AG's Investigation Summary
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
May 12, 2020 the Honorable Mitch Mcconnell Majority Leader United
May 12, 2020 The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Charles Schumer Majority Leader Minority Leader United States Senate United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Speaker of the House House Minority Leader U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515 RE: Temporarily Expand SNAP in the Next Federal COVID-19 Relief Package to Lift Up Vulnerable Families and Support Local Economies Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leaders McConnell, Schumer, and McCarthy: We, the undersigned mayors representing cities across the nation, appreciate your work on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help workers, employers, older Americans, and children, but much more needs to be done to ensure that our residents can weather this crisis. During this time of soaring unemployment, financial insecurity, and growing hunger, we urge Congress to temporarily increase SNAP benefit levels in the next federal COVID-19 relief package. America’s cities are on the front line of responding to unprecedented disruption to local economies triggered by COVID-19. As mayors, we need every option available to fight hunger and stimulate the economy in our cities. SNAP is a proven solution to both challenges. By providing families with a grocery benefit they can use to purchase food directly, SNAP is a safe, effective way to ensure that low-income children and their families can get the food they need during this unprecedented crisis. While the FFCRA provided USDA with authority to increase emergency SNAP allotments for existing SNAP households to the maximum benefit, the most vulnerable families—roughly 12 million people, including 5 million children—received no additional nutrition assistance because their household already received the maximum SNAP benefit. -
The Bankruptcy of Detroit: What Role Did Race Play?
The Bankruptcy of Detroit: What Role did Race Play? Reynolds Farley* University of Michigan at Michigan Perhaps no city in the United States has a longer and more vibrant history of racial conflict than Detroit. It is the only city where federal troops have been dispatched to the streets four times to put down racial bloodshed. By the 1990s, Detroit was the quintessential “Chocolate City-Vanilla Suburbs” metropolis. In 2013, Detroit be- came the largest city to enter bankruptcy. It is an oversimplification and inaccurate to argue that racial conflict and segregation caused the bankruptcy of Detroit. But racial issues were deeply intertwined with fundamental population shifts and em- ployment changes that together diminished the tax base of the city. Consideration is also given to the role continuing racial disparity will play in the future of Detroit after bankruptcy. INTRODUCTION The city of Detroit ran out of funds to pay its bills in early 2013. Emergency Man- ager Kevyn Orr, with the approval of Michigan Governor Snyder, sought and received bankruptcy protection from the federal court and Detroit became the largest city to enter bankruptcy. This paper explores the role that racial conflict played in the fiscal collapse of what was the nation’s fourth largest city. In June 1967 racial violence in Newark led to 26 deaths and, the next month, rioting in Detroit killed 43. President Johnson appointed Illinois Governor Kerner to chair a com- mission to explain the causes of urban racial violence. That Commission emphasized the grievances of blacks in big cities—segregated housing, discrimination in employment, poor schools, and frequent police violence including the questionable shooting of nu- merous African American men. -
Memorandum To: Interested Parties From: Future Majority Subject: This Week in the States Three Things to Know This Week That
Memorandum To: Interested parties From: Future Majority Subject: This week in the states Three things to know this week that happened outside the Beltway: • In Wisconsin, Democrats expected Appeals Court Judge Lisa Neubauer to easily win a seat on the state Supreme Court against Republican Appeals Court Judge Brian Hagedorn on April 2. Hagedorn was hammered earlier this year for extreme and anti-gay comments and was abandoned by some of the GOP establishment, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Wisconsin Realtors Association. As of Thursday, however, Neubauer was down 5,800 votes to Hagedorn, who claimed victory. Hagedorn portrayed Neubauer as a socialist and was helped by a $1 million independent expenditure by the Republican State Leadership Committee, which ran ads calling Neubauer “Liberal Lisa”, with Trump praising Hagedorn and suggesting radical out of state interests were trying to take down Hagedorn like they tried to take down Brett Kavanaugh. Hagedorn was helped by a 20% increase in Republican voter turnout. Political observers are crediting Hagedorn’s strong showing to an awake Trump base. (link) (link) • In Illinois, Chicago elected Lori Lightfoot mayor on April 2, marking the city’s first African American woman and first openly-gay mayor. (link) • In Pennsylvania, Democrat Pam Iovino defeated Republican D. Raja in the April 2 special election to win the 37th state senate district 52-48. Donald Trump won the Pittsburgh-area seat by 6 points in 2016. This was the second Pittsburgh- area state senate seat to switch to Democratic control since 2018. (link) Elsewhere in the states: • In Michigan, a scandal is brewing around Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (D) and his personal relationship with Dr. -
