If found in violation, individuals could be fined up to $25 for first-time offenses during a twelve-month period and be charged with a civil infraction. Repeat offenders may be charged with a misdemeanor, face imprisonment of up to 30 days and be fined up to $100. 

Since the introduction of Ordinance 1566 at a Dec. 9, 2025 council meeting, homelessness advocates have denounced the legislation for furthering the criminalization of homeless populations in East Lansing. 

A second ordinance, Ordinance 1565, has also been criticized by advocates for further alienating the homeless population by restricting loitering in city-owned parking spaces. If passed, individuals who are walking to and from their vehicles in parking spaces that are not paid for may be penalized.

Brown’s solutions have remained wildly unpopular among advocates, and she's received criticism after defending the offending police officers in an October interview with WLNS, saying they were “simply responding” to a "disproportionate amount of minorities” that commit crimes in the city. 

“It's so important to recognize that Chief Jen Brown is at the center of this,” Executive Director of the Mid-Michigan Resource Center Khadija Erickson told The State News. “She used Black and brown bodies potentially being a detriment to the community as a vehicle to harm an even wider swath of the community. I mean, it really is incredible that she still has her job.”

During public comment, assistant geography professor Stephen Przybylinski said that no existing social science literature has found that bans on camping and loitering effectively reduce homelessness. 

“All it seeks to do is enhance the homelessness incarceration nexus,” Przybylinski said.  

Przybylinksi also rejected the idea that the homeless population has contributed to “issues” downtown that have affected local businesses. The businesses are “thriving,” he said.

English senior Roberto Marcos Garcia referenced a 2025 study done by Przybylinksi that found that 8.5% of MSU students have experienced homelessness in the past year and 37% have suffered from at least one form of housing insecurity. 

“What will it look like when one of my peers tries to better their life by getting an education and sleep(ing) in their car, and that all gets ruined because now they have a criminal record, because they’re trying to exist?” Garcia asked the council. 

During comment, Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Grigsby said he was individually looking at developing solutions to the issues brought up by the public.

“I’m really affirmed in my position and making the decision that I think is important for the benefit of humanity and finding other solutions that we can do as a city to uplift others and hold people accountable in a way that’s equitable and we have justice for everyone,” Grigsby said.

Councilmember Mark Meadows introduced a motion to defer consideration of Ordinances 1565 and 1566 to the last business meeting on March 17, and place them on the agenda of the discussion-only meeting on March 10.  The motion was seconded by Grigsby. 

Meadows' decision was based on testimonies given during public comment and debate over the language used in the proposed ordinances. 

Brown noted that she would not be present for the discussion-only meeting, and the council voted to postpone voting on the proposed ordinances. The motion passed unanimously.