A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new Flint Commerce Center, which will be built at the brownfield site, which was once a major General Motors manufacturing facility.

[...] state, local and federal officials will celebrate the groundbreaking for the first building at the new Flint Commerce Center at the former GM Buick City campus. That event will mark the start of construction on a facility that is scheduled to be complete in early 2024.

The former General Motors Co. Buick City campus is one step closer to a new future following a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for the first building of the new Flint Commerce Center.

Ashley Capital is redeveloping the area into the Flint Commerce Center, located at 2201 Industrial Ave. in Flint. The investment firm closed on the first 20 acres of the site earlier this year and is working with RACER Trust to acquire the rest of the site. That is expected to happen by the end of August. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Congressman Dan Kildee, and Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley attended the groundbreaking ceremony, along with other state and local leaders.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer was joined by Ashley Capital Senior Vice President Susan Harvey and others at a groundbreaking event that marked the start of the redevelopment on the morning of Monday, June 5. After fully completed, the Flint Commerce Center will generate a $300 million local investment with 10 buildings, 3.5 million square feet of space and up to 3,000 new jobs.

Susan Harvey is with Ashley Capitol, the company that plans to eventually transform the more than 300-acre brownfield site into an operating industrial center in the heart of Flint.

Construction officially started Monday on a $300 million redevelopment of the sprawling Buick City site in Flint. Years after the last car rolled off the assembly line at Buick City, Ashley Capital from New York hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for the first of 10 industrial buildings planned on the 350-acre site.

“We’ve made this massive investment because we think Flint is a good place to be, with an excellent partner in the city of Flint, strong workforce, great infrastructure, and ready access to expressways, rail, and abundant electricity," Senior Vice President for Ashley Capital Susan M. Harvey said in a statement. 

John Sellek and WJR’s Guy Gordon talked about Gov. DeSantis’ choice of Twitter to make his announcement. 

#Change4Oxford's Lori Bourgeau joins The Guy Gordon Show on WJR to discuss orange graduation cords that were ordered by students at Oxford High School. Orange is the color of the gun violence prevention moment.

Kelly Kuiper has personally faced countless nasty meetings as she attempted to simply pursue permitting for new aggregate mining facilities. That's why she testified before Michigan legislature about reforming the system.

"The same words came to mind that came to me immediately after the shooting. We’re still left hoping for some accountability, lack of trust, transparency, a need for oversight," said Lori Bourgeu, with Change4Oxford."

“Parents and advocates are calling for better safety measures after the release of an independent investigation report following the mass shooting at Oxford High School in November 2021. “They’re the ones who need to be safe. They’re the ones whose trust was broken. They’re the ones who were hurt on Nov. 30,” said Lori Bourgeu, parent-leader of Change4Oxford.”

“Change4Oxofrd parent leaders held to speak out after the release of the Guidepost Solution independent investigation report into the mass shooting at Oxford High School."

“The high school has its own separate threat assessment team from the middle school, and those two teams don’t communicate with each other, which would be an area I would definitely like to see improvement on,” said Andrea Jones, member of Change for Oxford.”

"'We need trust to be regained between the school board and the community, and at this point in time, I am just not sure how we get there,' she said."

“Andrea Jones is a parent who's also affiliated with the group Change4Oxford. “This report for me did not do anything to restore trust in the district,” said Jones, who added many students and parents continue to feel unsafe in Oxford schools.”

“Two mothers of Oxford High students who are part of Change 4 Oxford, a group advocating for district transparency, said they’re glad some information is being released, but they want more. “I have been screaming it from the beginning: how can you know what to fix if you don’t know what’s broken,” said Lori Bourgeau.”

“Overall I have a lot more questions than answers.  This report, for me, did not do anything to restore trust in the district,” said Jones, who had just come from a public meeting held by Guidepost to address questions from the community….Bourgeau said the district still needs more mental health training for staff and administrators in recognizing if a student needs help.

“The entire staff needs to be trained.”

“Andrea Jones and Lori Bourgeau, both parents of children in the Oxford school district, held a Thursday Zoom press conference to discuss the 179-page Guidepost Solutions report released Monday that revealed that threat assessment teams only inquired about access to firearms involving troubled students half of the time after the 2021 mass shooting at the high school.”

