PRIMARY ELECTION PREVIEW FREE a newspaper for the rest of us www.lansingcitypulse.com June 28 - July 4, 2017 CityPulse’s Summer of Art: "Couple at Lansing 4th of July Parade," by Carolyn Texera. See page 20 for story. Need a checking account? Need a car loan? Need a credit card? We got you. 1901 E Michigan Ave • Lansing’s Eastside • 517.484.0601 • gabrielscu.com 2 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • June 28, 2017 City Pulse • June 28, 2017 www.lansingcitypulse.com 3 4 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • June 28, 2017 VOL. 16 ISSUE 46 (517) 371-5600 • Fax: (517) 999-6061 • 1905 E. 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Cusack, Tom Helma, Gabrielle Lawrence Johnson, Eve Kucharski, Terry Link, Andy McGlashen, Cover Kyle Melinn, Mark Nixon, Shawn Parker, Stefanie Pohl, Dennis Preston, Allan I. Ross, Rich Tupica, Ute Von Art Der Heyden, Paul Wozniak, David Winkelstern Delivery drivers: Frank Estrada, Dave Fisher, Jack “Couple at Lansing 4th of July Parade,” by Carolyn Texera Sova, Richard Simpson, Thomas Scott Jr. Interns: Danielle Chesney, Clarissa Kell, Dylan Tarr City Pulse • June 28, 2017 www.lansingcitypulse.com 5 Neighborhood leaders speak LINDA CYNTHIA APPLING LOCKINGTON Lansing Eaton “Sycamore Park Neighborhood Neighborhood What the next mayor needs to know: Fix the roads Association Association “The roads are really crappy,” declared sing Regional Chamber of Commerce in “The roads are really “It’s like a war zone” Linda Appling, president of the Lansing March. Sixty percent of voters said the crappy.” Eaton Neighborhood Association. “The priority issue was fixing Lansing’s infra- corridor roads, they are just impassable.” structure. It was the number one concern Appling is not alone in that view, but of voters, topping issues like jobs and the Lansing’s mayoral candidates don’t ap- economy, neighborhoods and marijuana. NANCY EMILY pear to have a concrete plan to address City records also show over 62 percent PARSONS Westside the ongoing crisis of the city’s crumbling of the roads are considered poor as rated Mahlow Eastside Neighborhood infrastructure. using the Pavement Surface Evaluation Neighborhood Orga- Association Roads are just one of the key issues and Rating — PASER — system. That’s nization eight leaders from seven neighborhood 258.57 miles of Lansing roads in that “Why are we going groups identified earlier this month in a condition. Only 30.51 miles, or just over 7 “[Code Compliance] to sell our parks?” focus group with City Pulse. The meeting percent, of the city’s roads are rated good should never have was led by Mitch Crank, a local profes- under the system. been put under the sional facilitator. The purpose: to identi- But replacing roads is expensive. It fire department.” fy the issues candidates need to address costs approximately $1 million a mile to from the bottom up as the Aug. 8 prima- fully replace a road. Resurfacing Michi- ry election for mayor and half of the City gan Avenue from Pennsylvania to U.S. 127 Council approaches. last year cost $300,000 — but that’s only MELISSA TRACY When Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero a temporary fix to smooth the bumpy ride JEFFRIES PICKERING leave office Jan. 1 after 12 years, his suc- the pothole-ridden stretch had become. Coachlight Com- Downtown cessor will face a series of issues. Key Bernero has proposed an additional 1 mons Neighborhood among them, in the view of neighborhood mill property tax levy to finance road and Association leaders: fixing roads, effectively harness- sidewalk repair — that will bring in an “Coachlight Com- ing neighborhoods and parks to build additional $1.8 million a year. That’s on mons is an area that I “Community community and unleashing the city’s code top of a 1 mill levy renewed by voters last feel that has been left relationships are built compliance to bring more of the city’s ag- year. But despite assurances that money behind.” in communal spaces.” ing housing stock and empty commercial would be used for fire and safety as well areas up to code. as roads, the Bernero administration has Addressing the city’s issues will be a dipped into the fund to finance basic road tall order for a new mayor and at least upkeep like snow plowing, street sweep- PATTY FARHAT ROCK HUDSON two new City Council members. They are ing and pothole patching. Lewton Rich Downtown problems Bernero and the Council have On a state level, the Legislature and Neighborhood Neighborhood struggled to address for years while try- Gov. Rick Snyder have approved new gas