community development – Purpose Driven General Counsel

Businesses Leading in Crisis: Michigan #COVID19 Legislative Update

I am sure your life, like mine, got upended a week ago. As crazy as life is now, somethings remain constant. Yesterday, I snapped a beautiful sunset. Michigan Governor’s Executive Order 2020-21 The State of Michigan is continuing to update and offer guidance on businesses complying with Governor Gretchen Whitmer‘s Executive Order 2020-21. Check out this helpful FAQ.Continue reading “Businesses Leading in Crisis: Michigan #COVID19 Legislative Update”

Landlords and Real Estate Investors: Legal Update under #COVID19

The world is changing faster than we can track. So much has changed since my last update on March 13. I was in court that day for a commercial landlord. I would not have known that a few weeks later I would be working remotely due to Executive Order 2020-21 – placing law firms underContinue reading “Landlords and Real Estate Investors: Legal Update under #COVID19”

Updates on The New Life as We Know It: What are you Doing With Your Margin?

The sunrise has been beautiful the last few days in Grand Rapids. Every day is a new day to be thankful for. At the same time, our world is facing a pandemic, a disruption to our lives, the likes of which we have never seen and will hopefully never see again. I am writing nowContinue reading “Updates on The New Life as We Know It: What are you Doing With Your Margin?”

New Rent Control Law is Trending in Places like California & Oregon, but is it a Proper Response to an Affordable Housing Crisis?

Last month California announced that in order to combat a staggering growth in homelessness it will implement rent control laws effective January 1, 2020. According to Market Watch: The law limits rent increases to 5% each year plus inflation until Jan. 1, 2030. It bans landlords from evicting people for no reason, meaning they couldContinue reading “New Rent Control Law is Trending in Places like California & Oregon, but is it a Proper Response to an Affordable Housing Crisis?”

Real Estate Law Update: Bill Would Impose Stricter Requirements on Recording a Construction Lien

Good afternoon, all. I hope you all are enjoying the beginning of summer. Residential Builders – check out this House Bill 4695 introduced on June 11, 2019. This Bill would impose stricter requirements on licensed builders prior to recording a Construction Lien. According to the Bill, a Contractor: SHALL DISPLAY THE CONTRACTOR’S LICENSE AND, IFContinue reading “Real Estate Law Update: Bill Would Impose Stricter Requirements on Recording a Construction Lien”

Michigan Business Law Update: Bill Would Allow Single Member LLCs To Evict Tenants without Legal Representation

Happy Wednesday, all. I took this photo back on Mother’s Day. Looking forward to spending more time enjoying Michigan summers. Summer is approaching! Last December it looked like Landlords were going to finally be able to represent their LLCs under limited circumstances when evicting tenants. Check out my prior post here That Bill, after undergoingContinue reading “Michigan Business Law Update: Bill Would Allow Single Member LLCs To Evict Tenants without Legal Representation”

Standing in the Gap for Those in Need: My Review of HillBilly Elegy

I just finished reading a book called “Hillbilly Elegy” by JD Vance. What I liked about this book: So many striking themes from my own family of origin: poverty, dysfunctional family relationships, addiction, alcoholism, abuse, vulnerability. It is also personally interesting to me that, like me, JD Vance also ended up graduating from high school,Continue reading “Standing in the Gap for Those in Need: My Review of HillBilly Elegy”