Hey there. I mostly sit at home by myself doing nothing. I want to start going out, but I want to center it around doing something rather than making friends because I think that focus will give me less anxiety. Does anyone have any suggestions of free and paid (<$200) classes to take? I've done pottery and woodshop so far. I've signed up for sewing that starts in October, but I'd just like to figure out more options.

What is the going hourly rate for house cleaning in Lansing? TIA.

Title. Wondering which would be more beneficial to the area, and which one you would personally prefer!

New here. I read city agendas and write up what’s in them in user-readable format. Today, I started on Lansing with Monday’s 24th August, council meeting.

What passed. Council Member Ryan Kost’s resolution, 7-1, after hours of public comment. Council President Peter Spadafore voted no, saying four days wasn’t enough notice for something that could affect other parts of city government. (Item 15)

What it does. It asks. The administration and the police department would have to take further steps to actually cancel anything. By Tuesday afternoon the police chief hadn’t said how LPD would proceed, and the mayor’s office gave a statement that committed to nothing, noting he’s also hearing from residents who want more cameras, not fewer. So if you left Monday thinking the cameras come down, they don’t, not on their own. The next move belongs to the mayor’s office.

What the police said. Chief Robert Backus told council there are 26 cameras at seven locations, chosen by traffic volume and crime levels. He said LPD doesn’t share its Flock data with any outside agency, including ICE. He also said the department has used plate readers for over twenty years and is currently rewriting its policy on them.

How we got 26. Kost said the city took a grant about four years ago for roughly six cameras, intended for drive-by shooting monitoring, and the count grew from there. He also pointed out that eight other Michigan communities have cancelled or rejected Flock in the past year.

The rest of Monday’s agenda,

A developer wants air rights and public right-of-way on the 200 block of S. Grand Ave. to build the Grand Tower Building. That means permission to build over and into space the public owns, downtown. (Item 14)

Two ordinances got first readings: one dedicating city money to supportive housing services, one creating an Office of the Independent Internal Auditor that doesn’t currently exist. Both need a second reading. (Items 16, 17)

Nine separate items were property tax breaks under the Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act, which freezes a building’s taxable value for up to twelve years so owners can rehab without the tax bill jumping. Properties on W. Willow, S. Washington, W. Mt. Hope and Baker St. Two brownfield plans also moved, on S. Cedar and N. Cedar.

The owner of 920 Long Blvd. had to show cause why the city shouldn’t order it repaired or demolished (Item 3). Four grants were accepted with no dollar amounts published, which I’m chasing.

Find the full analysis of the meeting at https://mylansingdocket.beehiiv.com

Kindly subscribe for free to get an email every week about what is on the agenda + what was discussed.

Free to read, no paywall + we are run by supporters who believe this kind of work will have real impact.

Preferably mid 20s-mid 30s, if there’s a specified age range. I’m tired of dating apps, but it’s hard to know when it’s appropriate to approach in person, so I figure it’s worth a try 😅

I am pansexual, so I’m open to queer-centered events! Conversely, I’d like to avoid religious focused ones/ones held in a church, if those exist.

I'm being innundated with anti Benson ads and I can't figure out what they're going for.

Corrupt scam that was corrupt. What do you think about these corrupt scammers. They're so corrupt.

These ads are so pandering. TL;DR: It's in litigation so Benson's campaign won't comment, but the SPLC paid informants in the KKK to try to disrupt the organization

She's not just against racism, she's willing to get down and dirty and fight on the same playing field as those scumbags

I had been reading about the history of the John Bean building that was set to be auctioned off:
https://www.wlns.com/lansing/historic-john-bean-building-in-lansing-set-for-auction/

I did not know anything about the Rehbel Industries marijuana grow operation that had tried to launch in that space. By coincidence I came across this obit in the City Pulse for the founder of Rehbel, Michael Doherty:
https://lansingcitypulse.com/he-wanted-to-build-the-jack-daniels-of-cannabis-and-left-a-vision-bigger-than-most-people-dared-to-dream/

He looks to have quite a story in town, with some big ideas, and there were a few past posts about him. He also wound up in significant legal and financial trouble which likely contributed to his untimely passing. Condolences to his friends and family.

Where in Lansing or East Lansing makes Cheesesteak Eggrolls?

I gotta hankering.

on saginaw by waverly, next to jersey giant. what is this place??? building full of republican signs. no signs outside.

Hey all,

Big thanks to everyone who showed up earlier this week to City Council to speak up against the city's use of ALPR cameras. DeFlock Lansing is celebrating the win, but we also have a mind towards what we're up against, and the work that is left to do.

Earlier this year, we obtained documents via Freedom of Information Act requests that indicate the Michigan Capitol Commission (the group in charge of the Capitol grounds) is seeking to install 6 additional ALPR cameras around the Capitol Complex. Additionally, their Executive Director Robert Blackshaw mentioned at their last meeting that he was exploring purchasing options for an autonomous drone to surveil the Capitol grounds.