Policy on Purpose Episode 25: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan Shares Before and After Story of Detroit Announcer
Policy on Purpose Episode 25: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan shares before and after story of Detroit Announcer: This is Policy on Purpose, a podcast produced by the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. We take you behind the scenes of policy with the people who helped shape it. For more visit LBJ.utexas.edu. Angela Evans: Hello, everyone. This is Angela Evans. I'm the dean of the LBJ School, and this is another one of our series of Policy on Purpose. And I'm so, so pleased today to have the mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan, here with me today and I have a special place in my heart in Detroit, because I have a son who's there, went to school there and stayed there. And I'm very pleased to have the mayor for several reasons. One is the mayor has stepped in to public service at a time when his city was in extremis, but at the same time, when we look at Detroit, I think for many of us, Detroit is a symbol of what can happen in America, both in terms of good things and in terms of how we can challenge-- how we have some challenges. So, Mayor Duggan, thank you very much for coming and joining us today. Mike Duggan: Well, it's great to be in Austin and thank you for inviting me during a week when Michigan is nine inches of snow. So, it's good to be in Texas. Evans: And also, it's in Texas when we have our freeze, which is very unusual in November. -
Theasebastian.Com
Thea Sebastian [email protected] 1736 Columbia Rd. NW, Apt. 109 (508) 292-4756 Washington, DC 20009 EDUCATION HARVARD LAW SCHOOL, J.D., May 2016 Honors: Dean’s Scholar, Legislation and Regulation; Dean’s Scholar, Legal Profession Activities: Social Enterprise Law Association, Founding President American Constitution Society, Founding Director of Conversation on Race Series Professor Laurence Tribe, Research Assistant (constitutional history) Professor Tomiko Brown-Nagging, Research Assistant (class-based affirmative action) Professor Lawrence Summers, Independent Paper (policy strategies to address income inequality) HUNTER COLLEGE, Masters in Secondary Special Education, June 2013 OXFORD UNIVERSITY, M.Sc. in Comparative Social Policy, September 2011 Activities: Democrats Abroad, Oxford Chapter, Events Director American Society of Oxford, President Thesis: Policy as Opportunity: A Staged Approach to Understanding Mobility Opportunity in the United States and Canada (exploring economic/social policies that promote upward mobility in the U.S. and Canada) HARVARD COLLEGE, A.B. in Government, June 2008 Activities: Freeze College Magazine, Founding President Institute of Politics Energy Policy Group, Founding Co-Chair EXPERIENCE POLICY COUNSEL, CIVIL RIGHTS CORPS FEBRUARY 2018 – PRESENT Washington, DC Founded and ran policy program at a nonprofit organization that has led the efforts nationwide around bail, license suspension, fees and fines, diversion, prosecutorial accountability, and other areas across the criminal system; Designed -
January 19, 2021 the Honorable Nancy Pelosi the Honorable Mitch
January 19, 2021 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Mitch McConnell Speaker Majority Leader United States House of Representatives United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Kevin McCarthy The Honorable Charles E. Schumer Republican Leader Democratic Leader United States House of Representatives United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510 Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer: RE: Urgent Action Needed on President-Elect Biden’s American Rescue Plan On behalf of The United States Conference of Mayors, we urge you to take immediate action on comprehensive coronavirus relief legislation, including providing direct fiscal assistance to all cities, which is long overdue. President-elect Biden’s American Rescue Plan contains such assistance as part of an aggressive strategy to contain the virus, increase access to life-saving vaccines, and create a foundation for sustainable and inclusive recovery. American cities and our essential workers have been serving at the frontlines of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for nearly a year. We have been charged with executing herculean public health efforts and an unprecedented emergency response. Despite immense fiscal pressure, your local government partners oversaw those efforts, while trying to maintain essential services and increase our internal capacity to provide support for residents and businesses who have been crippled by a tanking economy. And yet, as the economic engines of our country, local governments will be relied upon to lead the long- term economic recovery our nation so desperately needs, even as, with few exceptions, cities have been largely left without direct federal assistance. -
To See Duggan's Plan
