What does urban agriculture have to do with the Farm Bill?
By Kathy Beard MOTION Coalition in Support for 2018 Revision of Agricultural Act of 2014 The growing movement towards urban farming has a champion in Senator Stabenow, but her... continue reading.
Fix the (social) potholes!
By Dennis Archambault Throughout the primary election the overstated campaign issue was “fix the potholes.” It’s not too much of a stretch to suggest that this is a metaphor... continue reading.
The next generation of lower income seniors face a perilous future, which is bound to impact population health.
By Dennis Archambault Advocates of low income housing are anticipating a “tsunami” as gentrification pushes existing low income tenants out of rental properties, more people losing their homes due... continue reading.
The link between demolitions and childhood blood levels in Detroit
By Laura Wilson In the last several years, Detroit’s demolition program has received media attention for its potential association with increased blood lead levels in Detroit children. The demolition... continue reading.
Michigan court case on the ‘right’ to literacy offers insight into the right to health care
By Dennis Archambault People who believe health care is a right, might want to pay attention to a recent court case that concluded that education isn’t a right (https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2018/06/29/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-against-snyder-over-detroit-kids-literacy/747732002/).... continue reading.
Well-financed advocacy groups resist upstream change, frustrating health equity efforts
By Dennis Archambault Special interests have always financed advocacy efforts. But the recent article, “How the Koch Brothers Are Killing Public Transit Projects around the County” (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/19/climate/koch-brothers-public-transit.html) offers a... continue reading.
Governor, Legisalature must face consequences of Medicaid ‘work’ law
By Dennis Archambault Michigan Senate Bill 897, which at this point is awaiting Gov. Snyder’s signature, will require able-bodied adults to maintain at least a part-time job in order... continue reading.
‘Avoiding’ hospital emergency facilities will be a difficult lesson for many to learn
By Dennis Archambault When the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act became law, its detractors presented a litany of reasons it would fail. Among them: “You’ll never educate the... continue reading.
Fewer new low income housing units: an unintended consequence of the tax law?
By Dennis Archambault Few are likely to complain about a tax cut, even if it so obviously favors wealthy populations over the rest of society. But aside from increasing... continue reading.
Kaiser Releases More Extensive Backgrounder on Social Determinants
By Dennis Archambault Providers and community health organizations have increasingly come to understand social determinants of health, and how they become “determinants.” In a less fatalistic way, we might... continue reading.
Why threaten unemployed people with loss of Medicaid health coverage?
By Dennis Archambault The reasoning behind the current Michigan Senate legislation instituting work rules on Healthy Michigan doesn’t seem to make sense (https://detne.ws/2rr1mIP). People may be unmotivated to sign... continue reading.