BAY CITY, Mich. — I have confirmed that Carrollton High School history teacher Matthew Sylvester delivered a profanity-laced speech during the April 7, 2025, Bay City Commission meeting.
The public comment period centered on a controversial “welcoming city” resolution, which would have declared that all residents are welcome in Bay City. The commission initially passed the resolution in a narrow 5-4 vote.
However, during the April 7 meeting, Bay City Mayor Christopher Girard announced he had vetoed the resolution. The commission had the option to override the veto but declined to do so.
During the Monday meeting various people from the community spoke in favor and opposition of the resolution.
Carrollton High School History Teacher Matthew Sylvester took to the podium using vulgar language and even saying at one point calling Elon Musk and illegal immigrant.
Carrollton Schools Superintendent Tiffany L Peterson sent me the following statement:
Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention. However, we cannot comment about personnel matters. Thank you and have a great day!
During his public comments Sylvester alleged Mayor Christopher Girard was blackmailed.
Mayor Girard posted the following on his Facebook page:
Mayor Chris Girard is addressing and firmly denying recent rumors that he was blackmailed or coerced by State Representative Timmy Beson—or anyone else—regarding the Welcoming City resolution.
“These claims are entirely false,” stated Mayor Girard. “At no time was I blackmailed or pressured into a position. Representative Beson did not coerce me. While he did share concerns that were expressed to him by state leaders about the potential implications of the resolution, those discussions were professional, respectful, and transparent.”
Mayor Girard emphasized that his decisions are made independently with careful consideration for the best interests of Bay City and its residents. “My responsibility is to lead with integrity and open communication. Any assertion to the contrary is simply misinformation.”
Mayor Girard and Representative Beson continue to work together on issues important to Bay City and Bay County. Both encourage the public to engage in respectful dialogue and to seek accurate information from official sources.
I have reached out to Sylvester for comment and as of this email have not yet heard back from him. If he does respond, I will update the article with his statement.
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Gas prices are climbing fast in Michigan, with some stations reaching nearly $5 a gallon. Here’s what’s driving the increase and what could happen next.
#Michigan #GasPrices #Economy
Michigan schools have lost more than 100,000 students in just nine years, but somehow, they’ve added more than 35,000 full-time employees.
E-bike crashes involving kids are getting attention in Michigan — and now a state lawmaker wants tougher rules. Would new age restrictions go too far? #Michigan #EBikes #news
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Libertarian party disavows candidate for Governor Anthony Hudson
https://open.substack.com/pub/davebondy/p/libertarian-party-disavows-candidate?r=m9vqj&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
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El-Sayed blames outdated funding approach for school woes
Michigan’s public schools suffer from an inadequate funding mechanism, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed said in recent comments reported by Fox News. But the state abandoned that approach to funding in 1994.
“Those public schools are deeply underfunded,” El-Sayed told Martha MacCallum during an Oct. 5 interview. “We continue to pattern the way we pay taxes based on property tax.”
Michigan spends an average of $23,867 per pupil, from all sources, and funding has risen more than 30% over the past two years. The national per-pupil average is $16,526, according to Shawn Cooper, education policy director at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
“Mr. El-Sayed’s belief that property taxes are responsible for funding education in the classroom is simply incorrect,” Cooper told Michigan Capitol Confidential. Click here to read more.
State Health Dept. Sued Over Forced Unionizing of Michigan Home Caregivers
The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation filed a lawsuit challenging Michigan’s effort to classify home caregivers as state employees for union representation. The lawsuit seeks to enforce the Michigan Constitution’s rules governing state employment and invalidate the election that certified SEIU Healthcare Michigan as the bargaining representative for home caregivers.
The foundation represents James “Jase” Bolger, a former member of the Michigan Civil Service Commission. Bolger brings the lawsuit as a citizen, as the Michigan Constitution allows any citizen to sue to enforce its civil service provisions.
“Michigan’s Constitution puts safeguards around state employment for a reason: to keep politicians from using it to serve special interests,” said Bolger. Click here to read more.
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Everett Public Schools reaches settlement over Bible study with religious education group
EVERETT, Wash. — Everett Public Schools is making a public apology and giving students time for Bible study.
The district reached a settlement with the non-profit LifeWise, which gives voluntary Bible education to public school students off campus during school hours.
The settlement requires school board members to take religious liberty training, make changes to the district’s policies about religious activities, and pay $275,000 in attorney’s fees, according to First Liberty Institute.
LifeWise is based in Ohio and operates near an estimated 1,200 schools across the U.S. First Liberty Institute, the group representing LifeWise, calls this a victory for students’ and families’ First Amendment rights. Click here to read more.
Social Security checks next year won’t keep up with inflation
WASHINGTON (TNND) — Tens of millions of Americans who rely on Social Security benefits will get limited relief from rising prices when they receive monthly checks in 2027.
Payments will increase by an average of $75 per month, the Social Security Administration said Wednesday. The 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment was announced as the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics published September’s Consumer Price Index showing inflation rose 3.7% over 12 months, marking a jump from August’s 3.4%. Between 2025 and 2026, the cost-of-living adjustment was 2.8%.
The Trump administration said next year’s adjustment will give 72 million beneficiaries “greater financial stability.” Click here to read more.
Trump DOJ Investigates New Jersey Town for Allegations of ‘Egregious,’ ‘Unjust Delays’ Issuing Gun Licenses
The Civil Rights Division of President Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating “whether Pennsauken, New Jersey deprives citizens of their right to bear arms” via “delays in issuing firearm licenses.”
“The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear firearms — including the right to carry firearms. The investigation focuses on the Pennsauken Township Police’s permitting system,” the DOJ explained in a press release Wednesday.
The announcement also noted, “It is a violation of the Second Amendment for government officials to delay issuing permits to purchase or carry firearms. In 2022, the Supreme Court held in New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n, Inc. v. Bruen that a state’s permitting process is put towards ‘abusive ends’ when ‘lengthy wait times in processing license applications or exorbitant fees deny ordinary citizens their right to public carry.’” Click here to read more.
