SAGINAW, MI — State Representative Amos O’Neal welcomed a packed crowd to a town hall at the Buena Vista Community Center on Tuesday, Jan. 7, to discuss post-election challenges and chart a path forward. The event featured Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson as a special guest, drawing an engaged audience eager to discuss a wide range of issues, from election integrity to affordable housing.
O’Neal began the evening by expressing gratitude to the attendees for their dedication to civic engagement, particularly acknowledging the young people in the crowd. Reflecting on a challenging election cycle in which Democrats lost four seats in the state House, O’Neal emphasized the need for unity and introspection.
“We have to take introspection on what we did and how we did, and what we need to do better, to enhance and make sure we elect the folks that need to be in those spots,” O’Neal said. He urged the audience to remain reasonable and civil, even when facing disagreements.
Benson highlights engagement and misinformation defense
Secretary Benson, who has personal ties to the Saginaw area, echoed O’Neal’s call for community collaboration. She outlined initiatives led by her office to improve access to state IDs for high school graduates and encouraged attendees to share their concerns and ideas.
“I’m really just here to say, how can we work better for you? How can we do more for you, and answer your questions, hear your concerns, and come up with some ideas together,” Benson said.
A key focus of Benson’s remarks was combating election misinformation. She emphasized the importance of educating communities and empowering trusted local leaders to share accurate information.
“We can’t be fooled if you know ahead of time what the truth is,” Benson said. “Showing up to things like this, talking with representatives, but also talking with clerks when it comes to election procedures, making sure we’re equipped with the truth, so that when the lies come, we can call them out instead of believing them.”
This week Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, announced a controversial shift in its approach to combating online misinformation. The company revealed plans to replace its fact-checking program with a crowdsourced model emphasizing “free expression.”
The decision has sparked widespread debate, with critics warning that the change could worsen the spread of misinformation and hate speech, especially at a time when accurate, reliable information is more essential than ever.
Addressing economic challenges
The town hall also delved into the economic challenges facing local businesses. An audience member with businesses in both Saginaw and Flint recounted having to sell their restaurant in Flint due to rising costs associated with inflation and the state’s minimum wage increase.
On Jan. 1, Michigan’s minimum wage rose to $10.56 per hour for adults, $8.98 for minors, and $4.01 for tipped workers. A second increase is set for February 21, following a Michigan Supreme Court ruling. At that time, wages will jump to $12.48 for adults, $10.61 for minors, and $5.99 for tipped workers.
O’Neal acknowledged the impact of these financial pressures and explained that legislation addressing the minimum wage increase had stalled after a key vote was lost in the legislature.
“That was also on the top two or three of important parties to move before lame duck,” O’Neal said. “We understand the devastation that would have on small businesses like yourself.”
Voting rights and prison populations
Saginaw City Council member Michael Balls voiced concerns about the use of prison populations for revenue sharing while denying incarcerated individuals the right to vote.
“Some states use prison populations in cities for revenue sharing, but they won’t let them vote. I don’t think that’s fair. I mean, how can we get prisoners to vote here in Michigan… there are some states that let prisoners vote,” Balls said.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson clarified Michigan’s policy on voting rights.
“In Michigan, individuals can vote regardless of their criminal history, as long as they are not actively serving a prison sentence,” Benson explained. She also emphasized her office’s efforts to ensure returning citizens have access to state IDs and voter registration upon their release.
Housing and infrastructure
Affordable housing emerged as a pressing issue, with Representative O’Neal highlighting efforts to work with local organizations to increase housing availability in Saginaw.
“We’ve increased housing and accessibility tenfold,” O’Neal said. However, one attendee voiced concerns about poor conditions in senior housing.
“These senior high-rise buildings look neglected, with no investment in painting, improvements, etc. The conditions are shameful,” the attendee said.
O’Neal agreed, stressing that seniors deserve better living conditions and pledged continued collaboration with city and county officials to address the problem.
Infrastructure challenges, particularly road funding, also took center stage. Dennis Borchard, Managing Director of the Saginaw County Road Commission, asked about initiatives to tackle these issues. O’Neal responded by noting previous bipartisan discussions on road funding that were disrupted by the election outcomes.
“That will be a top priority for us,” O’Neal assured. “We have to figure out the best way and the best funding mechanism to address that issue.”
A call for political introspection
Dr. Vincent Oriedo, a Midland native with strong connections to the Saginaw community, urged Democratic leaders to examine the deeper reasons behind recent election losses, calling for an honest and thorough review of their strategies.
“What are you doing at your level to do a deep introspection—an honest one, not looking at superficial excuses like we did not have the right candidate or the time frame was not correct. I see something deeper happening here that Democrats need to address moving forward,” Oriedo said.
Benson acknowledged the need for reflection and stressed the importance of restoring trust in government through effective public service.
“The answer is, yes, we do need to do that honest, deep introspection,” Benson said. “I haven’t dedicated my life to public service to see government broken. I’m in this to make it work for people.”
Moving forward
As the town hall concluded, both O’Neal and Benson reiterated the importance of continued collaboration between state leaders, local officials, and the community.
“We’re just getting warmed up,” Benson said. “This is January 7, 2025. We’ve got a year ahead of us, multiple years ahead of us to prepare for 2026 and beyond.”
Rep. Amos O’Neal was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2020, representing the 95th District, and was re-elected in 2022 to serve the 94th District after redistricting. Following Kristen McDonald Rivet’s election to Michigan’s 8th Congressional District in the November election, speculation has arisen that O’Neal may pursue her now-vacant state senate seat, though he has yet to make a formal announcement.