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A FUTURE MIKE DUGGAN’S NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A FUTURE For the last six months, Mike Duggan has had more than 200 meetings with neighborhood and block club leaders, the faith-based community, and citizens of the City of Detroit in every corner of this City. From those meetings we have developed a 10-point plan to restore Detroit’s neighborhoods that we call “Every Neighborhood has a Future.” Once, Detroit’s neighborhoods were the envy of America. Our city boasted block after block of solidly-built single family homes, well-kept yards, and beautifully maintained streets. Today, more than 1/3 of those properties are now abandoned. A survey released by Data Driven Detroit in 2010 counted nearly 25,000 abandoned homes in the city and another 70,000 vacant lots. More than 60,000 of those parcels are currently owned by the government – primarily the City Planning and Economic Development Department, the Wayne County Treasurer, or the State Land Bank. There is virtually no coordination between them. There is no plan to maintain or reuse this property. It just sits. And Detroit’s population continues to decline at the rate of 250 people a month, with many simply walking away and abandoning their homes. Yet, we still have an enormous asset in our housing stock. That same Data Driven Detroit survey concluded that 86% of all homes were in good condition. We have many neighborhoods with solid, well-maintained homes on the same block with dangerous and abandoned buildings. If we act now in a coordinated manner – neighborhood by neighborhood - we still have time to save the large stretches of this city that are still filled with residents who want to stay in their homes. -
Duggan Case Study C&E
The “Unicorn” Write-In Victory for Mayor of Detroit The Communications Strategy that took Mike Duggan’s Write-In Campaign from Long-Shot to Victory on Election Night. By Joe Slade White & Ben Nuckels "Never thought I'd see that happen. Extremely rare. Like a unicorn" - Detroit TV Reporter Mara McDonald on Mike Duggan's remarkable write-in campaign victory for Detroit Mayor. To say that we faced long odds in the 2013 Detroit Mayoral race would be the understatement of the year. For starters, Detroit had never elected a write-in candidate for mayor. Further complicating matters, another write-in candidate somehow mysteriously appeared at the last minute, whose name just happened to be Mike Dugeon. That’s a 2-letter difference from our candidate, Mike Duggan. Duggan’s opponents would stoop to anything to keep him from making the run-off. In order for a write-in vote to count, the name had to be spelled correctly, on the correct line on the ballot, and the circle next to the name had to be filled in. This was not going to be simple or easy. But, none of those obstacles stopped us. We overcame the incredible odds by focusing on two critical messages: telling Mike Duggan’s story of turnaround success AND educating voters on how to write in his name on the ballot and make their votes count. We employed a variety of spot lengths to secure the most points and to drive repetition of key information on television and we ran voter-file targeted online advertising. -
1 May 20, 2021 the Honorable Charles Schumer Majority Leader
May 20, 2021 The Honorable Charles Schumer The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Majority Leader Speaker United States Senate United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Minority Leader Minority Leader United States Senate United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515 Dear Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, and Leader McCarthy: As 81 mayors representing communities across 28 states and the District of Columbia, we write to urge Congress to enact the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (AHCIA) of 2021, S. 1136 and H.R. 2573, which would strengthen and expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit). The Housing Credit is our nation’s primary tool for encouraging private investment in affordable rental housing. While rental assistance is critical for keeping renters in their homes during this time of financial instability, the need for more affordable housing production and preservation in cities and towns preceded the pandemic. Since its creation in the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the Housing Credit has been the primary financing source for the production and preservation of affordable rental housing. It has financed nearly 3.5 million apartments since 1986, providing affordable homes to approximately 8 million low-income households, including families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. The Housing Credit brings together private-sector resources and oversight by state agencies, resulting in a durable solution to the need for affordable housing. The AHCIA of 2021 includes a number of provisions that would enhance the program and enable cities like ours to better serve the affordable housing needs in our communities. -
November 25, 2019 the Honorable Michael R. Pompeo Secretary Of
