A free press isn’t free. See page 12. FREE a newspaper for the rest of us www.lansingcitypulse.com September 27 - October 3, 2017 César Chávez Avenue: Why it matters. HUBBARD STREET DANCE CHICAGO OCTOBER 10, 7:30 pm Cobb Great Hall whartoncenter.com • 1-800-WHARTON Sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance. Media sponsor Michigan Radio. 2 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • September 27, 2017 Presents “The Confluence of Influence” A collection of exquisitely detailed ceramic vessel forms By Deb Oliva of Okemos, Michigan Please join us at a reception for the artist On Sunday, October 1, 2017 From noon until 4 p.m. "The Confluence of Influence" runs through Nov. 26, 2017 Thursday, October 5, 2017, at 7:30 pm The Capitol Quartet Saxophone Potpourri Incredibly Close & Pitch Perfect The Absolute Music Chamber Series eighth season at the acoustically-superior Urban Beat Event Center in Lansing’s Old Town. In this highly welcoming space, everyone sits only a few feet from the musicians to experience chamber music up close and personal. Concert guides introduce the artists and their programs and facilitate an after-concert discussion among the audience and the musicians. This talk-back provides a chance for the audience to connect with the musicians and understand the passionate process that creates a performance. In the Old World soirée tradition, light refreshments are served following every concert. Buy tickets online: absolutemusiclansing.org or at the door Urban Beat Event Center, 1213 Turner Street Lansing, Michigan 48906 in Old Town City Pulse • September 27, 2017 www.lansingcitypulse.com 3 AN HOUR WITH ANDY SCHOR The Likely Next Mayor of Lansing What: Join City Pulse editor & publisher Berl Schwartz and reporter Todd Heywood while they discuss mayoral politics with Andy Schor When: Thursday, September 28 @ 6pm Doors open @ 5pm Where: Lansing Brewing Co. 518 E. Shiawassee St. Andy Schor North of Lugnut Stadium Watch: Live on Facebook, Lansing Mayoral Event page, streaming through ACD’s Fiber Optic Network 4 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • September 27, 2017 Lansing’s financial pressures and for lack of a complete plan that addresses both VOL. 17 Slow down the current building and future facilities. ISSUE 7 Asked to comment for the Pulse’s 9/21/2017 article, this is precisely the (517) 371-5600 • Fax: (517) 999-6061 • 1905 E. Michigan Ave. • Lansing, MI 48912 • www.lansingcitypulse.com message Mr. Hepler delivered: Lansing ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: (517) 999-5061 on City Hall would be best served by completing or email [email protected] the recommended Master Plan and PAGE CLASSIFIEDS: (517) 999-5066 By STEPHEN PURCHASE Feasibility Study to guide decision-mak- Beginning with some of the first ing with a full accounting of the costs and 6 EDITOR AND PUBLISHER • Berl Schwartz [email protected] • (517) 999-5061 rehabbed lofts along Michigan Avenue, a complete understanding of the needs a City Pulse launches East Lansing/Meridian Twp. page. ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER • Mickey Hirten forward to the Blue Coyote Brewing new facility must address (One building [email protected] Co., the JI Case Lofts, Old Town’s Race or several? Police? Courts? Departments ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR • Eve Kucharski [email protected] • (517) 999-5068 Street Mill, and now housed outside of City Hall?). This PAGE PRODUCTION MANAGER • Amanda Proscia then to Northtown’s should be the least effort expected given [email protected] • (517) 999-5066 Prudden Tech the financial weight and long lifespan of 11 STAFF WRITERS • Lawerence Cosentino Centre and such a project, and I believe the results of [email protected] Opinion Todd Heywood award-winning the RFQP support this position. Learn about a recent Michigan startup. [email protected] Motor Wheel Lofts, Proposers demonstrated with clarity SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR • Rich Tupica H Inc. has been a that the current building can realize a [email protected] force for progress higher and better economic use as a pri- PAGE ASSISTANT SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Purchase across Lansing since vate development contributing to new 14 Mandy Jackson • [email protected] 1989. Lansing is growth and vibrancy downtown. Three Contributors: Andy Balaskovitz, Justin Bilicki, Daniel our home, and not just because the bulk of the four proposers agreed to varying E. Bollman, Capital News Service, Bill Castanier, Catch up on upcoming events at local galley, Mackerel Sky. Mary C. Cusack, Tom Helma, Gabrielle Lawrence of our development work is here. Every degrees with H Inc. and members of the Johnson, Eve Kucharski, Terry Link, Andy McGlashen, member of our team sports a City of historic preservation community that the Kyle Melinn, Mark Nixon, Shawn Parker, Stefanie Pohl, Lansing home address. We are profes- current