Student renters scored a small victory midnight on Tuesday when the moratorium on banning new rental licenses in East Lansing expired without renewal. We're still, however, losing the war.
The recently-expired city moritorium permitted neighbors to petition the city in hopes of restricting new rental properties from appearing in their neighborhoods. If a majority of a neighborhood petitioned, the city would entertain the prospect of zoning out new rental licenses, though not affecting current ones. The first time the ordinance expired, it was extended. Then, when that expired, it was extended again. At its heart, this ordinance gave permanent residents of East Lansing ample opportunity to keep student renters from becoming their new neighbors.
In one form or another, eight neighborhoods successfully petitioned the city before the ordinance's expiration. One neighborhood in East Lansing has been approved for such zoning, and the remaining neighborhoods are pending.
It's troubling that this ordinance existed in the first place. Anti-student sentiment, perceived or real, is the predominant attitude among concerned students. We consider ourselves concerned students, and we've argued against this ordinance from its inception. Our appreciation goes out to council member Victor Loomis and Mayor Pro Tem Sam Singh for their skepticism of the ordinance's power.
Chances are, you've lived in one of these eight neighborhoods, live there now, or at least know someone from the area. These properties are not in danger, although it is apparent that there's a predominant aura of student containment afoot. A petition for a portion of the Bailey neighborhood, which was recently referred to the East Lansing Planning Commission - step two of the petition process - is roughly bordered by Gunson Street, Ann Street, Division Street, Charles Street and Burcham Drive. The bordering neighborhood is heavily student populated.
If you're not entirely enthused by the city's recent history in student relations, please feel encouraged to locate the next meeting of the Bailey Community Association, to be held at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 9. City Council meetings also are great places to voice your dissent. If you feel you're being treated as a second-class citizen on the grounds of your status as a student renter, your city needs to know.
There's valid reasoning behind the city's decision to promote this ordinance. They need more permanent residents to create a larger tax base and increase funding for East Lansing schools. The city also is pushing to have the East Village area - which could possibly be razed and redeveloped - deemed "blighted" for the same reason. New buildings and new homes mean more families and more investment into the city.
The city in which you live is making it increasingly difficult for you to call it home. This week's actions are not only proof of this concept, but they perpetuate it. Limiting and containing student rental properties makes you a second-class citizen in your own town. We celebrate the moratorium's expiration, although we sincerely hope all referrals are dismissed.
This is a small victory for students, but we're still losing this war.
