Southwest Lansing (MI) and my neighborhood

Council-member Carol Wood shares Mayor Bernero’s budget cuts

Wes Thorp — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:25:19 +0000

In her blog, At-large City Council-member Carol Wood shares the city of Lansing budget cuts announced by Mayor Virg Bernero today. Check out each of the cuts and share your reaction by commenting on Carol’s blog. Also share your ideas about how the city can raise more money and spend what it has more effectively.

Mayor Bernero to announce $3 million in city budget cuts this a.m.

Wes Thorp — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:11:48 +0000

Mayor Virg Bernero has scheduled a news conference for 9:30 a.m. today to announce $3 million in cuts for the current city budget. The City Hall announcement is expected to include cuts that will affect important services to city residents. As soon as I get the information, I will share it on this blog.

For those interested, here’s City of Lansing Final Budget For Current Fiscal Year. This will allow you to see where Bernero will make the cuts.

FROM LANSING POLICE: Neighbor spots burglars on 1700 block of Victor Ave.

Wes Thorp — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:24:30 +0000

This Lansing Police Department sent this e-mail to its Citizen Observer subscribers to warn southsiders to keep an eye out for their neighbors’ homes during the Thanksgiving holiday:

IMPORTANT ALERT FROM PATROL

from CitizenObserver

FROM DAY SHIFT PATROL COMMAND:

ON 11-23-09 A BREAK IN OF A HOME OCCURRED IN THE 1700 BLOCK OF VICTOR. DUE TO A NEIGHBOR KEEPING AN EYE OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN LEAVING AND THE NEIGHBOR RETRIEVED A LICENSE PLATE. OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO LOCATE THE VEHICLE AND SOME PROPERTY. PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE DAY TIME WHEN MOST ARE NOT HOME. ALSO REMEMBER TO LOCK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS OF YOUR CARS AND HOMES AT ALL TIMES. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS AND THEY WILL DO THE SAME FOR YOU!!!

THANK YOU

City of Lansing yard waste collection will end week of Nov. 30

Wes Thorp — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:06:35 +0000

From the city of Lansing through the Lansing Neighborhood Council:

The collection of leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste materials for City of Lansing residents will end the week of November 30, 2009. Residents should set out yard waste on their normal collection day that week.

City of Lansing residents must use paper bags for leaves and other organic yard waste materials and/or bundle brush with string or twine. Brush may be up to 4 feet in length and 2 inches around. Bags and bundles should weigh no more than 30 pounds each.City

Background: Obstacles to consolidating police and fire services between governmental units

Wes Thorp — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:35:58 +0000

The city of Lansing is looking at a huge budget reduction for this fiscal year. There are concerns that our police and fire services will be affected. Is there any financial advantage is combining services with East Lansing and other governmental units? The Grand Rapids area is looking at this possibility, but is finding obstacles in state law, according to a Grand Rapids Press story. Does such consolidation have any relevance for the greater Lansing area?

Lansing State Journal story about use of excessive force complaints against LPD

Wes Thorp — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:24:54 +0000

The Lansing State Journal this morning has a story giving a historical look at complaints against the Lansing Police Department for excessive use of force. It’s an important story about an important group of people to city residents and visitors. How do these stats compare with other cities? What’s your impression of LPD?

Averill Woods clean-up pictures featured on Lansing City Hall website

Wes Thorp — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:19:30 +0000

Check out these pictures of the Averill Woods clean-up featured on the city of Lansing website. They were taken by Murdock Jemerson, parks and rec director for the city and a resident of the neighborhood. Click here for a short video about the clean-up, who was involved and what it meant to our community.

Join the discussion about keeping Lansing City Hall accountable

Wes Thorp — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:20:35 +0000

You don’t have to be a member of Facebook to join the discussion and the effort to help our city be more civil and accountable to its citizens.

You can join the Facebook Fan Page–TEAM LANSING – Citizens for civility and accountability in city government

Check it out and join the conversation.

Here’s your copy of the Averill Woods Neighborhood Association Newsletter

Wes Thorp — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:33:57 +0000

The Averill Woods neighborhood on the southwest side of Lansing (MI) is a happening place and our neighborhood association has been right in the midst of helping to accomplish a long list of positive things. To catch up, you are invited to to download the November edition of our newsletter including details about the next meeting on Jan. 27. Click the link for the Averill Woods Fall Newsletter

The answer to gushing water on my street

Wes Thorp — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:31:11 +0000

In this post I wrote just before lunch today, I describe and I show on a short video a gushing water leak through a street level valve on Dunlap Street at Deerfield Avenue. Seeing the volume of water and knowing that my neighbor called and got less than a minimal explanation, I was concerned.

Here’s what I did: 1) I took a short video of the leaking water to demonstrate my concern and to show the location; 2) I posted the video on two of my blogs, one for our Averill Woods neighborhood and the other which is my personal blog; 3) I emailed City Council-members A’Lynne Robinson who represents our third ward and Carol Wood who represents the whole city as an at-large member and here’s the response:

Within a few minutes, I got email responses from both council members showing that they had asked the Lansing Board of Water and Light for an explanation along with a link to my posts and video showing my concern.

And within the next two hours, I got a comment on my personal blog from the BWL’s Mark Nixon explaining what workers were doing in our neighborhood and how it was affecting that particular street valve and what would be done if it didn’t correct itself.

I was impressed by the response. Now I realize that not every response will be this quick. I’m sure there will be times where other residents’ problems will be deemed of more immediate need than mine.

But our city government does work. I want to thank A’Lynne, Carol and Mark. I will show the response to my neighbors and I will let them know that the process does work.