LSJ Blogs: Just Asking

Cash is king for Bernero right now

As expected, the Virg Bernero for governor bid is amping up. He’s created his exploratory committee -- an official step necessary to start raising money.

And I’m told he’s spending lots of time in Detroit in an apparent search for the dollars.

He’d better have a great deal of success — and fast.

Conflicted on GM news

I don’t know whether to be excited or outraged by the reports on lsj.com that GM will build a big, apparently expensive “Denali” version of the Acadia in Delta Township and that GM workers relocating to Delta next year can get up to $30,000 as part of a negotiated relocation package.

As a Lansing resident, I’m excited that GM will produce more lines out of the Delta plant. And having hundreds of people moving into Greater Lansing with $29-per-hour wage rates and $30,000 relocation deals have to mean some energy for the local economy.

An eyebrow-raising idea for Detroit

Blogger Matt Yglesias lives in Washington, D.C., where he monitors and writes thoughtful commentaries on how to improve the urban environment there. Yesterday, though, he advanced a provocative idea for helping Detroit.

On power, winds are variable

In 2008, Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the Legislature teamed up on a bill that’s supposed to propel greater use of renewable energy sources, like wind, and create more jobs.

For wind, at least, that energy may have come from elsewhere. In Michigan, the NIMBY effect may prove more potent than lake breezes.

BWL seeks new rate increase

The shoes keep dropping for customers of the Lansing Board of Water and Light. On tap for 2010: another rate increase that  would add about $8 or $9 to the typical residential bill for electric and water services.

If the 2010 increase goes through that would make it (update: four rate increases in five years) for the municipal utility. BWL points out in its most recent filing, though, that most of the 2010 increase would stem from the actions of the Michigan Legislature on mandating renewable energy.

That defense, to my eye, makes BWL’s situation even more ticklish than a regular rate increase.

First task for Bernero: recall

My publisher passed along to me this week an e-mail that’s part of Virg Bernero’s opening salvo for governor. Under the header of “Considering Run for Governor,” Bernero wrote:

“My job as Mayor of Lansing has been made more difficult by the decisions coming out of the state Capitol and Washington DC. The American Dream is under attack in places like Lansing, Michigan and I believe we must fight to bring it back. Bailouts for Wall Street and Baloney for Main Street just won’t do. I am trying to determine where I can do the most good for my city, state and country.”

OK, here’s an idea from one constituent: Target one of the members of the Michigan Legislature for recall.

After all, if the State Capitol is harming the city of Lansing so much, is it not his duty, as mayor, to take them out. I can think of no political act that fits the verb “fight” better than removing an enemy from his cosseted position of power.

Bernero has shown himself to be a decent fundraiser. And he knows campaign organization. Those are critical to shepherding a recall petition.

It’s time to think of Michigan politics as a criminal affair. The voters need the perps— the pols — to start rolling over on each other in pursuit of lighter treatment from the authorities.

Bernero has emphasized his ability to get things done. He can show me his fighting spirit by helping to take out a fellow pol.

House committee wants worried parents at Sexton

Those wishing to brave the weather tonight and who are worried about school funding can go to Sexton High School on Lansing’s West Side for a hearing of the House Subcommittee on School Aid and Education.

State Rep. Joan Bauer’s office says the meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria. (Call Bauer’s office at 373-0826 for more information.)

Troubled parents shouldn’t expect much in the way of reform to come out of all this. Schools will get more money for the current year only if the Legislature decides to drain the remaining federal stimulus funds it had hoped to hold back for the 2011 budget. And even doing that wouldn’t compensate for the entire $300 reduction in per pupil aid imposed this fall.

Since 2010 is an election year, I suspect the lawmakers will use up the fed funds to mitigate some of the bad headlines coming out of school districts now. Of course, that just makes the problem worse for the next budget year -- and leaves the fundamental cost and funding issues unresolved.

Let's not do that again

I’ve been remiss in my coverage of the 100 block of Allegan Street downtown. It’s open again — and has been for awhile. The city’s CSO work left the stretch closed for only, what, 7 months?

I had dinner at the Downtown Dog House last night and a staffer reported that he had seen increased traffic at night since Allegan re-opened. (Dog House was at ground zero of the worst of the CSO work this spring, summer and fall.)

The CSO work has to be done. And work in the downtown area can be tricky due to all the old pipes and other surprises you find underground. Still, having a street closed for months on end is something the city of Lansing cannot repeat if it wants to lay any claim to be being “pro-business.”

Sycamore no more?

Is the brief life of the Sycamore driving range about to end?

As part of his deficit reduction plan, Mayor Virg Bernero reported to the City Council that the Sycamore range (where golfers hit practice balls) has worked up a $56,000 operational deficit. The mayor’s plan would shift funds from the capital improvement fund to cover the gap for the current budget year.

Even so, The First Tee of Mid-Michigan, a group that works to make golf accessible for youth and which has operated its programs at Sycamore, already is shopping for a new home, says First Tee President Jeff Green.

Look for more on this in my column next Tuesday.

A gloomy report for Michigan cities

Some days, the sky is just gray here in mid-Michigan. These days, the economic horizon is, too. In scoping around for news on the shape of U.S. cities, I came across a report from The Milken Institute that delivers a punch to Michigan’s, and Greater Lansing’s, nose.

The report, released a couple of weeks back, “ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth.  The components include job, wage and salary and technology growth.”

And the caboose of the top 200 cities is, yes, Michigan.

Lansing-East Lansing comes in at No. 195, which actually is an improvement from the 2008 rank of No. 196.