Part Two: E.L. City Council contenders share more views on hot topics.
Check out tomorrow's edition of the paper for the E.L. City Council candidates' ideas on improving relations between students, the university and the city.
To find out more about these issues and hear from the four candidates running for East Lansing City Council, a public forum will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the East Lansing Public Library Meeting Room, 950 Abbott Road.
The election takes place on Nov. 8.
The issues
Amending the smoking ordinance
A proposed amendment to the existing smoking ordinance, which would require bars and restaurants to have a nonsmoking section available from open to close instead of when the establishment stops serving food.
Amending the noise ordinance
A proposed amendment to the existing noise ordinance which would add outdoor drinking games to the list of "aggravating factors." Two or more of these "aggravating factors" such as overcrowding in a house or apartment, loud music, charging people for entry and a common source of alcohol like a keg, results in a noise violation.
Kevin Beard challenger
Age: 49
Goals and expectations: Concerned with neighborhood stabilization. Wants to preserve desirable neighborhoods and attract more permanent residents. Focusing on developing in and around campus.
Amending the smoking ordinance: Doesn't believe businesses will suffer with this proposal. "There are people that want to go out and enjoy an alcoholic beverage without the smoke. Right now they're cut off from patronizing. If the business owners were really in tune, they would offer this already. I believe if everybody knows what the expectations are, complying with it is a lot easier for everyone."
Amending the noise ordinance: Believes the ordinance doesn't infringe on anybody's right "to be stupid." "It just takes it off the street where it's less likely to be an annoyance to neighbors. If I had my choice of the front yard and being ticketed or the back yard and going unnoticed, I'd choose the backyard. Every fall we get about 5,000 brand new people to campus that have to get acquainted with the culture, the rules.
John Fournier challenger
Age: 21
Goals and Expectations: Wants to expand East Lansing's free wireless Internet access throughout downtown and diversify the area with new people and businesses. Is pushing for City Council to adopt a comprehensive wetlands protection ordinance.
Amending the smoking ordinance: Favors nonsmoking sections in all public establishments but said bars should have a smaller nonsmoking section. "It's just the environment you expect at a bar. It would harm the business to have a large nonsmoking section."
Amending the noise ordinance: Thinks the ordinance is "completely useless" and is ineffective. "It's unconstitutional. You cannot legislate ordinances that step on people's rights. Ordinances cannot be created that interfere or deny people's rights, that's why we have constitutional laws to begin with. There are people that have no respect for the law and people who do, and that's it."
Vic Loomis incumbent
Age: 59
Goals and Expectations: To continue to balance the city's budget without increasing taxes, sustain the high level of central services such as emergency services to the community. "I see serving on City Council as an elevated community service. My observations are pretty hip — dated — but hip."
Amending the smoking ordinance: Said smoking is a personal choice and wants to hear more from the community before making a final decision. "I'm getting mixed input from the community. The big issue is whether you smoke or not is up to the individual. We all know what the risks are and how all that blends in the greater community is still open for some discussion."
Amending the noise ordinance: Is leaning toward making outdoor drinking games an "aggravating factor." Said the noise isn't his primary concern. He is more worried about the health of East Lansing residents. "What I have observed personally, there are too many people placing themselves at personal, physical risk more so than I've ever known or seen in the community. I point the finger at these drinking games."
Bill Sharp incumbent
Age: 77
Goals and Expectations: Goal is to be re-elected. Wants to continue growth of downtown.
Amending the smoking ordinance: Thinks there are good parts to the proposal but wants more information about the pros and cons. "We've had some tough questions asked by the establishments that we don't have any answers for. I want to look further into those so they won't be so unhappy if it happens. We have to look at both sides of this before we make a decision."
Amending the noise ordinance: Thinks outdoor drinking games should be prohibited in the city. "(Since) those have become very prevalent, we've had many more problems. I just think they should be banned. It's a mix of lifestyles that are causing a lot of the problem."
