PODCAST · government
What Lansing Council
by Jill Dombrowski
Gossipy recap of Lansing Michigan city council meetings. Starting on November 18th, 2024.
Episodes
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Buried but There - with guests Chelsea Ransom and Lia Lilley
At the Monday October 12th Lansing city council meetings the council gave a heartwarming tribute to a special olympics sports team, they witnessed two developer tax break presentations hoping to revitalize obsolete properties, and the public comments were focused on disappointment with continued...
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Remember To Take Your Positive Attitude - with guest Eric Walcott
At the September 28th Lansing city council meetings the council discussed their budget priorities, which will be sent to the mayor for review. Many stories were shared honoring the late Mayor David C. Hollister. An ordinance aiming to regulate cryptocurrency exchange machines in the city was...
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Stay Mad Keep Dancing - with guest Heidi Butler
Under a proposed ordinance change the Economic Development and Planning department would receive funds earmarked for the Human Relations and Community Services department to prioritize more “safe a secure housing”, as presented at the September 14th Lansing City Council Meeting. There were eleven...
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Butt Birthmarks - with guest Joanne Galloway
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...
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I'm Not Andy Schor's Wife - with guest Ethan Schmitt
At the August 10th Lansing city council meetings council heard from the CATA (Capital Area Transportation Authority) leadership about upcoming reductions in bus services. They heard from BWL (the Board of Water and Light, our municipal electric and water utility company) about increases in…
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Don't be Loud and Wrong - with guest Michael Lynn Jr
At the July 27th Lansing city council meeting. Council heard a progress update on the modular pod housing project. A team of consultants are working on the site plan but they are still searching for a construction management partner and there is no project timeline. Council had a “spirited…
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A Data Center is Like a [Insert Metaphor Here] - with guests Nichole Keway Biber and Gabriel Biber
During the July 13th Lansing City Council meeting the council voted seven to one to put a six month moratorium on issuing building permits or processing zoning amendments for data centers. This will give them time to make ordinance changes to specifically regulate these projects. They also denied…
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Musical Housing - June 22nd Quick Recap
At the June 22nd Lansing City Council meeting the council hosted an effective public hearing about a proposed ordinance change to make it more favorable for developers to finance projects in the city that promise 30% of the units are “affordable housing”. There were seven “show of cause” hearings...
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Criminalizing Weeds - June 8th Meeting recap
At the June 8th Lansing city council meeting the council heard from a dozen folks unhappy with code compliance fees and procedures: snow and ice removal, weed cutting, make safe or demolish orders, and red-tag fees. Council honored Lansing’s Juneteenth celebration committee, and they debated a…
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LIVE SHOW! Civic Engagement at the Robin Theatre
A live show recording of a discussion of civic engagement with three Lansing super-citizens: Paul Anderson, Julie Powers, and William Lawrence! Fun interludes include the panelist's limerick challenge, friendly feud, and a fill-in-the-blank letter to Lansing City Council. Paul Anderson serves as...
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Our World is a Product of Us and We Are a Product of Our World
At the May 18th Lansing City council meetings council approved the city’s budget for the 2026/2027 fiscal year, which spans from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. They gave a tribute recognizing May 19th as Malcolm X Day in the City of Lansing; May 19th was Malcolm X’s birthday. They…
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GOoooooo Money! - with guest Christopher Greene-Szmadzinski
At the May 11th city council meetings council heard from the community about the death of a citizen, who was for a time, a member of the fallen angels encampment. The Spec-Tran CATA (Capital Area Transportation Authority) service specifically for folks with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)...
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Same Money Same Problems - with guest Dana Watson
Council had a light agenda, with some heavy issues at the May the Fourth meetings. Six city departments gave budget presentations: the 54A District court, the Mayor’s office, Downtown Lansing Inc., Human Resources, Finance, and Treasury. Public comment focused on begging council to stop sending...
