Dear Neighbor,
Our team has been making good use of the warmer weather and extra hours of sunshine to get out into the community and connect with folks. From coffee hours and small business visits to project groundbreakings and environmental cleanup events, we’ve had a busy schedule.
In this newsletter, catch up with everything we’ve been up to — plus, learn more about the 2026 State Budget my colleagues and I passed recently. This budget proposal makes exciting investments in the people and places that make our lakeshore community the wonderful home it is for so many families.
As always, please feel free to reach out to share your thoughts or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments — we are here to serve you. You can reach my office by emailing SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov, calling our Lansing office at (517) 373-7315, or calling our district office at (586) 252-2157.
Sincerely,
Kevin Hertel
State Senator
District 12
- Last week, my Senate colleagues and I passed our proposal for the 2026 State Budget, which makes important investments to clean up Lake St. Clair, improve community safety, and secure the future of Selfridge.
- Memorial Day is coming up! Walk with Team Hertel in the St. Clair Shores parade on Sunday and help us honor our fallen service members. RSVP here.
- With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, make sure to take a moment and check in on your mental wellbeing, and if you’re struggling, know that help is available. Just call 988 for free, confidential support.
Happy Hour at Copper Hop Brewing Company
Lots of big things have been happening, both in Lansing and Washington, and it’s events like our happy hour this week where we can cut through the noise and find common ground on the issues impacting our community.
Thank you to everyone who took time out of their evening to join us! And a big thank you to Copper Hop Brewing Company for opening their doors and giving us a space to connect with folks.
Nautical Coast Cleanup
Keeping Lake St. Clair clean for families to enjoy takes a group effort, and no one knows that better than the St. Clair Shores Waterfront Environmental Committee. I want to give a huge thank you to their team and all of the folks who came out for the 30th Annual Nautical Coast Cleanup — it was great getting to join their ranks of volunteers to help clean up the beach at Blossom Health.
Breaking Ground on Mack Avenue Project
It’s been several years in the making, but we were finally able to break ground on an exciting project to revamp the Mack & Vernier intersection!
The project, which we secured $1 million for in the 2024 State Budget, will help improve safety and allow the community to build a new future for Mack Avenue with green design and pedestrian-friendly corridors. I look forward to seeing the project completed!
Meeting with Residents to Discuss the Muck Issue on Lake St. Clair
Over the last few weeks, I joined groups of constituents to tour areas of the Lake St. Clair shoreline that have been affected by the growing presence of muck. Then in Lansing, the Senate voted out our budget proposal for 2026 that includes critical funding for Macomb County to explore and implement long-term solutions to this urgent and emerging threat to the lake. Read more about this work here or find additional details later in this newsletter.
Standing Up for Michiganders’ Health Care
One in four Michiganders rely on Medicaid for life-saving care. But Congressman John James and Washington Republicans are attempting to gut their health care — all to bankroll a massive tax break for the wealthiest of Americans. Let’s be clear: gutting Medicaid to hand out tax breaks for billionaires is a direct assault on the health and dignity of Michiganders.
Congress’ proposal isn’t about fiscal responsibility — it’s about warped priorities. We should be able to put politics and partisanship aside to ensure our most vulnerable have access to basic health care. As we see the needs of wealthy special interests take priority over working families, I’ll stand up and fight any way I can to stop these cruel cuts and protect the care Michigan deserves.
This month, I joined Lieutenant Gov. Garlin Gilchrist in Macomb County to rally with community members. In Lansing, I also spearheaded a resolution calling on our federal representatives to reject any proposal that would strip health care access to those in need. Read more about that here or watch my floor address here.
Connecting with Constituents Over Coffee
Over the past few weeks, our team has hosted coffee hours throughout the community, including in Harrison Township and St. Clair Shores. It’s been a pleasure to connect with folks at these events and hear their thoughts on the issues that matter most to our lakeshore community. These kinds of conversations are more than just helpful — they’re essential, as they play a real role in shaping the decisions I make in Lansing.
Touring Bakes & Kropp in Mount Clemens
This month, I had the pleasure of joining State Rep. Denise Mentzer in touring Bakes & Kropp to learn more about their business. While they have showroom locations in the Hamptons and Palm Beach, the business’ home base and manufacturing workshop are located here in Mount Clemens.
It was great to meet their team, see their craftsmanship up close, and tour a new site where they’re working to expand their operations and create more good-paying jobs for our community. Thank you, Paul and Laura, for the tour and for choosing to grow your business here in Michigan!
