What Lansing Council

At the Monday October 12th Lansing city council meetings the council gave a heartwarming tribute to a special olympics sports team, they witnessed two developer tax break presentations hoping to revitalize obsolete properties, and the public comments were focused on disappointment with continued use of automatic license plate reader cameras, and disappointment with the treatment of unhoused people in the city. 
This episode we are joined by two special guests, members of the DeFlock Lansing Group, Chelsea Ransom and Lia Lilley! Chelsea Ransom is from Lansing and she passionately believes in a right to privacy and has surrendered her own privacy in its defense. Lia Lilley has also lived in Lansing more often than not over the course of her life, and is waiting with bated breath for the day when Big Penny is the only non-human entity with eyes on Pennsylvania Avenue!
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Learn more about DeFlock Lansing here: https://www.deflocklansing.com/
Event with DeFlock Lansing at the Avenue Cafe TUESDAY NIGHT Oct 13th: https://www.facebook.com/share/185tKynGR8/
Support this podcast financially: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/WhatLansingCouncil

At the September 28th Lansing city council meetings the council discussed their budget priorities, which will be sent to the mayor for review. Many stories were shared honoring the late Mayor David C. Hollister. An ordinance aiming to regulate cryptocurrency exchange machines in the city was introduced. Public comment focused on continuing to pressure the mayor to remove automatic license plate readers from the city and the city budget. 

Our guest, Eric Walcott, works as a State Specialist in Government and Public Policy at Michigan State University Extension. He facilitates strategic planning and trains officials for local governments throughout the state. Eric is also the President of the Lansing Common Football Club.
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Eric’s write up of the State Ballot Proposal 2: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/statewide-ballot-proposal-26-2-michiganders-for-money-out-of-politics
Eric’s webinar on both state ballot proposals on October 14th: 
https://www.canr.msu.edu/michigan-ballot-proposal-forum/
Lansing Commons Football Club:https://lansingcommonfc.com/
Support this podcast financially: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/WhatLansingCouncil

Under a proposed ordinance change the Economic Development and Planning department would receive funds earmarked for the Human Relations and Community Services department to prioritize more “safe a secure housing”, as presented at the September 14th Lansing City Council Meeting. There were eleven comments from citizens specifically aimed at the Mayor - urging him to at least, comment, and at most, act to terminate contracts with Flock Surveillance for automatic license plate reader cameras in use by the police department. Two developer tax break presentations were shepherded by the Lansing Economic Development Corporation.

Our guest Heidi Butler works as a Local History Specialist with the Capital Area District Library, she is a certified archivist and has presided over the preservation of documents across the country and the world!

Check out the local history center: https://www.cadl.org/localhistory

Support this podcast financially: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/WhatLansingCouncil
In meeting dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYLVXXaXU2Y&t=5385s

Over 150 people attended the August 24th Lansing city council meeting, with 60 giving public comments about a proposed letter urging the mayor to direct the police department to cancel their Flock camera contracts. The police chief made a surprise appearance to explain and defend the department’s use of the cameras. In a seven to one vote the letter was approved. 
Our special guest this episode is Joanne Galloway. Joanne is the founder and Executive Director of "Michigan Country", a non-profit focused on promoting the vote in rural areas in Michigan. She is a transplant to the Lansing area from the Upper Peninsula where she managed a farm and advocated for better representation of rural issues at a statewide level.
**********CORRECTION****The noise permit vote was 5 to 3 as I reported, but this particular vote needed 6 to pass, so actually no Saturday work for the combined sewer overflow project on the westside. City of Lansing updates on this project: https://www.lansingmi.gov/cso-015s-project-updates
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Michigan Country - Joanne Galloway’s organization: https://www.michigancountry.org/
Support this podcast financially: https://www.patreon.com/cw/WhatLansingCouncil
Thanks!

At the August 10th Lansing city council meetings council heard from the CATA (Capital Area Transportation Authority) leadership about upcoming reductions in bus services. They heard from BWL (the Board of Water and Light, our municipal electric and water utility company) about increases in electric and water service rates. Two projects shepherded by the LEDC (Lansing Economic Development Corporation) are hoping to win council’s approval to proceed with reduced tax incentives. Council approved the language for a ballot proposal aiming to change the city charter to include the creation of a “Citizens’ Advisory Healthcare Action Board”.
Our guest this episode is Ethan Schmitt. Ethan currently works as the Director of Special Projects for the Michigan Avenue Corridor Improvement Authority. He has previously served as the Allen Neighborhood Center's Volunteer and Communications Manager, and as a Senior Community Organizer for Planned Parenthood Michigan. Ethan is a fierce advocate for inclusivity and people-based placemaking in Lansing.
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City Pulse article on the “Wind Lord” sculpture: https://lansingcitypulse.com/29184-2/
Board of water and light wages from 2025: https://steveharrypublicpolicy.com/essaysLTE/Essay20260420.html
Article about the ballot proposal for the citizens’ healthcare advisory board: https://michiganadvance.com/2026/07/14/signatures-submitted-for-lansing-ballot-proposal-on-healthcare-access-one-of-6-in-the-state/
Support this podcast financially: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/WhatLansingCouncil 
Thanks!