Michigan cops shouldn't collaborate with ICE
I was upset to read of the Jackson County and Taylor Police Department agreements to act as U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents for the federal government.
The current federal government is already taking funding away from every part of our lives, including those that impact our children, our libraries, our schools, our health care, our scientists, our seniors and the poorest amongst us, increasing our local tax burdens.
It's made enemies of Canada, our closest and fondest neighboring country, and en route to slowing trade and tourism dollars. It has set up tariffs that threaten the success of our auto companies, which is likely to impact local Michigan tax revenues.
Now, the federal government wants us to divert even more of our local tax dollars to enforce their cruel, lawless and inhumane treatment of immigrants. Why should any local police department agree to this? We need them to focus on keeping us safe, not threatened. It's madness. Please reconsider.
Jeaneane Havstad
Novi
Not everyone in my community has adequate resources to be able to afford the necessities of life, one of them being the basic requirement of food. The proposal to require states to pay for a portion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits is a burden on the state and would potentially leave a number of people without enough food to eat.
It is not realistic that most or all states would be able to make up the difference of the lost federal funds, in which case they would need to cut the food assistance to low-income people and families. The Trump administration and congressional Republicans seem ready to pursue these cuts that would harm many at risk families. Please contact your representatives and let them know what you think about this issue. We don't have to stay silent. We have a voice.Carol Carpinelli
Plymouth
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The Michigan Senate is looking at a proposal to exempt seniors over the age of 70 from paying property taxes.
The first question asked by every citizen should be: What services are you willing to see discontinued with the loss of community tax income?
I am a 74-year-old retiree who disagrees with the constant demand that someone else pay for community services. Everyone wants someone else to pay for police and fire protection, education, street maintenance, mosquito control, etc., yet they want those services available when they need them. Everyone has a responsibility to contribute to a community's maintenance, even retirees.
Enacting the Senate proposal will require either raising someone else's taxes or cutting basic services and programs to reduce spending.
John F. Frenzel
Saginaw
As board president of Honor Community Health and an education professional, I see firsthand how children's health and academic achievement are inextricably linked. The proposed significant elimination of Medicaid funding threatens both.
At Honor, Oakland County's largest Federally Qualified Health Center, we provide comprehensive health care to thousands of children whose families rely on Medicaid. These children receive critical preventive services — vaccinations, developmental screenings, and early interventions — that set the foundation for lifelong health and learning.
As an educator, I've witnessed how untreated health issues create insurmountable barriers to learning. Children cannot focus when struggling with dental pain, untreated asthma or vision problems. They cannot attend school regularly when preventable illnesses go unchecked.
More from Freep Opinion: Trump flag flying? No thanks. I don't want to know a business' politics.
Investing in children's health through Medicaid pays dividends in educational outcomes. Healthy children attend school more consistently, concentrate better and achieve higher academic success.
Without Medicaid, these children would lose access to consistent care, resulting in more classroom absences, reduced academic performance and, ultimately, diminished future opportunities.
I urge our elected officials to protect Medicaid funding. Our community's children deserve both health security and educational opportunity — inseparable components of their future success.
Dr. Michael Yocum
Pontiac
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