At the December 15th Lansing city council meeting the council heard from 18 passionate residents about the transitional (mod pod) housing project. People were pissed at the 13 state house republicans who created massive state funding cuts. Six Old Town shopkeepers supported expanding the business district boundary. A four to four vote stalled a noise ordinance change. Three board appointments and two redevelopment tax abatements were approved, and there was one comment about the disgraced fire chief.
Our special guest this episode is Khadja Erickson. Khadja is a dedicated housing advocate, organizer, and Executive Director of the Tenant Resource Center Mid Michigan. With years of experience in harm reduction, eviction defense, and grassroots organizing, she has worked tirelessly to ensure Lansing tenants have the tools, knowledge, and support they need to stay housed and assert their rights. She’s also a mom to five fabulous kids, which shapes how she thinks about stability, safety, and the kind of city we’re building for the next generation.
*CORRECTION* In the episode I said Dietrich Park was outside the new Old Town principal shopping district boundary - it looks like it actually inside the boundary.
Learn more about the Tennent Resource Center of Mid-Michigan here:
Find meeting issues maps and bingo results from the meetings on the podcast’s patreon page here:
https://www.patreon.com/whatLansingCouncil
Check out the Lansing City Council here:
During the December 8th Lansing city council meetings the public spoke to council about the importance of finding a good place, that works for everyone, for a proposed temporary housing community. Council debated the fairness of rolling back red tag fees on houses actively being renovated. Old town business owners had mixed feelings about expanding the tax boundary for their shopping district. Local and out of state redevelopers gave persuasive presentations asking for tax breaks. Der Krampus kommt, um dein Haus und dein Geld zu holen!
Our guest, Mia Murphy, works as the Chief Policy Officer at the non-profit Michigan Association of State Universities, she also serves on the board of the Salus center - an organization that serves the inclusive 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the greater Lansing area, and she earned her PhD in higher, adult, & lifelong education from Michigan State University.
Learn more about the Salus Center:
Here’s the site for A Place For Us - plans for an LGBTQ+ affirming homeless shelter in Lansing:
Find meeting issues maps and bingo results from the meetings on the podcast’s patreon page here:
https://www.patreon.com/whatLansingCouncil
Check out the Lansing City Council here:
During the November 17th Lansing City Council meetings the biggest issue was a requested utility easement by Consumer’s Energy for a new high pressure natural gas pipeline through Fenner Nature Center and Evergreen Cemetery - despite public pushback council approved the request. Public speakers continued to raise concerns about the city stalling on court ordered services to an encampment. Also, the council wrote a letter about supporting food rescue efforts.
Our special guest this episode is Tom Arthur. Tom is the lead pastor of Sycamore Creek Church, founder of Stage One at Sycamore Creek Eastwood, co-founder of Startup Grind Lansing, and co-founder of the long-running Northern Michigan C.S. Lewis Festival in Petoskey. He is also a startup coach with Wisdom Partners out of Silicon Valley and a creative partner for churches and non-profits. He has been married to his wife, Sarah, for 28 years and is the father of two boys, Sam and Micah, who attend Post Oak Academy and Eastern high school.
This is the Patreon for What Lansing Council, thank you!
https://www.patreon.com/whatLansingCouncil
Find out more about Sycamore Creek ministries here:
https://sycamorecreekchurch.org/
Here is the facebook event for the ugly sweater swing dance party at Sycamore Creek Eastwood:
https://www.facebook.com/share/17PDZCuzxf/
You can learn more about Lansing’s City Council here:
https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
During the November 10, 2025 council meetings residents from Lansing with a spectrum of housing challenges spoke to council - people fighting to stay alive in an outdoor encampment the city is currently litigating, a woman working to complete her renovation vision on a historic home the city had issued a “make safe or demolish” order against, and emerging developers asking the city to aid in the process of getting local and state tax breaks to make their projects less expensive.
Our guest Alan Fox currently serves as the Ingham County Treasurer. He served as Chief Deputy Treasurer for 4-1/2 years before he was appointed Treasurer in April, 2022. He has since been elected in 2022 and 2024. Alan has lived in Lansing since 2015. He grew up in East Lansing and was the first MSU student elected to the East Lansing City Council, in 1977.
