Voters are being asked to consider three amendments on the Nov. 7, 2023, ballot.
The proposal was defeated 3-2. Hagan Reality owners are not sure what their next steps will be for the properties but vow not to give up.
Divisions within East Lansing’s City Hall have led to complaints and resignations.
By Lucas Day Concluding a drawn out saga that stretches back to early August, the East Lansing City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday (Sept. 19) in favor of approving a contract for Robert Belleman to serve as the next city manager. Belleman comes to East Lansing following a recent controversy. He was removed from his previous…
City Council will vote on the contract at their Tuesday meeting.
ELi brings you what candidates had to say about the city’s workforce problem, redevelopment, climate change, public safety and lots more.
Investigation by ELi shows it’s been a rocky road to hiring a new city manager for East Lansing.
All the information you need to be prepared for the upcoming Nov. 7 election.
Material just released under the Freedom of Information Act shows the Metzger/Fabian family chose to redevelop their portion of Parking Lot #11 after being told the city would not continue to rent it for parking.
Hagan Realty says the project will be good for the city, while residents of the 600 block of Grove Street continue to disagree.
ELi is providing introductions to the eight East Lansing City Council candidates. In the eighth installment in our series, Dustin DuFort Petty provides a profile of Joshua Ramirez-Roberts. Why is Ramirez-Roberts running?
ELi is providing introductions to the eight East Lansing City Council candidates. In the seventh installment in our series, Lucas Day provides a profile of Mark Meadows. Why is Meadows running?
ELi is providing introductions to the eight East Lansing City Council candidates. In the sixth installment in our series, Dustin DuFort Petty provides a profile of Kerry Ebersole Singh. Why is Ebersole Singh running?
ELi is providing introductions to the eight East Lansing City Council candidates. In the fifth in our series, Dustin DuFort Petty provides a profile of Dan Bollman. Why is Bollman running?
ELi is providing introductions to the eight East Lansing City Council candidates. In the third installment in our series, Mya Gregory provides a profile of Rebecca Kasen. Why is Kasen running?
ELi is providing introductions to the eight East Lansing City Council candidates. In the third installment in our series, Mya Gregory provides a profile of Christopher Wardell. Why is Wardell running?
ELi is providing introductions to the eight East Lansing City Council candidates. In the second installment in our series, Mya Gregory provides a profile of Noel Garcia. Why is Garcia running?
ELi is providing introductions to the eight East Lansing City Council candidates. In the first installment in our series, Lucas Day provides a profile of Erik Altmann. Why is Altmann running?
Mayor Ron Bacon says the Council won’t initiate a resolution to make the change, as he says the idea was to involve a “democratic sorting of that issue.”
The variance was approved 4-3 after back and forth discussion at the board’s Aug. 2 meeting.
Responses will be used to generate questions for the public candidate forum set for Sept. 14 at the Hannah Community Center.
“I don’t mind dissent,” Councilmember Dana Watson said last night. “I do mind certain temperatures of it.”
The meeting where Robert Belleman was fired from his job as Saginaw County’s controller included strong public statements for and against his termination, a recording obtained by ELi shows. Two commissioners who voted for termination spoke with ELi.
Gregg doesn’t have the power to formally call for revisiting the vote. Only Mayor Ron Bacon and Councilmembers Dana Watson and Noel Garcia can do that.
The controversial amendment proposing changing City Council elections from odd- to even-numbered years was ruled to conflict with the Home Rule City Act.
Four other charter amendments have made it to the ballot, including one that’s confusing even to Council.
Two candidates say they would have voted for Tim Dempsey, one shows disbelief, others are pragmatic and two haven’t yet responded to ELi.
There was wide support for internal candidate Tim Dempsey in written communications and public comments. “This is a farce. This is an absolute farce,” one member of the community said after the vote.
DTN’s attorney told the EL city attorney this was never about discrimination – it was always just about the money.
Cincinnati’s City Manager removed Collin Mays from his directorship following an HR investigation, documents show. Mays denied wrongdoing and subsequently resigned.
All candidates responded to 21 questions from council members before going into interviews before city staff and then attending an evening reception at the Hannah Center.
The five semi-finalists’ applications raise a host of questions following investigative research by ELi.
View the packages using the links provided in the story; the interview process begins Monday (Aug. 7) at the Hannah Community Center.
Some departments have been hit harder than others after numerous key employees leave for other jobs or retire.
The five semi-finalists were chosen from a pool of 14 applicants; only six of the applicants live in Michigan.
The East Lansing Human Rights Commission continues to discuss the possibility of vending machines that dispense emergency contraceptives, although the path to making it happen remains murky.
