The New Michigan: Unfair to Women and Children

Op-Ed By Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony

DETROIT -- As one observes the recent legislative rulings and proposals coming out of Lansing it would appear that Michigan is becoming more like the old Mississippi than the New Michigan that we have all come to know and to love. Let us be clear that we are not against welfare reform. We are against those who would destroy families using the veil of fiscal responsibility with no sensitivity for human accountability.

The recent proposal by the State Legislature and endorsed and affirmed by the Governor of the State to throw off families including babies, children and seniors from receiving financial support through the Family Independence Program (FIA) represents a new low for our State. We applaud U.S. District Court Judge Paul Borman for his recent ruling granting an injunction to stop the Department of Human Services from cutting off needy families. This was a most important ruling in the quest to save lives and to prevent community chaos. We are pleased to have the City of Detroit, led by the Honorable Dave Bing, to join with us in filing our amicus brief to prevent the State from once again attempting to eliminate families who are totally dependent upon State aid for their survival.

This law we believe is unconstitutional, illegal, immoral and illegitimate. Families have not been given proper notification as required by law. Giving individuals specific hearings to discuss their current situation has not been observed, the adequate providing of proper address, telephone numbers, cases that might involve family abuse, extreme hardships and critical lifelines for immediate survival have not been considered.

Surely the State of Michigan can do better than this. It is important to remember that we are not dealing with product, we are not dealing with groups, we are dealing with people. This will affect thousands of children throughout the State, Wayne County and in particular the City of Detroit. The most recent reissuing of notices to so called groups of individuals has not been done in accordance with the ruling issued by Judge Paul D. Borman on Tuesday, Oct 4th, 2011.

It is a gross disrespect and disregard for the rule of law, the proper notification and the human consideration of families who have nowhere else to turn. Michigan has among the highest unemployment in our nation. There are no jobs in the number and in the capacity needed to aid persons turned off public assistance. There has been no training programs, no specific jobs, no positive alternatives created to simply throwing people off aid. It is reported that this move will save the State $77.4 million dollars in its state budget by taking this action. We will remind everyone including the State officials that it cost $34,000 per year to incarcerate one individual. As a result of throwing families off of aid, it will lead ultimately to an increase in crime as individuals struggle to provide for their families which will impact our penal system. This according to Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee, will stress an already challenged department. If one multiples by at least two thousand individuals that might now be forced to take to the streets for their survival, that number will come to nearly $70 million dollars. This is a rough estimate.

The financial gain that the State says it will make as a result of this change will be short lived due to the tremendous impact that it will have in the possible criminal activity for the long term in every area of life. There is no safety net because the State has created more holes in the net that the very net itself cannot catch those who are going to be most affected.

We believe that Judge Borman should continue to keep this case within the jurisdiction of his court. Notification to individuals has not been properly achieved. The State of Michigan is playing games with the lives of families. This is about children, women, and those who need us at this very critical economic time. For those who say that there is tremendous waste in the welfare system and people have been on too long, we would say let’s look at the record. Most people on welfare do not want to be there. Jobs are not readily available as many middle class, college educated and talented individuals cannot find jobs that are readily available

There is no mass transportation system to adequately provide access to the few jobs that may be available in our suburban communities. Training programs for new jobs are inadequately funded and are not readily available through community organizations, churches, and neighborhood associations.

At the same time persons are being thrown off welfare the State is also implementing laws that limit the amount of money that can be spent on an automobile for the entire family. A cap of $15 to $20 thousand dollars for one automobile for an entire family is a recipe for disaster. It is inadequate. It limits the ability of mobility and is a yoke being put around the neck of families who are trying to make it, that legislators are not willing to put around their own. Families have not had the opportunity to make informed individual decisions about their specific cases. Notification has not been adequate nor has due process again been followed. This is another attack upon the people and should be rejected The State of Michigan should be called upon to honor its constitution and to follow the rule of law in protecting all of its citizens.

We believe that it is inappropriate to punish all welfare recipients because a few do not follow the rules. We do not punish all politicians, all legislatures, all governors, all preachers, all police officers, firefighters, and persons in any field for the few who have not followed the rules. Let’s fix the system and at the same time let us not sacrifice the babies, children and our future on the altar of political expediency and budget efficiency.

The Detroit Branch NAACP is the organizations largest branch. It holds monthly meetings that are free and open to the public. For more information please call (313) 871-2087 or visit www.detroitnaacp.org.