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In the Best Interest of the City - with guest MC Rothhorn
During the April 20th Lansing city council meetings the council passed ordinance changes with the intention of restricting the locations of new liquor stores - so they are not built right next to each other. They voted 6 to 1 to put the sale of the building currently operated as the Shuffle to a...
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Love Lansing from Cradle to Grave - with Guest Erin Buitendorp
During the March 30th Committee of the Whole meeting, the City Council heard a budget overview presentation from the city’s chief strategy officer. They heard departmental budget presentations from the Fire Department, Parks and Recreation Department, and the affiliated agencies the Lansing...
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Pale Green - with guest Rebecca-Lynn Ferguson
An hour and a half before the April 6th Lansing City council meetings, word got out that the UK based data center company, Deep Green, was pulling their request for the purchase and rezoning of the city owned parking lot on East Kalamazoo and South Cedar St. Many community members shared their...
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How Much is Too Much Spit in Your Chili with guest Judge Rosemarie Aquilina
At the March 23rd Lansing city council meetings council heard requests from two developers interested in purchasing city property: the operator of the Lansing Shuffle and Deep Green, the UK based data center developer. Many residents spoke in opposition of these sales and some spoke in support....
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To What Do We Owe the Repute - with guest Alyssa Cooling
At the March 9th Lansing city council meetings the council moved forward with round two of the proposed Deep Green data center property sale and rezoning - setting public hearings for these items. Council approved a new code violation tagging system for white, yellow, red, and black tags. They...
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Could This Have Been an Email? - with guest Ryan Kost
**CORRECTION** In the episode we discussed how the city of Lansing offers services to help homeowners with lead testing and abatement, that program was part of the Economic, Development and Planning department, not Human Relations and Community Services and it ended in 2025:...
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Pinky Swears and Octopus Heirs - with guest Talon Wooster
At the February 9th Lansing city council meeting attendance exceeded the chamber capacity and over sixty community members voiced their comments, mostly for-or-against construction of a new data center on the edge of downtown. The chief executive and chief technology officers from Deep Green, a...
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We Can’t Unlearn and We Can’t Unsee - with guest Selina Máté
At the January 26th, 2026 Lansing City council meeting many residents and folks from the surrounding area voiced concerns about the proposed downtown data center, trade union workers spoke in support. The city’s planning department and the Board of Water and Light (BWL) presented and answered...
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But What About Housing For Our Cars!? - with guest Julie Powers
At the January 12th Lansing city council meeting citizens encouraged the mayor and council to give unhoused folks recently re-located to a hotel on the southside more time at the hotel, and to work on a holistic plan for addressing housing needs in the city. Council set their schedule for the…
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We Choose How to Use Our Superpowers - with guest William Lawrence
At the January 5th Lansing City Council meetings the council chose their new president and vice president: fourth ward representative Peter Spadafore and at-large councilmember Trini Pehlivanoglu. A failure of the accessible commenting option, disagreement about the procedure for signing up for...
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Noise Ordinance, You Shall Not Pass - with guest Khadja Erickson
At the December 15th Lansing city council meeting the council heard from 18 passionate residents about the transitional (mod pod) housing project. People were pissed at the 13 state house republicans who created massive state funding cuts. Six Old Town shopkeepers supported expanding the business...
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10 Signs Your Lansing Landlord Might be Krampus - with guest Mia Murphy
During the December 8th Lansing city council meetings the public spoke to council about the importance of finding a good place, that works for everyone, for a proposed temporary housing community. Council debated the fairness of rolling back red tag fees on houses actively being renovated. Old…
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The City Already Has Their Hands Full Overlooking That - with guest Tom Arthur
During the November 17th Lansing City Council meetings the biggest issue was a requested utility easement by Consumer’s Energy for a new high pressure natural gas pipeline through Fenner Nature Center and Evergreen Cemetery - despite public pushback council approved the request. Public speakers...
