What can a city council member do for YOU?
City council members can set local policies in Lansing, change fees and taxes, and change how the city runs through new actions
If we want to implement policies that help people in our community. City Council is the first step.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Landlords who hold onto red tagged properties for years should either sell the property, or fix the problems
Raise the fees for red tagged buildings from $150 a month to encourage the landlord to actually work on repairs or sell to someone who will.
Per unit red tag fees should be implemented. If an apartment building or complex can have families in separate units, it should be assessed fees per unit until they are compliant.
Landlords should be billed for temporary housing provided by the city if a property becomes unlivable. The city should not pay for landlord negligence
Encourage the growth of new walk-able, mixed use housing developments.
Lansing needs more housing and more amenities for the people who live here. The best way to do that is encourage the development of new housing as well as renovating empty buildings to accommodate housing and businesses.
Construct additional homeless shelters and warming centers to help those less fortunate
I believe in a housing first approach to homelessness. More shelters means more access to services and less exposure to the elements.
We need to make sure people aren't dying of exposure or hunger on the streets of Lansing
Ban the use of price fixing in rental properties
Websites like RealPage allow companies to collude and raise rents across the board. These algorithmic systems help set the "market price" that multi million dollar corporations impose on renters even when rental services suffer.
ACCESS TO FOOD
Help communities by encouraging building local grocery stores
Lansing is home to many areas that are deemed by the USDA as "Low income and low access". They are talking about food deserts, and Lansing has too many.
I want to encourage the development of new places where the people of Lansing without a car can get food and feed their families.
Revitalizing the Community
Keep our public spaces clean
Lansing has some of the best public parks and trails in Michigan. We need to keep those spaces free of trash and maintained.
Hire more people to walk the river trail, local streets, and public parks to keep these areas inviting to the people living here.
Provide trash bags and more access to trash bins for those experiencing homelessness
Hire local artists to paint, sculpt, and decorate
Lansing needs to revitalize our spaces and promote the expansion of the arts. One way to do that is to hire artists to beautify spaces along the river trail like bridges, pillars, walls, and walkways with unique art and sculptures.
Increasing Access to Public Transportation
Build Bus Rapid Transit Systems
Lansing needs more public transportation than what CATA can currently provide. An East/West and North/South Rapid transit system would be incredibly helpful in de-congesting our streets and making Lansing more inviting for visitors.
More walkable streets
Lansing needs to cater to pedestrians and cyclists in better ways. Increasing the scope of public trails as well as providing more ways to walk to your destination are essential.