November 25, 2019 The Honorable Michael R. Pompeo Secretary of State U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20230 Dear Secretary Pompeo, Mayors across the nation recognize the many contributions refugees make to their cities and to our nation as a whole. They strengthen our economy and enhance our culture. We write to urge the Administration to rescind the September 26 executive order and return this year’s refugee admissions to previous annual levels. For years, the United States has been a world leader in welcoming people who have fled violence and persecution and are seeking a safe place to call home. Since our refugee admissions program was established nearly 40 years ago, most administrations have recognized the global need for resettlement and determined the yearly admissions ceiling in consultation with Congress to fulfill the U.S. commitment. U.S. cities have long benefited from the annual arrival of refugees. Once they are resettled, refugees learn the new language, adjust to the different culture, and strive to establish a new life. In the process, they also enrich and bring cultural vibrancy and diversity to their local communities. Refugees contribute meaningfully to our economy as earners and taxpayers. While they receive initial assistance upon arriving in the United States, they see significant income increases in subsequent years. Their entrepreneurship rate is greater than that of other immigrants, as are their long-term investments in the country, including founding companies, earning citizenship, and buying homes. Indeed, they have positively reshaped cities across the country in recent decades by opening restaurants, buying vacant homes, contributing to the cultural landscape, and adding to the local workforce. -
Mayors Commission on Water Equity Asks Congress to Invest $58 Billion to Create a Cross- Agency “Lead Safe Communities” Fund
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mayors Commission on Water Equity asks Congress to invest $58 billion to create a cross- agency “Lead Safe Communities” fund $46 billion would be used to replace lead pipes and $12 billion to address other sources of lead CHICAGO, April 29, 2021 – The Mayors Commission on Water Equity requests $58 billion to create a cross-agency “Lead Safe Communities” fund to support state programs to replace lead service lines and lead plumbing, fixtures, and paint in homes and schools. Leading Great Lakes mayors presented this and other water equity funding priorities to Congressional leaders in a briefing held today. “Water is a cornerstone of public health and a thriving economy,” said Waukegan, Ill. Mayor Sam Cunningham, Chair of the Mayors Commission on Water Equity. “Yet, across the Great Lakes region, communities are buckling under the costs of aging, and sub-standard water infrastructure, with low-income and communities of color shouldering a disproportionate share of the burden. This funding is desperately needed.” “Historical patterns that generated inequality in our region, such as segregation, discriminatory housing practices, economic dislocation, and disinvestment, have also fostered disparities in water services,” said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “Communities of color and lower-income people in the region tend to be concentrated in areas with lower-quality infrastructure and more severe environmental challenges, and Congress must provide the resources to ensure water equity.” Much of our region’s water infrastructure was built over a century ago. Repairs and modernization is in order,” said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. “Upgrading water systems in the United States is projected to cost approximately $1 trillion over the next 20 years, with nearly $200 billion needed in the eight Great Lakes states. -
November 25, 2019 the Honorable Michael R. Pompeo Secretary Of
November 25, 2019 The Honorable Michael R. Pompeo Secretary of State U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20230 Dear Secretary Pompeo, Mayors across the nation recognize the many contributions refugees make to their cities and to our nation as a whole. They strengthen our economy and enhance our culture. We write to urge the Administration to rescind the September 26 executive order and return this year’s refugee admissions to previous annual levels. For years, the United States has been a world leader in welcoming people who have fled violence and persecution and are seeking a safe place to call home. Since our refugee admissions program was established nearly 40 years ago, most administrations have recognized the global need for resettlement and determined the yearly admissions ceiling in consultation with Congress to fulfill the U.S. commitment. U.S. cities have long benefited from the annual arrival of refugees. Once they are resettled, refugees learn the new language, adjust to the different culture, and strive to establish a new life. In the process, they also enrich and bring cultural vibrancy and diversity to their local communities. Refugees contribute meaningfully to our economy as earners and taxpayers. While they receive initial assistance upon arriving in the United States, they see significant income increases in subsequent years. Their entrepreneurship rate is greater than that of other immigrants, as are their long-term investments in the country, including founding companies, earning citizenship, and buying homes. Indeed, they have positively reshaped cities across the country in recent decades by opening restaurants, buying vacant homes, contributing to the cultural landscape, and adding to the local workforce.