candgnews.com OCTOBER 4, 2023 Vol. 21, No. 22
NATURE-BASED LEARNING ON THE RISE IN MICHIGAN
0175-2340
14A
‘WHAT WE FIND IS THAT IT IS OFTEN EMPLOYEES OF LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT BENEFIT THE MOST’
Residents to see marijuana issue on ballot BY MARY GENSON
SMART EXPANDS TO BLOOMFIELD HILLS BY MARY GENSON mgenson@candgnews.com
BLOOMFIELD HILLS — SMART transit services have officially expanded to Novi, Wixom and Bloomfield Hills. The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation added 68 new bus stops to these areas to improve mobility options for residents. With the introduction of these routes, Novi and Bloomfield Hills will have transit services for the first time in 28 years. “The city of Bloomfield Hills and its residents have voted a majority for the new transit millage, and there are a couple of bus stops that will be installed in our city, and we support it,” Bloomfield Hills City Manager David Hendrickson said. The 450 Woodward Local runs hourly 5:30 a.m.-11 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and every other hour 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays. The 462 FAST Woodward Local runs every hour 5:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and every other hour 6:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sundays. “There were bus stops years ago that didn’t seem to be used, and I think they were removed because of that. But we are interested in finding out how this could be beneficial to residents, workers in the area or people that visit our city,” Hendrickson said. See SMART on page 13A
SMART officially has a presence in Bloomfield Hills. This is the first time the city has had a transit service in 28 years.
mgenson@candgnews.com
BIRMINGHAM — In November, Birmingham voters will have the opportunity to vote on a proposed amendment to the city code. This proposal was initiated by city officials to maintain control over marijuana regulations in Birmingham. The Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act passed in 2018, legalizing the use and possession of recreational marihuana for people over 21 years of age. However, the Birmingham City Commission passed a resolution to opt out of having marijuana establishments within the city’s jurisdiction. Regardless of the commission’s 2018 decision, the MRTMA allows citizens to initiate an ordinance allowing marihuana establishments to be on the ballot through a petition. If an outside party were to initiate a petition, they would have control over the ordinance, and its terms, regulations and qualifications. Potentially, this means a business that wants to sell in Birmingham could collect signatures for a petition to make it on the ballot. “My interest as a city attorney is protecting the city, and I believe it’s the city government
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
See MARIJUANA on page 4A
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