Find meeting issues maps and bingo results from the meetings on the podcast’s patreon page here:
https://www.patreon.com/whatLansingCouncil
Here is the Ingham county treasurer’s office web site:
https://tr.ingham.org/departments_and_officials/treasurer/
You can learn more about Lansing’s City Council here:
https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
The mayor’s road construction input form can be found here:
During the October 27th Lansing City Council meetings the council heard from many citizens asking for leniency in a specific “make safe or demolish” order. Council also heard about a disturbing racially charged incident at Letts community center. Two new advisory board members were approved, and the actual timing of ordinances going into “immediate effect” was reviewed.
Our guest Annescia Dillard is a self-proclaimed "Lansing Enthusiast" who keeps her finger on the city's pulse. She regularly watches or attends public meetings for the Lansing City Council, Lansing Community College, the Capital Area Transit Authority (CATA), Lansing School District, and others whenever she finds the time.
You can learn more about Lansing’s City Council here:
https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
Find meeting issues maps and bingo results from the meetings on the podcast’s patreon page here:
During the October 13th meetings the Lansing City Council passed a resolution declaring Lansing an LGBTQ+ welcoming city. Many folks in attendance voiced their support for this resolution. Organizers from a tenants union working on getting Lansing to pass a "tenants bill of rights” appealed to council - as they are being stalled by the city attorney’s office.
Our special guest Rebecca Kasen works as the executive director of the Women's Center of Greater Lansing. She has previously worked creating emergency housing, in disability services, and in social justice advocacy.
Check out all the happenings at the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing here:
You can learn more about Lansing’s City Council here:
https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
Find issue maps and bingo results from the meetings on the podcast’s patreon page here:
During the September 29th Lansing city council meetings the council members did some shuffling of their proposed budget priorities. A flyer sent to residents paid for by the charter commission got called out for blatant propaganda. And transgender members of the community ask council to give statements denouncing hate targeting them and to provide further protections.
Our guest this episode Kris Klein is the President and CEO of the Lansing Economic Development Corporation (LDEC) a non-profit committed to advancing Lansing's vitality and equitable economic growth. He’s a proud city of Lansing resident since 2011 and a fellow avid watcher of City Council meetings.
The full discussion with Kris was unfortunately not recorded, apologies to Kris for some butchering of his thoughtful comments in the solo re-record.
Learn more about the work of the LDEC here:
And the LDEC’s small business technical assistance empower program:
https://lansingedc.com/the-empower-program
They also have some very nice story maps of the corridor projects on their website.
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You can learn more about Lansing’s City Council here:
https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
Find meeting issues maps and bingo results from the meetings on the podcast’s patreon page here:
During the September 22nd 2025 council meetings - the council heard public comments, mostly in-favor, of two developers asking for tax breaks to improve properties in the city by adding and maintaining ‘affordable’ housing. Other community members urged the city government to act to help folks experiencing homelessness. A Laingsburg resident with hospitality experience was appointed to the Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA) Board. And, council and public members agreed that parking offenders should be punished!
This episode’s special guest is Ben Shuldiner, our Superintendent of the Lansing Public School District. He's been with us since the summer of 2021 and previously worked as a teacher, principal, school board and educational leader in New York City and abroad.
Learn more about council here:
https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
Contact our superintendent here, anytime!:
https://www.lansingschools.net/departments/superintendent/
Join the patreon community for games and maps!:
During the Sept 8th Lansing city council meeting the council heard two plans from property developers: one in north Old Town near the Turner Dodge House to build a new apartment building with 76 units using a brownfield redevelopment tax incentive plan, another in South Lansing next to the Oak Park YMCA to continue to maintain a 618 unit “village” with a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) plan. Take note! the Mayor will be in a dunk tank THIS SATURDAY, don’t miss your opportunity to dunk the Mayor!
Our special guest this episode is DeLisa Fountain, DeLisa is a proud mom of three young men, and she works as the Director of Lansing's Neighborhoods, Arts & Citizen Engagement Department. She also champions community engagement by working with various youth empowerment organizations, serving on the Capital Area Community Services Board, the Lansing Empowerment Network Board, and the Mayor’s Gun Violence Task Force.
