East Lansing Prop. 1 could affect future of local housing

EAST LANSING- Many college towns across America have all kinds of rental properties and local rules that come with living in a house or apartment. On Nov. 5, East Lansing residents will vote on whether to add Proposition 1 to the East Lansing City Charter, affecting a rule that effect both rental and owned housing. If the proposal is passed, it would allow residents to have non-rent paying individuals, such as close friends, stay in their homes for an extended period of time. The East Lansing Charter Amendment Committee, the citizen-led organization that proposed Proposition 1, are advocating for Prop. 1 to pass because the current city housing and rental regulations have certain rules for non-paying rent individuals staying in homes. 

In contrast, the Save Our Neighborhoods EL group opposes the amendment because the proposal has the potential to do away with regulations that help mitigate safety concerns in rentals and homes. Kathy Swedlow, a member and spokesperson for Save Our Neighborhoods EL said if the proposal is passed, residents will have to vote again on another charter amendment to change anything about the proposition. 

“We’re talking about rental restrictions and housing regulations, those types of things shouldn’t be in a city charter, a city charter is a constitution. If this goes into the city charter, the only way it can be amended is through another ballot initiative,” Swedlow said. 

Patrick Rose, a spokesperson of The East Lansing Charter Amendment Committee explained that the city’s current housing and rental code limits certain guests, including friends or extended family members, from staying with someone for more than 30 consecutive days in a month or 60 days within a year without paying rent. In addition, for many years, people in the East Lansing community have received large amounts of fines for having non-paying guests stay in their homes for long periods of time.

“In 2005 I faced large fines put on me for having my nephew live with me, in my basement while he was going to LCC (Lansing Community College),” Rose said.  

Another member of the Charter Amendment Committee, Michigan State Representative Penelope Tsernoglou, had a similar experience with large amounts of fines; she was issued 33 citations for renting without a license. Tsernoglou allowed a friend to stay rent-free at her condo that she was attempting to sell. She ended up facing $16,500 in fines. Former District Court Judge Richard Ball dismissed the fines, saying the city ordinance was unconstitutional. 

“It’s an abuse of power. It’s unethical,” Rose said. 

Swedlow is concerned about another issue in Proposal 1. If the proposition passes, she is worried the city won’t be able to restrict who gets to live together or have occupancy limits, which she worries will cause safety issues for its residents. 

“If the city can’t restrict who gets to live together. We can’t have occupancy limits, I think we need to have some rental restrictions because somebody is going to take advantage,” Swedlow said.  

More information on Proposal 1 can be found on the Ingham County Clerk website. Learn more about the two organizations by clicking on the links provided. East Lansing Charter Amendment Committee and Save Our Neighborhoods EL. Voting takes place on Nov. 5, election information is available on The City of East Lansing website. The official Proposal language can be found on the Ingham County Clerk’s Office.

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