Request of Mayor

Andy Schor
October 2021

ISSUED BY

Assembly of Lansing Pastors

The Assembly of Lansing Pastors’ purpose is to transform and empower Lansing’s community
and culture through engagement and encouragement in love with kingdom principles.

REPRESENTATIVES
Stanley S. Chase
Sean L. Holland
LaSandra R. Jones
Melvin T. Jones
Terrence J. King
Derrick E. Knox, Jr
Chris A. Maxie
 Purpose and Objective of the Proposal
The purpose of this proposal is to recognize the Assembly of Lansing Pastors (ALP) as a
unified community of faith leaders, motivated to love God and the City of Lansing by taking
action on five (5) critical areas of concern within the Lansing community that require
collective and urgent attention.

These 5 critical priority areas are:

1. Gun Violence & Prevention

2. Police Review Board
3. City Budget Accountability/Reallocation
4. Housing Insecurities
5. Racial Disparities/Discrimination

ALP Mayoral Request Proposal (10/19/21) 1

 Gun Violence & Prevention
Statement of Problem: Lansing, Michigan is ranked #9 in the nation for crime. Based on the
chart below, crime in Lansing is pervasive and is occurring more frequently.

Data and Rationale

National Data

The Cost of Homicide to Taxpayers

The above graphic from the advancepeace.org national website https://www.advancepeace.org/about/the-problem/ accessed 10/4/2021

Lansing Data

Lansing, MI Crime (https://www.areavibes.com/lansing-mi/crime/, accessed 9/29/21

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 WLNS, a local Lansing news station, recently posted an online article stating, “New crime
stats released by the FBI show homicides, assaults and shootings were up nationwide in 2020.
Detroit was listed as the second most violent city in the US per capita. Roughly 44% of the
state’s homicides happened in the motor city. Another Michigan city that ranked 9th in the
nation in violent crimes was Lansing.”

WILX published an article on August 7, 2021

(https://www.wilx.com/2021/08/07/lansing-families-march-end-gun-violence/, accessed 9/30/21
About two dozen families affected by gun violence marched as a call to action to end gun
violence in Lansing.

A troubling excerpt from an article published in the Lansing State Journal on October 6,
2021.
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2021/06/24/murder-lansing-homicide-rec
ord-violent-crime-guns-shooting/7713701002/

LANSING — "Lansing is on pace to shatter homicide records this year if the current rate
keeps up. In 2021 so far, 31 people in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties have been killed,
compared to 20 in 2020 during the same time frame. Prosecutors ruled one of those 20
homicides in 2020 to be self-defense. Lansing has had 22 homicides this year and is one away
from surpassing the total from 2020.“ This does not include shootings that did not end in
death.

ALP Mayoral Request Proposal (10/19/21) 3

 Problem Observed
These are only a couple of examples of the impact of gun violence, particularly in BIPOC
communities. City of Lansing governmental responses to these atrocities have been nominal
at best. This is in part, due to a disconnect between city government and the real needs of the
community socially, economically and developmentally. Current City administrative plans fall
short and under-resourced attempts have failed to adequately address this devastating issue
of increasing gun violence which causes senseless deaths and fragments families, the very
cornerstone of the community. For example, the neglect to investigate crimes, and to pursue
tips that identify potential, if not known criminals that may lead to arrest is intolerable. Hiring
more police is a reactive measure that will exacerbate the widening gap between law
enforcement and community. This reaction will further disengage an already disenfranchised
and distrusting community.

Proposed Solutions
Proactive solutions such as the Cities United and Advance Peace models offer collaborative
methods that form a coalition of partnership between the City of Lansing, community
organizations, educational and business sectors, and the faith community, to develop a
strategic approach to engage, resource and empower underserved BIPOC populations,
African-Americans in particular. Such models foster positive relationships between
communities and policing which become the catalyst to increase positive family building
activities, while at the same time reducing criminal activity in our beloved city.