Association Association ing to maintain a balanced budget in the taxes to fund road improvements, but the face of the Great Recession. The reces- vast majority of that cash won’t be avail- “I love our code Marijuana regulations sion, combined with more than a decade able until 2021, leaving municipalities compliance and the “will probably turn and half of gutted state revenue sharing, like Lansing struggling. people that work out to be like liquor left city coffers near empty, requiring So- Councilwoman Judi Brown Clarke, there work really where the state phie’s choices over which city priorities who is running for mayor, said, “Fixing hard, but they need decides how many got funded and by how much. the roads in Lansing will be one of my top more people.” licenses you get.” The hour and half discussion in the priorities.” boardroom of Lansing Community Col- State Rep. Andy Schor, the other lead- lege laid bare a sense that the city itself ing candidate, also recognizes that roads was not on the right path, while generally are a priority, “We can’t fix them all in one fix the roads properly, Brown Clark not- A change in style the neighborhoods were coming togeth- year,” he said, “but we can identify neigh- ed. Leaders also said they wanted a new er and building cohesive communities. borhood by neighborhood what the prior- “Due to the inadequate level of state infrastructure funding, our engineering Leaders made clear the state of the city’s ities are for those neighbors and try and See Roads, Page 6 roads was the overwhelming issue. fund the priorities.” assessment estimated that it will cost That, he said, would include showing more than $25 million to restore our Road woes Lansing residents which roads and side- neighborhood sidewalks, and an addi- “The streets need to be repaired,” said Ap- walks are getting fixed and at what cost. tional $211 million to restore city streets pling. She represents an area of the city west Brown Clarke said she supports Ber- just to an average condition,” she said. C of Waverly Road snuggled just inside Eaton nero’s road millage, while Schor said he Neither candidate has a clear plan County but still in the city boundaries. would leave it up to the voters to decide. to raise $236 million for sidewalk and will return next week That observation matches concerns But the reality is, the city doesn’t have road improvements. The entire 2017- expressed by voters in a poll by the Lan- — and won’t have — the cash necessary to 2018 budget is $207.6 million. 6 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • June 28, 2017 PRIMARY ELECTION PREVIEW disagreement, it will always be about the not near the top of their agenda of issues. such an idea, noting that parks are key to issues and not personal attacks. This pro- “I think it’s going to be dealt with by the the infrastructure that brings wellness to Roads tects the integrity and sustainability of state, like liquor,” said Rock Hudson of the a community. the mayor-Council relationship.” Downtown Neighborhood Association. Brown Clarke said she would not favor from page 5 None of the current members of the Coun- New state regulations will allow much selling any of the city’s 114 parks, but she cil has endorsed her candidacy for mayor. larger grow operations, dispensaries, noted the city’s long-term debt obligation style of leadership after 12 years of “Amer- Schor responded: “My leadership style, processing facilities and secure transpor- may necessitate it. ica’s Angriest Mayor.” Bernero’s my-way- which has been shown in the House of tation operations, as well as testing facil- “It’s got to be parks that activate the com- or-the-highway style combined with his Representatives, on the county commis- ities. Those are expected to come online munity,” Schor said. “I think we can do that.” name calling have rankled some in the sion, is someone who works with others. in December, clearing the path to state He said neighbors want positive rec- city and neighboring communities. It’s someone who brings everyone togeth- licensing for such facilities. reation options in the parks, not “places “I think different times call for differ- er and tries to build consensus.” But while state laws and rules will cer- where shady things happen.” ent kinds of leadership,” said Tracey Pick- If consensus can’t be reached, he said he tainly play a role in the issuance of state But shady things are not just hap- ering from the Downtown Neighborhood will “move forward with what is best for the licenses, the new laws also require that pening in the local parks.