Chances are, if you live in Michigan you’ve got one (or more). My most recent pothole story took place last week.
My youngest son, Cameron, was driving home from the University of Illinois at night. He was heading north on I-69 when the car in front of him hit a pothole. Then Cameron hit the pothole. And the car behind him hit the pothole. Three for three.
They all pulled over to the side of the road with blown tires. Because we are fortunate to have roadside assistance, Cameron called them and was connected with a local towing company. The person who answered the phone knew exactly where he was and knew all about that pothole.
This mom was grateful that no one was hurt, but was not very happy having her son pulled over on the side of a busy road in the dark, waiting for the towing company. I’m happy to report that Cameron made it safely home that night. He went to the tire store the next day where they told him that his tire was ruined and he needed to replace it. The man helping him told him that this was a daily occurrence in their store. I’m guessing that towing companies and tire companies are the only ones happy about the state of Michigan roads.
So let me just say it now, we need to fix the damn roads.
Even before this most recent pothole story, I was very grateful when Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a plan to fix the roads in her first budget. It’s a problem that has gone on far too long and I appreciated her boldness and courageousness about confronting the problem and announcing a plan.
I get that it is not necessarily what everyone wants. To pay more at the pump. But as they say, you get what you pay for. And we need to pay for better roads. Just this week, a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities warns states like Michigan that after years of misguided tax cuts and corporate subsidies, our infrastructure is woefully underfunded.
At the League we believe it is critically important to invest in Michigan. That includes roads and education and communities and supports for struggling families. We also understand that an increase in the gas tax affects those who are low income the most. So we were very pleased to see an increase in the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit in Gov. Whitmer’s budget. It will help to offset the impact on families who are low income.
It’s time to face this problem head on.
Oh, and as this mom worried about her son, his dad reported the pothole on the Michigan Department of Transportation website. Let’s hope the money will be there to fix the pothole.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Jacob Kaplan 
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Donald Stuckey 
Patrick Schaefer
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Amber Bellazaire joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a policy analyst in June of 2019. Her work primarily focuses on state policy and budgets affecting Michigan’s Medicaid programs. Previously, Amber worked at the National Conference of State Legislatures tracking legislation and research related to injury and violence prevention, adolescent health, and maternal and child health. She also brings with her two years of Americorps service. As a full time volunteer, Amber had the opportunity to tutor high school students in Chelsea, Massachusetts and address issues of healthcare access and food insecurity through in-person outreach in Seattle, Washington.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
