December 9, 2022
Bi-Weekly Executive Newsletter
Dear Friends,
I have watched with dismay as antisemitic hate speech, harassment and vandalism has been emerging with alarming frequency.
The incident outside Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township over the weekend was the latest disturbing incident to make the news.
The racist and antisemitic rhetoric on social media and in political discourse has made not only those mediums toxic and frightening places, but has extended beyond the online world into the everyday lives of our friends and neighbors in our communities. In Michigan, there have been 224 incidents of antisemitic harassment, vandalism and white supremist propaganda so far this year, according to the Anti-Defamation League. That’s up from 80 incidents in 2019.
This is unacceptable. Hate can never be normalized. Leaders and all decent people have a duty to call it out and condemn it whenever it occurs.
Everyone has the right to be safe in our communities and our places of worship, and we’ll #ShineALight on antisemitism and hate wherever it hides.
That’s why I’m an enthusiastic supporter of the #ShineALight campaign, a national initiative started two years ago to raise awareness about the dangers of antisemitism as Jews and Jewish institutions face rising cases of harassment, hate speech and violence.
This campaign has attracted corporations, influential non-profit and sports and faith-based organizations that are committed to educating their employees about antisemitism and creating safe and inclusive workplaces where all are safe, respected and valued.
Ensuring that our own workplace is welcoming to all has been a guiding principle for my administration from the start and remains a key tenet of our strategic framework.
I hope you’ll join me to #ShineALight on antisemitism and hate to dispel the darkness in which it hides.
With gratitude,
David Coulter
Oakland County Executive
 Service Highlight of the Week: Affordable Housing
Oakland County is using a portion of its federal funding allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide $1 million in grants for the development of Affordable Housing.
The grants can be used for new construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, or preservation of affordable rental housing.
The program will focus on housing that also offers access to supportive services and sustainability including walkability to jobs, grocery stores and public transportation.
To qualify, rentals must be affordable for households at or below 60 percent of Area Median Income (AMI), which is approximately $53,700 for a family of four in Oakland County.
For more information on funding and qualifications, click on oakgov.com/rentaldevelopment or contact Oakland County Neighborhood & Housing Development at nhd@oakgov.com or 248-858-0493.
 Clean Slate program reaches milestone
More than 250 criminal convictions for 150 Oakland County residents have been expunged through the Clean Slate Program since the initiative began in 2021.
A joint effort of Oakland County and its Michigan Works! agency, the Clean Slate program provides free legal assistance to eligible individuals.
The successful expungement of convictions from a person’s public records opens the door to better jobs, housing and educational opportunities.
Among those who have benefitted from the program and had their convictions expunged are:
- A mother of four who stole two rolls of aluminum foil from a store in 1981.
- A business executive who could not join various charitable organizations because of two drug convictions from the 1990s.
- A woman who could not get her CPA license, despite having a master’s degree in accounting, because of a larceny conviction in 1990.
For more information on the expungement process, go to: https://www.oakgov.com/workforce/Pages/Clean-Slate.aspx
 Oakland County Parks looking for ideas for five-year plan
As Oakland County Parks and Recreation develops its 5-Year Recreation Master Plan, it is looking for feedback from residents on recreational opportunities in the county.
The draft master “Recreation Plan,” is now open for public comment through Dec. 20.
The vision for Parks and Recreation is: “Everyone in Oakland County has access to a park, public space or recreational opportunity to relax, be active, socialize and connect with nature.”
The mission for Parks and Recreation: “We create and operate accessible, welcoming and sustainable parks and public spaces, provide recreational and educational programs and opportunities, preserve open space and steward the environment to help all people be healthier and to build resilient, connected communities in Oakland County.”
And the four core values for the department: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Health and Wellness; Environmental Sustainability and Nature Resources Stewardship; and Fiscal Responsibility and Organizational Excellence.
Please use this online survey or contact Donna Folland at follandd@oakgov.com or 248-736-9087 to share your thoughts on the 5-Year Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
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