Government

Michigan Finding ways to Alleviate Housing Crisis Issue

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For decades, Michigan has had a continuous issue with housing and homelessness; something that the state has continuously been looking into. While the issue is ongoing, the state has taken many measures to alleviate the problem for families in need. According to the State of Michigan Housing Data Portal, out of all the homes on the market in 2021, only 1.9% of homes were vacant and available to rent or for sale. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that in Michigan alone, there is a 190,000 unit shortage of rental homes that are affordable and available for low income renters. Published in June of 2022, The State of Michigan released Michigan’s Statewide Housing Plan, a first for Michigan, where it outlines past and present issues that the state is having with housing.

Education

Lansing School District Still Struggling with Transportation Issues Amidst Driver Shortage

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The Lansing Public School District has been working through transportation issues due to bus driver shortages and although improving, there is still much work to do. “If anyone wants to be a bus driver, please let us know,” Superintendent Benjamin Shuldiner said at a recent school board meeting. At the beginning of each board meeting, Shuldiner lists the amount of gas cards, Capital Area Transportation Authority passes and Dean Transportation sign ups as well as the number of people on the waitlist. This October meeting was no different. As of Oct.

East Lansing

Community members in disbelief after affordable housing vote postponed

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After the East Lansing City Council announced that the vote on an affordable housing apartment complex on 530 Albert St. was being postponed, community members were audibly disappointed and upset. “Are they afraid of us?” one woman exclaimed. The plan for construction would take out the Bailey Street parking lot located just behind Grand River Avenue on Bailey and Albert streets. While some were all for integrating affordable housing near campus, many were concerned about parking post construction and the strain that it would have on businesses, their employees and long time customers.

Campus News

MSU Students vs On-Campus Parking

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Parking on campus can pose a daily issue for many students who make their way to campus. Students like Ben Hall have to make a decision every day they head to class on the best place to leave their car, taking multiple factors into account. “I live over on Spartan Avenue and I have to get back over to Case Hall for most of my classes,” Hall said. “It’s almost 2 miles to walk there and I tried on my first day of classes and it took me 45 minutes to get there. I decided from then on I would find a way to drive to class.”

The parking at Case Hall is reserved for faculty and staff, so the closest option for commuting Spartans is at Spartan Stadium or the Breslin Center where it’s metered parking for $2 per hour.

Education

Pop Up Pantries bring food stability to Lansing Community College students

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his year, administrators of Lansing Community College aimed to do something about that need for its students. LCC realized that some of its students were experiencing food insecurity, so it created “pop-up pantries” for its students. According to studies from 2022 from the Greater Lansing Food Bank, more than one in six people in mid-Michigan face food insecurity, and about 92,000 residents lack consistent access to food.

Government

Two simultaneous protests at Michigan Capitol rally for their causes

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Two protests simultaneously occurred at Michigan’s capitol building on Nov. 8. The east side of the building hosted Michigan’s March for Life Rally, a pro-life event hosted by the Right to Life of Michigan, while the west side hosted The Rent is Too Damn High, who advocated for passage of the state House’s Renters’ Bill of Rights and an increase to the state budget for social housing aid.