm, Houghton City Council
• April 9, 6 pm, Osceola Township

Week of April 13th:

• April 14, 5 pm, Adams Township
• April 14, 6 pm, Portage Township
• April 14, 6 pm, Village of South Range
• ** April 14, 7 pm, Hancock Township
  • ** Beth F. is speaking on a resolution proposal
• April 14, 10 am, Houghton Country- special meeting on the jail
• April 14, Franklin Township; 11 pm ??? can someone check on this? https://sites.google.com/prod/view/franklin-township/calendar?authuser=0
• April 15, 10 -11:30 am, Houghton County Special meeting on Jail
• April 15, 5:30 pm, CCISD
• April 15, 6 pm, Calumet Village Council
• April 15, 6 pm, Laurium Village Council
• April 16, 6 pm, Hancock City Council
• April 16, 6 pm, Torch Lake Township
• April 17, 4 pm, Calumet Township Master Plan, Public hearing
• April 17, 5:15 pm, Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District- Annual Meeting

When and where does your local city or township board meet? Let me know. Thanks to those who have shared.

3. Events, meetings, and organizing CALENDARHoughton County Jail info sessions this week:

• Wednesday - Alston/Pelkie, Laird Township Hall, 6:30pm
• Thursday - Calumet Township Hall, 6:00 pm

Mark the dates:

• April 19th. Another nationwide protest.
• April 22nd, 6:30 pm. Second Houghton Bergman(less) Town Hall

Ongoing:

• Yoopers for Ukraine march on the bridge, Wed at 5.
• “Unpack and Unwind” Second Wednesdays, 7 pm to 8:30 pm; Hampton Hotel on the seventh floor (accessible with elevator). A casual space to share ideas, vent, ask questions, and connect with others over progressive thoughts and curiosity. No agenda. No group. Just open minds and good vibes. Drop in, speak up, or just listen—whatever feels right.
• AWAVE 4th Wednesdays. Gathering at 5th and Elm, Hancock.
• Houghton County Dems meet every first Wednesday, 7 pm at the Super 8.

Join:

• The "Where's Jack" team has been mobilizing across MI-01. They have a FB page. Link up with Keweenaw Indivisible to contribute.
• Join local Keweenaw Indivisible here. This group is actively planning multiple activities; volunteers with enthusiasm and/or talents can contribute.
• Lake Superior Region Indivisible has formed in Marquette. Contact them at [email protected].
• AWAVE has a private Facebook group. Contact [email protected] for info.
• Several groups, including CRAG, have Signal groups (yes, that app, we don't invite high ranking officials; journalists are welcome). Reach out if you'd like to join.

Thanks for all your support
Stay Well
Sarah