YEO Frontline News 3rd Quarter, 2015 - 10th National Convening Recap | Page 5

COVER In the News CONTINUED behind bars and help them reintegrate into society in the process. Kawasaki’s bill is also fiscally responsible, since it would preclude exonerees from joining a civil suit against the state. As Rep. Kawasaki noted, “the average civil award is about $3.6 million.” TW OR POLICY MEMBERSHIP w w w .YEON e t w o r k . o r g G JUNEAU, AK – Alaska YEO Scott Kawasaki wants to financially compensate those wrongfully convicted of a crime. H.B. 55 would make amends for keeping innocent people KIN ITHACA, NY – Mayor Svante Myrick recently laid out his vision to expand his city’s stock of affordable housing for low- to moderate-income households. Together with officials from Tompkins County, NY and Cornell University, Myrick detailed plans to provide no-interest loans for predevelopment expenses, as well as grant money for land purchase and construction costs. Noting Ithaca’s markedly high housing prices, Myrick stated, “This growing crisis requires a proportionate response.” NE LANSING, MI – Mayor Nathan Triplett is calling attention to political maneuvering in his state meant to gut local LGBTQ anti-discrimination ordinances. The mayor described the Local Government Employer Mandate Prohibition Act, which would prevent municipalities from setting their own employment laws and regulations, as an “unprecedented intrusion into the local control of Michigan cities.” Because of a last-minute committee amendment, those constraints will not extend to the state’s 38 LGBTQ-protective ordinances. Triplett, whose East Lansing community was the first in the state to pass such a measure, joins fellow Michigan YEOs Rep. Jeremy Moss, Rep. Jon Hoadley, and Rep. Stephanie Chang in the battle against preemption. They continue to fight what remains of H.B. 4052. YEO F r o n t l i n e N e w s • Q3 2015 • PG 5