{"id":273557,"date":"2026-10-21T01:38:35","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T01:38:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/273557\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T01:38:35","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T01:38:35","slug":"jeffries-joins-hines-for-roundtable-on-community-concerns-in-michigans-10th-congressional-district-macomb-daily","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/273557\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeffries joins Hines for roundtable on community concerns in Michigan\u2019s 10th Congressional District \u2013 Macomb Daily"},"content":{"rendered":"

This story was originally published<\/a> by Michigan Advance. Sign up for their weekly newsletter at michiganadvance.com\/subscribe<\/a><\/p>\n

By Kyle Davidson, Michigan Advance<\/a><\/p>\n

In southern Macomb County, faith leaders and local government officials sat down with former special victims prosecutor Christina Hines and U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) to share the concerns they\u2019ve heard from their communities and offer approaches Congress could take to better serve the people.<\/p>\n

Gathering at Love Life Family Christian Center in Eastpointe, panelists from communities and congregations throughout Michigan\u2019s 10th Congressional District pointed to a variety of concerns ranging from education to gun violence to ensuring people of all ages have access to community resources and support.<\/p>\n

While the district is represented by U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), James\u2019 decision to run for governor has left the seat open. Democrats have taken this as an opportunity to expand their ranks, with the goal of regaining a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives.<\/p>\n

Voters selected Hines to carry the torch for Democrats into November, with U.S. Army Capt. Michael Bouchard Jr., who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, representing the Republican side of the ticket. While the district was initially considered to lean Republican, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report updated its rating to \u201ctoss up\u201d<\/a> at the end of August, signaling a highly competitive congressional race.<\/p>\n

At the start of the roundtable, Hines noted her excitement for panelists to share the concerns of their communities with Jeffries, who arrived partway through the panel due to a flight delay, and with her so that she could take those issues to Washington.<\/p>\n

Members of the roundtable were also asked what they would like to see Congress do better and what questions they had for Jeffries, who could potentially become Speaker of the House if Democrats regain control of the chamber in November.<\/p>\n

Here are some of their responses.<\/p>\n

\"PastorPastor Kevin Lancaster of Love Life Family Christian Center at a roundtable on Oct. 17, 2026. (Kyle Davidson\/Michigan Advance)<\/p>\n

Pastor Kevin Lancaster of Love Life Family Christian Center<\/p>\n

Opening the roundtable, Lancaster said that education was a key concern for Macomb County, particularly in Eastpointe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s one of the biggest indicators of poverty, is a lack of education, and yet our schools in Eastpointe are crumbling,\u201d Lancaster said, before inquiring about what solutions Democrats are proposing to help schools perform.<\/p>\n

\"MountMount Clemens City Commissioner Theresa McGarity speaks at a roundtable on Oct. 17, 2026. (Kyle Davidson\/Michigan Advance)<\/p>\n

Theresa McGarity, Mount Clemens city commissioner<\/p>\n

McGarity, who also works for the Macomb Community Action Center, listed accessibility to public resources as among the challenges she\u2019d observed within her city and the county, noting that programs to assist residents are increasingly moving online.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody don\u2019t have a computer. Everybody can\u2019t use a smartphone. And our seniors want to remain independent. They don\u2019t want to have to call their children when they can do things themselves,\u201d McGarity said, adding that seniors had also faced challenges with transportation to the library so they could have access to a computer to utilize those community resources.<\/p>\n

Funding for senior services was also important, McGarity said, pointing to the need for one-on-one assistance to help them access programs that can assist with home weatherization, housing rehabilitation, utilities and food.<\/p>\n

\"JocelynJocelyn Howard, executive director of Citadel of Perpetual Learning at a roundtable with Macomb County faith leaders and officials on Oct. 17, 2026. (Kyle Davidson\/Michigan Advance)<\/p>\n

Jocelyn Howard, executive director of Citadel of Perpetual Learning<\/p>\n

Howard brought up three concerns, beginning with how artificial intelligence will impact frontline workers, noting her organization does training and development work in support of schools and the automotive industry.<\/p>\n

She also noted the need for Congress to recapture the nation\u2019s purse strings and asked what Democrats would do to bring resources back into communities that had been stripped away by the Trump Administration.<\/p>\n

\"MacombMacomb County Commissioner Michael Howard discusses community concerns during a roundtable on Oct. 17, 2026. (Kyle Davidson\/Michigan Advance)<\/p>\n

