Shows
What Lansing CouncilWe Can’t Unlearn and We Can’t Unsee - with guest Selina MátéAt 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 questions about the project. Public commenters and the council had concerns about the city's policy for addressing homelessness and the cold temperatures, as well as the treatment of homeless folks by the city police as captured in a video circulating online. The Union Missionary Baptist Church applied for a rezoning of their property on...
2026-01-271h 04
What Lansing CouncilBut What About Housing For Our Cars!? - with guest Julie PowersAt 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 sale and rezoning of the site for the Deep Green proposed data center. Residents spoke up for and against a rezoning request for the planned development of a 29-unit apartment complex on W Mt Hope Ave.Be advised, violence is discussed in this episode.O...
2026-01-1444 min
What Lansing CouncilWe Choose How to Use Our Superpowers - with guest William LawrenceAt 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 public comment, and a racially charged comment had this council off to a rocky start.Our guest William Lawrence is running for United States Congress to represent Mid-Michigan's 7th Congressional District in Washington D.C. A lifelong organizer, he founded a youth-led national climate action organization, Sunrise Movement, and has been working on housing issues a...
2026-01-0742 min
What Lansing CouncilNoise Ordinance, You Shall Not Pass - with guest Khadja EricksonAt 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 district boundary. A four to four vote stalled a noise ordinance change. Three board appointments and two redevelopment tax abatements were approved, and there was one comment about the disgraced fire chief. Our special guest this episode is Khadja Erickson. Khadja is a dedicated housing advocate, organizer, and Executive Director of t...
2025-12-171h 01
What Lansing Council10 Signs Your Lansing Landlord Might be Krampus - with guest Mia MurphyDuring 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 town business owners had mixed feelings about expanding the tax boundary for their shopping district. Local and out of state redevelopers gave persuasive presentations asking for tax breaks. Der Krampus kommt, um dein Haus und dein Geld zu holen!Our guest, Mia Murphy, works as the Chief Policy Officer at...
2025-12-1049 min
What Lansing CouncilThe City Already Has Their Hands Full Overlooking That - with guest Tom ArthurDuring 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 continued to raise concerns about the city stalling on court ordered services to an encampment. Also, the council wrote a letter about supporting food rescue efforts. Our special guest this episode is Tom Arthur. Tom is the lead pastor of Sycamore Creek Church, founder of Stage One at Sycamore Creek Eastwood, co-founder of...
2025-11-1959 min
What Lansing CouncilI Hope This Does Set A Precedent - with guest Alan FoxDuring 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 issued a “make safe or demolish” order against, and emerging developers asking the city to aid in the process of getting local and state tax breaks to make their projects less expensive. Our guest Alan Fox currently serves as the Ingham County Treasurer. He served as Chief Deputy Treasurer for 4-1/2 y...
2025-11-1254 min
What Lansing CouncilKinda Sorta Somewhat Immediate Effect - with guest Annescia DillardDuring 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 the actual timing of ordinances going into “immediate effect” was reviewed. Our guest Annescia Dillard is a self-proclaimed "Lansing Enthusiast" who keeps her finger on the city's pulse. She regularly watches or attends public meetings for the Lansing City Council, Lansing Community College, the Capital Area Transit Authority (CATA), Lansing School District...
2025-10-2929 min
The Tim DeMoss Show PodcastJill Furmanovsky (Oasis photographer & author) & Lee Greenwood (singer-songwriter)Jill Furmanovsky, long-time Oasis photographer discusses her new book, Oasis: Trying to find a way out of nowhere documenting the phenomenon that is Oasis since 1994 and the Definitely Maybe tour, through the tense and difficult shows for Dig Out Your Soul in 2009 and following a hiatus, to a new beginning in 2025. Lee Greenwood, singer-songwriter discusses his relationship with Ronald Reagan (beginning when Greenwood performed for Reagan's 1984 campaign) and Reagan adopted "God Bless the USA" as a patriotic anthem for his administration. Greenwood also shares about his new song "Start the World Over Again." Sports clips:...
