opinion

Schor: Lansing officials will get along, collaborate to advance city

Since the beginning of the year you’ve heard me say over and over that Lansing’s time is now.

That also means it’s time for Lansing to set aside divisiveness and work together. It’s a new day in mayor/city council relations.

As mayor of Lansing, one of my top priorities is to put an end to the combative relationship between the city’s local elected officials. The lack of communication and collaboration put a strain on our city. As I knocked on doors during my campaign, residents of Lansing continuously voiced their concern regarding the divisive relationship among their chosen leaders. They were tired of it all, and the city needed a change. It’s time to move forward with one vision for a strong Lansing, together.

In order to have forward progress in our city, we must have open dialogue among leaders. That certainly doesn’t mean we will always agree, but we owe it to our residents to work together even through our differences. Our city has so much enthusiasm, and they expect us to move forward toward a positive change. Lansing residents are ready to be a part of the change needed to create a stronger Lansing.

Even before the end of 2017, I met with council members to talk about our collective priorities moving forward. I’ve met regularly with the council president to discuss myriad issues facing our community. I have attended every city council meeting, and I think it’s an important step to sit on the dais with my council partners and work on issues affecting our community together.

When I presented my first executive order, city council affirmed that they’re also ready to work together to move Lansing in the right direction.

Under the charter, they have the ability to do nothing and let the order go into effect after 90 days. Instead, the council took proactive action on Feb. 12 by voting unanimously to approve it!

The executive order reorganizes city departments to split the department of planning and neighborhood development into the department of economic development and planning, directed by Brian McGrain, and the department of neighborhoods and citizen engagement, directed by Andrea Crawford. Of course, they had the option to do nothing or even reject the executive order, but instead they acted as team; a joint force.

More: Lansing Mayor Schor's first State of the City

More: Schor sworn-in as first new mayor in 12 years

LSJ Editorial: New Lansing leadership must keep city growing

This reorganization puts both neighborhoods and economic development front and center in my administration. It will allow us to work more strategically on economic development as we build Lansing according to our community’s vision and make job creation easier.

We will better target those neighborhoods, corridors and commercial areas in our city that need the most attention. Additionally, we will have the resources to communicate and engage with our neighbors more efficiently. Council’s unanimous approval says they support my leadership and my priorities for positive change.

Getting along isn’t a sexy story.

It’s expected.

Open dialogue is essential and I am working to ensure that this continues to happen during my administration by having regular meetings with the city council president, brown bag lunches with the entire council once a month and attending city council meetings every other Monday.

There will obviously be disagreements down the road; however, my goal is to build the relationships needed to allow us to disagree respectfully.

Collaboration doesn’t create a catchy headline, but when it’s missing it creates lots of them. I look forward to working together with my city council partners as we enter the city’s budget process and tackle other pressing matters together on behalf of Lansing.

Andy Schor is currently serving as the 52nd mayor of Lansing. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @AndySchor.