SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN
Shelter-in-place order from Tuesday March 24 to
Monday April 13.
Friday, May 1, Friday, May 15, May 28, but May 22 for the farthest north,
May 21, kind of? May 1, maybe? (
archive May 21) (
executive order saved on KF) . The Republican-controlled legislature has refused to extend Governor Whitmer's emergency authority. Governor Whitmer insists her emergency orders are all still in effect (
Rundown on the laws).
State attorney general Dana Nessel (D)
is also leaving enforcement of the stay-at-home order to local discretion until the courts weigh in on it (archive). She has stated Governor Whitmer's orders are valid and are to be enforced (
archive). The legislature is not calling for civil disobedience at this time (
archive).
The legislature has filed a lawsuit against the governor (
archive). Oral arguments were heard May 15 (
archive). The judge's decision is pending, but will most likely be appealed either way.
State senate leader Mike Shirkey (R) is also supporting a petition drive to change the law. Such a petition would require 340,047 signatures to be collected. It would be veto-proof if approved by the legislature, and would go on the next general election ballot if denied by them (
archive 1,
archive 2,
archive 3).
U. S. Rep Paul Mitchell (R - The Thumb) has filed a lawsuit independently against Governor Whitmer, in federal district court.
Link,
pdf on KF. He has also founded a committee to work on the petition recommended by Sen. Shirkey.
There have been at least ten other lawsuits against Governor Whitmer's actions during this crisis, mostly regarding the shut-down order, in various stages of progress and in various courts (
summary of eight of them).
However, "all deadlines applicable to the commencement of all civil and probate actions and proceedings" are suspended until the end of the states of emergency and disaster. Executive order, and thus in limbo. (
archive).
OTHER SHUTDOWNS
Recap from NPR
Major protest at the State Capitol April 15 (
A&N thread). Minor protest outside Governor's Mansion April 23 (
archive). Protest at the State Capitol April 30 (
A&N Thread). Protest at the capitol May 14 (
archive).
Auto manufacturing resuming May 18. (
archive)
ECONOMY AND MISCELLANY
Unemployment reached 22.7% in April. (
Archive - May 20). It should be lower now, as factories, etc. reopen.
Massive phone-tracking project reveals Michigan travel is slowly creeping back up (
website).
The State is facing a $2.5 billion budget shortage (
archive).
HEALTH CARE
Hydroxychloroquine banned by governor's order (archive). Nevermind LOL! Now she's asking the federal government for it and claiming the ban was a mistake in the first place. (
archive). Detroit-area hospitals are testing the drug's effectiveness as a preventative on first responders and health-care workers (
archive). Article on results, May 8 (
archive).
Elective surgeries are banned. Maybe? Who knows. If/when in effect, abortions were not included in the ban (
thread).
At any rate, hospitals are resuming elective surgeries.
Up-to-date count of available hospital beds, etc. in the State (the Detroit area is "Section 2, North and South.")(
government website)
State of affairs May 5 - about half as many hospitalized cases and ICU cases as on April 12 (
archive).
Detroit field hospital, capacity 1,000, closed. Never had many more than 20 at any time. (
archive, May 7).
The state is going to add "probable" deaths from Coronavirus to our death tolls. (
archive - May 20)
LAW AND ORDER
All localities given more discretion to release prisoners early (
archive). It was an executive order. Who knows if it's still valid?
Detroit shootings up, but most other crime down (
archive - April 30); Muskegon police report crime is up (
archive).
Breaking the lockdown is a misdemeanor, punishable by $1500 fines and 90 days jail time. (Still valid???) Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) has stated there will not be a "ramp up" of police enforcement (
archive). The attorney general has left it to local law enforcement to close businesses, as her hands are full with price-gougers and con artists (
archive).
The police cannot, at present, pull drivers over simply for being out during the shutdown (
archive). Multiple sherrifs from the rural north to Detroit suburbs have stated they will not be enforcing or not strictly enforcing parts or the entirety of the order (
archive).