Cities United (https://citiesunited.org/)

Cities United supports a national network of mayors who are committed to reducing the
epidemic of homicides and shootings among young Black men and boys between the ages of
14 to 24 by 50%. The Cities United network consists of both internal and external groups who
support and/or are impacted by the vision and mission of the organization. Cities United
values the insights and leadership of ALL network members and works to incorporate their
voices throughout the strategies, programs, projects, resources and events identified
throughout the strategic plan. We value all key stakeholders while centering on the voices
and experiences of young Black men and boys.

ALP Mayoral Request Proposal (10/19/21) 4

 Advance Peace (https://www.advancepeace.org/)
Advance Peace (AP) is a non-profit organization that identifies the most lethal individuals at
the center of gun violence in a community, providing them with seven days-a-week mentoring
and supportive relationships, using street outreach workers, delivering services and support
to these individuals during an eighteen-month program called the Peacemaker Fellowship. AP
builds upon elements of successful focused deterrence and public-health programs, such as
Ceasefire and Cure Violence, but, as this document highlights, AP has significant differences
from these programs that sets it apart and distinguishes its approach and measures of
impact.

After School Programs

Community and faith based after school programs are a proven way to offer a variety of
constructive, holistic opportunities for growth and development.

Demands For Action

The ALP strongly requests an audience with Mayor Andy Schor, the Lansing Police Chief,
Lansing Fire Chief, and other key administrative personnel to hold a transparent, honest, open
and willing discussion addressing this serious issue and to explore identified and proven
models and methods above to resolve it. Our goal is to work with the City government and
community organizations to initiate a strategy and assemble resources to reduce and
eliminate gun violence in the Lansing community.

Action Topics to include:

● Reducing and/or eliminating gun violence and the proliferation of guns
● Investigation of crimes
● Resourcing and opening up community centers
● Neighborhoods and Citizen Engagement - Director, DeLisa Fountain
● MiLansing (This was defunded)
● Cities United https://citiesunited.org/
● Advance Peace https://www.advancepeace.org/

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 Police Review Board

Data & Rationale

Lansing Police Department Independent Review Policy 2.5 (p. 22)
https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/9f60540c-7699-4a28-8064-87cbaeaa2fbd?cache=1800
Oversight, including civilian oversight, of law enforcement is important to strengthen trust
with the community.

Lansing Police Department Independent Review Action Item 2.5.4 (p.23)

https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/9f60540c-7699-4a28-8064-87cbaeaa2fbd?cache=1800
Consider the implications of enhancing and/or clarifying the Board of Police Commissioners’
investigative responsibilities, or, alternatively, implementing an additional form of citizen
review in cases of complaints against officers.

Demands For Action

Change the existing City Charter to include a Citizen’s Oversight Commission with
disciplinary and decision-making authority. The Commission membership should be
representative of the City’s demographics.

ALP Mayoral Request Proposal (10/19/21) 6

 City Budget/Reallocation

Summary:
The section below includes the actual budget resolution passed by the Lansing City Council in
March 2021. The ALP priorities match the Mayor’s priorities outlined in the below resolution.
The budget adjustments or reallocations recommended by ALP are to ensure that BIPOC
residents of Lansing experience a better quality of life. ALP budget demands are being
considered based upon the pie graphs below which are posted on the city’s website. In a prior
meeting the Mayor was asked, “Why are so much of the city’s funds being allocated to fire,
police, fleet management and retirement?” After that session the city posted a second version
of the pie graph that attempted to show a reallocation and a renaming of categories.
However, the results still remain the same (see pie charts below).

Data and Rationale

The 2021/2022 TOTAL Lansing City Budget Amount:

$237 Million Dollars

Where is the majority of the funds going?

73% of the $237 million has been allocated to fire, police, fleet management, retirement and
public services. Most of the public services funds are for roads and sidewalks (see resolution in
this section), while 6%-9% of the budget has been allocated to community development.

