U.S. Rep. Sander Levin Stops by Amici's Pizza & Living Room

United States Rep. Sander Levin stopped by Amici's Pizza & Living Room on Thursday night to grab a slice of pie and chat with residents during a Berkley Democratic Club social gathering.

The Michigan lawmaker, who began his political career on the Berkley Board of Supervisors decades ago, looked very much at home at the Berkley restaurant, club member Marcia Ham told Patch. She added that Levin recounted living in the city with his late wife.

“You know, Vicki and I raised our kids here; they attended Berkley schools,” the Congressman stated, according to Ham. “I always feel so much at home in Berkley. … We have great memories and great friendships that go back to those days.”

Berkley Mayor Phil O’Dwyer, former Mayor Marilyn Stephan, Amici's co-owners Jennifer Stark and Maureen McNamara, and members of the Berkley Democratic Club were among those on hand to welcome Levin to town Thursday night.

The Royal Oak resident is the ranking member of the House Committee on Ways and Means Committee, which handles tax, trade and economic growth policies, and entitlement spending, including Social Security, Medicare, welfare and unemployment compensation.

The veteran politician was elected to serve the 9th District, including Berkley and Huntington Woods, in November after redistricting redrew the political map in southeast Michigan.

Levin spoke about his return to the district during a Berkley City Council meeting Jan. 7.

"Redistricting had some rather unusual shapes, but Gary Peters represented this community after I did and I think very ably," he said of the Bloomfield Township Democrat who now represents the 14th District in the U.S. House.

"I was very unhappy with what I thought were the rather unusual, distorted at times, contours of redistricting. One of the privileges and one of the positives that came out of it was that I can come home," Levin said. "So, I come home to Berkley with immense emotion, if I might say so, and grateful to all of you for your continued service for this wonderful neighborhood."