We Love Where You Live

Host: Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League Guest: State Senator Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City) Matt Bach sits down with Sen. Wayne Schmidt in his hometown of Traverse City to talk about a variety of challenges facing Michigan communities, including affordable housing, road funding, and revenue sharing. Sen. Schmidt also gives some insight into how legislatiors are receiving the message of Michigan Municipal League's SaveMICity initiative. 

Host: Anthony Minghine, Deputy Executive Director & COO, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Ridgway White, President, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Educating residents and business leaders will be key if we hope to see an improvment to Michigan's broken municipal finance system. The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation understandd that. On this episide, we are joined by Ridgway White, president of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, to hear why they have identified this issue as an area of focus and are supporting the SaveMICity effort.  

Host: Dan Gilmartin, Executive Director & CEO, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Bill Mathewson, recently retired General Counsel, Michigan Municipal League

Host: Lisa Donovan, Communications Specialist / Editor, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Dave Strenski, Founder, Solar Ypsi Dave Strenski, founder of SolarYpsi, has amped up Ypsilanti's sustainability. He and his volunteer team have turned the city into a "solar destination" where people can learn about solar power and tour various solar installations. Thanks to their efforts, Ypsilanti has earned many solar awards, including becoming the first city in Michigan to earn the SolSmart Gold award from the Solar Foundation. Learn more in the July/Aug 2018 issue of The Review.

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Deb Stuart, City Administrator, City of Mason Deb Stuart was the recipient of the League’s 2018 Community Builder Award. She discusses her work with MEDC and the transition to municipal management, her advice for women in government, and the City of Mason’s unique characteristics that make it a desirable place for residents and businesses.

Host: Matt Bach, Communications Director, Michigan Municipal League Guests:  Michigan Municipal League lobbyist team: Chris Hackbarth, John LaMacchia, and Jennifer Rigterink

Host: Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Kyle Melinn, Editor, Vice President, and Co-owner, MIRS Newsletter So just what is MIRS Newsletter? Hint, it’s not the state’s retirement agency (that would be MERS with an E, not MIRS with an I). The League’s Matt Bach sits down with Kyle Melinn, editor, vice president and co-owner of MIRS, and Kyle explains what MIRS is all about. We also talk about what it’s like to cover Lansing politics and the changing role of the media.

Host: Lisa Donovan, Communications Specialist/Editor, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Marci Scalera, Director of Clinical and SUD Services, Community Mental Health Partnership of Southeast Michigan Families, communities, and local governments are falling victim to the opioid crisis in America. Guest Marci Scalera advocates for a multi-faceted approach to dealing with this crisis: prevention, treatment, and stopping drug trafficking. Hear how some Michigan communities are tackling the problem.  And read Scalera's complete article in the March/April 2018 issue of The Review.

Host: Anthony Minghine, Deputy Executive Director and COO, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Brandon Fournier, Partner, Shifman Law Anthony Minghine talks with Brandon Fournier, a leader in labor and OPEB issues, about the complexities of reforming municipalities' obligations and funding regarding pensions and OPEB for retired employees.  Recent reform efforts have resulted in PA 202, which contains a variety of reporting and corrective action plans that communities are trying to understand and implement.  

Host: Dan Gilmartin, CEO & Executive Director, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Melanie Piana, Ferndale Councilmember; Vice President, Michigan Municipal League Board of Trustees

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Frank Peterson, City Manager, Muskegon

Host: Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League Guests: Emily Lawler, Politics Reporter, Mlive Jonathan Oosting, Politics Reporter, Detroit News  

Host: Lisa Donovan, Communications Specialist/Editor, Michigan Municipal League Guests: Christine Burns, Village Manager, Spring Lake Village; board member, Michigan Municipal League Gordon Gallagher, Township Manager, Spring Lake Township

Hose: Tony Minghine, Deputy Executive Director & COO, Michigan Municipal League Guests: Steve Duchane, Founder, Taxpayers for Michigan Constitutional Government John Mogk, Co-founder, Taxpayers for Michigan Constitutional Government and Law Professor, Wayne State University Bill Mathewson, General Counsel, Michigan Municipal League

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Kimberley Sims, Muskegon Heights Mayor and Michigan Municipal League Board member