Find more great stuff on the Patreon:
https://patreon.com/WhatLansingCouncil
Look at this for more information on the Mayor dunk tank and community fundraising event (sorry, I can only find the facebook posting about this): https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C3vqCBPh4/
Information about City Council: https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
Information about the Neighborhoods, Arts & Citizen Engagement Department: https://www.lansingmi.gov/180/Neighborhoods-Arts-Citizen-Engagement
Information about the Neighborhood Resource Summit on October 15th: https://www.lansingmi.gov/905/Neighborhood-Resource-Summits
At the August 25th meeting the Lansing city council updated the process for deciding who gets city contracts over $15,000 dollars. Council also did some self-regulating, to update attendance and punishment rules for missed meetings. Public comments include both angry and appreciative stances on trash collection consolidation and plans for unhoused residents.
Our guest is State Senator Sarah Anthony. Senator Anthony represents Michigan’s 21st district which includes all of Eaton county and ⅔ of Ingham county, she has previously worked as an elected Ingham County commissioner and state representative, now as Senator she is the chair of the Senate appropriations committee.
Follow Senator Anthony:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahanthony517/
https://www.facebook.com/SarahAnthony517
Lansing City Council:
https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
What Lansing Council Patreon:
The audience chamber at the August 11th Lansing city council meeting was packed! Folks voiced their opinions on how the city treats people experiencing homelessness. An East Lansing city council member, Ingham county health services workers, a reverend, land owners, current shelter workers, emergency services workers, community organizers, and many others gave comments. Council approved $650,000 for a one time purchase of 50 pod units for new temporary housing.
Also the capital area transportation authority (CATA) director gave a rousing update, the Riverwalk theater wants to serve adult beverages to theater goers, and the Granger group is not impressed by plans to make the city the sole trash collector.
Our special guest is Eva Menefee works as the lead faculty advisor at Lansing Community College as well as an instructor, she has raised her family in Lansing, and she runs a food truck at pow-wows and other cultural events during the summers!
Visit the Patreon page to sign up for more perks from the show - like a map of places discussed at the meeting:
https://www.patreon.com/WhatLansingCouncil
Check out Eva’s food truck at the Pow Wow at Adado Riverfront Park hosted by The Anishinaabe Friendship Center (AFC) September 27 - 28th.
https://www.lansing.org/event/annual-dance-by-the-river-pow-wow/55245/
Learn more about city council here:
At the July 28th City Council meeting the Mayor is raked over the coals for a city lawsuit against local property owners allowing an unhoused encampment, other comment about construction bidding rules, property redevelopment plans, and tenant / landlord rule changes pack less heat - but it was an undeniably charged night at council.
Our special guest is Eric Tans! Eric works as an Environmental Scientist Research Librarian with Michigan State University (MSU), he is a member of the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) board, and is the top scorer for the Brew-ons at the ice cube hockey rink!
Eric’s research on the history of the Red Cedar River is beautifully presented here:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/00bb4a7660fd4516bd813ffee5b5758a
Learn more about city council here:
https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
Visit the Patreon page here for the map of issues discussed in this meeting:
https://www.patreon.com/whatLansingCouncil
Here is the Podcast's Patreon Page:Patreon.com/WhatLansingCouncil
Vote on the perks for being a WLC patreon member!
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During the July 14th Lansing city council meeting the council got a slick update on Lansing airport happenings, there are continuing brownfield development plans on plans on plans, some multi-property landlords were not in-favor of proposed renter insurance ordinances changes, there was an inter-council red-tag fee quarrel, and frustration over a police commissioner board re-appointment.
Our special guest is Jody Washington. She is a former city council member, current charter commission member, and long time community activist in Lansing.
NOTES:
Jody mentions Brian Jeffries and Lori Adam Simons - they are the Chair and Vice Chair of the Charter Commission. The Michigan flyer is a bus service to and from the Detroit airport (DTW) and the Marriott in East Lansing. Sarah Anthony is our state senator for Michigan’s 21st district that includes most of Lansing and Easton county. The acronym AMI stands for Area Median Income - this metric is used to determine the affordability of housing in the context of the area.
Here is the city page for the charter commission:
https://www.lansingmi.gov/1238/Commission-Members
Learn more about city council here:
https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
During the June 23rd council meeting, Council went bonkers for some planned property redevelopments, they bailed out a community picnic, and did their best to support retired firefighters and renters. The capital area district library (CADL) gave heartwarming updates but asked for help finding a new home downtown because their building is becoming uninhabitable.
Our special guest is Mike Dombrowski, Mike is the chair of the Lansing Parks Board, and founder of Eastside Compost - a curbside food scrap collection company.