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 Review approved budget from Tuesday
● Executive budget proposal link and QR CODE:

● https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/b0be041b-74b1-42b5-8d7e-e68e25a0
bf12?cache=1800

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 RESOLUTION #2020-182 BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE RESOLVED BY THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LANSING WHEREAS, the Charter of the City of Lansing requires
the Council to adopt an annual statement of Budget Policies and Priorities serving to guide
the Administration in developing and presenting the Fiscal Year 2021–2022 Budget; and
WHEREAS, the City Council established the following Mission;

The City of Lansing’s mission is to ensure quality of life by:

I. Promoting a vibrant, safe, healthy and inclusive community that provides opportunity
for personal and economic growth for residents, businesses and visitors,

II. Securing short- and long-term financial stability through prudent management of city
resources,

III. Providing reliable, efficient and quality services that are responsive to the needs of
residents and businesses,

IV. Adopting sustainable practices that protect and enhance our cultural, natural and
historical resources,

V. Facilitating regional collaboration and connecting communities; and WHEREAS, the

standing committees of the City Council have met to evaluate the budget and
recommend an annual statement of budget policies and priorities to guide the
Administration in developing and presenting the Fiscal Year 2021–2022 budget. NOW,

VI. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lansing City Council has established the
following as its Fiscal Year 2021–2022 Budget Policies and Priorities and requests that
the Administration review them and encourages that they, to the extent practical, be
included in the Administration’s budget presented due to the City Council by the fourth
Monday in March 2021.

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 VII. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Committee of the Whole has established the following
priorities:

1. $100,000: (1) FTE focused specifically on housing legal assistance for tenants and
homeowners in the City.

2. Fund sidewalk repair by $200,000 for a total of $500,000, with a priority placed on
underserved areas.

3. Fund local street repair funding by $1.7 million for a total of $5 million, with a
priority placed on underserved areas.

4. Funding for GED prep and passage program.

5. Funding to disseminate information on how to file a Complaint against the police.

Printing costs to add text to the reverse side of LPD business cards.

VIII. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Committee on Development and Planning has

established the following priorities:

1. $80,000: (1) FTE Financial Empowerment Employee; RE: Focus on Small Business,
Minority Businesses; Female Owned Businesses.

2. $215,000: Reactivation of the Façade Improvement Grant Program.

3. $50,000: Analysis of Facade Improvement Grant Program to include Return on

Equity Report on Previous Façade Grants provided to small businesses.

4. $40,000: Initiate an RFP for Engagement of Stakeholders and Completion of

Community Facilities Plan, including school and county buildings, complete with
inventory of assets and goals/objectives for facilities, that will serve as the basis for
community facility decisions into the future.

5. End the LEAP subsidy of $500,000 taking those funds to: $400,000: (5) FTE
Economic Development for Economic Role previously done by LEDC/LEAP $50,000:
Façade Improvement Grant Program $50,000: Analysis of Façade Improvement
Grant Program.

ALP Mayoral Request Proposal (10/19/21) 13

 Demands For Action
- An increase and accountability of the 9% or $21 million dollars
- Accountability AND clarity of the 28% or $66 million dollars allocated to public
services
- Invest at least $150,000 annually in Otto from the unassigned revenue and other areas
of budget
- Ownership of youth/community centers around the city
- 1.2 million dollars (over 4 years) of Advance Peace Grant be released to BIPOC
community organizations for youth violence prevention
- City keeps its commitment of a $240,000 match to Advance Peace
- Increase My Brothers Keeper (Mentoring) to $300,000 which is an increase from
$100,000 pledged by former Mayor Virg Bernero
- There is $34 million in tax revenue that is currently unassigned. Request that a portion
of this $34 million go toward the QUALITY OF LIFE
- ALP be a part of the 2022/2023 budget cycle (see graphs below)
- Accountability and Reallocation to BIPOC community of $50 million dollars of the
American Rescue Act Funds

ALP Mayoral Request Proposal (10/19/21) 14

 Housing Insecurities
The purpose of this project is as follows:
Currently in the city of Lansing 43% of the houses were built between 1940-1969, and 89%
are owned by people that only have a High School Diploma or GED, with 54% of the houses
owned by white people.

