about gun safety and violence.
"We put aside political differences:'
Gershenson said. "It was a very pow-
erful union with experts in mental
health, schools and law enforcement,
and the Board accepted their report"
One area of concern, Taub said, is
the state regulation that allows legal
gun owners to openly carry guns
into libraries, schools and hospitals,
despite the potential harm in these
settings.
Zack, a social worker, has advo-
cated strongly for a program to divert
the mentally ill from jail.
"Twenty percent of jail inmates
have a psychiatric or dual (psychiatric
and substance abuse) diagnosis," she
said. "We have worked with all of the
[Oakland County] police departments
except one to train them in diverting
these individuals for treatment rather
than jailing them!'
Fiscal Concerns
While the two parties may differ on
some policy issues, Taub, Zack and
Gershenson credit Republican and
Democratic commissioners for work-
ing well together on fiscal matters.
They cite Oakland County's balanced
budgets, AAA bond rating, low tax
rate compared to other Michigan
counties and its financial stability
despite the recent recession.
County staff began planning in
2007 for an expected decline in hous-
ing values with a corresponding
decrease in property tax revenues as
well as reduced state revenue sharing.
County staffing was reduced through
attrition and some staff members
were cross-trained in multiple func-
tions for cost effectiveness.
Taub and Gershenson are proud of
the county's efforts to help homeown-
ers experiencing difficulty with mort-
gage or tax payments. Counseling is
available through the Community
Housing Network Program, (248)
928-0111 or www.communityhous-
ingnetwork.org .
The foreclosure rate is down and
other economic signals are improving
as well.
While Michigan's unemployment
rate was 8.4 percent (seasonally
adjusted as reported by the Federal
Reserve in June), unemployment was
7.8 percent (not seasonally adjusted)
in Oakland County, as reported in
July.
All three commissioners express
satisfaction with the positive results
of the county's efforts to retain and
attract businesses. Fifteen years ago,
the county identified emerging sectors
to target for business development.
Since then, Taub and Gershenson said
more than 100 trade missions have
pitched the county as a great business
location — citing available infrastruc-
ture, high quality of life, potential tax
abatements and more.
The county reports 29,000 new jobs
created and 13,000 jobs retained, with
private business investments total-
ing more than $2 billion since the
Emerging Sectors Initiative began in
2004.
Recognizing women still lack
equal clout in the political arena,
Gershenson, Taub and Zack are mem-
bers of the Women Officials Network
of Oakland County, a bipartisan
organization to mentor and develop
women elected officials and leaders.
Despite the Christian prayers often
recited at the start of commission
meetings and occasional condescend-
ing remarks from male colleagues,
they are encouraged that women and
Jews are better represented on the
commission than in the past.
❑
*Special membership rates available for new members.
Please call the synagogue office for details: 248-432-2729
B'nai Israel Synagogue is proud to partner with the Hillel Day School ECC
Online Map Links Taglit-Birthright Alumni
With Friends For High Holiday Events
To help Taglit-Birthright Israel
alumni and their friends connect to
communities and create their own
meaningful experiences during the
High Holidays, NEXT: A Division of
Birthright Israel Foundation launched
its 2013 High Holidays Initiative.
With an interactive online map
of services and events around the
country (birthrightisraelnext.org/
highholidays), along with the first-
time offering of small subsidies and
resources to host Rosh Hashanah
meals and Yom Kippur break-the-
fasts, the initiative empowers young
Jewish adults to form communities
of meaning with one another and to
celebrate the High Holidays in ways
that are accessible and authentic.
More than 250 services and
events in 145 U.S. cities were rep-
resented on the interactive map
when it launched on Aug. 5, with
an increase expected in the coming
weeks.
Users can easily find events in
their city and browse event details,
including whether discounted or
free tickets are offered.
A new feature this year will
enable users to filter events based
on their preferences for things like
egalitarian services, LGBT-friendly
events and more. This is the third
year NEXT is offering this online
tool.
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n-o. n-r 111'3711 1 1 7/CIVJP `7D
All Israel is responsible for one another
August 15 • 2013
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