Comments on: Why isn't Lansing (MI) Mayor Virg Bernero jumping on Google's offer?

By: Joe Manzella

Joe Manzella — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:12:49 +0000

It also might be good to see what the mayor’s office submitted – I feel like they’d be the most knowledgeable. Anyone know who we could ask to get our hands on that?

By: Joe Manzella

Joe Manzella — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:11:06 +0000

I’ll be spending some time this weekend collecting some answers to these questions and will ask Accelerate Lansing to post it on their website. It might help others write theirs!

By: Melissa Quon Huber

Melissa Quon Huber — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:52:30 +0000

Hey, this is all great news!

Rory — I’m so glad to hear you and your folks were already making recommendations too! Your expertise is really helpul. And as an aside — I saw in the LA times article that some city councils in other communities didn’t want this google service. Are there any downsides you can see with implementing this technology that we need to think through?

Randy — I’ll look forward to hearing the updates as this move forward. You can count on our neighborhood groups to help carry this ball! Many of us have great partnerships with our neighborhood schools as well and can help mobilize parents. This will actually fit very nicely with some of the objectives of our neighborhood and our elementary school!! Can we also partner with East Lansing if they are interested so we’re not competing with them in the competition? I think that still keeps us in the population criteria.

Joe — There are alot of other Lansing n’hood orgs that are great at mobilizing too! I continue to be amazed and the volume of folks willing to share their time and talents to promote a vibrant community.

By: Wes Thorp

Wes Thorp — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:35:01 +0000

Randy-thanks for the quick and positive reply. At a Biggby’s meeting tonight of leaders in our neighborhood, we enthusiastically talked about what such a project would mean to Lansing and agreed to “word-of-mouth” the need to get behind it. Most of us are on Facebook and we will share it in our individual groups. Keep us posted. Thanks-Wes

By: Randy

Randy — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:20:15 +0000

Wes, just so you are aware the Mayor’s Office initiated action on the Google proposal within hours of its public announcement and a framework for a regional public-private collaboration that includes citywide outreach in Lansing is already being organized. You will hear more from us soon. At the same time, we certainly encourage you to continue organizing community support for the project and using your social media savvy to get people engaged in it. If you have any questions about the city’s efforts, you can contact Ken Szymusiak at the LEDC. He is our point person on the project. Thanks.

By: Wes Thorp

Wes Thorp — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:26:39 +0000

Joe-I just got off the phone with the leader of our neighborhood association to get our group behind it and to get them as individuals and as a group behind it. I agree we need to get the others on board, including all that you mentioned. I’m not angry with Virg, but I’m appreciative of the demands of a statewide campaign and since I retired from my job with the Michigan Legislature, I’m appreciative of the effort that goes into painting a vision for the city and then implementing it.

We need Virg’s passion and energy for something like this. However, I recognize that we can easily get his support and then enlist surrogates. Should we enlist East Lansing and go at this together? Are you interesting in working together to get a meeting of interested parties?

Wes

By: Joe Manzella

Joe Manzella — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:58:49 +0000

I feel like you’re mad at Virg or something . I just heard about this today, let’s get wild and get behind it. We can’t expect politicians to do everything for us… Life’d be kinda boring if they could. I’ll be pushing the people I know to get behind this, and I know for certain that Accelerate Lansing will get behind it.

We should probably talk to the Lansing EDC, Linking Lansing and U, The Oldtown Business Association, Principal Shopping District, and some other groups – get them to publicize it. How about Eastside Neighbors or Allen Neighborhood center? I bet they could write a pretty good description of the issue. They’re the only neighborhood groups I know of near me; start e-mailing the link to your neighbors and friends. Lansing, MI, is ground zero for the Michigan Renaissance – let’s start putting our work in!
– Joe

By: Wes Thorp

Wes Thorp — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:43:31 +0000

Rory-thanks for calling me out on the patience issue. I don’t want to be unfair. How can we all play team ball on this to get Lansing’s name in the mix to be seriously considered. Getting this or being one of the contenders for this would have to be a magnet for economic development for the city and the area. Any ideas for next steps for citizens and for officials? Wes

By: Rory Neuner

Rory Neuner — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:32:52 +0000

Hi Wes,
Great idea! Some of us from Accelerate Lansing are already in touch with the Mayor’s Office. We are strongly encouraging them to apply. I would also offer that your suggestion that the Mayor might be too busy running for Governor is unfair, and ask you to be a little more patient — I think the link to the Google Internet project went up yesterday or the day before! Cut the Mayor’s Office some slack here!
–Rory