2025-10-1846 min
What Lansing CouncilThe Opposite of Fascism is Community - with guest Rebecca KasenDuring 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 council - as they are being stalled by the city attorney’s office. Our special guest Rebecca Kasen works as the executive director of the Women's Center of Greater Lansing. She has previously worked creating emergency housing, in disability services, and in social justice advocacy.Check out a...
2025-10-1435 min
What Lansing CouncilA Recap of the Recap with guest Kris KleinDuring 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 statements denouncing hate targeting them and to provide further protections.Our guest this episode Kris Klein is the President and CEO of the Lansing Economic Development Corporation (LDEC) a non-profit committed to advancing Lansing's vitality and equitable economic growth. He’s a proud city of Lansing resident since 2011 an...
2025-10-0139 min
What Lansing CouncilThe CATA Bus Routes Go Round and Round - with guest Ben ShuldinerDuring 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 experiencing homelessness. A Laingsburg resident with hospitality experience was appointed to the Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA) Board. And, council and public members agreed that parking offenders should be punished! This episode’s special guest is Ben Shuldiner, our Superintendent of the Lansing Public School District. He's been with us since t...
2025-09-2336 min
What Lansing CouncilGive Us Your Angry Calls - with guest DeLisa FountainDuring 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 Park YMCA to continue to maintain a 618 unit “village” with a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) plan. Take note! the Mayor will be in a dunk tank THIS SATURDAY, don’t miss your opportunity to dunk the Mayor!Our special guest this episode is DeLisa...
2025-09-1041 min
What Lansing CouncilPizza Hour with guest Sarah AnthonyAt 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 trash collection consolidation and plans for unhoused residents.Our guest is State Senator Sarah Anthony. Senator Anthony represents Michigan’s 21st district which includes all of Eaton county and ⅔ of Ingham county, she has previously worked as an elected Ingham County commissioner and state representative, now as Senator she is the chair of the Sena...
2025-08-2837 min
What Lansing CouncilProgress not Perfection with special guest Eva MenefeeThe 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, emergency services workers, community organizers, and many others gave comments. Council approved $650,000 for a one time purchase of 50 pod units for new temporary housing.Also the capital area transportation authority (CATA) director gave a rousing update, the Riverwalk theater wants to serve adult beverages to theater goers, and the Granger group i...
2025-08-1242 min
What Lansing CouncilHelp Us Don't Sweep Us - with special guest Eric TansAt 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 undeniably charged night at council. Our special guest is Eric Tans! Eric works as an Environmental Scientist Research Librarian with Michigan State University (MSU), he is a member of the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) board, and is the top scorer for the Brew-ons at the i...
2025-07-3032 min
What Lansing CouncilWe’ve Looked at Crime from Both Sides Now - with guest Jody WashingtonHere is the Podcast's Patreon Page:Patreon.com/WhatLansingCouncilVote 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 on plans on plans, some multi-property landlords were not in-favor of proposed renter insurance ordinances changes, there was an inter-council red-tag fee quarrel, and frustration over a police commissioner board re-appointment. Our special guest is Jody Washington. She is a former city council member, current charter commission member, a...
2025-07-1639 min
What Lansing CouncilCahooting in Broad Daylight - with guest Mike DombrowskiDuring 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 new home downtown because their building is becoming uninhabitable. Our special guest is Mike Dombrowski, Mike is the chair of the Lansing Parks Board, and founder of Eastside Compost - a curbside food scrap collection company.Learn more about Lansing City Council here:
2025-06-2532 min
What Lansing CouncilTwo Wrongs Don't Make a Sustainable Health Care Plan - with guest Ryan KostDuring 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 going forward. Lansing’s Juneteenth celebration committee was honored, and discussions over rental insurance ordinance changes were postponed due to clerical errors. Our special guest is Ryan Kost, sitting Lansing city council president and first ward representative.Learn more about the Juneteenth celebration events in Lansing this...
