Sept. 17, 2026 | What Makes a Place Worth Keeping?

In this episode of Michigan: We Need to Talk, Stephen Henderson and callers from across Michigan use the debate in Lake Orion as a way into a much bigger question: What is local government really for?Residents of the Village of Lake Orion will vote on whether the village should continue to exist as its own government, or whether its services should be absorbed by Lake Orion Township. For some residents, the issue is taxes and services. For others, it is identity, history, local control and the meaning of community.Stephen is joined by Madhu Anderson, senior research associate of local affairs at the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, and James Tatum III, Wayne County chief economist, to talk about why Michigan has so many local governments, what happens when communities consider consolidation or disincorporation, and why these questions are often more emotional than they first appear.At the center of the conversation: When we ask whether a local government is worth keeping, are we talking about money, services, control — or the place we call home?Call us anytime at 734-412-7155, or email us at [email protected] our online community at www.MIweneedtotalk.org