Catch Up With Our Reporting From This Week
It was another busy week in East Lansing!
The days are getting longer and the sun even peaked out for a little bit yesterday, as East Lansing welcomes in spring.
For the ELi team, it was another week of reporting on city government, the community and more!
East Lansing passes ban on loitering in parking areas, rejects camping ordinance.
After months of condemnation from advocates, unhoused people and residents, the East Lansing City Council made a decision on a pair of ordinances that critics say would criminalize homelessness. Council opted to pass a ban on loitering in parking garages and rejected a proposed ban on public camping. Deputy Editor Anna Liz Nichols covered the meeting.
Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, Managing Editor Luke Day reported on council’s discussion the week prior about the camping and loitering ordinances. Council had narrowed the camping ordinance down to focus on blocking public events – though advocates still had concerns about the language – and said the parking lot ordinance was not meant to target the unhoused population. That story can be read here.
Council scraps downtown El Fresco space; considering spending tens of millions on facility improvements.
The blocked off Albert El Fresco area downtown that has hosted games and seating for the last several summers will not be back this year, as council opted to scrap the seasonal space. Additionally, the council discussed spending tens of millions of dollars on facility improvements that would be paid for through a 20 or 25-year bond. The discussion led to Mayor Erik Altmann suggesting East Lansing may need to sell recreational facilities and even the Hannah Community Center. Read Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty’s story on the meeting here.
Blackout rage gallons: The modern jungle juice college students are using to get (very) drunk.
If you spent time in East Lansing's student neighborhoods during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, you probably saw young people carrying brightly colored gallon jugs. The jugs, commonly known as blackout rage gallons, or BORGs, sometimes contain dangerous amounts of alcohol – as much as a fifth-gallon of vodka. Read about why the trend is so popular and why ELPD warns against drinking BORGs in Reporting Intern Kennedy Demars’ story.
East Lansing council delays vote on large apartment, puts a moratorium on data centers.
The East Lansing City Council delayed a vote on a 13-story apartment proposed for downtown East Lansing at this week’s meeting, but could still approve the project as soon as next month. Additionally, the city put a six-month moratorium on data centers in the city, as nearby municipalities face backlash for considering data center projects. Luke reported on City Council.
Library board narrows director search; staff implementing plan to improve youth behavior.
Since former East Lansing Public Library Director Kevin King left over the summer, the ELPL board has been searching for his replacement. The board has recently narrowed their search down from 41 applicants to seven semi-finalists, with a decision expected next month. Additionally, library staff is rolling out a plan they hope will address youth behavioral problems at the library. Reporter Ayah Imran covered this week’s library board meeting.
University United Methodist Church to host a benefit concert for student farmworkers.
Changes made by the U.S. Department of Education has put funding for a Michigan State University program that provided a pathway to higher education for children of migrant farmworkers in doubt. To help fill in the gap, the University United Methodist Church is holding a benefit concert for the program on Sunday, where it hopes to raise $50,000. Dustin reported on the fundraiser.
East Lansing Insider podcast: Housing and development in East Lansing.
On this week’s East Lansing Insider podcast, ELi Managing Editor Luke and Anna talk about recent development proposals in East Lansing and what challenges developers face in the city. The episode can be listened to here or on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
There are four city meetings next week.
City government slows down to close out March, as there are just four meetings scheduled next week. Wednesday (March 25), the Planning Commission has a meeting. Then on Thursday (March 26), the Downtown Development Authority, Downtown Management Board and Brownfield Redevelopment Board all gathered. When meeting agendas are posted, they can be found here.
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