The deadline for filing for candidacy in the East Lansing City Council race passed today at 4 p.m. and it looks like there are either seven or eight candidates running for the three open seats on the November ballot. Interim City Clerk Marie Wicks told ELi at 4:54 p.m. today, “I can confirm that Mark…
Five candidates accepted and two alternates approved to take part in a full day and evening of interviews scheduled for Aug. 7.
A decision on University Lutheran’s request for a variance for the size of a solar array was tabled after questions arose about other approved projects.
What came of that heavy agenda at EL’s City Council meeting Tuesday?
East Lansing’s City Council has decided to relieve developer DRW Convexity of its responsibilities where downtown affordable housing is concerned and to give PK Companies a try instead. As part of their Park District project, Chicago-based developers DRW Convexity agreed to construct an affordable apartment building at a now-vacant lot known as “Parcel C” (333…
“I don’t think I am exaggerating when I saw that this job is slowly killing me,” Gregg wrote in an early-morning announcement today.
“I do not intend to run this cycle,” Bacon told ELi Wednesday evening.
With Ramirez, there are now 5 candidates running for 3 open seats.
It appeared as though voters would be deciding in November whether or not to expand the East Lansing City Council from five to seven members – briefly. Mayor Ron Bacon had started reading the final item on the business agenda at the Tuesday (July 11) City Council meeting when City Attorney Anthony Chubb interjected. “I…
Who has and hasn’t applied to be city manager? Why the chatter about moving city operations? And what’s going on with the independent investigation into the anonymous complaint? ELi brings you up to speed on these stories and more.
ELi catches you up on big business in the city coming this Tuesday.
Council discussed new strategies for the future when making deals with large developers.
The resignations occur amid turmoil at the library and in the city’s workforce.
The list of candidates continues to grow, but no word yet if Bacon and Gregg are running for reelection.
Eleven library staff members spoke about their jobs and responsibilities, stressing “libraries work because we do.” The union staff is currently in contract negotiations.
Commission Chair Erick Williams calls the April 2022 police shooting at Meijer a “learning opportunity” and offers recommendations for the future.
As East Lansing’s Council decides whether to put three charter amendments to voters, we asked one experienced local official to articulate the pros and cons.
Two former mayors,Liz Schweitzer and Diane Goddeeris, voiced their opposition to the proposed changes, particularly with regard to shifting council elections to even-numbered years.
In other business, employee retention bonuses were unanimously approved, sidewalk repair assessments were stretched out and naming of a city art studio after a woman got support.
After a closed session, the commission voted unanimously to ask Council to use its subpoena powers to investigate DTN in a civil rights complaint.
Council is encouraging organizations to post copies of General Order No. 3 and encouraging individuals to join the June 18 celebration.
In advance of Council’s discussion on the matter, ELi brings you two voices in favor and two against.
Three big surprises on this coming Tuesday’s City Council agenda.
So far, there are three confirmed candidates for the three open seats this November.
June as Pride Month and Juneteenth as a holiday are now formally recognized in the City of East Lansing.
Weeks after being advised by Lansing’s deputy mayor that giving cash away to a local charity violates state law, East Lansing’s mayor supported another $5,000 donation by his city. And why did former city manager George Lahanas start two “nongovernmental” charities from City Hall?
Twin cases provide insight into the risks and costs of suits against the city from large, national groups.
ELi brings you an insider look at the City of East Lansing’s operations, revenue and spending as viewed through the lens of this year’s budget talks.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request turns up a surprising letter, and the vice president for developer ACD explains how a project would restrict who can rent there.
Ron Bacon and Jessy Gregg say they’re “undecided,” but Noel Garcia will be running for election in November. ELi explains how the race works and how to run.
Homeowners just to the south are objecting to the proposal, but the church to the north supports it.
The 2018 deal with DRW/Convexity and City Council is setting the stage for the current council to make a big decision.
A resolution was passed recognizing and honoring the lifesaving actions of first responders and those impacted by the mass shooting on the MSU campus.
The proposed FY24 budget for ELPRA is just under $5.5 million, which is an increase of $189,330 from FY23.
Taylor Knickerbocker said she tries to interact with the community as much as she can and typically ends up in a police car to do outreach each day.
Ron Lacasse would like to know how someone managed to get an entire Big Wheel down into the sewer system.
The proposed city budget for next year would increase spending on trees, continue waste and recycling programs residents have come to expect and look to renewable energy.
If City Council follows the committee’s recommendations, the pie will be split many ways between public services and infrastructure projects.
Funding from MSU and the state is up while personnel services are down in the projected fire department budget. Learn more from ELi.
Get the news of what happened at East Lansing’s Council meeting this week.
Could Ingham County get an ID program similar to Washtenaw County’s? And what’s happening with those two civil rights complaints?
The goals and objectives of the department for the coming year include working with a number of community groups and serving EL’s diverse population.
Mayor Ron Bacon spoke for about 13 minutes on the troubles at City Hall, covering a wide variety of topics and making many unexplained allusions.
Mayor Pro Tem Jessy Gregg has said the matter is being overblown in importance, while records show Interim Planning Director Tim Dempsey has seen it as critical to understanding low staff morale.
Former employees of the City of East Lansing are shedding more light on the tensions that have existed within the government for months.
“There are some amazing college bars here,” the applicant representing Mash told the DDA, “and that’s not really our niche.”
The conversation was tense as Interim City Manager Randy Talifarro spoke to the eight-page draft reorganization plan that’s been rattling East Lansing’s government.
The plan called for a substantial remaking of the city government, amassing power in the hands of DEI Director Elaine Hardy.
City Council approves hiring an independent attorney to investigate the allegations.
The anonymous complaint has been released, as has a statement from Council.
An executive recruiter from MML, who will lead the search, laid out the hiring timeline.
ELi connects the dots on a surprise pair of agenda items.
ELi’s brings you the story behind this important win for the city.
While CELL has just organized, the group has already produced a 57-page guidelines document.
Street sign theft amnesty, a small house with a big history and Falcon Pointe were all dealt with at Tuesday’s meeting.
Incident has led to a special investigation by the library board and complaint to the EL Human Rights Commission.
The city attorney said the investigation was stalled because he couldn’t reach a key person involved. ELi reached her by phone last night.
What did East Lansing’s City Council decide this week?
Who’s leaving, who is back, and what did former employees say about why they left?
Reached for comment, Norm Shinkle, co-chair of the Ingham County Republican Party, told ELi what’s happening in Michigan is “unbelievable.”
If the project known as “Building C” shifts to a new, local developer who specializes in affordable housing, the number of income-restricted apartments built downtown may go up from 74 to 99. And they’ll be designed for families.
East Lansing’s City Council was busy this week. Find out from ELi what happened.
Why was “catastrophe” looming? ELi explains and tells you what happened with the latest refinance of the Evergreen Properties debt.
March 15 meeting was less acrimonious than recent sessions with more time spent focusing on business as usual.
A Crown Castle representative interacted directly with members of the CELL citizen group.
Another Assistant Director’s resignation came to light today, after last night’s Council meeting involved a discussion about what is happening with hiring attempts.
The 2-2 vote to not sign the MEDC agreement means the project as proposed will not move forward.
McPherson’s resignation adds to a pile of resignations by top East Lansing city administrators.
City Councilmember George Brookover wants two council members in the final round of interviews for department heads.
A group of East Lansing homeowners are trying to preserve neighborhood aesthetics.
The search will be national and is expected to take at least four months.
Mayor Ron Bacon addressed rumors while Talifarro described “an emotionally challenging and arduous time.”
Talifarro will be available to all this Wednesday evening at a meet-and-greet being hosted by the library.
In what’s become a fairly regular occurrence, ELi received an anonymous tip this afternoon of another major resignation from the City of East Lansing’s workforce.
Forms are available for those who would like to plant trees in front of their houses.
This week’s East Lansing Library Board of Trustees meeting was dominated by discussion of the Jan. 11 incident.
City officials say they cannot block installation of the towers because of a state law.
Board of Review is no longer able to step outside Council’s guidelines.
Plans for a LGBTQ+ event and coffee and conversations sessions also discussed.
What’s going on with the city’s pension debt, property values, the cost of staffing and the income tax? And why might a single lawsuit throw everything out of whack this year?
Council announces former city clerk Marie Wicks will return as interim clerk; council members also receive their committee assignments.
Some people remain very unhappy with the idea of paving over the center of the park for a pavilion, while others are excited by the designs. See the new renderings and find out what happened at the last Planning Commission meeting.
These resignations add to a wave of departures of key city staff that began in advance of City Council deciding to terminate the contract of City Manager George Lahanas last month.
Hundreds turn out for event at Hannah Community Center.
Unusual half-hour meeting included discussion of plans for tonight’s [Jan. 27] “listening session” and much more.
The event is an opportunity for community members to have their say about safety concerns. Meanwhile, ELHS students are calling for the school board president to step down, and the school board has issued a statement.
If the “test” area for a new form-based zoning code works out, it could be implemented in other parts of East Lansing, too.