Bill Matt

The Lansing Boat Club issue is being raised again by the City and the Club. It turns out that the City has offered a 1-year lease with a terminal clause and a higher rent. If the lease is not signed this week, then the Club faces eviction. In the space, the Mayor has proposed a Public Marina, though no details have been offered whatsoever.

My initial response was hardline, but I have softened my response somewhat. While I still believe that the Club should not have eminent domain over this city property at ridiculous low rental rates, I don't see what the rush is. The deadline for eviction is this week. No plans have been put forward by the Mayor or Council, so short of enforcing the deadline for the sake of enforcing the deadline, I would extend the eviction notice 3 months as an act of good faith to allow for further negotiating of the contract.

I still favor a Public Marina, and perhaps the Boat Club could be a part of this endeavor. I have serious problems with virtually rent free riverfront property provided to one exclusive club. When the time is right, I would suggest the city offer the property use proposals up for bid, and review all the proposals. Critics of this administration talk about the unwillingness to offer RFP's, and this is a chance to do just that. This riverfront park property should be use for the good of all Lansing residents, and we should make the most of it.

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What ever happened to the housing development project Faith Gardens? If nothing else, A'Lynne Robinson should make good on her campaign promise to push this project though for a full hearing. Typical do-nothing Council inaction led by the Woods-Jeffries cabal.

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Snow and Potholes. Critics may be lambasting the Mayor for the snow removal services and the ever growing pothole problems we are facing. I don't much like hitting potholes either! Critics of the Mayor may want to keep in mind that we just passed through February with a record snowfall. City planners can budget for the average and a little more, but not for the worst series of storms in the history of Lansing. That is just not something you can plan for.

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Uh Oh! Sound familiar Lansing? (LINK)

VALLEJO, Calif. (AP) — A last-minute deal between city leaders and labor unions could allow this cash-strapped Bay Area suburb to avoid becoming the first city in the state to declare bankruptcy over a budget shortfall.

A bankruptcy declaration last Thursday was staved off by a last minute set of concessions by the unions including 6.5% pay cuts and closing of two fire stations.

Cities spend about 75 percent of their general funds on personnel, while the rest goes to libraries, parks, recreation and other services.
Vallejo, a mostly blue-collar city of 120,000 about 30 miles northeast of San Francisco, has been hit especially hard by the mortgage crisis and has one of the nation's highest foreclosure rates.

Labels: A'Lynne Robinson, lansing, Lansing Boat Club, New Faith Gardens, Potholes, Snow