Less than 23% of Black people own property in the city. Our Affordable Plan proposes five
strategies to achieve the short-term goal of 70-75% of all housing units to be affordable
low-income units utilizing Housing Vouchers.

Data and Rationale

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 These strategies are:
● Increase the inventory of affordable housing units
● Preserve the long-term affordability and physical condition of the existing stock of
housing.
● Increase housing and associated supportive services for marginalized populations.
● Support opportunities to obtain and sustain affordable homeownership.
● Refine development incentives and expand funding sources and partnerships.

Demands For Action

● In relation to City of Lansing Housing Related Initiatives BIPOC Construction/Housing
Development organizations should be involved in at least 50% of the city housing
programs (Lead Safe, Home Remodeling, etc.).

● 10-15% of all new and renovated housing developments to be set aside as low-income
housing units (at least 70-75% below 30% AMI).

● A housing representative (external contractor) that helps BIPOC organizations

prepare paperwork/proposals for housing grants, RFPs, etc. for organizations filling
them out the first few times.

● BIPOC leadership in place ensures that we have people on the priority list for Housing
Vouchers that work directly with the HARA and LHC (Lansing Housing Commission).

● Invest funding into an organization of our choosing that will develop and manage
Temporary Housing units for people that are in-between housing voucher placement
and youth that need temporary housing until permanent housing has been secured.

Measurable Outcomes:
● A portion of existing housing units (at least 10-15%) not currently affordable to
extremely low-income households should become affordable to such households with
permanent supportive services to ensure housing sustainability.

● The majority of units receiving Housing Vouchers, including units serving families with
children, should be available to low-poverty, high-unemployment areas, especially
neighborhoods with a low number of subsidized housing units.

● As a general rule, with the exception of transitional housing or service-enriched

housing for disabled and elderly households, re-developed public housing, and smaller
developments, with 100% of the units receiving Housing Vouchers.

● All of these initiatives were introduced into the City of Lansing Charter.

● Quarterly progress reports in each area.

ALP Mayoral Request Proposal (10/19/21) 16

 Racial Disparities/Descrimination

Data and Rationale

Lansing Police Department (Policing Inequities) Data

Since Felony Firearm legislation was introduced, crime and gun violence have continued to
rise until they peaked in 1991. Not only did the felony firearm law not serve its stated
function of reducing gun violence, but it was also another way, like the ill-conceived “war on
drugs” in the 1980s and 1990s, that dramatically increased the incarceration of Black men.

In Lansing, Michigan and across the nation, increases in homicides and violent crime have
occurred at similar rates in both jurisdictions that rejected reforms and those
jurisdictions that pursued reforms.

The Felony Firearms “add-on” charge has resulted in 82% of those incarcerated on this
statute statewide being Black. Black people comprise about 14% of Michigan's population
but represent 82% of all people incarcerated on a felony firearm sentence as of 2018. As of
2018, there were 269 people serving felony firearm sentences in Ingham County cases.
Ingham County's population is 12% Black, but 80% of the people serving a felony firearm
sentence from Ingham County are Black.

In 2020, 205 cases of felony firearm were issued by the Ingham County Prosecutor's
Office (ICPO) and138 (67%) of those charges were issued against persons who are
Black.

With 75% white officers, the capital city's police department is less diverse than the
community it serves. About 55% of Lansing residents identify as white alone, according to
2019 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Black residents were about 10 times more likely to have criminal activity alleged against
them with the Ingham County Prosecutor's office, the report shows.