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I Hope This Does Set A Precedent - with guest Alan Fox
During the November 10, 2025 council meetings residents from Lansing with a spectrum of housing challenges spoke to council - people fighting to stay alive in an outdoor encampment the city is currently litigating, a woman working to complete her renovation vision on a historic home the city had...
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Kinda Sorta Somewhat Immediate Effect - with guest Annescia Dillard
During the October 27th Lansing City Council meetings the council heard from many citizens asking for leniency in a specific “make safe or demolish” order. Council also heard about a disturbing racially charged incident at Letts community center. Two new advisory board members were approved, and...
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The Opposite of Fascism is Community - with guest Rebecca Kasen
During the October 13th meetings the Lansing City Council passed a resolution declaring Lansing an LGBTQ+ welcoming city. Many folks in attendance voiced their support for this resolution. Organizers from a tenants union working on getting Lansing to pass a "tenants bill of rights” appealed to...
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A Recap of the Recap with guest Kris Klein
During the September 29th Lansing city council meetings the council members did some shuffling of their proposed budget priorities. A flyer sent to residents paid for by the charter commission got called out for blatant propaganda. And transgender members of the community ask council to give...
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The CATA Bus Routes Go Round and Round - with guest Ben Shuldiner
During the September 22nd 2025 council meetings - the council heard public comments, mostly in-favor, of two developers asking for tax breaks to improve properties in the city by adding and maintaining ‘affordable’ housing. Other community members urged the city government to act to help folks...
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Give Us Your Angry Calls - with guest DeLisa Fountain
During the Sept 8th Lansing city council meeting the council heard two plans from property developers: one in north Old Town near the Turner Dodge House to build a new apartment building with 76 units using a brownfield redevelopment tax incentive plan, another in South Lansing next to the Oak…
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Pizza Hour with guest Sarah Anthony
At the August 25th meeting the Lansing city council updated the process for deciding who gets city contracts over $15,000 dollars. Council also did some self-regulating, to update attendance and punishment rules for missed meetings. Public comments include both angry and appreciative stances on...
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Progress not Perfection with special guest Eva Menefee
The audience chamber at the August 11th Lansing city council meeting was packed! Folks voiced their opinions on how the city treats people experiencing homelessness. An East Lansing city council member, Ingham county health services workers, a reverend, land owners, current shelter workers,...
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Help Us Don't Sweep Us - with special guest Eric Tans
At the July 28th City Council meeting the Mayor is raked over the coals for a city lawsuit against local property owners allowing an unhoused encampment, other comment about construction bidding rules, property redevelopment plans, and tenant / landlord rule changes pack less heat - but it was an...
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We’ve Looked at Crime from Both Sides Now - with guest Jody Washington
Here is the Podcast's Patreon Page:Patreon.com/WhatLansingCouncil Vote on the perks for being a WLC patreon member! ***************** During the July 14th Lansing city council meeting the council got a slick update on Lansing airport happenings, there are continuing brownfield development plans…
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Cahooting in Broad Daylight - with guest Mike Dombrowski
During the June 23rd council meeting, Council went bonkers for some planned property redevelopments, they bailed out a community picnic, and did their best to support retired firefighters and renters. The capital area district library (CADL) gave heartwarming updates but asked for help finding a...
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Two Wrongs Don't Make a Sustainable Health Care Plan - with guest Ryan Kost
During the June 9, 2025 Lansing city council meeting council faced a wall of red. Firefighters in their red shirts gave comments about broken promises made to retired members, this is due to a corrected oversight by the city that will cause these retirees to pay more for their health coverage…
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Let's Make a Government - with 13 Guest Candidates
Hello Lansing, do you know all the candidates running for city offices this year? You’ll hear some of them now! I sent an invitation to all those running and here are the 13 out of 21 who responded. The city’s primary election is on August 5th and the general will be November 4th. What are you...
