Regionalism and City Partnerships
Regionalism is tremendously important to ensure we have partners in solving problems. For Lansing to succeed as a city, we must create effective partnerships regionally and build on mutual trust and transparency to realize operational efficiency. It is vitally important for the Mayor of Lansing to create an atmosphere of respect and encourage cooperative relationships with others on behalf of our city, something I pledge to do for the next four years. We must develop and cultivate relationships with all partners to develop “win-win” solutions, reduce inefficiencies, and cut costs.
I have worked across the region to forge partnerships with other local governments, non-profits, the business community, and our Lansing Schools partners.
Lansing Schools
Schools are the bedrock of any community, and high-quality schools are an essential component of creating equitable, healthy, and sustainable urban vitality. I am the proud parent of two children in the Lansing School District. As Mayor, I have worked closely with the Lansing School Board, Superintendent Caamal Canuul, and Superintendent Sinicropi to tout the great achievements our students have made in our school district. I created the first liaison between the school district and the city. The City of Lansing will continue to partner with Lansing Schools to show all residents and Michiganders alike the quality education students receive here.
Investing in our schools is an investment in our future; families happy with our schools will stay in Lansing. Through the leadership of its school board and superintendent, the Lansing School District has done an impressive and admirable job diversifying its curriculum. Lansing schools are unique in many of their offerings; we have a public Montessori program, offer Chinese and Spanish immersion, are home to the only International Baccalaureate degree program in the region, offer a technology-based New Tech program, and have a variety of other focused offerings aimed at helping our students prepare for success.
Schools and the Pandemic
When COVID-19 took hold and schools were shut down, the City of Lansing worked closely with the Lansing School District. The City coordinated to alert the community about food pickup locations for those who relied on school for breakfast and lunch, and I handed out many of these lunches personally. When Lansing’s frontline workers with young children had to return to work, I worked with the district to create a Learning Lab at the Foster Community Center. This ensured that children in Lansing could learn online in a safe and socially distanced manner while parents returned to work to help our greater Lansing community.
Lansing Promise
Lansing is a community that invests in its children. The Lansing Promise provides financial assistance to Lansing high school graduates to complete a two-year degree, or a scholarship to Lansing Community College, Michigan State University, or Olivet College. I am proud to be the first Lansing Mayor to serve on the Lansing Promise Board because of the important role these scholarships play in our youth attaining higher education. The Lansing Promise has reaped tremendous success, and will continue to be both an asset and priority for the City moving forward.
Informing Residents of Improvements
Our schools continue to move in the right direction, but too often residents and non-residents are unaware of our progress. As our district staff continue to work tirelessly on growing educational quality within our schools, the City of Lansing and our partners that sell Lansing to the region, state, nation, and world need to step up to dismantle negative perceptions of our school district. We can all play a role in sharing in the successes of our School District, bringing families to our wonderful city. The City of Lansing will continue to proactively and proudly show our residents what the Lansing School District has to offer, informing residents that their children can succeed and will help our community grow.
City Relationship and Partnerships with Higher Education
I started regular meetings and worked on events with institutions of higher learning. I started regular meetings with the Michigan State University President to discuss how the City and MSU can work together on partnerships between university departments and city services. I also worked with MSU, school districts, the Governor’s office, the County Health Director, and others weekly to ensure that we coordinate COVID- 19 relief efforts. These partnerships with MSU will continue and will create increased growth and investment in our city and region.
I work closely with Lansing Community College, regularly meeting with the President, Board members, and senior members of the LCC staff about important issues between the college and city. Lansing has been proud to work with LCC on important small business and job training programs such as Grow with Google and others. Further, I work with LCC to coordinate arts and other vibrancy measures for downtown.
I developed a new partnership with Davenport, working with them to secure a grant for new higher learning opportunities for City of Lansing employees. These partnerships will help our city and our employees.
I partnered with Olivet College to provide new higher education opportunities for city employees, helping their personal growth and ensuring that the City of Lansing benefits as well. I also signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Michigan for interns to work in the City of Lansing. And, as a Bloomberg Harvard Leadership Initiative Mayor, I brought interns from Harvard to do research to assist Lansing. Utilizing these amazing resources through our universities and colleges helps Lansing grow.