St. Clair State of the County
It was great getting to connect with local leaders at the State of St. Clair County event recently. I had the opportunity to share some of the exciting work we’ve been doing up there to improve water infrastructure on Harsens Island as well as expand recreational opportunities in Algonac.
I look forward to continuing this work together to make our communities even stronger!
Supporting Local Small Businesses
Our lakeshore community is full of vibrant small businesses and restaurants. Over the past few weeks, as local businesses work to stay afloat amidst rising costs, I’ve been making it a point to shop small, and I encourage others to do the same.
It’s more important than ever to keep our community and local economy thriving, and every purchase, no matter how small, can make a big difference.
Touring the Mount Clemens Library
To close out National Library Week, I stopped by the Mount Clemens Public Library to chat with their Interim Director Kathy about all the wonderful resources and programs they provide to the community, as well as learn more about how potential DOGE cuts threaten their ability to continue serving local families.
CSPAN Classroom Celebration at Liggett
I recently had the pleasure of joining State Rep. Veronica Paiz at University Liggett in Grosse Pointe Woods to celebrate Otto Massie, Kerith Short, and Anna Gray who won an honorable mention in C-SPAN’s 2025 StudentCam competition for their documentary on the state of social security in the United States. You can watch their award-winning video here.
Gov. Whitmer’s Annual Macomb County Address
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s annual Macomb County address is always a time to reflect on and celebrate the tenacity, grit, and growth of our community. And with a new fighter mission secured for Selfridge, we have so much to be proud of and grateful for. It was great getting to join the Macomb County Chamber of Commerce and other local leaders to celebrate this exciting news!
Crime Victim Rights Week Event
During Crime Victim Rights Week, I had the opportunity to stop by an event in Mount Clemens hosted by the Macomb County Prosector’s Office. It was wonderful to see so many community organizations come together to share resources, stories, and support services to those impacted by crime.
The highlight, though, was getting to meet Peanut — the county prosecutor’s therapy dog! Thanks to the Canine Advocacy Program and CARE House, this adorable pup helps child survivors of trauma and abuse alleviate the anxiety, depression, and stress from being involved in the criminal justice system.
Celebrating the Grand Opening of Comet Burgers
To close out Small Business Week earlier this month, our team celebrated the grand opening of Comet Burgers. Welcome to the St. Clair Shores community!
Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education Event
The Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education is an incredible non-profit organization in our community which brings folks together to fund educational opportunities for our kids. It was a pleasure to join them recently to learn more about their work and how we can support them.
Standing in Solidarity with SEIU Nursing Home Workers
Every day, care workers perform a highly demanding job, one that is oftentimes physically and emotionally taxing, and they do it with love, compassion, and professionalism. But too often, they aren’t compensated fairly for the critical work they do.
This week, nursing home workers at the Regency in St. Clair Shores and in other facilities across the state joined together to demand the fair wages and respect they deserve. My team was proud to stand with them on the picket line, and as they continue to negotiate a fair contract, we’ll continue supporting them — because no one who cares for our most vulnerable neighbors should struggle to care for themselves.
Breaking Down a State Budget That Invests in You and Our Communities
Over the past weeks and months, my colleagues and I have been working hard to craft a fiscally responsible state budget to ensure that while chaos and confusion comes from Washington, our communities can find security at the state level. Last week marked an important milestone in the process as we passed our budget proposal out of the Senate.
While the budget includes many high-impact, targeted investments that will deliver real solutions to the challenges facing our state, I want to take a moment to highlight a few I’m particularly excited about for our lakeshore community.
Securing the Future of Selfridge
Since news broke that the Air Force would be decommissioning the A-10 Warthogs and KC-135 Stratotankers housed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, I’ve worked to secure the funding needed to modernize the base’s infrastructure and attract future missions. Over the past, I’ve been able to bring back $28 million to expand and reroute the runway at Selfridge, and now, there’s another $26 million for the base in our 2026 State Budget.
And last month, we saw this work finally pay off as it was announced that the U.S. Dept. of Defense will be locating a fighter mission of F-15EXs at Selfridge! This announcement is a major win for our region, made possible by leaders at every level working together — from my legislative colleagues and Gov. Whitmer to our congressional delegation and even President Trump. Selfridge is too important to our community and the state of Michigan to let anything stand in the way of assuring its future, and I’m committed to continue partnering with anyone who’s serious about strengthening Selfridge and supporting the men and women who serve there.
