By Jeff Smith

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Recently, I had the opportunity to table with Urban Core Collective (UCC) at the 2025 Grand Rapids Pride Festival. It was a brutally hot day, but the interactions I had with people were fabulous because the information being shared resonated with them.

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At Pride, I was discussing two statewide ballot initiatives with people. The first, Invest In MI Kids, is a constitutional amendment that would provide up to $1.7 billion annually to fund local school districts. This would be a welcome relief to many local school districts (including GRPS) that currently do not have the funds to adequately pay teachers. The money comes from a five percent “fair share” tax surcharge on earnings above $500,000 for individuals and $1,000,000 if filing jointly. The idea of ensuring that the state’s top income earners pay their fair share in taxes resonated with the people I spoke to, especially when they learned that only 1.8% of Michigan households earn more than $500,000 per year.

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The second ballot initiative is called Michiganders for Money Out of Politics. This ballot initiative would prevent big corporations, such as DTE, Consumers Energy, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, from making political contributions to Michigan legislators. There is a growing awareness that when corporations spend big in Lansing, it takes away the power of everyday people. One example of this is the increasing cost of energy in Michigan.  DTE and Consumers Energy are regularly raising their rates, six times in the last six years, and 15 times since 2005, which impacts many people throughout the state, and there’s little evidence that the quality of services increases. As the price of basic necessities increases across the board, more and more people are having to choose between paying rent and buying groceries, while risking their utilities being shut off. 

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An overarching theme that really resonated with the people I met while tabling at the Pride Festival was a growing desire to reduce the influence that wealthy individuals and corporations wield due to their financial power. It is becoming abundantly clear that the fundamental principles of democracy are compromised when rich people aren’t adequately taxed and when corporations use their wealth to not only influence public policy, but to expand their profits. Everyday people are tired of feeling powerless when billionaires and large corporations seemingly do whatever they want. Everyday people are tired of rich people buying political influence. Everyday people are tired of politicians from both sides doing nothing to limit the power of billionaires and corporations. This is another reason why these two ballot initiatives resonate with people - they bypass the stalemate of partisan politics. Michiganders need change now, and partisanship has long been a barrier to true change. I firmly believe that making sure that the wealthiest people in the state pay their fair share in taxes and reducing corporate influence in Michigan politics are winning strategies and messages. 

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However, these initiatives need your support. In keeping with their values, both campaigns are relying on volunteers to collect signatures across the state. These volunteers, known as “Justice Captains,” are each committed to collecting 100 signatures. Urban Core Collective is coordinating signature collection for Kent County, which has a goal of 50,000 signatures- just a portion of the 600,000 needed statewide to get these issues on the ballot in 2026.  If this message resonates with you, Urban Core Collective is inviting you to get involved in these crucially important ballot initiatives and to sign up to be a Justice Captain. 

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You can get trained to be a Justice Captain (link) by signing up here. For more information on the ballot initiatives, the UCC hosts weekly virtual information sessions. Come, join me, and be part of the movement to create a more just and loving Michigan for all. 

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