The Presidential Primary is February 27
It’s 2024 and you know what to do!
Think voting in the Presidential primary isn’t important? Think again. With a strong turnout in support of President Biden in the primary, we can shock the pundits and help flip the tired narrative that we’re unenthusiastic. Let’s turn the table with turnout!
Voting Early: If you are not set up to vote absentee, you can also vote early in person, thanks to your vote for Promote the Vote (Prop 2) in 2022 & thanks to Michigan Dems putting it into law in 2023.Voting changes things: be a voter in every election!
➡️ Early, in-person voting begins February 17th and runs for 9 days.
- All sites will be open from Saturday, February 17 through Sunday, February 25, including on the weekends.
- Voters must visit an Early Voting site assigned to the city or township you live in.
- 23 cities and townships are participating in the Washtenaw County-Coordinated Early Voting Plan.
- But the City of Ann Arbor, Milan, Bridgewater Township, & Ypsilanti Township are administering individual Early Voting Plans. Details on early voting for all Washtenaw County voters are at https://www.washtenaw.org/3970/Early-Voting – scroll down to “Individual Jurisdiction Early Voting Plans”
👉 It’s not just the primary!
There are a number of municipal proposals and school millages on the ballot. Just like you did in 2020 and 2022, be a voter and take a friend. Every vote matters. On every ballot. In every election.
What Have Dems Done For You Lately?
Job growth under the Biden-Harris administration continues to surprise. Don’t believe us – ask J.P. Morgan Chase. The Bureau of Statistics (BLS) reported that the U.S. economy added 353,000 jobs in January 2024, well ahead of expectations and outpacing 2023’s average monthly gains of 255,000. Jobs growth spread across diverse industries, with solid gains in healthcare, education, manufacturing and retail, speaking to broader economic resilience. Even better, wage growth ticked higher in January, as average hourly earnings jumped 0.6%, outpacing the 0.4% monthly gains reported in November and December. Including January’s gains, wages have increased 4.5% over the past 12 months – higher than the rate of inflation, which is running between 2.5% and 3.5%.
Black unemployment is at its record low. Unlike previous economic recoveries, the Biden-Harris recovery is historically equitable, contributing to an astounding 60% increase in Black Americans’ wealth compared to before the pandemic. President Biden and Vice President Harris have leveraged the full force of the federal Government to advance racial justice and equity, and rightfully tout the many ways they’re delivering for Black families.
Biden’s making unions strong again. Biden’s support for unions is unprecedented and unwavering, and has earned him a full-throated endorsement from the UAW. UAW’s new president, Shawn Fain, declared, “Rarely as a union do you get so clear of a choice between two candidates. It’s not about who you like, it’s not about your party, it’s not about this b—–t about age. It’s not about anything but our best shot at taking back power for the working class.” Biden’s pledge to grow the economy “from the bottom up and the middle out” is clearly paying off. “Thank you, and the whole country owes you,” Biden said to UAW workers in Warren after the endorsement. “You’re not only helping auto workers, you’re helping every worker in the world.”
Are you perplexed that you’re not hearing more in the news about these historic wins? Here’s a thought-provoking piece about anti-Biden bias in the NYTimes.
We’re the messengers we need! The White House website Investing in America helps you gather the facts
New Young Dems-Labor connection
Build
1. Connect Young Dems to labor and education leaders who can help foster and model political engagement.
2. Create a loosely affiliated group that has reach and access into communities that the Dem Party often neglects — non-college young people and their parents.
3. Ensure that labor and education constituencies have an organized voice in their county Party, contributing to policies, written material, outreach efforts, etc.
We met for the first time in January, and will meet again via Zoom on February 13 at 7:30 pm. If you’re interested in helping to build these connections, please join us! Here’s the registration link for our February 13 meeting.
Racially restrictive covenants in West Willow
#OTGYpsi (On the Ground Ypsi) reports in the current issue of Concentrate on an effort to amend racially restrictive covenants covering the plat “West Willow One” since 1946. Though unenforceable by 1948, and illegal by 1968 with the passage of the Fair Housing Act, the covenants are still in place – “zombie” restrictions, like the 1931 abortion ban formally repealed by Michigan legislators just last year.
