The City Already Has Their Hands Full Overlooking That - with guest Tom Arthur
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/whatLansingCouncilFind 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
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59:14
I Hope This Does Set A Precedent - with guest Alan Fox
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/whatLansingCouncilHere 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-CouncilThe mayor’s road construction input form can be found here: https://www.lansingmi.gov/1359/Road-Construction-Input
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Kinda Sorta Somewhat Immediate Effect - with guest Annescia Dillard
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-CouncilFind meeting issues maps and bingo results from the meetings on the podcast’s patreon page here:https://www.patreon.com/whatLansingCouncil
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29:12
The Opposite of Fascism is Community - with guest Rebecca Kasen
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:https://lansingwomen.org/You can learn more about Lansing’s City Council here:https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-CouncilFind issue maps and bingo results from the meetings on the podcast’s patreon page here:https://www.patreon.com/whatLansingCouncil
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35:45
A Recap of the Recap with guest Kris Klein
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:https://lansingedc.com/And the LDEC’s small business technical assistance empower program:https://lansingedc.com/the-empower-programThey also have some very nice story maps of the corridor projects on their website.***You can learn more about Lansing’s City Council here:https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-CouncilFind meeting issues maps and bingo results from the meetings on the podcast’s patreon page here:https://www.patreon.com/whatLansingCouncil
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