City Pulse News Rewind: Two Black people were appointed to the East Lansing City Council

City Pulse News Rewind is a look back at five noteworthy items that made the news over the last week.

Two Black people were appointed to the East Lansing City Council

The East Lansing City Council made history this weekend in appointing two Black people to serve out the terms of the two members who quit in July. Ron Bacon and Dana Watson’s appointment marks the first time two Black people have served simultaneously on the Council. The only other African American ever to serve was appointed in 1973. 

Greater Lansing tracks its 50th virus death 

Ingham, Eaton and Clinton county residents received a stark reminder late last week that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over in Greater Lansing. State officials have now tallied at least 51 coronavirus-related deaths and nearly 2,200 cases across the three counties since March. 

Whitmer tightens pandemic restrictions  

After an uptick in coronavirus cases, Whitmer capped all indoor gatherings (with limited exceptions) at 10 people. Bars must also shut down indoors. Outdoor gatherings are largely limited to 100 people, with higher limits of 250 Up North. Still, bars earning more than 70% of gross annual receipts from alcohol must close indoors. 

Courts rule against small business 

Businesses filing insurance claims for revenue losses tied to the pandemic may be out of luck after 30th Circuit Judge Joyce Draganchuk ruled that insurance companies aren’t liable for losses tied to government-mandated closures. Nick Gavrilides, the owner of Soup Spoon Cafe in Lansing, lost a legal battle after his insurer denied a $650,000 business interruption claim from the two months his restaurant was forced closed indoors under Whitmer’s executive lockdown orders. Gavrilides’ insurance didn’t cover losses tied to a viral pandemic, but he maintained that his losses weren’t necessarily tied to COVID-19 itself. They were instead a direct result of Whitmer’s closure orders. Draganchuk said the argument was “nonsense” in upholding the claim’s denial, which is being hailed as a national victory for the insurance industry. Gavrilides is still considering an appeal.  

Lansing City Council launches committee on racism 

Yet another city-level committee formed this week and is fielding concerns over discrimination, police funding, racial justice and social equity in the city of Lansing. Monday night marked the first meeting of the Lansing City Council’s new Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. 

Launched after the Council declared racism a public health crisis last month, it will examine systematic racism, crafting suggestions for the Council and Mayor Andy Schor’s administration. 

Alongside the Council Committee on Ways and Means, the committee will also examine a proposal to establish another committee on “public safety transformation” with the goal of defunding the Lansing Police Department, a proposal introduced by Councilman Brandon Betz. 

Some voiced frustrations with the repeated layering of city level committees within committees, but city officials have suggested that a wide opportunity for public dialogue will be the best possible way to drive forward any inclusive changes to city policies and department budgets.  

The next meeting of the newly formed City Council Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion hasn’t been scheduled. It’ll continue to solicit public comment alongside other groups like the Police Board of Commissioners, the Mayor’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, the Racial Justice and Equity Alliance, at two upcoming “listening sessions” on discrimination in the capital city.