PODCAST

What Lansing Council

Jill Dombrowski

Gossipy recap of Lansing Michigan city council meetings. Starting on November 18th, 2024.

government

All Episodes

00:43:23

Pale Green - with guest Rebecca-Lynn Ferguson

What Lansing Council ·

2026/04/08

An hour and a half before the April 6th Lansing City council meetings, word got out that the UK based data center company, Deep Green, was pulling their request for the purchase and rezoning of the city owned parking lot on East Kalamazoo and South Cedar St. Many community members shared their thoughts about the process surrounding this project. Council heard budget presentations from the information technology, assessing, city attorney, and police departments, as well as a proposed small

01:01:27

How Much is Too Much Spit in Your Chili with guest...

What Lansing Council ·

2026/03/24

At the March 23rd Lansing city council meetings council heard requests from two developers interested in purchasing city property: the operator of the Lansing Shuffle and Deep Green, the UK based data center developer. Many residents spoke in opposition of these sales and some spoke in support. Council debated the optics of taking a pay raise for their part time positions, and they set a hearing for making changes to the metered parking rules.Our guest this episode is Judge Rosemarie Aquilina. Judge

00:52:24

To What Do We Owe the Repute - with guest Alyssa Cooling

What Lansing Council ·

2026/03/11

At the March 9th Lansing city council meetings the council moved forward with round two of the proposed Deep Green data center property sale and rezoning - setting public hearings for these items. Council approved a new code violation tagging system for white, yellow, red, and black tags. They approved a rezone for a church to operate a shelter facility on S MLK Jr Blvd. They introduced ordinances intended to tighten allowable liquor store locations and activities. They rescinded one

01:06:47

Could This Have Been an Email? - with guest Ryan Kost

What Lansing Council ·

2026/02/25

**CORRECTION** In the episode we discussed how the city of Lansing offers services to help homeowners with lead testing and abatement, that program was part of the Economic, Development and Planning department, not Human Relations and Community Services and it ended in 2025: https://www.lansingmi.gov/346/Lead-Safe-LansingAt the February 23rd Lansing city council meetings the council heard plans to revise the tagging process for properties with code compliance issues, they saw a tax break request

00:46:25

Pinky Swears and Octopus Heirs - with guest Talon...

What Lansing Council ·

2026/02/10

At the February 9th Lansing city council meeting attendance exceeded the chamber capacity and over sixty community members voiced their comments, mostly for-or-against construction of a new data center on the edge of downtown. The chief executive and chief technology officers from Deep Green, a Manchester, England based company, and the board of water and light general manager presented plans for the 24 mega-watt energy consuming (and 16 mega-watt energy producing) facility. The city council members

01:04:26

We Can’t Unlearn and We Can’t Unsee - with guest...

What Lansing Council ·

2026/01/27

At the January 26th, 2026 Lansing City council meeting many residents and folks from the surrounding area voiced concerns about the proposed downtown data center, trade union workers spoke in support. The city’s planning department and the Board of Water and Light (BWL) presented and answered questions about the project. Public commenters and the council had concerns about the city's policy for addressing homelessness and the cold temperatures, as well as the treatment of homeless folks by the

00:44:48

But What About Housing For Our Cars!? - with guest...

What Lansing Council ·

2026/01/14

At the January 12th Lansing city council meeting citizens encouraged the mayor and council to give unhoused folks recently re-located to a hotel on the southside more time at the hotel, and to work on a holistic plan for addressing housing needs in the city. Council set their schedule for the sale and rezoning of the site for the Deep Green proposed data center. Residents spoke up for and against a rezoning request for the planned development of a 29-unit apartment complex on W Mt Hope Ave.Be

00:42:32

We Choose How to Use Our Superpowers - with guest...

What Lansing Council ·

2026/01/06

At the January 5th Lansing City Council meetings the council chose their new president and vice president: fourth ward representative Peter Spadafore and at-large councilmember Trini Pehlivanoglu. A failure of the accessible commenting option, disagreement about the procedure for signing up for public comment, and a racially charged comment had this council off to a rocky start.Our guest William Lawrence is running for United States Congress to represent Mid-Michigan's 7th Congressional

01:01:51

Noise Ordinance, You Shall Not Pass - with guest...

What Lansing Council ·

2025/12/17

At the December 15th Lansing city council meeting the council heard from 18 passionate residents about the transitional (mod pod) housing project. People were pissed at the 13 state house republicans who created massive state funding cuts. Six Old Town shopkeepers supported expanding the business district boundary. A four to four vote stalled a noise ordinance change. Three board appointments and two redevelopment tax abatements were approved, and there was one comment about the disgraced fire

00:49:19

10 Signs Your Lansing Landlord Might be Krampus -...

What Lansing Council ·

2025/12/10

During the December 8th Lansing city council meetings the public spoke to council about the importance of finding a good place, that works for everyone, for a proposed temporary housing community. Council debated the fairness of rolling back red tag fees on houses actively being renovated. Old town business owners had mixed feelings about expanding the tax boundary for their shopping district. Local and out of state redevelopers gave persuasive presentations asking for tax breaks. Der Krampus kommt,

00:59:14

The City Already Has Their Hands Full Overlooking...

What Lansing Council ·

2025/11/18

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

00:54:46

I Hope This Does Set A Precedent - with guest Alan Fox

What Lansing Council ·

2025/11/12

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

00:29:12

Kinda Sorta Somewhat Immediate Effect - with guest...

What Lansing Council ·

2025/10/29

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

00:35:45

The Opposite of Fascism is Community - with guest...

What Lansing Council ·

2025/10/14

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

00:39:27

A Recap of the Recap with guest Kris Klein

What Lansing Council ·

2025/10/01

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

00:36:28

The CATA Bus Routes Go Round and Round - with guest...

What Lansing Council ·

2025/09/23

During the September 22nd 2025 council meetings - the council heard public comments, mostly in-favor, of two developers asking for tax breaks to improve properties in the city by adding and maintaining ‘affordable’ housing. Other community members urged the city government to act to help folks experiencing homelessness. A Laingsburg resident with hospitality experience was appointed to the Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA) Board. And, council and public members agreed

00:41:34

Give Us Your Angry Calls - with guest DeLisa Fountain

What Lansing Council ·

2025/09/10

During the Sept 8th Lansing city council meeting the council heard two plans from property developers: one in north Old Town near the Turner Dodge House to build a new apartment building with 76 units using a brownfield redevelopment tax incentive plan, another in South Lansing next to the Oak Park YMCA to continue to maintain a 618 unit “village” with a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) plan. Take note! the Mayor will be in a dunk tank THIS SATURDAY, don’t miss your opportunity to dunk the Mayor!Our

00:37:35

Pizza Hour with guest Sarah Anthony

What Lansing Council ·

2025/08/28

At the August 25th meeting the Lansing city council updated the process for deciding who gets city contracts over $15,000 dollars. Council also did some self-regulating, to update attendance and punishment rules for missed meetings. Public comments include both angry and appreciative stances on trash collection consolidation and plans for unhoused residents.Our guest is State Senator Sarah Anthony. Senator Anthony represents Michigan’s 21st district which includes all of Eaton county and ⅔ of Ingham

00:42:45

Progress not Perfection with special guest Eva Menefee

What Lansing Council ·

2025/08/12

The audience chamber at the August 11th Lansing city council meeting was packed! Folks voiced their opinions on how the city treats people experiencing homelessness. An East Lansing city council member, Ingham county health services workers, a reverend, land owners, current shelter workers, emergency services workers, community organizers, and many others gave comments. Council approved $650,000 for a one time purchase of 50 pod units for new temporary housing.Also the capital area transportation

00:32:12

Help Us Don't Sweep Us - with special guest Eric Tans

What Lansing Council ·

2025/07/30

At the July 28th City Council meeting the Mayor is raked over the coals for a city lawsuit against local property owners allowing an unhoused encampment, other comment about construction bidding rules, property redevelopment plans, and tenant / landlord rule changes pack less heat - but it was an undeniably charged night at council. Our special guest is Eric Tans! Eric works as an Environmental Scientist Research Librarian with Michigan State University (MSU), he is a member of the Capital Area

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What Lansing Council

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