The project is spearheaded by the New West Willow Neighborhood Association (NWWNA), led by longtime community organizer JoAnn McCollum, in partnership with the Justice InDeed project at the UM Law School’s Civil Rights Litigation Initiative. The covenant in question spells out that “no lot should ever be occupied by “any person whose blood is not entirely that of the white or Caucasian race,” stipulating further that no one with “Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, Hindu, Filipine, Ethiopian, Indian, or Mongolian” ancestry may qualify as white. The only exception to the rule in the covenant regards live-in domestic servants. (See the full text here.)
Concentrate writer and #OTGYpsi manager Sarah Rigg notes that organizers aim to amend the deeds without removing the racially restrictive language so as not to erase or “whitewash” history. Rigg quotes McCollum: “I’m doing it because I think it helps people feel more empowered that we’ve made some progress in society against segregation and racism. And we need to do it to do something positive for the community.” Listen to WEMU’s Rylee Barnsdale interview JoAnn McCollum.
Actions
Sign on to support payday loan legislation
In November 2023, Senator Sarah Anthony (D-21) and Representative Abraham Aiyash (D-9) introduced legislation (SB 632 and HB 5290) that would cap annual interest rates on payday loans at 36%, inclusive of fees. Currently, fees on these loans reach an average APR of 370%, forcing a majority of borrowers into taking out additional loans and trapping Michiganders in a cycle of debt. The Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM)
is seeking organizational allies for a letter supporting the bill. Find the letter and learn more here.
Ask the Ann Arbor City Council to fund Phase 2 of the feasibility study for public power
Ann Arbor for Public Power (A2P2) is asking residents to email the A2 City Council to continue to explore the potential costs and benefits of moving to public power. A2P2 makes it easy if you want to take action.
WCDP is seeking graphic designers and a paralegal or two to join our team!
We’re looking for designers who can create eye-catching, inviting, and accessible event announcements, sign-up sheets, and invitations that can be used across multiple platforms. Knowledge of 508 compliance requirements a plus.
We also need occasional paralegal assistance to help us chase down permissions for graphics, quotes, and other content.
Let us know you’re interested!
ICYMI: February Meeting on Equity
On Saturday, February 3, Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton and other leading Black elected officials spoke about equity in Washtenaw County
Saturday, March 2 WCDP Meeting
Save the date!
In person at 4135 Washtenaw Ave., 48108, and via Zoom (link coming next week)
Meeting schedule:
9:15 – 9:45 — social time – get to know your Democratic neighbors and enjoy breakfast treats!
9:45 – 10:30 — Party business:
- What we’re doing, how you can be part of it
- Updates from state & local electeds
- DC Update from Congresswoman Debbie Dingell
- Opportunities to serve on township boards, and on city and county commissions across Washtenaw County, with Democratic activists and electeds Lonnie Scott and Eric Roberts
10:30 – noon: Why’s rent so high in Washtenaw County? And what are Dems doing to help?
Panelists:
- Panel Chair: Zack Farah – Chair, Ann Arbor Renters Commission
- Jennifer Hall – Executive Director Ann Arbor Housing Commission
- Cynthia Harrison – Ann Arbor City Council
- Jason Macijewski (invited) – County Commissioner, District 1 (representing both Chelsea and Dexter)
- Carrie Rheingans – MI Representative, HD47 (representing Western Washtenaw and Jackson County)
- Justin Yuan – McKinley Tenants Association & Ann Arbor Tenants Union
Become a Candidate Partner
The WCDP fundraising committee is now seeking candidate partners!
Democratic campaigns can get linked on our website, benefit from our email blasts, join us on social media, and place an ad in our website ‘ad book’ reaching over 3,000 Washtenaw County Democrats. This opportunity is open to all Democratic candidates and does not constitute an endorsement from the WCDP.
Meet your representatives ☕
State Senator Jeff Irwin (SD15) will host a coffee hour at the Clinton Township Public Library, 100 Brown St, Clinton, MI 49236, on Saturday, February 17 at 11:00 AM. For more information phone (517) 373-2406 or email SenJIrwin@senate.michigan.gov
The Biden-Harris Record
When President Biden and Vice President Harris took office, our country faced unprecedented crises – a raging pandemic, economic crisis, climate crisis, and racial injustice. The President and Vice President ran for office on the promise to move quickly to tackle these crises head-on and deliver results for all Americans.
When you elect people who believe in good government, you get good government.
Find Your Voting Districts
or Find your representatives by district.
WCDP Mission and Values
The WCDP’s mission is to grow a broad representative base of committed voters, volunteers, and leaders who work together across Washtenaw County to elect Democrats who champion policies that reflect our values. We commit to living these values in our work together and to being a resource for Democratic allies.