U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin hosts town hall at Benton Harbor Boys and Girls Club

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan’s newly elected democratic senator, Elissa Slotkin, hosted a town hall Mon. afternoon at the Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor, on the hunt for support in what she calls her Economic War Plan for America.

ABC57 was not given the opportunity to talk with Senator Slotkin individually, but NightTeam’s Blake Parker joined over 200 community members to hear some of Slotkin’s proposed plan.

“I think I’m always looking for our elected officials to just get out there and be bold, I’m looking for boldness and I want to hear a bold plan,” said a resident from Bridgman, Mich., Patty Mulvihill, while waiting to get into the event.

Senator Slotkin said the shrinking middle class is of her top concern. She explained she believes Michigan is the birthplace of the middle class and is on a mission to make sure everyone has access to joining the middle class.

“The power and the wealth that the middle class holds in this country, which was so powerful after World War Two, is shrinking and when people feel like they can’t provide for their families, like they can’t get into the middle class or stay in the middle class, they feel shame, they feel anger, they feel humiliation, and they start looking for someone to blame,” said Senator Slotkin.

Slotkin explained she sees the American dream dwindling, so developed the Economic War Plan for America, "You can't win a game by playing defense only, you have to put out something that shows you're playing offense,”.

Part of Slotkin’s plan includes securing supply chains. She said we can't depend on other counties when we have the means to do it ourselves.

“Right on down the line, we have to attack those things that are most commonly thought of as the American dream. We need to make sure those things are real… think about buying a house, we have a housing emergency going on right now, we are short 4 million units of housing across the country,” said Slotkin.

Many of the residents said they came out in search of something bold, “There are so many things that are changing that are going to do permanent damage and it is just time to get bold and get loud and stand up,” said Saint Joseph, MI resident, Lynne Christiano, after the event wrapped up.