Recently, a group of mortgage experts were surveyed by bankrate.com concerning the direction they expect mortgage rates to change on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fifty-five percent of the experts surveyed expect rates to go up, twenty-seven percent expect them to go down, and eighteen percent expect them remain the same.

If you were hoping to buy or sell a home, the past few weeks have been especially difficult. Everyone is well aware of how restaurants and other small business are struggling; it’s easy to forget that our local real estate market has been impacted as well.

Jeff Kakos, Owner and Broker at Hanging Gardens Real Estate, told WGRT, “I’m super optimistic about the residential real estate market. Lenders are lending! Interest rates are very low.” Jeff went on to say, “The lack of housing supply and strong buyer demand before the shut down is still true today. Also, new construction costs are very high, so new home supply is not meeting the demand. My prediction is, if everyone gets back to work, residential real estate will still be strong.”

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn

On April 8th, Michigan chiropractor Garrett Soldano started a Facebook group to express his frustration with what he believed to be Governor Whitmer’s forced, excessive quarantine on Michiganders. The group grew exponentially over the next few weeks reaching 386,227 members until it disappeared from Facebook on May 13th. Soldano believes the group is being censored by Facebook because of its message.

Soldano noted several things began to change as the group grew. New memberships began to slow down, livestream sessions were disrupted, accounts were suspended, and posts began to disappear for “violating community standards”. Ultimately, the account was deleted by Facebook, and access to the entire history of over 14 million posts was removed. 

Now, Soldano and his supporters have taken a different approach to activism for their cause. They have incorporated and formed a pending non-profit organization, called Stand Up Michigan Inc. According to a press release, “The vision of Stand Up Michigan is to reclaim and defend the rights and liberties of We the People of Michigan. Their mission is to educate, equip and empower “We The People” to stand up for sacred values, citizen rights and constitutional freedoms.” 

To listen to WGRT’s interview with Garrett Soldano, click <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Friday is Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day. The National Safe Boating Council encourages all boaters to participate by wearing their life jacket to work (or from wherever they are safely working) to spread awareness of water and boat safety.

“If you love boating, this awareness day is for you! No matter if you’re on the job or working safely from home, Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day is an opportunity to have fun and share with others just how much you love boating,” said Yvonne Pentz, communications director of the National Safe Boating Council, the lead organization for the Safe Boating Campaign, a worldwide effort focused on responsible boating.

U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in four out of every five recreational boating fatalities in 2018, and that 84 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets. With a large percentage of outdoor recreation involving water our area, safety is very important.

You can participate in Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day, by sharing a picture yourself on social media wearing a life jacket at work or home and using the hashtag #lifejacket2work and tagging @boatingcampaign on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Winners will be chosen randomly throughout the day to receive boating swag from the Safe Boating Campaign, such as t-shirts, dry bags, first aid kits, stickers, and more.

May 16 – 22nd is National Safe Boating Week

Boating and fishing access information, educational resources, and more safe boating tips can be found at safeboatingcampaign.com. The Safe Boating Campaign is produced under a grant from the Sports Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Governor Gretchen Whitmer allowed the manufacturing sector to restart on Monday, May 11th, and Big 3 auto plants began bringing back their workers. After just three days of working, an employee at Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, tested positive for COVID-19.

Before workers were recalled, FCA established safety protocols and mailed employees a packet of information describing the changes to their work environment. The company provided employees with information about what FCA did to get the plants ready for their return, including a thorough cleaning and redesigned work and break areas, along with what they will continue to do once workers are regularly in the plants.

There were also detailed instructions on the role employees would play in keeping themselves and their coworkers safe. These included a daily risk assessment each employee would need to perform before entering the workplace, the use of PPE, hygiene practices, and rules for social distancing.

Now that work has begun, the company shows no signs of slowing down in the face of a COVID-19 positive employee. Mark Stewart, COO of FCA North America, said in a letter to employees, “I am pleased to say that our protocols worked as envisaged. The person was isolated and quarantined, more importantly our social distancing and personal protection equipment protocols were in full use. Face masks and safety glasses which are now mandatory in our plants, and are issued as people enter, were being worn and this along with the newly installed protective barriers between certain stations on our assembly line illustrated the depth and professionalism of the planning that has been put in place to prepare for the opening of our plants and the protection of our people.”

He went on to say, “While none of us want to see anyone impacted by COVID-19, if and when we have colleagues affected, we have the layers of safety protocols designed to protect us all.”

The situation at FCA demonstrates something all workers and employers will be faced with as the country seeks to return to work and restart the economy. Despite the best laid plans, COVID-19 can still spread in the community. This reality shows the importance of instituting safety protocols, no matter how cumbersome they may seem, and it underscores each individual’s responsibility to contribute to their own safety and the safety of those around them.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

The United Way of St. Clair County granted funds to the Blue Water Area Rescue Mission (BWARM) through their Emergency Services fund.  BWARM is a full-service overnight men’s emergency shelter that provides life skills training and emergency shelter in a safe, clean, and warm environment.

Before the pandemic, BWARM opened daily at 4 PM and closed in the morning. Today, BWARM is practicing social distancing and remains open 24/7 for their residents. The grant from the United Way of St. Clair County will provide for the cost of utilities, food, and necessary products to keep BWARM open 24/7 for its residents, so they can safely comply with the governor’s executive order.

Thanks to additional support from Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and other groups, the United Way is able to address unforeseeable, unique needs in the community that are rooted in the COVID-19 pandemic. Campaign Director Brent Gillette explained, “Being part of the community solution by partnering with other community leaders has been both educational and rewarding.”

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn

The Department of Health and Human Services is distributing $12 billion allocated for distributions to hospitals in areas that have been particularly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, including more than $900,000,000 to hospitals in Michigan. McLaren Flint and Macomb will receive a combined total of  $35,000,000.

President Trump is providing support to healthcare providers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic through the $175 billion in relief funding to hospitals and other healthcare providers through the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.

$12 billion is going to 395 hospitals around the country who provided inpatient care for 100 or more COVID-19 patients through April 10, 2020. The funds will be used to support healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue attributable to COVID-19. It also provides for low income and uninsured Americans so they have access to testing and treatment for COVID-19.

The 395 hospitals receiving this funding accounted for approximately 71% of COVID-19 inpatient admissions through April 10, 2020.

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn