East Lansing City Council

Earlier this summer, two members of the East Lansing city council abruptly resigned during a meeting, when they lost a 3-to-2 vote to terminate the city attorney’s contract. The application process that followed resulted in two historic appointments for the city, marking the first time people of color comprised a majority on the council.

WKAR’s Scott Pohl talked with Dana Watson and Ron Bacon about joining the council.

The East Lansing City Council has selected its two newest members.  This follows the resignation of two council members, including the mayor, in July.

East Lansing has a new mayor.  The city council unanimously selected fellow member Ruth Beier for the city’s top post. 

Two incumbents were ousted from the Lansing and East Lansing City Councils in Tuesday’s election. The upsets were part of a trend of progressive and anti-establishment newcomers, unseating well-financed and widely recognized incumbents. WKAR’s Abigail Censky talked to Lansing State Journal Reporter Sarah Lehr about the results. Below are highlights of their conversation. 

The City of Lansing began several new development projects this year including the Red Cedar Development, linking Lansing to East Lansing, and a mixed use space near the Cooley Law school stadium. Combined both projects are valued at over $300 million. As the flurry of new developments increases candidates running for city council are deciding what their elevator pitch of the city will be and who it will be addressing. 

East Lansing has a city income tax for the first time this year. It was passed by voters in 2018 after a previous iteration was defeated in a referendum several years before. Many of the candidates running for council this year support the income tax, but how much revenue the tax will net for the city remains largely unknown.

There has been a surge in development in East Lansing over the last two years with 20 major projects that have dramatically changed the skyline of the city. The new structures, the majority of which being apartment complexes designed with students in mind, have brought with them more students.

The candidates running for this year’s city council election generally support the development. Candidates differ on how they want to go forward from the current breakneck pace. Where they differ is in how they want to move forward after such a rapid surge in development. 

Nearly a hundred Bird scooters were dropped off in East Lansing without the permission from the city's council earlier this month.