Six takeaways from Lansing Mayor Andy Schor’s State of the City

WEDNESDAY, March 9 — Lansing Mayor Andy Schor’s fifth annual State of the City address was delivered in a virtual format yesterday afternoon for the second year in a row that the pandemic has derailed the typical fanfare and large crowds that usually gather for the event.

In fact, few seemed to know that Schor was even giving the speech until it was already finished. A “media advisory” for the 3:30 p.m. speech wasn’t sent out until after 4:30 p.m. yesterday — a rare move for an event that is usually teased by the mayor’s public relations team for weeks.

“The decision was made that once again due to COVID the speech would not be delivered live in front of a crowd and instead was just pre-recorded and released in an online virtual format when it was completed,” according to Schor’s spokesman. “We plan to be back to regular next year showing off everything great happening in Lansing in front of a live audience once again.”

For the most part, Schor’s speech was business as usual and focused on familiar talking points about a continued surge in development from downtown to the outer bounds of the Capital City. Only a few announcements were weaved between highlights from his last four years in office. 

A video of the full speech is available on the city’s website. Here are a few quick takeaways:

Collaboration is key. 

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin kicked off the virtual event with a prerecorded statement in which she emphasized the importance of the federal and state government working collaboratively with the city of Lansing to drive forward local “community development” and “generational investment.”

“I think we have a real opportunity in the next couple of years to really do what the government is supposed to do: Connect the federal, the state and the city together to help residents’ pocketbooks and their kids thrive,” she said. “It’s a really interesting moment for the city.”

Among her recent examples: A bipartisan infrastructure bill recently invested $10 billion into fixing the state’s roads, bridges and tunnels — including dozens in the Greater Lansing region. And Slotkin was also sure to pump up General Motors’ latest plans to build a $2.6 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Delta Township, which will “totally transform” the region, she explained. Schor also gave a nod to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her continued work to “fix the damn roads.”

That GM plant is a big deal for Lansing. 

Schor also kicked off his remarks with a nod to General Motors.

“The biggest piece of transformational change for Lansing — and for our entire region — was the recent announcement by General Motors to invest billions right here with a new battery plant and investments in our existing assembly plants,” Schor said, also noting that the investment plans are poised to keep the automotive industry alive in Lansing for at least another century. 

He added: “Lansing will put the world on electrified wheels.”

Lansing will become an entertainment destination. 

With plans on track to break ground this year on a performing arts center at the corner of South Washington Avenue and West Lenawee Street in downtown Lansing, the city is poised to become a statewide “leader in the arts,” Schor proudly declared. The mid-sized concert venue is also set to include 40 lofts for local artists, as well as a new home for the Public Media Center.

“You won’t have to drive to Detroit or Grand Rapids to see a live show anymore,” Schor said. 

Development. Development. More development. 

In case you haven’t heard, Schor thinks “Lansing’s time is now.” And that’s evidenced, in part, through several major development projects that have taken off since he was elected to office.

Schor mentioned redevelopment of the  old Temple Club building in Old Town, the Allen Neighborhood Center, the opening of McLaren Health Care’s new hospital on the edge of Michigan State University, progress at the Red Cedar redevelopment on Michigan Avenue and recently announced plans to renovate the former Pleasant Grove Elementary School in south Lansing.

The city also saw more than $180 million invested into new housing projects last year, up more than $65 million from 2020, Schor said. That includes more than 500 market-rate and affordable housing units that have opened downtown in the last year and more on the way.

Schor said more people living downtown will help keep the city vibrant in the continued absence of most state workers working remotely — possibly indefinitely — while the pandemic lingers on, but he didn’t forget to brag about several other development projects in other parts of the city.

“Neighbors and businesses on the south side are wonderful and believe that Lansing can grow, but they also need equity in resources and attention to ensure that happens,” Schor said. “I have directed our economic development staff to prioritize projects on the south side, whether it’s flexibility with development incentives or additional dollars for neighborhoods or businesses.”

Violence is still a problem. 

Schor said that gun violence is the issue he “heard about most” from local residents last year.

“Young people in Lansing are using guns to solve petty arguments and it has to stop,” Schor said. “Every death due to gun violence is tragic, and what we are seeing in Lansing is unprecedented. We must do all that we can to get illegal guns off our streets and end this.”

The Lansing Police Department seized nearly 600 guns “off the streets” last year, Schor said — nearly double the amount seized in 2020. Local cops are also testing out biometric “smart guns,” which require a passcode or fingerprint to be unlocked. While the city hasn’t had problems with cops losing their guns, Schor said the concept is more focused on encouraging gun manufacturers to create more weapons that literally cannot used  by the wrong hands. 

Schor also introduced an ordinance to the City Council this month that would require gun owners to report stolen firearms to the Lansing Police Department in addition to the Michigan State Police — essentially duplicating state law with new rules that can be enforced locally.

“This will ensure that our police know what guns are on the streets and make certain that those who have had their gun stolen can be held responsible if that gun is used in the commission of a crime,” Schor said. “City Council is working on this now and I expect they will vote on this soon.”

Schor said the city is also working proactively to mitigate gun violence by providing more grant funding to youth-focused non-profit organizations that offer mentorship to local teenagers — including through the Advance Peace initiative, which is set to take shape later this year. 

Only three new things were announced. 

The covered pedestrian skybridge that connects the Lansing Center to the Radisson Hotel over the Grand River is poised to be fully renovated this year,  including new windows and a “modern makeover” to help spruce up its aging exterior, Schor announced in his speech. 

“We will give new life to this fixture of our downtown,” Schor said. “ It will be illuminated and beautified, just like we did with our parking garages last year. The rehab of the pedestrian skybridge will add yet another focal point to a vibrant and exciting downtown.”

The Department of Neighborhoods and Citizen Engagement has been formally renamed to the Department of Neighborhoods, Arts and Citizen Engagement, Schor announced. The move is designed to broaden the department’s scope and renew the city’s focus on local arts projects.

A small amphitheater set to be built at the site of the Red Cedar redevelopment project will also be dedicated to philanthropic “Lansing legend” Jack Davis and his wife Sue, Schor announced.