Partnerships for Lansing Vibrancy
Throughout my tenure, I’ve prioritized growing Lansing via partnering with those who promote recreation and vibrancy within the city. Upon taking office, I established a relationship with the Community Foundation of Greater Lansing, working with them to establish Rotary Park on the riverfront. With the Community Foundation and others, we improved the beachfront area and provided access to the river for use in a safe, fun way. I look forward to continuing to work with the Community Foundation and other partners to maximize the potential of the riverfront.
Our partnerships also led to the creation of the new Beacon Park and soccer field in Southwest Lansing. This project engaged citizens and sponsors alike to create a new space to enjoy in the city. I also finalized the Town Square alongside the Southwest Action Group, the Southside Community Center, and others to show the rebirth of southwest Lansing, complementing other improvements like new businesses in the neighborhood.
Lansing also has a new artificial ice rink in city hall plaza downtown. My administration partnered with the Community Foundation to purchase and set up this new ice skating rink as a fun new amenity for city residents and all visitors. In the future, we expect to add options for ice skates (whether rental or borrowing ice skates) as well as amenity options for those using the rink.
Partnerships with CATA
The City of Lansing and the Capital Area Transportation Authority work closely together to not only provide necessary transplantation, but to revitalize the City of Lansing. My administration has worked with CATA to create and improve several bus shelters throughout the City of Lansing. Bus shelters in southwest Lansing and near Sycamore Park have new infrastructure and vibrant art that show off the excitement of Lansing. CATA worked with the City of Lansing Neighborhood staff as well as local artists to create these. I will partner with CATA again in the future to upgrade and provide art for more CATA bus shelters and other neighborhood projects throughout the city.
My administration also worked with CATA to create a new and free bus that goes from downtown to Old Town. This Grab n Go has allowed residents, visitors, state employees, and other workers downtown to go to and from Old Town and the stadium district for new lunch and shopping options.
Partnerships with the State of Michigan
Utilizing existing relationships, I worked closely with many in the State of Michigan to bring necessary resources back to the City of Lansing. I worked with the state to provide $18 million to the City of Lansing by selling a parking ramp, which reduced the costs and liability to the city while securing necessary dollars for many of our needs. I also secured over $3 million to convert six downtown one-way streets to two-way in order to greater improve the central business district, and to make it safer by slowing down vehicles. While this has been delayed by the Coronavirus pandemic, four of these street conversions will occur over the summer.
I worked with the Legislature to pass a $1 million allocation to assist the city with rallies and protests downtown and to install new security cameras. While these dollars were vetoed due to the road plan disagreement between the Governor and Legislature, and also due to Coronavirus budget problems, I continue to work with Rep. Sarah Anthony and Sen. Curtis Hertel to secure these necessary dollars for Capital City assistance to accommodate for our unique costs.
When people return to society after serving their time in prison, they need the ability to become productive members of society in order to not reoffend. The Mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment created a partnership with the Michigan Department of Corrections to pilot a program where rehabilitated offenders are provided building trades skills and job opportunities to reintegrate into society. This will prevent former offenders from recidivism and will ensure that these individuals are productive members of our community.
Partnerships with Other Local Governments and Repairing Relationships
I have repaired damaged relationships with local governments in a variety of ways. I re-created regular meetings with Ingham County Commissioners and worked closely with them to bring many county resources to the City of Lansing. Utilizing the county trails millage, Lansing secured millions of dollars to improve various parts of the river trail. I worked with the county to ensure that construction projects are coordinated, as was done when Lansing and the county repaired Kalamazoo street. I also worked closely with Health Director Linda Vail to bring needed resources, including testing centers and vaccination clinics, to the city of Lansing. In my first few months in office, I withdrew from the lawsuit against Lansing Townships and worked closely with the Township Supervisor to finalize the sale of the Waverly property. This brought in $2.2 million to the City and allowed for necessary dollars for parks. I will continue to look at partnerships with Lansing township, including exploring joint trash and recycling.
