‘Cheers to the new year — another chance to get it right.’ — Oprah Winfrey

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Twelve is enough

After a start very false, Bernero says “Twelve years: enough as chief executive.” Despite lame duck status, a gulf like Suez Did remain with Council, adversative. Undeterred Angry Mayor did push A road in Ormond Park, sell City Hall now Park neighbors a lawsuit the city ambush To defend the road in the park allow. Judge Jamo from a county bench remote Did determine no impact on environment. City Hall sale for a hotel zygote, Left citizens asking why fragment City operations from courts and jail. That’s for the next mayor, I disentail.

Income Tax

Burdened with debts of promises priorEast Lansing City Council did ask all Property tax reduction to damper; Approve now an income tax proposal. Voters, however, bit their thumbs at Council, Approving property tax reductions, Rejecting income tax; pathway fateful The trajectory prepared inductions. Mayor Pro Tem Altmann says hack the arts Cuts to Solstice Jazz and Folk festivals Lahanas buttress the cuts to part Because investment doesn’t city transferals Pressure placed and Council backed down Left with job of finding cuts without frown.

You can’t handle the truth

With audit findings suspicion aroseOf the Treasurer’s Office day function County Commissioners sought to disclose Errors and misdemeanors to bludgeon Democrats, power wielded, secrecy Did seek. Voters don’t want to know the facts. Grebner with bellicose voice brusquely Did dismiss the transparency distracts. Committee did approve secret review Only to backtrack when questions were flung Now we’ll speak in coded missives, wahoo! Secrets and reasons will be triple-tongue. Two more times disclosure found, secrecy Operationally needed, Daddy.

Thirty Thousand Dollar Candidate

Aaron Stephens, student at MSU, Tossed a hat in for E.L. Council. Adored by Realtors, left Woods feeling blue. Property masters spent money ample. Thirty thousand plus dollars did they send Paying for mailings, outreach and some more Realtors backed Stephens, cash spent to end Put the kid in office, reject Woods for Unknown offenses, lackluster campaign. Swearing he knew nothing, Realtors are mum As to why they backed a Stephens’ reign Contemplation, political miasm? Answers unknown, agenda unseen. Time will tell why Stephens was the scene.

Naughty List

Weinstein, Lauer, Franken, Trump and many more 2017: the year of reckoning. #MeToo took Twitter to expose the boar, But locally it was for years, brewing. MSU under federal review While women and men complained to all The secrets did from Simon misconstrue Sexual assault and harassment appall. Four football players charged with sexual Assaults each. Band director dismissed for Inappropriate sexual blameable. Then there’s Nassar with many victims and more, Lawsuits and media, criminal charges and Courts reveal, too many to countermand.

An Ode to Ormond

A wee pocket park, trees and toys and green —Stood strong against administrative power. A fight unplanned between golfers keenAnd neighbors adoring quiet esker. Ribbon of asphalt to bisect the park. Entryway to Groesbeck aged and failing. “Shut up, shut up, shut up!” Mayor did bark At neighbors fighting to save and wailing. Deaf ears did meet, the courts reject all pleas. Judge proclaimed trees and eskers no need Environmental protection, oh please. It is a road, thusly no need to plead. Trees cut down, city staff for bats did watch; None were found, down they went, The road did hatch.

Mayor Nice Guy

After a decade and two years, twas time For a new Lansing chief executive So the candidates did with a sublime Excitement toss hats in ring elective. Trevino, by Daddy much controlled; Harold tilting at windmill fantasies; Brown Clarke promise large but campaign unsold; Republican Gillenkirk to lost these. But in the end, twas Andy Schor won all. First the primary, with a massive spread — Head to head with Brown Clarke, alas she did fall. Schor won office and new needles to thread. Mr. Nice Guy replaces Angry Mayor An epoch era unleashed times gentler.

Green Haze

After years of contentious back and forthCity Council did approve finally A law so strict pot shops squawked henceforth Never shall pot economy bloom’n be. The opposition did cry foul as well, “Ne’er did we see drafted law you did vote!” Democracy has died in show-and-tell. This poison will not stand, we need antidote! Signatures sought by marijuana friends Rejected by slippery Clerk Chris Swope Behind silly legal misapprehends Can he not see ask they? Is he myope? Law in place, nearly one hundred apply Sifting papers more prickly than cacti.

Red Cedar Lament

Sell the golf course, pay off the debt, sang he —Tis necessary, Tis right, important Angry Mayor propounded, bossily. Ideas sought, one choice, dream of accountant. Ferguson playing ancient credentials Hooks up Bernero with conversations. Public finance convenient act ferrules Happy campers intended of destines. First to county go, beg lower bond rate; Controller all but laughs, show the money. Huffed and puffed and walked irate Into arms low credit city honey. And still we wait. And wait. And wait. And wait. Twill come to be in a year that ends eight.

Hate manifest

With man of tangerine hue in office, The lesser spirits of America Did reign anew in total bitterness. The kids did rise: vile and ugly stigma. DeWitt kids did taunt classmates with a wall. Chants and jeers and lesser all made to feel While Trump in triumph tried freedom to maul. Executive orders issued not ideal. An immigrant in Lansing attacked — Fisticuffs and note stapled on his chest. Police and feds with big words counteract But months later, no suspects, no arrest. Whilst in June a murder anti-gay — Perhaps. The accused’s mental health is sought; The courts in patience wait to fears allay, The cops unclear no motive have they caught. Thus was a year in the world of early Trump presidency darkened quaintly.

Chavez Triumph

Two decades fighting for memorial — An election revoking previous. A parking lot instead not of vermeil, Stung with simplicity of the very falseness. City Council, faced fighting loud betwixt Old Town Commercial Association and Lansing’s proud and noble Latinos transfixed Held hearings and conversations firsthand. Compromise hammered out, a vote held With a head nod to Old Town historic. A second hearing for signs compelled Approved as well, to avoid the heartsick. Bernero with his veto pen ligan Noting name decades ago was Franklin.

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