Catch Up With Our Reporting from this Week

Brrrrrr... another cold and snowy week has come and gone in East Lansing.

This week, we brought reporting on how snow-covered sidewalks can impact some of the city's residents and when sidewalks should be cleared after storms, this week's City Council meeting and more. Start your Saturday by catching up with ELi.

East Lansing advances public camping ban as critics warn of 'criminalizing homelessness.'

The East Lansing City Council voted in favor of a first reading of an ordinance that would make it illegal to camp in public places or loiter in parking areas, with offenders facing fines or jail time. Council will need to vote in favor of the ordinance at a second meeting later on in order for it to be put in place. Find out more about how the ordinance would work and why there was both support and opposition to it in Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols' reporting.

Data shows ELPD use of force has surged, racial disparity has widened.

Monthly reports the East Lansing Police Department has produced for the last four years track incidents where officers use force while on the job. ELi compiled the data from reports produced in August-October – the start of the Michigan State University school year – and found a dramatic increase in the number of incidents to start this school year, and a wider racial gap than past years. Get the full story in Managing Editor Luke Day's story.

Developer pitching 12-story apartment downtown describes proposal, projects optimism.

Recently, ELi found out that a Minnesota-based developer plans to add a massive apartment building downtown where the Bailey Street Parking Lot currently sits. The developer spoke with ELi about its goals for the project and why it thinks it will be able to construct an apartment at the location, when a previous proposal was rejected by council just two years ago. Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty brings the details.

Council roundup: East Lansing turns attention to loud cars, hires a communications coach for its police chief at busy meeting.

It was a busy meeting on Tuesday, as City Council heard a package of proposals to address downtown safety concerns, opting to amend the fiscal year's budget to hire two new ELPD officers and consider an amendment to the city's ordinance on pretextual stops. Luke reported on the safety proposals and more in his meeting recap.

Remembering former East Lansing Mayor John Czarnecki.

Last month, East Lansing lost a longtime public servant when John Czarnecki passed after a battle with cancer. Those who served with Czarnecki remember an ethical, hardworking official, who could always be counted on to make the responsible decision. Read more about the mayor, county commissioner and father in Dustin's story.

Snow-covered sidewalks can leave East Lansing residents with disabilities facing barriers and fines.

With this week's storm, it was a good time to revisit East Lansing's snow-clearing ordinances. Reporter Ayah Imran found out how quickly residents should clear snow from the sidewalk adjacent to their homes after a storm, and what it can mean for those with mobility challenges if sidewalks are not cleared. Read Ayah's story here.

East Lansing makers: The wreath lady

One East Lansing home always stands out with its bright pink door and constantly evolving seasonal wreaths. Dustin caught up with East Lansing resident Kate Powers about the wreaths she hand makes and tips she has for fellow crafters. Read Dustin's story here.

East Lansing Insider podcast: A conversation with city rescue mission.

This week on the East Lansing Insider podcast, East Lansing Info’s Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols talks with Laura Grimwood, the community outreach director of City Rescue Mission in Lansing about the organization’s recent relocation and emerging needs in the Capital area’s unhoused population. Listen to the podcast here or on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

There are nine city meetings schedule next week.

Expect plenty of action in city government next week, as nine meetings are on the docket. Monday, the Commission on the Environment will meet. Tuesday, City Council has both a special closed-session meeting and a discussion-only meeting. Wednesday, the Library Board of Trustees and Planning Commission will each gather. Then on Thursday, the Downtown Development Authority, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Arts Commission and Building Board of Appeals will all convene. When meeting agendas are posted, they can be found here.

Thank you for supporting our work.

ELi is a nonprofit news service that is able to operate due to the generosity of our readers. To support our work, consider subscribing to an East Lansing Insider Membership. Subscribers have stories emailed directly to them even before they are published to our website. Here is a list of ways you can help ELi continue our work.