Learn more about Lansing City Council here:
www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
Learn more about the Lansing Bike and Seek event here:
bikeandseek.org
During the June 9, 2025 Lansing city council meeting council faced a wall of red. Firefighters in their red shirts gave comments about broken promises made to retired members, this is due to a corrected oversight by the city that will cause these retirees to pay more for their health coverage going forward. Lansing’s Juneteenth celebration committee was honored, and discussions over rental insurance ordinance changes were postponed due to clerical errors.
Our special guest is Ryan Kost, sitting Lansing city council president and first ward representative.
Learn more about the Juneteenth celebration events in Lansing this year here:
https://www.lansingjuneteenthcelebration.org/
Here is the YouTube with all the Lansing city committee meetings:
Hello Lansing, do you know all the candidates running for city offices this year? You’ll hear some of them now! I sent an invitation to all those running and here are the 13 out of 21 who responded. The city’s primary election is on August 5th and the general will be November 4th. What are you looking for in your city representative and who do you want to be your voice on council?
Thank you to the candidates who participated in the episode!
* At-large council race: Nick Pigeon, Olivia Vaden, Jonah Stone, Tristan Walters, Julie Vandenboom, Clara Martinez, and Miles Biel
* Second ward council race (they both advance to the general election in November): Deyanira Nevarez Martinez and Erik Almquist
* Fourth ward council race: Heath Lowry and Zacharie Spurlock
* Mayoral race: Brett Brockschmidt and David Ellis
You can see a full list of candidates with some additional details here:
https://ballotpedia.org/City_elections_in_Lansing,_Michigan_(2025)
A wonderful bicycle treasure hunt around Lansing is up through the month of June. You'll need your phone and some friends, and one clue is about city council! www.bikeandseek.org
During the May 19, 2025 Lansing city council meeting our power utility manager gave a harrowing storm damage repair update. For those out of towners: Lansing was hit by severe winds or a tornado (depending on who you talk to) last Thursday night. The city budget was finalized with four last minute jobs added by council, they stuck with their story regarding blocking hard liquor license transfers, and kiddo-soccer team “the Stampede” received high honors.
Our special guest is Alicia Maida, she is a Genesee neighborhood association leader, works as a speech pathologist, and is a landlord for three units.
You can learn more about Lansing city council here: https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
During the May 12, 2025 Lansing city council meeting concerns from “the rent is too damn high” advocacy group were voiced and heard, firefighter and city teamsters union reps want to see long term strategic plans for filling vacancies and increasing staff, also the Mayor gets his comments cut short by the buzzer.
Our guest is Lansing Community College’s professor Randy Watkins. Prof. Watkins was the chairman of Mayor Schor’s Inclusion and Diversity Advisory Council then the Lansing Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and he now serves on the city’s Police Board of Commissioners.
Learn more about city council here:
https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
Learn more about the event: a salute to cowgirls and cowboys of color at the MSU pavilion here:
https://michiganheritagerodeo.ticketspice.com/michigan-heritage-rodeo
During the May 5th 2025 Lansing city council meeting the council starts a letter writing campaign: to the federal congress - please don’t tax municipal bonds - we prefer to use taxpayer dollars not to pay more taxes, to our state congress - please consider allowing red-light and speed cameras for automatic traffic enforcement, to the Mayor - give more monies to the police and fire departments. Also, the council takes action! approving new zoning rules allowing for auxiliary dwelling units (ADUs).
Our special guest is Virginia Chambers, she has worked for the city of Lansing as a communication manager, and is now doing the same for the Michigan House of Representatives.
Here’s your April 28th committee of the whole review: Council heard budget presentations from three departments and one public commentor demanded action to reduce speeding along S MLK Jr Blvd. There was also one sneeze and two jokes!
Our guest is Sophia Saliby, Sophia works at our local East Lansing public media station WKAR where she produces and hosts All Things Considered. She’s covered many stories we’ve heard about at council lately including the transfer of the Ultium battery plant from GM to LG Energy and the old Eastern High school building demolition.
You can learn more about Sophia’s work with WKAR here: https://www.wkar.org/people/sophia-saliby
Here is the link to easily connect with your representatives regarding public media funding: https://protectmypublicmedia.org/urge-congress-call/
The Lansing city council meeting agendas, notes, and other materials can be found on the city webpage here: https://www.lansingmi.gov/705/City-Council-Agendas-Minutes