"CNN and Trump used each other for publicity last night. Trump for free air time and CNN in its attempt to rebrand its reputation.” 

"'Michigan's crumbling infrastructure and strong economy is driving up demand for a limited amount of permitted aggregate. The statewide supply shortage is due to local units of governments effectively blocking the opening of new mines,' said Doug Needham, Executive Director of the industry group."

"We feel that's excessive for putting land back to a slope in a usable condition," said Doug Needham, executive director of the Michigan Aggregates Association, the industry's lobbying arm in Lansing.

“We’re not looking to reinvent the wheel,” said Doug Needham, executive director of the Michigan Aggregates Association. “We're just looking to be aligned with many other extractive industries in our state.”

"We're in need of these bills because Michigan's crumbling infrastructure and strong economy is driving up demand for a limited amount of permitted aggregate," Mr. Needham said.

Business, labor and the road-building lobby told lawmakers how putting the state in charge of siting new gravel mines will make repairing the state's "D"-grade roads faster and cheaper.

"John Sellek, chief strategist and CEO of Harbor Strategic Public Affairs, cited some information from Ms. Witwer's bill in a release for those who are worried the plan will "silence communities." Under the bill, Mr. Sellek noted that several notices, including a public notice on the department's website, would be made available until the application is granted or denied."

“Both parties recognize that there’s a statewide problem with getting the aggregate supply chain moving in the direction that will help the governor fix the damn roads,” said John Sellek."

"The local government groups said HB 4526 , HB 4527 and HB 4528 are a "legislative attack" that preempts all local zoning, administration, and ordinances over an industry that can have "lasting, detrimental effects on Michigan communities, the environment, property and quality of life."

“Company investors seeking a fully transparent release of all investigative documents to shareholders related to oversight of reports of executive's violations of the Company's Code of Ethical Business Conduct.”

"House Bills 4526, 4527, and 4528 were presented to the House clerk Wednesday and are expected to be formally introduced Thursday, said John Sellek, a spokesman for Build it Michigan Strong."

"'When aggregate mining is permitted closer to major projects, trucking costs are reduced. That money goes back into construction improvements,' he said."

"'While Michigan is spending more tax dollars on roads than at any time in history, it's incumbent on state government to ensure every dollar possible is put directly into getting results for taxpayers,' Mr. Needham said."

"Namely, the Democrats have seemed to settle on who the party establishment would coalesce behind out of the public eye rather than put forward a slate of candidates to duke it out on the campaign trail."

“'If Joe Biden wins or loses, Gretchen Whitmer is making sure that she is capitalizing on her growth as a national rising star,' Sellek said.”

“Michigan’s statute of limitations for criminal sexual conduct is among the narrowest in the entire country.”

“Lawmakers on Thursday announced they are reintroducing laws they say will help fix Michigan’s broken process for sexual assault crimes.”

“There is no timeline to processing sexual assault,” said Hannah Smith, also a sexual assault survivor. “There is no magic amount of time when you wake up and are ready to share what happened.”

“As a public high school teacher, I also know that, according to the CDC, 1 in 5 of my female students have experienced sexual violence in the last year alone, and I want my state government to fight to protect and support my students,” said Evan Bonsall, Rise Organizer for the Michigan Campaign. 

“State law should not dictate which survivors have access to justice. That is why our bills allow justice for all survivors,” Representative Brixie said. “When survivors do come forward, they must be given an opportunity to access justice in our legal system.”

“Michigan is the only state in the nation to pass a law restricting survivors' access to justice based on the occupation of the abuser," she said. "It's not about who committed the abuse. It's about those who survived it. The legislature should not be dictating which survivors have access to justice,” said Rep. Julie Brixie. 

“This is about our sons, our daughters, our nieces or nephews, our husbands and wives who have been afflicted with a public health crisis that's been hidden for far too long,” Rep. Julie Brixie said.

"All institutions in Michigan — public or private — should be implementing safe environment policies, training, and reporting requirements to keep children and young people safe wherever they come in contact with adults. [...] Our society as a whole must do better to protect every single child and vulnerable adult from the scourge and horror of sexual or physical abuse,” said Rep. Julie Brixie. 