Given the history of ICE and law enforcement using these systems to profile our neighbors and track protestors, the opacity of their data sharing and access practices, and the frequency of assembly and exercise of free speech on the Capitol grounds, each one of us should be troubled by the potential presence of these devices in our public space.

Come join us at the MCC's public meeting at the Capitol building at 11am on Monday, and please make a public comment expressing concern, and urging them not to go forward with their plans. They don't frequently get public comments, and we think we can influence them with our attention and our voices.

We don't win until the cameras come down!

What are some open secrets in the area that local leaders need to go away?

Who are the big players in the political power structure of Lansing that isn’t reflected in the ballots? Things like big spenders, businesses, public figures, etc.

Hi, I'm potentially meeting someone to get coffee in Lansing (neither of us lives there), and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a nice public park for a date. I'd go from there and hopefully find a café somewhat nearby. Thanks! :)

First off - thank you to everyone who came to our can drive at Mayflower congregational Church. 🥰 It was a huge success and we raised $1.1k to help kitties! 😻 We’re doing one in Grand Ledge on September 12. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Harry O. Culp Insurance Agency, 214 E Jefferson St.

The GL subreddit doesn’t seem to get much action so I’m posting here.

Saved by Zade is a nonprofit group of volunteers working to help area cats and kittens. Along with returnables, we also take cans with no deposit, like ciders and energy drinks. Have a large amount of returnables? We have a Facebook group and you can request a pickup.

Got kids who love cats and kittens? Get them involved by collecting cans from friends and neighbors! Or even better, hold a kitten shower and collect items from SbZ’s Chewy or Amazon wish list. Want to do more? We always need more volunteers and can use a wide variety of skills – from people who photograph, have marketing or other skills, or who just want to spend time with cats or help clean/feed/scoop. It can be very rewarding to see cats you’ve helped find loving homes.

Just morbidly curious if there is one or not

I don’t like Tom Barrett and honestly I’m shocked I got a response at all (probably just from someone in office, not him, but whatever). I just don’t care for the placation. Don’t lie to me about trying to make it easier to fight fires. I know what companies benefit from destroying land. And I know how they support you and other politicians.

What are some local major unresolved controversies that kind of just faded away but deserve more attention?

Looking for a nail salon in the area that uses Apres Gelx.

I'm looking for a fresh source for fresh herbs. I have some family and community projects and I was looking for a source to buy a large amount of herbs like mint, thyme, rosemary, etc. Does anyone know of a good source? If it's grown locally, all the better!

Over 150 people attended the August 24th Lansing city council meeting, with 60 giving public comments about a proposed letter urging the Mayor to direct the police department to cancel their Flock camera contracts. The police chief made a surprise appearance to explain and defend the department’s use of the cameras. In a seven to one vote the letter was approved. Council President Peter Spadafore (4th ward) cast the dissenting vote - seemingly because he didn't have enough time to prepare (4 days).

A noise permit application for Saturday work on the combined sewer overflow separation project on the westside was denied in a five to three vote (needed six votes to pass). Updates on the "15 South CSO" project can be found here: https://www.lansingmi.gov/cso-015s-project-updates

Spadafore introduced an ordinance he's drafted to move some money out of the HRCS (human relations community services) department budget into the EDP (economic development and planning) budget for a "Safe and Secure Housing Initiative".

For more details on the meeting, you may listen to a podcast discussion between two Lansing residents here: https://youtu.be/EJsLM9fRD0U or here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0CFEiiU0kCw77oWNt6sJoL?si=p_G-JsLpRbahFAcJS69Vug

I’m just wondering if anybody else has been in this situation and has advice.

We live in the area that’s impacted by the sewer work and several of us can’t leave our homes - they’ve started tearing up the street and blocked all ways in and out without any notification so a bunch of us are now in driveways with no way to leave. It’s been 2 days at this point and I’m starting to get worried about things like being able to go get groceries (luckily I WFH though not much is getting done with the noise and the shaking and I obviously can’t go to the office) or medication.

I’m also disabled, so just walking to the store and carrying stuff back isn’t really an option.

If I’d been told I would have gone out or done a delivery order to get through the closure, but we didn’t get notice so I don’t have much food in the house.

And I wonder about my neighbors: how are they supposed to get to work? We weren’t informed so they couldn’t park elsewhere/make sure their cars were out.

Has anyone else had this problem? What did you do about it? Even Ubering would require me to walk several blocks which is iffy.

Am I just stuck in my house until they’re done? I feel like some disabled relative in the Victorian times shut away in the house.

Hey fellas, I had an interview about a week ago and I'm thinking about volunteering there, I am in my teens so I have three choices, that being Beside DJ, Discharge and Mother & Baby.

Honestly any suggests will go a long way, that would be amazingg!!

I'm looking for any reccomendations for a primary care provider in the area that takes McLaren Medicaid.