March 11-17, 2020 www.lansingcitypulse.com Locally owned • A newspaper for the rest of us LANSING PODCASTS Discover local shows and learn how to start your own See page 15 2 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • March 11, 2020 Let your vote be heard! Time is running out! This is the last week of voting! tell us who your favorite democratic candidate is - and nominate your favorite local people, places & businesses! 2020 TOP OF THE TOWN CONTEST finish your nomination ballot before 11:59 PM, Tuesday, march 17 at lansingcitypulse.com top 5 will be revealed april 8th CONTEST City Pulse • March 11, 2020 www.lansingcitypulse.com 3 Favorite Things Summer 2020 Glam rocker Jenna Roark RUHALACENTER.COM and her makeup collection Broadway Summer Camp Auditions! Rock ’n roll vocalist Jenna Roark was born and raised on the stretch of U.S. 127 that runs from Leslie to Jackson, but now calls Lansing proper her home. The flamboy- ant performer fronts Conspicuous Bystanders, a dynamic local four-piece that blends the soul- Hey Yo! Don’t Throw Away Your Shot! AUDTION ! fulness of Amy Winehouse with the raw-riffage of Led Zeppelin, creating a brand-new scorching sound. Last weekend, the group Call (517) 337-0464 to schedule audition played a Bernie Sanders rally at Michigan State University’s New Summer Workshops in Singing/Dance/Acting/ Community Co-op—but the busy group has a lot more in the works, Mental Toughness & Yoga as well. There will be new singles, a forthcoming album, and some Private Lessons Available touring beyond state lines. Roark, who’s known for her striking, Bowie-esque stage attire, chatted Email: [email protected] or (517) 337-0464 with City Pulse about her Favorite Thing. Here’s what she had to say: R My favorite thing is my makeup Photo by Karina Mireles redcedar spiritsirits collection. To me, makeup looks Jenna Roark holds her prized Jeffree like art. It sparkles, there are fab- Star-brand concealer. Distillery & Cocktail Bar ulous colors of all kinds, textures and, of course, it’s glam. A killer favorite material item. But the product-design makes everything one I use whenever I have an We grow corn. better and that much more excit- opportunity to, or whenever I can ing. My favs being the absolute make an opportunity to, is make- We make great bourbon. master of the game, Jeffree Star, up. It’s a special experience to as well as our girl RiRi (Rihanna) bring an inspiration into reality. It’s amazing! at Fenty. I can’t leave out the ever It’s much like writing a song, you controversial Too Faced, either. see your vision come to life and My collection ranges from some inspire you. older products — but no more Also, I do not ever see myself than two years old, for safety’s sake parting with makeup. It’s very — to some of the newest to join much like music to me. It relax- the collection: my beloved Blue es me and allows for a meditative Blood and Jawbreaker palettes by moment during crazy days. I truly Jeffree Star, which I received for hope I continue to find the same the holidays. release and happiness through I’ve got to say, when I ask myself this art form for the rest of my life. what material thing I love most, If you like makeup, keep an eye it’s hard for me to choose. Most of out for my work. If you like music, my favorite things are not mate- keep an eye out for that, too. I rial. I’m inclined toward music, have so much in store for the both memories and people, so it was of them this year. quite challenging to choose a 2000 Merritt Road, East Lansing 4 - 11 p.m Thurs & Fri; 2 - 11 p.m. Sat and Sun; 4 - 10 p.m. Tues, Wed 517-908-9950 4 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • March 11, 2020 VOL. 19 ISSUE 31 (517) 371-5600 • Fax: (517) 999-6061 • 1905 E. Michigan Ave. • Lansing, MI 48912 • www.lansingcitypulse.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: (517) 999-5061 or email [email protected] PAGE CLASSIFIEDS: (517) 999-6704 EDITOR AND PUBLISHER • Berl Schwartz 21 [email protected] • (517) 999-5061 ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR • Skyler Ashley We should totally just stab Caesar [email protected] • (517) 999-5068 EVENTS EDITOR/OFFICE MANAGER • Suzi Smith [email protected] • (517) 999-6704 PRODUCTION • Abby Sumbler PAGE [email protected] (517) 999-5066 24 STAFF WRITERS • Lawrence Cosentino [email protected] • (517) 999-5065 The Gina Furtado Project kicks off Elderly's concert series Kyle Kaminski • [email protected] (517) 999-6710 SALES EXECUTIVE Lee Purdy • [email protected] • (517) 999-5064 PAGE Mike Piasecki • [email protected] • (517) 999-6707 30 Contributors: Andy Balaskovitz, Justin Bilicki, Capital News Service, Bill Castanier, Ryan Claytor, Mary C. Custom taco restaurant comes to East Lansing Cusack, Tom Helma, Gabrielle