On this week's Talking Michigan Transportation, a conversation with state Rep. Leslie Love on the passion and commitment she brought to honoring Aretha Franklin with a memorial highway designation on M-10 (Lodge Freeway) in Detroit.

https://housedems.com/leslie-love/about/

https://mdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=e4838c1a08b64979b5e08f33909f5575

On Monday, Rep. Love joined MDOT Director Paul Ajegba, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, and Franklin family members and friends to unveil the Aretha L. Franklin Memorial Highway signs.

Rep. Love recounts the challenges moving the legislation to formalize the memorial designation for the highway and why this was personal for her. "That's not just a sign, it is a symbol. And it's a reminder of the struggle and the victory," Love said.

https://housedems.com/queen-of-soul-memorial-highway-moves-forward/

Lt. Gov. Gilchrist: "She enabled movements that changed people's lives."

Gov. Whitmer paid tribute to Ms. Franklin's work to empower women, invoking a signature lyric: "She taught generations of women to demand R E S P E C T."

Ms. Franklin's granddaughters Victorie and Grace Franklin offered a stirring a cappella rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 38 made their facilities available for the event and provided audio and logistics support.

View a video news release: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-DiNr2I1Z8&feature=youtu.be.