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 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 S MLK Jr Blvd to continue to operate as a temporary warming center for families. Council drafted a letter asking Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to remove their masks when in Lansing, and asked the mayor to make a plan to protect all people here.

Be advised, violence is discussed in this episode.

Our guest this episode, Selina Máté, has worked in refugee resettlement for the last six years, she is also a creative content strategist, the co-owner of Peculiar coffee co., and was appointed to Lansing's Historic District Commission last year.

Check out Selina’s coffee company here:

https://www.peculiarcoffeeco.com/

Deep Green more info for Lansing website:

https://deepgreen.energy/lansing-public-info

Lansing City Council meeting schedules and documents:

https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council

Find meeting issues maps and bingo results from the meetings on the podcast’s patreon page here:

https://www.patreon.com/whatLansingCouncil

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 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.

Our special guest is Julie Powers. Julie currently works as the Executive Director of Immigration Law and Justice Michigan. She has worked in the non-profit sector for 30 years in and out of Lansing. Immigration Law and Justice Michigan is dedicated to fighting for justice and advocating for the rights of immigrants in Michigan, to create a more inclusive and compassionate society, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

To report ICE activity reach out to Michigan Immigrants Rights Center:

https://michiganimmigrant.org/

Immigration Law and Justice Michigan where Julie Powers works:

www.iljmi.org

Deep Green more info for Lansing website:

https://deepgreen.energy/lansing-public-info

Mayor’s budget input request form:

https://mi-lansing.form.transform.civicplus.com/60941

Merica 20 to life conversation with Loretta Stanaway:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GVPcz7WeV/

Recycle Rama April 25th:

https://www.facebook.com/MidMichiganRecycling/

Lansing City Council meeting schedules and documents:

https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council

Find meeting issues maps and bingo results from the meetings on the podcast’s Patreon page here:

https://www.patreon.com/whatLansingCouncil

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 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 at the local and state level as the founder of the Michigan Rent is Too Damn High Coalition. He was raised in East Lansing and now lives near downtown Lansing.

You can learn more about William’s campaign here:

https://wewill2026.com/

Here is where you can get involved with The Rent Is Too Damn High:

https://mirentistoodamnhigh.com/lansing/

Support this independent podcast and find meeting issue maps and bingo results on the patreon page here:

https://www.patreon.com/whatLansingCouncil

Check out the Lansing City Council here:

https://www.lansingmi.gov/186/City-Council