Michael Howard, Macomb County commissioner<\/p>\n

While discussing top-of-mind concerns heading into the midterm elections, Howard called out the need for resources in Black communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know why it\u2019s become fearful to say we need resources in Black communities,\u201d Howard said. \u201cI mean, we say it, but the folks that represent us are scared to talk about bringing resources to Black communities when we know that when the tide and the water rises in Black communities, all ships rise. When we do well, everyone in this nation does well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Putting it plainly, Howard said this means money to invest in communities, specifically noting the need for more resources for schools.<\/p>\n

Howard also called out tariffs as a threat to the auto industry, while noting his own personal concerns in addressing gun violence.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re seeing kids in our community getting a hold of unsecure firearms, which is a problem that we have to address,\u201d Howard said. \u201cThere needs to be some better laws around that, and especially to protect domestic violence victims as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also noted that being present in the community is vital for a representative.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if you\u2019ve talked to my congressmember, but I\u2019ve seen him four times maybe, and since he\u2019s ever been elected or running for office,\u201d Howard told Jeffries. \u201cAnd if we ever needed anything, we had to reach out to Senator Peters, who is more present in my community than my own congressmember, and the whole point of Congress was to be our voice and our representative.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is an increasing disconnect between what happens in D.C. and what happens on the ground in communities, Howard said, noting that when residents at the local level try to elevate their issues and concerns, it feels like they fall on deaf ears.<\/p>\n

\"SpencerSpencer Calhoun, Mount Clemens city commissioner, Oct. 17, 2026. (Kyle Davidson\/Michigan Advance)<\/p>\n

Spencer Calhoun, Mount Clemens city commissioner<\/p>\n

Calhoun told Hines that affordability was a major concern, with rising gas, grocery and utility costs placing an increased strain on the community.<\/p>\n

That strain has been made worse by policies at the federal level, Calhoun said, stating that the current Republican-led administration has delivered tax cuts for wealthy individuals and corporations at the expense of working-class folks.<\/p>\n

Healthcare was also among Calhoun\u2019s concerns, as he pointed to Medicaid changes<\/a> requiring states to redetermine recipients\u2019 eligibility every six months rather than once a year.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to learn to get really good at doing paperwork, otherwise, you\u2019re gonna lose your healthcare,\u201d Calhoun said. \u201cPeople who are eligible for their benefits are not going to receive them just because they won\u2019t be able to keep up.\u201d<\/p>\n

In offering feedback for Congress, Calhoun called for leaders to make space to listen to residents, and to turn those concerns into action.<\/p>\n

He also closed out the roundtable by asking Jeffries how the panelists, as community leaders, young people and Black leaders, could work with Hines to support work in Washington to hold President Donald Trump accountable and lower costs.<\/p>\n

Jeffries, Hines pledge action over costs, accountability<\/p>\n

Jeffries said affordability would be a top priority for House Democrats and pointed to several provisions within congressional Republicans\u2019 One Big Beautiful Bill Act the caucus would like to see reversed to help address those concerns.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe we need to reverse these Medicaid cuts,\u201d Jeffries said. \u201cWe need to reverse the largest cut to SNAP that was also part of the One Big Ugly Bill that literally is ripping food out of the mouths of hungry children and seniors and veterans. It\u2019s a disgrace, and we\u2019ll fight that battle right at the top of the new Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n

Democrats will also fight to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits that expired Dec. 31, 2025, Jeffries said, noting that people across the country are facing higher insurance premiums as a result.<\/p>\n

Accountability will also be a major focus.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019ve been stealing from the American people, screwing over the American people, shortchanging the American people \u2014 beginning on day one, we\u2019re going to hold the crooks accountable,\u201d Jeffries said.<\/p>\n

Hines also encouraged those in attendance to keep in contact as she works to rally voters ahead of Election Day and beyond.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor many of you, this is not the first time you\u2019ve already seen me, right? But I want to keep this communication going,\u201d Hines said, adding that many of the things discussed at the forum were also important to her family.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so we are going to be fighting together, lockstep, marching together,\u201d Hines said.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Michigan Advance is an affiliate of State Newsroom, the nation\u2019s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. To support, its journalism, donate at michiganadvance.com\/donate<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This story was originally published by Michigan Advance. Sign up for their weekly newsletter at michiganadvance.com\/subscribe By Kyle…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":273558,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[144],"tags":[883,485,2182,1960,513,50,51],"class_list":["post-273557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-hakeem-jeffries","tag-election","tag-hakeem-jeffries","tag-latest-headlines","tag-local-news","tag-michigan","tag-news","tag-politics"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@people\/117476347617836229","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=273557"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273557\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=273557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=273557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=273557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}