Rep. Woodrow Stanley’s aide talks to group

Berton Brown, constituent services liaison for Rep. Woodrow Stanley (34th District), spoke to the East Side Business Association July 13.

Brown discussed the recent addition of 10 state police officers in the city and the $1 million the state has designated to get more criminals off the streets.

"The new officers will be working with the FBI to get guns off the streets," Brown said.

Asked what will happen to the criminals when the money runs out, Brown said that Stanley is working to see that that doesn't happen.

Brown also told the group Stanley is a strong supporter of the proposed 1.5 percent city income tax because that money would go directly to the city. Earlier in the year, Stanley and Rep. Jim Ananich, both democrats, held discussions with state lawmakers on a bill that would allow Flint to increase its income tax rate to 1.5 percent for people who work in the city.

According to Brown, the income tax would add about $6.6 million of revenue and would go a long way in helping the city balance their budget.

Brown said Stanley is working on a plan to counter the Republican proposed legislation that will stop welfare assistance to families after 36 months. The proposed legislation would reflect welfare limits approved earlier this year as part of the state budget plan. Michigan's current law has a similar time limit but it has more exceptions than the revised plan. The current law is due to expire in late September unless it's renewed or changed by lawmakers. According to Brown, Stanley says the limits would hurt needy families and children.

"He cares about families and kids," Brown said.

Brown, a native of Flint, graduated from Central High School and Clark Atlanta University. He earned a master's of business administration from Middle Tennessee State University.

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