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Power to the Stampede - with guest Alicia Maida
During the May 19, 2025 Lansing city council meeting our power utility manager gave a harrowing storm damage repair update. For those out of towners: Lansing was hit by severe winds or a tornado (depending on who you talk to) last Thursday night. The city budget was finalized with four last…
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You Shut Your Mouth When You’re Talking to Renters - with guest Randy Watkins
During the May 12, 2025 Lansing city council meeting concerns from “the rent is too damn high” advocacy group were voiced and heard, firefighter and city teamsters union reps want to see long term strategic plans for filling vacancies and increasing staff, also the Mayor gets his comments cut…
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Our Hybrid Redundant Encumbrance Champions - with guest Virginia Chambers
During the May 5th 2025 Lansing city council meeting the council starts a letter writing campaign: to the federal congress - please don’t tax municipal bonds - we prefer to use taxpayer dollars not to pay more taxes, to our state congress - please consider allowing red-light and speed cameras for...
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Pickled Roads and Media Modes - with guest Sophia Saliby
Here’s your April 28th committee of the whole review: Council heard budget presentations from three departments and one public commentor demanded action to reduce speeding along S MLK Jr Blvd. There was also one sneeze and two jokes! Our guest is Sophia Saliby, Sophia works at our local East...
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Starting Not At The Beginning - with guest Metro Melik
It’s the April 21st Lansing City Council meeting, the council hears comments in support of housing densification zoning amendments, they repeal the “no restroom use for the opposite sex” ordinance, and some departmental budget updates lead to swooning. Our guest Metro Melik is a radio DJ for…
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Bizzaro World of Bathrooms and Budgets with guest Julie Vandenboom
At the April 7th 2025 Lansing city council meetings the strip-club Centerfolds had their business licenses revoked, general and departmental budgets were dissected, and restroom feelings were shared. There is some mention of violent crimes and sex crimes in this episode. Our guest Julie…
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Warm Potatoes Passed Unanimously - with guest Loretta Stanaway
It's the March 24th Lansing City Council meeting recap! The Council adopted an ordinance change making it illegal to park unregistered vehicles on city roads, they gave a tribute to a group honoring Cesar E. Chavez, and began discussions to revise a historic ordinance criminalizing the individual...
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City of Cousins - with guest Larry Wallace
It's the March 10th Lansing City Council meeting recap! The Council hosts LG Energy (hopeful battery manufacturing business owner), makes decisions on demolitions and liquor licenses, and they hear from property owners of unsafe buildings and Easter Highschool groupies. Our guest Larry Wallace is…
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Won't You Be My Shared Use Neighbor - with guest Joan Nelson
It's the February 24th Lansing City Council meeting recap! The council makes decisions about liquor license transfers and noise permits. They do allow advisory board appointments to go through ending the weeks-long stalemate. Many city department heads give guidance and many citizens ask for more...
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No Controversy we've got No Controversy - with guest Hannah Forsythe
It's the February 10th Lansing City Council meeting recap! The Council hosts the Board of Water and Light (BWL), the Women’s Empowerment Center leader, and folks who don’t want to be living in the Lansing Earthquake Zone six days a week! Our guest Hannah Forsythe is an Epidemiologist with The...
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How do I audit thee? Let me count the ways - with guest Ruelaine Stokes
It's the January 27th Lansing City Council meeting recap! The Council hosts auditors, finance department directors, developers, and board member wannabes. Our guest Ruelaine Stokes is Lansing's current Poet Laureate. Before recording she kindly gifted me a wonderful collection of Lansing poems…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Gossipy recap of Lansing Michigan city council meetings. Starting on November 18th, 2024.
HOSTED BY
Jill Dombrowski
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How many episodes does What Lansing Council have?
What Lansing Council currently has 55 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
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Gossipy recap of Lansing Michigan city council meetings. Starting on November 18th, 2024.
How often does What Lansing Council release new episodes?
What Lansing Council has 55 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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Who hosts What Lansing Council?
What Lansing Council is created and hosted by Jill Dombrowski.
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