Hear ELi’s Exit Interview with Mayor Aaron Stephens

On this episode of East Lansing Insider – a weekly podcast brought to you by ELi in partnership with Impact 89FM – ELi’s Publisher and Executive Director Alice Dreger and reporter Jack Timothy Harrison talk with outgoing Mayor Aaron Stephens as he prepares to leave the City to pursue a master’s degree in public policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Stephens talks about what he will miss and not miss about being mayor of East Lansing, what he regrets and what he’s most proud of, and what it was like to become mayor with virtually no warning.

Lots of specific topics are covered in our half-hour chat, including the deer cull vote and the actual deer cull, the Center City District project and illegal rentals at Newman Lofts, the state legislature’s interest in outlawing East Lansing rental restrictions, the possibility of him seeking to extend Ordinance 1500 beyond its expiration date of Aug. 10, and who might be appointed to fill his vacancy.

You can listen to the podcast by following this link or listening below.

East Lansing Insider is available online and airs each Sunday at 9 a.m. on Impact 89 radio, WDBM at 88.9 FM.