2025-06-1144 min
What Lansing CouncilLet's Make a Government - with 13 Guest CandidatesHello 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 looking for in your city representative and who do you want to be your voice on council? Thank you to the candidates who participated in the episode! * At-large council race: Nick Pigeon, Olivia Vaden, Jonah Stone, Tristan Walters, Julie Vandenboom, Clara...
2025-06-0444 min
What Lansing CouncilPower to the Stampede - with guest Alicia MaidaDuring 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 minute jobs added by council, they stuck with their story regarding blocking hard liquor license transfers, and kiddo-soccer team “the Stampede” received high honors. Our special guest is Alicia Maida, she is a Genesee neighborhood association leader, works as a speech pathologist, and is a land...
2025-05-2130 min
What Lansing CouncilYou Shut Your Mouth When You’re Talking to Renters - with guest Randy WatkinsDuring 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 short by the buzzer. Our guest is Lansing Community College’s professor Randy Watkins. Prof. Watkins was the chairman of Mayor Schor’s Inclusion and Diversity Advisory Council then the Lansing Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and he now serves on the city’s Police Board of Commissioners.L...
2025-05-1435 min
What Lansing CouncilOur Hybrid Redundant Encumbrance Champions - with guest Virginia ChambersDuring 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 automatic traffic enforcement, to the Mayor - give more monies to the police and fire departments. Also, the council takes action! approving new zoning rules allowing for auxiliary dwelling units (ADUs). Our special guest is Virginia Chambers, she has worked for the city of Lansing as a c...
2025-05-0732 min
What Lansing CouncilPickled Roads and Media Modes - with guest Sophia SalibyHere’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 Lansing public media station WKAR where she produces and hosts All Things Considered. She’s covered many stories we’ve heard about at council lately including the transfer of the Ultium battery plant from GM to LG Energy and the old Eastern High school building demolition. You c...
2025-04-3030 min
What Lansing CouncilStarting Not At The Beginning - with guest Metro MelikIt’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 Stacks 92.1, he has been working in the Lansing media landscape since the 90’s producing shows for public access, he’s an entrepreneur founding Lansing Made, me2u photography and videography services, he serves as the relationship manager for the women’s center of greater Lansing, and he was appointed to the Lansin...
2025-04-2331 min
What Lansing CouncilBizzaro World of Bathrooms and Budgets with guest Julie VandenboomAt 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 Vandenboom works for the State of Michigan’s Health and Human Services Department, she serves on the Capital Area District Libraries' board, and she is running for an at-large city council seat this year. You can learn more about Julie’s campaign here: https://julievandenboom.com/*************************Some episode fact...
2025-04-0935 min
What Lansing CouncilWarm Potatoes Passed Unanimously - with guest Loretta StanawayIt'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 use of bathrooms designated for the sex different from the sex assigned at birth, and more! Our guest Loretta Stanaway is the owner of Memorial Minders a personalized grave site beautification service, president of The Friends of Lansing's Historic Cemeteries group, she is also a frequent Lansing City Council meeting a...
2025-03-2826 min
What Lansing CouncilCity of Cousins - with guest Larry WallaceIt'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 a Senior Investigative Reporter for Fox 47 News - our local Lansing area TV news station.Learn more about Larry here.Learn more about city council here.Learn more about the Mikey23 Foundation here.Episode Notes:*A cabaret license is a type of business l...
2025-03-1230 min
What Lansing CouncilWon't You Be My Shared Use Neighbor - with guest Joan NelsonIt'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 time to “make safe” their buildings. Our guest Joan Nelson was the executive director of the Allen Neighborhood Center for over 20 years, she currently is a contributing columnist for the City Pulse and advocates for shared use housing. Here is one of her Pulse articles on shared use housing.Lear...
2025-02-2629 min
What Lansing CouncilNo Controversy we've got No Controversy - with guest Hannah ForsytheIt'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 Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI), she is also a triathlete and cross country skier!Learn more about the women's center of greater Lansing here, Lansing city council here, and the Hawk Island triathlon here.
