According to a statewide survey conducted by the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) at the U-M Ford School of Public Policy, a majority of Michigan’s local governments are experiencing some form of harassment or other abuse from the public. Over 50% of surveyed jurisdictions reported harassment, threats, or violence against members of the local government, including themselves. Tom Ivacko, executive director of CLOSUP, suggests that the findings are an indicator of the health of U.S. democracy at the local level.