“Survivors of any and every form of sexual violence deserve the same level of justice and human rights that I received in a case so public and privileged and get the justice we did,” said Triena Gonczar, Larry Nassar survivor.

"... We were keenly aware that behind every single sexual assault survivor in our army are hundreds of sexual assault survivors who still don’t have a voice, who don’t have an army behind them, who are still suffering in silence and who still don’t have access to our justice system," said Rachael Denhollander in 2018, the first of more than 260 young women and girls to publicly accuse Nassar. 

"It’s revictimizating a survivor a second time," said attorney Jennifer Glynn when statute of limitations runs out on victims. "That is what our criminal justice system does repeatedly to victims of sexual abuse.”

"President Biden announced via video. The lowest-key reelect ever?"

"A national co-chair position can sometimes be ceremonial to please a certain group but here “it’s completely the opposite. “President Biden likes Gov. Whitmer and counts on her energy,” said Sellek, who was the Michigan director for Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign."

"Hopefully they can follow up on Sheriff Murphy's offer to get a beer together," he said, "because even if they disagree at times, public safety depends on their ability to work together on many other issues."

“The President has wanted to be president for decades,” said John Sellek, of Harbor Strategic, “Why the heck would he give it up now?”

“Never say never. Until somebody says they are not running and shall not accept being drafted, their name is on the table,” said GOP Consultant John Sellek.”

"Who knew President Biden would be competing with Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson for attention on his announcement day? "

“Sellek questioned the ability of the Michigan GOP to set up a functional caucus system in the next 11 months. “When we look at the fact that the GOP doesn't even have a headquarters, it leaves you scratching your head about how they would even logistically pull that off.”

"Nearly 200 Democrats voted against ending the emergency and then Biden changed course and signed the bill."

"so many things happened in the first 100 days of Michigan's Legislature that most of the public wouldn't be able to fully soak it in," said Sellek. To help unpack the gravitas of what was done, he said, Whitmer was using a tradition that started nearly 100 years ago with former President Franklin ROOSEVELT after he ushered the New Deal through Congress."

“The one thing that’s out there that’s big, that’s undelivered on so far is for daycare,” said Sellek. “I think we’re going to see some spending done on that.”

Harbor's John Sellek joined WJR's All Talk w/Tom & Kevin to discuss PR, political and legal angles of charges to be filed by the Manhattan District Attorney. 70% of independents told Quinnipiac it's mostly politics. Will that matter in court?

"Gov. DeSantis is starting to introduce himself to the rest of the country who is not on Twitter 24/7."

“I made a promise to the Delta Township, Eaton County, the contractors. I made a commitment to them that I will see and get this development done and that was the plan and I’m excited to be able to have the opportunity now,” said Krstovski.”

“The recommendations act as a counterpoint to the Michigan Justice for All Commission recommendations issued late last year which delved into the need to manage the state's volume of debt collection cases and addressed challenges that consumers face if left unrepresented during the consumer debt process.”

“The Michigan Creditors Bar Association today urged the Michigan Supreme Court to take immediate action to help Michigan families avoid default judgments and garnishments, reduce local caseloads and protect the credit-based economy under its Protect Michigan's Families & Economy plan.”

“What Slotkin is testing is something new for a Democrat and reflects her skill at "walking the line" of sensitive issues to win crossover voters in a congressional district that Trump won, said Sellek.”

"186 years into this grand democratic experiment known as Michigan, it is probably time to let voters make these incredibly important decisions."

"Johnson and his team recreated the MIGOP Mackinac Conference on the Potomac."

"Sellek said Monday it appeared to him to be a bit of a coup for Democrats to get to this point without any appearance of a major primary fight in the making."

John & MPS break down the status of #Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat on Michigan's Big Show, with Stabenow leaving and Slotkin arriving.

"MAA announced its 2023 Annual Awards winners, recognizing the outstanding efforts of aggregate producers which set the bar for the entire industry."

"Buttigeig's strength as an intelligent explainer of technical policy is leaving him to sound like a cold technocrat in the wake of the Ohio train derailment."

“It just was overwhelming. It took us back to day one,” Andrea Jones from Change4Oxford says.“The ratio for students to counselors is a huge problem across this country."