building ought to be rehabilitat- Dennis Preston, Allan I. Ross, Rich Tupica, Ute Von sionally and personally invested here. ed to accentuate its architectural merits Cover Der Heyden, David Winkelstern, Paul Wozniak I share this as context for my disap- while preserving elements of the public Art Distribution manager: Paul Shore • (517) 999-5061 pointment when in last week’s Pulse arti- courtyard for public use (though I would Delivery drivers: Frank Estrada, Dave Fisher, Jack cle, “Off by $14 Million,” Randy Hannan note none of the four proposed a true his- by Zach Stuef, @stuefcreative Sova, Richard Simpson, Thomas Scott Jr. dismissed Harry Hepler’s contribution to toric preservation of the classic Kenneth the conversation surrounding City Hall Black designed building). Clearly, there and its future as being the product of are good ideas pertaining to the current sour grapes. Hepler is the founder of H site to build-on and incorporate into the Inc. and one of Lansing’s original “Urban City’s Master Plan, but I’m less sure there Pioneers” who invested in downtown is at this point a single winning proposal. Lansing before it was the cool thing to The submitted proposals demon- do. strate a lack of clarity and direction For the record, H Inc. had been invit- surrounding the future City Hall. While ed to submit a proposal and could have several sites were pitched that have the assembled a highly qualified development potential to become superior locations team for the City Hall RFQP, but elected for city offices, there was a distinct lack not to for one reason: H Inc. is focusing of detail with respect to what functions all our energy into our next growth phase new facilities would be made to serve, in centered on the creation of pre-crafted what timeframe, and at what cost to the residential living options assembled right city. A master plan would help answer here in Lansing for export throughout those questions and also inform the most the Midwest. We only re-engaged in the beneficial way to structure a deal to min- topic of City Hall because we are excited imize risk to the city. It may be better, by the opportunity to see that architec- as the RFQP postulates, that a single tural gem restored and because we care firm handles development of both sites. about realizing the best, historically sen- Alternatively, the city may realize better sitive outcome for our city. value by having one party redevelop the In contrast to Hannan’s negativity, all current site and with a clear master plan of us at H Inc. commend Mayor Bernero in place have many others competitively and his team for starting an important bid to develop the new City Hall. conversation about the future of City It’s the lack of detail and planning Hall. No one disputes that the current around the new facilities that worry me building has served our city well for many most. Absent a clear master plan for decades, but now requires significant, both the current site and new facilities, a thoughtful new investment. Our enthu- siasm is only tempered in recognition of See Slow down, Page 7 See pages 7, 9, 10 & 15 for Public Notices City Pulse • September 27, 2017 www.lansingcitypulse.com 5 PULSE NEWS & OPINION Plunged into C darkness? OF THE WEEK As many as 10,000 low-income BWL customers facing hole in safety net Thousands of low-income customers of the Lansing Board of Water & Light will lose access to a state-operated utility assis- tance program beginning Oct. 1. That move has left human services providers in the Todd Heywood/City Pulse area scrambling to figure out how to fill the Robert Nelson was to resign Tuesday from the Board of Commissioners of the Lansing 233 E. Grand River Ave. (Potbelly gap and resulted in one BWL commission- Board of Water & Light out of frustration over the unwillingness of the public utility to Sandwich Shop) East Lansing er announcing he will resign. continue participating in a state program to help low-income ratepayers. Nelson is a “It’s a sad situation that could be correct- non-voting member representing East Lansing. ed if they just opted into the program, and The City of East Lansing regularly they are not doing that,” Robert Nelson, a Nelson noted that while the BWL has come April and will end up being shut off features historic photos on its non-voting member of the public utility’s not paid into the fund since its inception in anyway.” Facebook page, recently including an Board of Commissioners representing East 2013, BWL customers have still benefitted Effective with the beginning of the image capturing the building above, bedecked with a 1980s makeover. Lansing, said in a phone interview. “So in from the funds. However, he said the util- state’s new fiscal year on Sunday, state offi- While one might question the decision ity doesn’t want to pay into the fund and cials said the funds would only be used to good conscience I can’t support this any- to cover a durable brick building with more.