Wednesday, August 25,2010

Snow ordinance defrosting

by Andy Balaskovitz

The ordinance seeks to manage unkempt snow like the city does for long grass and weeds, issuing a formal warning after the violation is spotted. A warning would come as a posted notice on the property as well as a written notice in the mail.

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Wednesday, August 25,2010

Mission to Juarez

Two Lansing women prepare for a four-month peacekeeping mission to the front lines of the war on drugs

by Andy Balaskovitz

Sandra Cade and Sister Nina Rodriguez, both in their 60s, know they are not going to the sleepy tourist border town that Juarez, Mexico, used to be. Instead, their mission as part of the Michigan Peace Team will be to serve as bodyguards and consolers for those who can’t escape.

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Wednesday, August 25,2010

Virg Watch

Picking a running mate: Much ado about nothing?

by Andy Balaskovitz

The Michigan Democratic Party Convention is Saturday and Sunday in Detroit, but there is only speculation about whom Democratic gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero will choose as a lieutenant governor nominee.

Tuesday, August 24,2010

Kids in the Hall

Bernero defends running for governor while serving as mayor

by Andy Balaskovitz

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero made a rare appearance of late at Monday’s City Council meeting — perhaps coincidentally the first session since the Lansing State Journal renewed its editorial campaign saying he should choose between being mayor and running for governor.

Monday, August 23,2010

“Good development”

Public hearing scheduled tonight on easing the restrictions of certain commercial developments

by Andy Balaskovitz

A public hearing is scheduled for tonight’s Lansing City Council meeting on a proposed ordinance to establish four overlay districts in the city. Overlays are land-use planning tools that encourage “smart growth” development and pedestrian-oriented movement in commercial areas.

Thursday, August 19,2010

Virg Watch

Would endorsements keep you from voting for an old friend?

by Andy Balaskovitz

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero used to hang out together at Adrian College in the 1980s. They got to know each other quite well then and stayed in touch as they moved up their respective political ladders.

Wednesday, August 18,2010

Back to life

Restoring a former eyesore with the help of local homeless

by Andy Balaskovitz

When entering the Genesee Neighborhood near downtown Lansing from the south, a large two-story white house at the corner of Butler Boulevard and Ionia Street gives you a forbidding welcome. For about the past year, the property at 824 W. Ionia has been overgrown with weeds, its boarded-up windows hiding the charred remains of a fire.

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Wednesday, August 18,2010

Political rehabilitation

How a Lansing Community College student leader is coping with a criminal past

by Andy Balaskovitz

After serving 5 1/2 years in Ingham County jails, Manning was released on parole. Two of the conditions were that he was not to use any device with Internet capabilities and he was not to look at sexually suggestive material.

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Tuesday, August 17,2010

Kids in the Hall

To CoW, or not to CoW?

by Andy Balaskovitz

An ongoing divide between the Lansing City Council was on full display at Monday night’s meeting, as the Council President A’Lynne Robinson sought to refer all items of business to the Committee of the Whole. There was no legislative action scheduled for Monday’s meeting.

Sunday, August 15,2010

Driving while black?

Three Lansing City Council members find themselves in an “appalling” situation en route to Detroit

by Andy Balaskovitz

It was about 7 p.m. on a warm, sunny Tuesday evening and three Lansing City Council members were en route to celebrate Mayor Virg Bernero’s nomination to be the state’s next governor.

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