Live News Updates for Sept. 5-10
RSVP for Sept. 30 ELIPOC community workshop.
The East Lansing Independent Police Oversight Commission (ELIPOC) has announced it will host a community workshop entitled “Best Practices for Use of Force in Policing” on Sept. 30.
The ELIPOC workshop will run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on that Saturday, with a continental breakfast served at 8:30 a.m. The event will be held at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road.
According to a press release from the city, the workshop is a response to a petition from East Lansing residents calling on ELIPOC to submit recommendations to the East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) regarding its policy and training on use of force/response to resistance.
Facilitators for the workshop will be Carlton Evans and Doak Bloss. “Evans is a longtime presenter who specializes in social justice issues, using dialogue with an emphasis on listening,” the press release said. “Bloss has facilitated over 200 community dialogues, including the use of dialogue as a vehicle for social change.”
The workshop is open to anyone who lives in or visits East Lansing. RSVP to Elaine Hardy, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, at ehardy@cityofeastlansing.com to receive materials about national best practices.
Reported by Julie Seraphinoff (Friday, Sept. 8, 2023)
MSU alumnus David Orr will speak Sept. 14 as part of “PeaceQuest” and in honor of World Democracy Day.
Author and Michigan State University Alumnus David Orr will visit Michigan State University (MSU) on Thursday (Sept. 14) to discuss his latest book, “Democracy in a Hotter Time.”
The discussion will begin at 7 p.m. in Room 158 of the Natural Resources Building, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing. Audience members are also able to join the discussion over Zoom (Meeting ID: 850 3779 0274 Passcode: 555616).
Orr, Professor of Practice at Arizona State University and author of eight books, will discuss his book, which investigates the threat of climate change and how it relates to the future of democracy.
“Democracy in a Hotter Time” is the first book, according to a press release from event organizers, to discuss the dual crises of democracy and climate change as an interrelated threat. The essays of the book cover subjects from U.S. Constitution reforms to participatory urban design to education. Orr calls for reforming democratic institutions in order to avoid climate chaos.
Orr’s talk is in celebration of World Democracy Day (Sept. 15) and in part of PeaceQuest and is sponsored by the Greater Lansing United Nations Association, the Lansing Area Peace Education Center, MSU Department of Community Sustainability, the League of Women Voters-Lansing Chapter, and the Michigan Climate Action Network.
Reported by Mya Gregory (Friday, Sept. 8, 2023)
An ordinance to create the mayor’s Youth Commission is passed 3-1 by Council.
The City Council voted 3-1 to create a City of East Lansing Youth Commission at its Tuesday, Sept. 5 meeting. Councilmember George Brookover voted against the ordinance and Mayor Pro Tem Jessy Gregg was absent from the meeting.
The commission has been promoted by Gregg and Mayor Ron Bacon as a way to monitor and address the needs and challenges of area teens after a series of violent incidents during the 2022-2023 school year.
According to the ordinance, the Youth Commission will be made up of nine teens between the ages of 14 and 18 who live or attend school in East Lansing. The ordinance indicates City Council and the East Lansing Board of Education may “designate one of its members as an ex-officio nonvoting member of the Youth Commission,” and other city departments and officials may “serve as an ex-officio nonvoting member.”
There were three listening sessions held earlier this year to flesh out what a commission may look like and as a way to reach out to potential members. City communications will now be used to recruit members to appoint to the commission.
Responding to a question from Councilmember Noel Garcia, Elaine Hardy, the city’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director, said the commission could “absolutely” be set up before the end of the school year. Bacon said East Lansing Public Schools Superintendent Dori Leyko has offered to help with the process of selecting commission members.
“I think this is a great opportunity, great timing,” Garcia said. “As parents, as citizens of this city, we always think we have great ideas on how to make our schools better. Who knows better than our youth?”
Garcia asked City Attorney Anthony Chubb if there are concerns about publicizing things about the commission because members are minors. Chubb said there will “probably” be parental consent required in the application and there may be extra paperwork, but he is not too concerned.
Brookover voted against creating the commission for a variety of reasons.
He said the commission’s purpose is vague and will require money and staff time to run the body. Additionally, he said parental consent is not included in the ordinance, those on the commission will mostly be nonvoters and he believes the school provides many of the functions the commission is designed to.
“I understand everybody’s going to vote for it, but I’m not in favor of it for those reasons,” Brookover said.
Bacon said he’s excited to see what the new commission will be able to accomplish. He said he’s learned a lot more about young people’s concerns through the listening sessions.
“I think we can work out the dimensions or the specifics inside of this and flesh it out through the process,” he said. “It’s a time to engage the youth.”
Reported By Lucas Day (Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023)
City Clerk’s Office provides Information to East Lansing voters ahead of the November election.
The East Lansing City Clerk’s Office recently mailed applications for absentee ballots to East Lansing voters for the Nov. 7 election. Absentee ballots will be available beginning Sept. 28.
Absentee ballot applications are printed with pre-paid postage and, according to a press release from the City Clerk’s Office, voters can return their applications by mail or submit them in person at City Hall, 410 Abbot Road. Applications should not be placed in ballot drop boxes.
Voters who did not receive an application for an absentee ballot but would like one, may request an application from the City Clerk’s Office either in person or by phone at (517) 319-6914 or go online to the Michigan Voter Information Center.
Additionally, Proposition 2022-2 ensures Michigan voters the constitutional right to nine days of early voting. Although the law does not go into effect until the 2024 presidential primary, the City of East Lansing is piloting an Early Voting Center (EVC) in late October. More details about the EVC are to come.
Voters with questions or concerns regarding ballots, or elections in general, should contact the City Clerk’s Office directly.
“Providing education to voters and clearing up any election misinformation remains a high priority for the City Clerk’s Office,” according to the press release. “The City Clerk’s Office staff are happy to address any questions or concerns voters may have.”
Voters can contact the City Clerk’s Office at cityclerk@cityofeastlansing.com or (517) 319-6914.
Reported by Julie Seraphinoff (Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023)
MSU Career Services Network provides free professional clothing rentals to job-seekers.
Michigan State University’s Career Services Network (MSU CSN) and Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU) officially launched the Career Closet on Aug. 28.
The Career Closet provides free professional attire rentals to students “in order to remove potential barriers and financial strain that can exist when searching for a job,” according to the CSN website. The Career Closet allows students to select up to five clothing pieces and keep them for up to seven days.
“This is a unique way we and our many partners can help ensure every student can participate in career-related events and interviews and feel confident in doing so,” said Jeff Beavers, executive director for MSU Career Services Network, in a press release. “With the more than 1,500 items available, the Career Closet makes it easy to create a great first impression.”
In addition to ASMSU, MSU alumni are also contributing funding to help ensure an adequate inventory of sizes is available and that the closet can be staffed daily. To date, $10,000 has been donated by MSU alumni. Other partners include Spartan Linen Services, which is providing free laundry service, and JC Penney, which is providing discounted clothing to ensure a full inventory.
The JCP Okemos location is also hosting a special “Suit Up” event from 5-8 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 10) where students will receive special discounts on new career clothing.
The closet is located at the Career Exploration Center, 113 Student Services building, and is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or by appointment.
Monetary as well as clothing donations are welcome. For every $25 received, the Career Closet is able to support the needs of three MSU students. Donations can be made online or by mail to University Advancement Spartan Way, 535 Chestnut Road, Room 300, East Lansing, MI 48824.
If donating clothes, follow the guidelines on the Career Closet website. Items can be dropped off at the Student Services Building, Room 113 – Career Exploration Center.
Reported by Mya Gregory (Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023)
What’s Going on in East Lansing? Here’s what was featured in the East Lansing Insider Sept. 2 Saturday Mailer.
The last week of August brought the return of Michigan State University (MSU) students as classes kicked off, the start of the MSU football season and an unusual absence of city meetings.
While there were no city meetings this week, everything picks back up beginning today (Sept. 5) and through the week.
Starting on today (Sept. 5), the Downtown Management Board and City Council will both convene for their regular meetings. Wednesday (Sept. 6) will see meetings for the East Lansing Independent Police Oversight Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals. Finally, the Housing Commission will meet Thursday (Sept. 7). When meeting agendas are posted, they can be found here.
The East Lansing Board of Education did gather Monday (Aug. 28) for its first meeting since the school year began. Included as part of the ongoing ELi Now column, Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty summarized the short meeting that saw Gary Holbrook sworn in as the newest member of the board.
In other school news, Reporter Mya Gregory delivered a story on three new East Lansing Public Schools hires who will aim to help with mental health in the district. Paul Shanks, Matthew Morales and Heather Findley (above) will look to increase wellness for students and staff across the district.
Time to ramp up coverage of candidates running for City Council in November.
In addition to providing our regular meeting coverage, this week ELi will begin ramping up our reporting ahead of November’s City Council election. Three candidates from a field of eight will be chosen to join Dana Watson and George Brookover on Council. ELi has conducted interviews with all eight candidates and publication of those profile stories will start this week.
Also, don’t forget about the 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 League of Women Voters candidate forum at the Hannah Center. ELi is assisting the League to put on the forum where candidates express their views. In preparation, we are asking community members to fill out a survey that will help us shape questions for the forum and our reporting throughout the race.
Reporters provide insights and answers in two Ask ELi pieces.
Following up on a question from a Glencairn resident, Dustin reported Friday (Sept. 1) on a company digging in the area and disrupting water and sewer lines. See his report here.
And ELi Reporter Alice Dreger is providing information on why the City Council will NOT initiate a resolution to change when East Lansing voters elect members of City Council. ELi obtained a communication from the governor’s office to the City Clerk explaining why the City Charter change did not qualify to go on the November ballot. Read the story Sunday (Sept. 3).
Do you have a question you’d like ELi to look into? Submit it here.
ELi Now has been busy providing live news updates through the week.
East Lansing Insider members have been receiving the live ELi Now news updates in their emails through the week. We’ve had positive responses from readers, with one saying, “Just wanted to share my appreciation on this! Love the formatting and getting it via email. It was great to receive and a quick read at the end of the day.”
The updates land on the East Lansing Info website first and are shared with Insider members shortly after. The website column begins fresh each Monday and is updated through the week with news and previews of upcoming events and activities.
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