Wednesday, September 28,2011

Politics, labor and a golf course

Most City Council candidates aren’t on the same page as their union endorsers when it comes to the city’s Red Cedar Renaissance proposal

by Andy Balaskovitz

Jeffries and Wood, along with Councilman Derrick Quinney, were the three who blocked the proposal ' which asks the public to approve' allowing the city sell parkland for unspecified development ' from getting on Aug. 2 primary ballot. 1st Ward Councilman Eric Hewitt, who is not seeking reelection, said he too would have voted no, but he was absent.

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Wednesday, September 21,2011

The LCC-Davenport tug of war over Oliver Towers

Lansing officials say Lansing Community College had its chances to acquire the Oliver Towers property; LCC disputes it.

by Andy Balaskovitz

Interviews with city and LCC officials over the last two days revealed different recollections of what transpired since 2008, when voters rejected a millage to construct a new headquarters for the Capital Area District Library and a new home for the Impression 5 Science Center on the land where the shuttered senior citizens home stands.

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Wednesday, September 14,2011

Sales or service?

Some Stay Open. Some Stay Closed: The Road Ahead For Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

by Andy Balaskovitz

Within two weeks after the state Court of Appeals said on Aug. 23 that selling medical marijuana is illegal, the Greater Lansing Medical Marijuana Business Association held a meeting at the vacant Story Oldsmobile car dealership on Lansing’s east side to try and figure out what to do next.

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Wednesday, September 14,2011

Proposed Legislation

What's up Republicans' sleeves this legislative season?

by Andy Balaskovitz

About midway between the eastfacing Capitol building steps and Capitol Avenue Sept. 7, a tall sign held by a medical marijuana advocate read: “WHERE ARE THE DEMS TO STOP THIS S_ _ T?” If the goal is clarifying what seemingly everyone refers to as an unclear medical marijuana law, it’s a good question.

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Wednesday, September 14,2011

Pay Back

Dispensary owners consider filing suit against the city for not refunding licensing fees for opening a business

by Andy Balaskovitz

A group of former medical marijuana dispensary owners, joined by a Lansing-area attorney, is saying the same thing to the city of Lansing. The business owners want refunds for the fees they paid the city ' at least $1,000 for each dispensary ' as required by an ordinance adopted on June 27.

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Wednesday, September 7,2011

Afternoon delight

Lansing City Council to meet Thursday afternoon over some light business

by Andy Balaskovitz

Wednesday, Sept. 7 — The Lansing City Council is scheduled to meet Thursday afternoon over some minor business that includes granting nonprofit status to a local organization, settling two special assessment claims and three tributes.

Where's the Market Place?

The city and the developer of Market Place intended for construction to have started by now. What happened?

by Andy Balaskovitz

It’s approaching four years since the city and developer Pat Gillespie announced plans to transplant the Lansing City Market to downtown just east of the Grand River, accompanied by a mostly residential complex of structures called Market Place.

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Wednesday, August 24,2011

Bridging Lansing and MSU

Will the Red Cedar Golf Course proposal be the catalyst that finally brings the Michigan State University community into the city?

by Andy Balaskovitz

It’s no secret Lansing has struggled to attract Michigan State University students into Lansing, both for leisure and employment. It’s also no secret that the city’s trying to change that.

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Wednesday, August 24,2011

Schuette: A necessary fear?

by Andy Balaskovitz

Ryan Richmond owns Relief Choices, a dispensary with three locations throughout the state (including one on Michigan Avenue in Lansing). Unlike some of his colleagues, he’s not quite as threatened by Attorney General Bill Schuette’s vigilance against the voter-approved 2008 ballot initiative.

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Friday, August 19,2011

Shaping the general election ballot

Three ballot proposals scheduled for City Council vote on Monday

by Andy Balaskovitz

Friday, Aug. 19 — The Lansing City Council is scheduled to vote on three proposals Monday that could end up on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot.