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CRAG Missive, April 2

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

  1. Event today: Jail plans
  2. CRAG News
  3. Upcoming Local Township/city meetings CALENDAR
  4. 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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I'm back from a short break, happily coinciding with a week that has few public meetings.
1. Event today!April 2, 6 pm. PLDL Meeting to Discuss Jail Plans for Houghton County, sponsored by LWV, Come to learn about the options to replace the out-of-compliance Houghton jail prior to the formal public meeting on April 15th. See the CRAG calendar for details.
Faith's previous talk on the issue was recorded: Addressing Critical Needs for Public and Workplace Safety in Houghton County

2. CRAG News
Beth F. had a great letter published in the Daily Mining Gazette about her visit to Hancock Township. (Next meeting is April 14th)

During the Hancock Township Board meeting on March 10, members of a local group, Citizens Rally for Accountable Government (CRAG), urged the board to sponsor a resolution on federal executive overreach. The Board postponed the discussion to the next meeting, Monday, April 14 at 7 p.m. in the Township Hall (52825 M-203, Hancock Township).
The CRAG members hope the Board will endorse a resolution similar to the one passed unanimously by the Houghton City Council on February 16. The Houghton resolution reads in part: “Be it resolved that the Houghton City Council opposes administrative overreach, including the large-scale reductions in force of civilian federal employees.” I pointed out that the administration attempted to illegally terminate Congressionally approved funds for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and has supported the illegal firing of thousands of federal employees by Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a department never approved by Congress. Musk was elected by no one and is therefore accountable to no one.
These cuts are especially galling because they mainly affect young people just establishing their careers, and they will fund a tax cut for billionaires and large corporations. The bill sponsoring the cuts has been approved by the House and sent to the Senate.
Dorothy Riutta, also a Hancock Township resident, spoke regarding the fact that H. Con. Res. 14, which establishes the Congressional Budget through 2034, proposes slashing $880 billion in federal funding from Medicaid, funding that many residents of Canal View, the county-supported medical care facility in Hancock, rely on.
Township resident Dr. Terry Kinzel, a physician at Canal View, clarified that Medicaid is a funding source for many of our hard-working families and neighbors who need nursing home care and, because of the great expense, run through their entire life’s savings and thus rely on Medicaid.
Tom Snyder, also a Township resident, said that services that have been cut include the repair of ponds damaged by floods that had previously been provided by the Natural Resource Conservation Service. He said such services are important for the prevention of soil loss and stream water quality.
Collectively, CRAG members urge the Hancock Township Board to put political differences aside and work together to address this Constitutional crisis.
Beth Flynn, Hancock Township 49930 March 21
Other recent letters and articles:

Keep writing!
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Other articles

3. Upcoming Local Township/city meetingsCALENDAR
We 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.)
I have only one meeting on the schedule for this week:

  • April 4, Friday, 6 pm, Stanton Township

Week of April 6:

  • April 8, 12:30 pm Schoolcraft Township
  • April 8, 1:00 pm Keweenaw National Historic Park
  • April 8, 3:00 pm Houghton County Commissioners
    • Meals on Wheels, request for a millage. Craig W has collected a lot of info on this; please ask if you'd like me to forward it.
  • April 8, 5 pm Baraga Country
  • April 9, 4 pm, L'Anse Township
  • April 9, 5:30 pm, Houghton City Council
  • April 9, 6 pm, Osceola Township

4. Events, meetings, and organizing  CALENDAR
Saturday:April 5, Nationwide Day of Protest:Hands OffIndivisible Rally with speakers, 12-1 at Bridgeview Park, March on the Bridge 1-2 pm.

  • 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 lsrindivisible@gmail.com.
  • AWAVE has a private Facebook group. Contact awave-up@proton.me for info.
  • Several groups, including CRAG, have Signal groups (yes, that app, we don't invite high ranking officials). Reach out if you'd like to join.

Thanks for all your support
Stay Well
Sarah

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Jamie Larson
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