The US Department of Justice contacted the Eastpointe City Council today, alleging that our voting practices violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965. They allege that our existing system for electing the mebers of the Eastpointe City Council violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, 52 U.S.C. § 10301. Read more about this issue on Eastpointe's website.

On November 8, 2016, Eastpointe voters renewed the Eastpointe Memorial Library millage of 1 mill, and approved the Charter change allowing the City to contact residents via regular first-class mail instead of registered mail - savings tens of thousands of dollars.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER XVI, SECTION 11, OF THE CHARTER FOR THE CITY OF EASTPOINTE
Currently, Section 11 of Chapter XVI gives the City Council the option of providing notices regarding the filing and review of special assessment rolls by either newspaper publication or registered mail. It is proposed such notices regarding special assessments be permitted to be sent by regular first-class mail rather than registered mail. Shall the proposed amendment be adopted?

Local Schools and Governments will now be able to send informational mass communications to residents in the 60 days before an election (and more than 60 days before an election also). The State Legislature passed, and Governor Snyder signed into law Senate Bill 571, creating the "gag order", but has now been struck down by U.S. District Court Judge John Corbett O'Meara. Secretary of State Ruth Johnson will not be able to enforce this law.

UPDATE: The City was able to promote the Eastpointe Memorial Library millage and it passed securing our Library funding for years to come, and we also passed a Charter amendment reducing the cost on taxpayers when the City Council creates a Special Assessment.