Lawrence Johnson, Terry Link, Kyle Melinn, Mark Nixon, Dennis Preston, Carrie Sampson, Nevin Speerbrecker, Rich Tupica, Ute Von Der Heyden, David Winkelstern, Paul Wozniak Cover Distribution manager: Garrett Clinard • (517) 999-6704 Art Delivery drivers: Garrett Clinard, Dave Fisher, Dale Gartner, Jack Sova, Gavin Smith Illustration by Kimberly Lavon Interns: Matthew Stine • [email protected] NOW AT 10:00 A.M. SUNDAYS on City Pulse • March 11, 2020 www.lansingcitypulse.com 5 PULSE NEWS & OPINION Time’s up for Ferguson After more than three decades as insurance claims as their excuse for keeping infl uence-peddler-in-chief at Michigan State the documents under wraps. She then joined University, it’s time for Joel Ferguson to Ferguson, Byrum and Melanie Foster in hang up his spurs as a member of the MSU derailing an independent investigation of the Board of Trustees. Having lorded over MSU Nassar case by an outside law fi rm. The re- in subtle and not-so-subtle ways since he cent revelation that Scott also has business was fi rst elected to the post in 1986, we think dealings with Ferguson, having partnered that when the Michigan Democratic Party with him to purchase and redevelop a convenes its nominating convention March building in Muskegon, adds to the perception 21 it should back a new candidate who that she is a wholly owned subsidiary of Joel brings a fresh perspective to the challenges Ferguson Inc. Getting rid of Ferguson and MSU continues to face in rebuilding the replacing him with someone who truly sup- institution’s tattered reputation and reshaping ports transparency and institutional reform its campus culture. is the shortest path to thoughtful reconsider- Ferguson’s legendary penchant for ation of these critical issues. micromanaging MSU’s internal affairs, from Democrats can and must do better this the selection of presidents to its athletic time around. The optimal candidate to department, has worn thin through the years. replace Ferguson should have experience Most recently, his gross insensitivity at the in higher education and the management height of the Larry Nassar sexual assault of large-scale public institutions, a demon- scandal, made clear by public statements strated commitment to diversity, inclusion, that revealed his deep lack of empathy for and transparency — and no ties to Joel the survivors of Nassar’s predations, simply Ferguson. can’t be forgotten — or forgiven. His pivotal We also think it is a good time for state role in handing John Engler the keys to the lawmakers to revisit Michigan’s party-based MSU kingdom, even on an interim basis, system for choosing university board nom- also was misguided and should give pause inees. The last two gubernatorial appoint- to Democrats now considering whether to ments to the MSU board, Nancy Schlichting renominate him for the post. by former governor Rick Snyder and Renee We grant that Ferguson has been an Knake by Whitmer, each brought impeccable important and impactful fi gure in local, state credentials and much-needed gravitas to the and national Democratic politics. A trailblazer board, a welcome departure from the usual who was the fi rst African American elected party loyalists who secure their nominations to the Lansing City Council, Ferguson has by ingratiating themselves with partisan worked at the highest levels of national pol- needs is an egotist subsequently elect- power brokers. It’s telling that Schlichting itics as a former member of the Democratic puppetmaster ed on the Democrat- resigned less than a year into her term, National Committee. He ran Jesse Jackson’s on the Board of The ic ticket led by Gov. expressing frustration with the board’s secre- successful Michigan presidential primary Trustees who clearly CP Edit Gretchen Whitmer. tive culture and its failure to follow through campaign in 1988 and is a close ally of Bill doesn’t get it and Opinion After campaigning with an independent investigation of the Nas- and Hillary Clinton. who played a key on a platform of sar case. It’s not a stretch to consider her Ferguson’s indisputable business success role in stoking the transparency and premature and unfortunate departure as yet speaks both to his savvy and his uncan- university’s downward spiral of public rela- reform, Scott’s tenure as a trustee has been another casualty of the Ferguson era. ny knack for leveraging his considerable tions failures in the aftermath of the Nassar a crushing disappointment. It doesn’t require In the runup to the Michigan Democratic political infl uence to win lucrative real scandal. a great leap of faith to believe Ferguson is Party nominating convention two week- estate development deals, most notably Replacing Ferguson would also go a long responsible for that as well.