East Lansing has also been a great partner, especially through the pandemic. I worked closely with Mayor Stephens, MSU, and the County Health Department to coordinate our relief efforts. We also provided additional resources for the unsheltered when the pandemic began, and created a new recycling facility in Lansing for the region.
I have engaged with the Capitol Council of Governments (CAPCOG), a collaborative of county leaders and others, to work towards the betterment of the Great Lansing region. I will also continue to work with several of our neighboring townships to create tax sharing agreements that will create hundreds of jobs and economic growth for our city and region. I will continue to work with our neighbors for the improvement of the Greater Lansing Region. These regional partnerships are crucial and will continue to be a focus of mine.
Partnerships with Nonprofits
I have worked with many nonprofits and others to ensure that all resources are maximized in Lansing. As a Capital Area United Way board appointee, I worked with them to ensure Lansing residents receive necessary help. I created the Community Resource Cabinet when the Coronavirus took hold to ensure Lansing works with many partners on behalf of our citizens, businesses, and nonprofits to keep them functioning. This partnership created the OneLansing Fund where dollars were raised for the United Way, Food Bank, and others for rental assistance, mortgage assistance, food security and other needs. We also raised for arts, recreation, and other nonprofits. And we created a community resource consultant to help bring grants and other local, state, and national resources back to Lansing.
I worked closely with the Capital Area Housing Partnership, assisting homeowners and converting properties into affordable housing. Many nonprofits and for-profit businesses were engaged through the Neighborhoods of Focus program as well. Habitat for Humanity, the Potter Park Zoo, the Lansing Art Collective, and others have assisted in the Baker Neighborhood. The Southwest Action Group has been a key aide in SW Lansing. And the newest Neighborhood of Focus – Willow, Walnut, and Comstock Park – will be working with the Capital Area Housing Project and others to ensure that needed resources remain in this key part of the city. Working with nonprofits is a great way to utilize the skills and resources of all to help our city.
Partnership with the Business Community
I worked closely with the Lansing Chamber of Commerce to ensure that our small businesses, corporations, and those fueling Lansing’s economy have voices at the table. I was part of the ReLaunch Lansing effort to ensure that businesses can relaunch, reopen, and re-engage as soon as possible. This is a collaborative effort among many to identify best practices for Lansing regional employers to fully reinstate operations, while ensuring the safety of employees. I am also working with the Chamber to push for state workers to return to work in our city after we are safe from the pandemic, as this is one of our biggest employers and helps drive our economy.
I was also part of the task force created by the Lansing Economic Area Partnership to examine how Lansing can be a national leader on medical innovation, maximizing incredible healthcare resources like medical technologies and our hospitals. This led to Lansing’s leadership in PPE productions and other medical areas. Our innovation in the healthcare field will boost our economy long after the pandemic is over.
Partnership with Employees
Lansing has a tremendous workforce, and I worked with local building trades, unions, and other employee groups to grow our city while investing in our workers. We must ensure that our residents receive the economic benefits from our City’s growth. We want Lansing workers working. I worked with many partners to create a new Universal Development Agreement that ensures Lansing workers are prioritized in hiring when new projects are brought to the city, all while allocating future tax dollars to continuing Lansing’s development.
Partnerships with Faith Community
As I emphasized in my 2021 State of the City, many people will engage with their pastor and church about their needs. I created the Interfaith Task Force to engage with Lansing’s faith community, and my Faith Based and Community Director has worked with the members of this task force to create further connections. Although slowed by COVID-19, we will continue to work with our local churches and people of faith to support places of worship.
Mental Health Partnerships
Lansing, like many communities, struggles to provide necessary service to those with mental health concerns. Mental health should not be criminalized. In accordance with this belief, I created the first social worker within the police department in the state, working with police to provide mental health assistance to citizens. Lansing Police do not arrest and jail those with mental health issues, and work to provide assistance through our social worker or local Community Mental Health.
I also created the city of Lansing Mental Health Task Force, bringing together experts to share resources and best practices. Even so, we need more resources to help those with mental health issues. As such, I worked with McLaren and the state to bring resources to Lansing for a new Behavioral Health facility which will be created on the McLaren Greenlawn campus when the hospital moves to the east side of the city.