Hear what Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel has to say about this investment and exciting news:
“Selfridge Air National Guard Base plays a pivotal role in our nation’s defense and our state’s economy. With the strategic leadership of base command, support from Gov. Whitmer and Sen. Hertel and relentless advocacy from our local champions, we were successful in securing a new fighter mission at Selfridge. As we prepare for the arrival of this mission, we are appreciative of the state’s commitment to invest in and modernize the base’s infrastructure.”
Cleaning Up Lake St. Clair
Lake St. Clair is at the heart of our community and it’s the basis for our economy. The exponential growth of muck along the shoreline is not simply an eyesore — it’s having a real impact on the families and small businesses who depend on the lake. After a two-year study into what this muck is, it’s time to turn that knowledge into action and begin cleaning up our waterfront. That’s why I fought to include funding in the budget for Macomb County to conduct a three-year field trial to test strategies to manage and remove the muck.
Hear what Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller has to say about the funding:
“Macomb County has taken this as far as we can. State government needs to engage on this issue because Lake St. Clair is so vital economically and to the quality of life in Michigan. Cleanup of the muck from the shore and finding ways to eradicate it out in the lake are still to be determined. We are very appreciative that Senator Hertel is pushing the Legislature for funding to develop and implement those strategies, and we’re hoping that legislators will respond favorably.”
Read more about this specific investment here.
Supporting First Responders and Keeping Our Communities Safe
As chair of the committee responsible for crafting the Michigan State Police budget, I wanted to ensure our local police departments have the resources they need to keep our communities safe. To help them overcome challenges they’re facing with officer recruitment, we included $10 million for the Public Safety Academy Assistance Program, which provides scholarships for academy recruits.
Hear what John G. Kosanke, Grosse Pointe Woods Director of Public Safety, has to say about this investment:
“Funding for the Public Safety Academy program is essential for communities like ours who are struggling to find people interested in pursuing a career in public safety. By the state providing scholarships for the recruitment of local police officers to attend a basic training academy, we’re able to put more officers on the roads and ensure residents can feel safe in their homes, at work, and everywhere in between. Grosse Pointe Woods has already used the program to help train several officers and will continue to do so as long as the funding is available. Chiefs, Directors, and Sheriff’s appreciate Michigan’s commitment to safety!”
This proposal now heads to the House for further consideration. Learn more about how our 2026 State Budget puts you and your family first here.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
With one in five Americans and nearly 1.5 million Michiganders experiencing mental health issues each year, it’s important to remind ourselves to care for our mental and emotional health. If you find yourself emotionally struggling or experiencing a mental health crisis, please be sure to utilize the following resources and remember — you matter!
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 is a 24/7 toll-free nationwide hotline that provides confidential and compassionate care for anyone struggling with behavioral health issues, emotional distress or substance use crisis. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit their Lifeline Chat to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
- Veterans Crisis Line: The Veterans Crisis line provides veterans and their family members with 24/7, confidential support. To connect, call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838-255. You do not have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to call.
- Trevor Lifeline: The Trevor Project has trained counselors who understand the challenges young people in the LGBTQ community face and are available for support 24/7. Call 1-866-488-7386, text 678-678, or click here to speak with a crisis counselor.
Additionally, if you need assistance locating long-term mental health resources, talking through a problem, or exploring mental health treatment options, call 211 or visit mi211.org to speak with a person who can help. All conversations are confidential, can be made anonymously, and are available in 180 languages upon request.
It is one of my top goals as your State Senator to have myself and my office be as accessible to you as possible. To share your thoughts on legislation or seek assistance with an issue, please join me at one of our upcoming district events:
Walk with Team Hertel in the St. Clair Shores Memorial Day Parade
WHEN: Sunday, May 25 at 11:45 a.m.
WHERE: 9 Mile and Harper Avenue, St. Clair Shores, MI 48081
Lace up your walking shoes and join Team Hertel for the 72nd Annual St. Clair Shores Memorial Day Parade! Please RSVP here and our team will reach out with additional details as they become available.
If You Need Help
If you have a problem dealing with any department of state government, such as accessing unemployment benefits, my office is available to help resolve it. While we usually cannot assist with local or federal issues, we will always do our best to help direct you to the appropriate person or organization for help.
You may always feel free to email me at SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov. You can also call our Lansing Office at (517) 373-7315 or our District Office at (586) 252-2157.
Keep Up to Date
Our bi-weekly newsletters are full of updates on what Team Hertel has been working on both in Lansing and District 12 to deliver results for Michiganders. To keep up to date with what we’ve been up to — sign up here to receive my bi-weekly newsletter, or access previous editions online here.
For more frequent updates, I also encourage you to follow our team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and BlueSky.