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 Here are some quick takeaways from the report which is the first to track these
statistics:

● Across Ingham County, Black people were about five times more likely than white
people to have police request criminal charges against them in 2020. Black residents
accounted for 40% of those reported offenses yet only about 12% of the population,
according to the latest U.S. Census figures.

● That disparity was at its worst in East Lansing, where its cops sought charges with the
county prosecutor's office against Black people about ten times more frequently than
white people in 2020. About 40% of reported criminal offenses from there involved
Black defendants, who accounted for only about 7% of the city population.

● Cops in Lansing — the most diverse city in Ingham County — were about three times
more likely to push charges on Black suspects than white suspects. Just over half of last
year’s reported offenses there involved Black people, while U.S. Census figures show
only about 22% of the city’s population is Black.

● Black people were about six times more likely than white people to have charges
requested against them across the rest of the county, which included smaller cities and
villages like Mason, Webberville, Dansville, Onondaga, and other more rural areas.

Here are some quick statistics from the report:

Ingham County Data (Total)

● Total population: 292,406
● Total offenses reported: 6,893
● Black population: 36,258 (12.4%)
● Black offenses reported: 2,733 (40%)
● White population: 221,058 (75.6%)
● White offenses reported: 3,429 (50%)

Lansing Data
● Total population: 118,210
● Total offenses reported: 3,709
● Black population: 27,543 (23.3%)
● Black offenses reported: 1,879 (51%)
● White population: 72,108 (61%)
● White offenses reported: 1,436 (39%)

ALP Mayoral Request Proposal (10/19/21) 18

 Data and Rationale
Racial Justice & Equity Alliance (MRJEA) Report - Internal Scan (pp. 17-19)
https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/fa4000b1-f3af-4b01-bb35-abfbb421d2ec

City Employee Perceptions

https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/fa4000b1-f3af-4b01-bb35-abfbb421d2ec

A lawsuit filed against the City of Lansing by a former officer

https://www.wilx.com/2020/10/22/former-lansing-police-officer-sues-city-for-retaliation-in-federal-co
urt/

Nine lawsuits against Mayor Schor and the City of Lansing because of racial discrimination
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2020/08/14/nine-current-former-black-city-staff-sue
-lansing-discrimination/3373747001/

Demands For Action

The ALP strongly requests an audience with Mayor Andy Schor, the Interim Lansing Fire
Chief, and other key administrative personnel to hold a transparent, honest, open and willing
discussion addressing this serious issue. Our goal is to work with the City government and
community organizations to initiate a strategy and assemble resources to insure that any and
all racial injustice and discriminatory practices are rectified.

Action Topics to include:

● Immediate accountability for the racial disparities in policing with African-Americans

and people of color.

● The status of lawsuits filed against Mayor Schor and the City of Lansing
Administration.

● What steps have been taken towards an objective independent investigation into
lawsuits against the Mayor and his Administration.

ALP Mayoral Request Proposal (10/19/21) 19

 Timelines

The Request timeline is as follows:

ALP: Submit Written Proposal to Mayor Week of 10/18/21

ALP: Begin meeting with Key Community Leaders Week of 10/18/21

ALP: Press Release for Community Week of 10/18/21

Mayor: Community Meeting to hear Mayor’s response to ALP and Week of 10/25/21
Community Initiatives

ALP: Follow Up Meeting to hear Mayor’s response to ALP Initiatives Week of 11/8/21

ALP Mayoral Request Proposal (10/19/21) 20

 Data Sources

WLNS FBI report finds Homicides increased in Detroit and Lansing

https://www.wlns.com/digital-exclusives/fbi-report-finds-homicides-increased-in-detroit-an
d-lansing/

Manchester Bidwell: Model https://renewhempstead.com/wp-content/uploads/files/ncat.pdf

Housing and overall City of Lansing diagram:

https://mlpp.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/lansing.pdf

Lansing Police Department Independent Review

https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/9f60540c-7699-4a28-8064-87cbaeaa2fbd?cache=
1800

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