2025-02-1629 minWhat Lansing CouncilHow do I audit thee? Let me count the ways - with guest Ruelaine StokesIt'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: "My Secret Lansing". You can learn more about her at: https://www.ruelainestokes.com/
Learn more about city council at: https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
2025-01-2931 minWhat Lansing CouncilSpend a Dollar to Protect a Nickel - with guests Jerry and Shannon NorrisThanks for joining for a listen about the second Lansing City Council meeting of the year. There's joy, heartbreak, evasion, and hair drama in the council chambers this January 13th. As well as discussions on sewer upgrades, human resources,
MLK group recognition, belabored trash fee debate, and diverse criticisms of Downtown Lansing Inc.
Our guests Jerry and Shannon operate the fantastic eastside Lansing community resource center - the Fledge - learn more at: https://thefledge.com/
Learn more about city council at: https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council
2025-01-1529 minWhat Lansing CouncilCovid Killed the Bow Tie - with guest Chris SwopeThanks for joining for a listen about the first Lansing City Council meeting of the new year! There’s an internal council election with several rounds of voting, seven public comments, and our best dressed guest yet - Clerk Chris Swope!
2025-01-0922 minWhat Lansing CouncilNew Vision Now - with guest MC RothhornT’was the last Lansing City Council meeting of the year! Special guest MC Rothhorn, a member of the Michigan Redistricting Commission, provides his perspective on development plans for Lansing. We have a good time trying to find common ground between current council happenings and the wobbly world of Harry Potter. Thank you Lansing Public Media Center for allowing us to record at your studio, and thank you for listening!
Lansing City Council website: https://www.lansingmi.gov/1212/Council-Committee-Meetings
Lansing Public Media Center: https://lansingmedia.myturn.com/library/
New Vision La...
2024-12-1829 minWhat Lansing CouncilShared Senator Birthdays - with guest Bob PeñaJoin us for a recapturing of the excitement at the Lansing Michigan City Council Meeting on Monday, December 2nd, 2024. Special guest Bob Peña, Ingham County Commissioner, discusses some differences between the way the city and the county are governed. Housing, transportation, and budgets, oh my! Thanks for listening!
2024-12-0525 minWhat Lansing CouncilTeeth for signs - with guest Mike DombrowskiJoin us for a recapturing of the excitement at the Lansing Michigan City Council Meeting on Monday, November 18th, 2024. Special guest Mike Dombrowski, president of the Parks and Rec. Advisory Board, discusses his love of the river trail and wonders how proposed developments will help the city. Debate around increased punishment for signs in the right-of-way is spirited, and guess how many dogs are at the meeting! Thanks for listening!
2024-11-1922 min
Empower AppsDebugging Your Job Search with Jaim ZuberJaim Zuber returns after over 5 years to give us an overview of looking for a job in iOS development in 2024, how has it changed, what are some things you can do now, and when becoming a manager is the right call.GuestJaim Zuber@sharpfive (GitHub)Jaim Zuber (LinkedIn)@jaimzuber@mspsocial.net (Mastodon)AnnouncementsNeed help with your projects this year? BrightDigit has openings.Join Bushel BetaJoin our Brand New Patreon Page!BrightDigit #100 - Top 10 Emails Ever! 🎉🚀Newsletters | BrightDigitSwift LiveCoding - Adding Screen Recording to BushelHow does Server Side Swift Workout in the Re...
2024-11-0138 min
What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny MomsSpoiled Kids (And How Not To Have Them)We’ve all witnessed other people's children behaving as if they were king or queen of the hill.Sometimes it's even our own kids who are behaving abominably at Applebee's.But what exactly makes a kid "spoiled"? Conversely, what’s the opposite of spoiled, and how do we raise those kids?We unpack this loaded term in this week’s episode and talk about how our own experiences have shaped our opinions.In this episode, we discuss:· The history of the term “spoiled child”· Why spoiled children act out... and why it's...
2022-03-3040 min