“Andrea Jones, a parent from Oxford with the student-parent group Change4Oxford said she and others are tired of the trauma following school shootings. "It retriggered an entire community all over again."

“Andrea Jones, parent of Oxford High School students and an aunt to an MSU student, came to the Capitol to demand change after months of asking for it in the aftermath of the Oxford shooting."

“Among those attending was Andrea Jones, the mother of an Oxford High School senior and an eighth-grader at Oxford Community Schools. She said her niece attends Michigan State. For youngsters, even just experience lockdown drills can be traumatizing, she said."

“Accordingly, the Democrats’ celebration in the Capitol Building was not just about winning in 2022, but also their decades-long desire to repudiate the legacies of John Engler, Rick Snyder, Donald Trump, and heck, why not, Mike Shirkey.”

"The SOTU marks the soft launch of President Biden's campaign, the first goal of which is to discourage a Democratic challenger."

“Michigan Sen. Carl Levin opposed decertifying Ohio 2004, saying it would be a dangerous precedent. He was correct.”

"President Biden loves Michigan, sees himself as a Midwesterner, and thinks that it's a safe place to play and protect himself and wants to see that be in place," Sellek said of Michigan's early-state status.

"Michigan's legislature hasn't shut down early in at least a half-century and I doubt that will happen now."

“Elissa Slotkin turned out to be an incredibly effective politician,” Sellek said. “She won this 50/50 seat under bombardment from record levels of national spending, she managed to avoid being sucked into the far left,

“Haley's entrance into the race indicates that Trump will face multiple challengers but the big name remains DeSantis."

John Sellek talks with Kevin and Tom about who is supporting Trump’s presidential campaign as he is making stops in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

“This speech is never about details, its about the vision.”

“We did not have Ted Lasso and Teddy Roosevelt on our State of the State bingo cards.”

“It’s a blessing and a curse for the Governor,” Sellek said. “There are a lot of folks who will see it as a blank check...the tightrope that the Governor has to walk, is to keep it from being spent like it’s mad money.”

"It sounds like a never-ending episode of The White Lotus is going to take place."

"It sounds like a never-ending episode of The White Lotus is going to take place."

"Sellek, CEO of Harbor Strategic Public Relations, talks with Kevin and Tom about about the Biden classified documents that have been found."

"Not sure the GOP could have left behind a bigger Christmas gift under the tree than the massive surpluses sitting in the Treasury Department," said Sellek"

"Sellek said Democrats were wise to lead with tax cuts, their main promise on the campaign trail. "There wasn't a single ad about right to work. It was Dem candidates saying 'We need to reduce spending, cut taxes and give money back to people who are suffering"

“What's the best thing for the rest of the Democratic Party and Gov. Whitmer? To avoid a messy primary, get somebody into that seat, start raising money and show the rest of the state who they are."

“President Biden wants Gov. Whitmer to win Michigan for him and the Senate in 2024.

“In the political world, you announce your retirement in the morning and the vultures surround your seat by lunch time.

John Sellek talks with MPS about Sen. Stabenow’s retirement-induced political earthquake.

“Stabenow's retirement sets off a "political earthquake" that has "probably spawned a thousand meetings already, Sellek tells Axios.

“Whether you're Republican or Democrat, Senator Debbie Stabenow's going to go down in history as a groundbreaker and somebody who had a huge legacy, both good and bad.

“Sellek called Meijer a "fabulous" candidate in the general election, but he would need a multiple-candidate primary so that the vote would be split among different candidates.

“Sellek said that Slotkin would be almost "tailor-made" for the Democrats with her three swing-district wins and focus on kitchen table and middle-class issues that Whitmer has also had success with.

“She was a huge counterweight to John Engler when he was governor and she was in the state Senate," said John Sellek, a Republican consultant and founder of Harbor Strategic Public Affairs. "Her decision to decouple property taxes from school funding led to Proposal A, and Engler's victory on property tax reform. She played a game of brinksmanship, and she was a huge part of that era of Michigan politics."

“At some point, he may feel that he needs to step aside and let someone else take the role, just for the sake of government,” said Sellek. “But that’s not happening this week.