[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6360240,"mediaKeyId","2175093-e077956af0575b1cc0fd7c608226d697","parentId",2175093,"title","Grand Rapids hears widespread calls for sanctuary designation and reviews GRPD policy on immigration enforcement","audioSeconds",1889,"startMs",1905000,"endMs",15882,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175093-e077956af0575b1cc0fd7c608226d697&start=1905&end=15","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175093-e077956af0575b1cc0fd7c608226d697/thumbnail_1905000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6360240/Grand-Rapids-City/Kent-County/Michigan/Grand-Rapids-hears-widespread-calls-for-sanctuary-designation-and-reviews-GRPD-policy-on-immigration-enforcement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360240-5a0ebb7251e0826d8088fe1c19879d83/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186409&Signature=ZY-bzCHqX5yVELv0188cl4LZfdhhsBqaEaniKzXLGRJyOaT3nh-J9i32IAoyEqfzH1k6i1PV~uaUh3GpAR-MAy-MYwo6~wZhKI6SwBd7bSysRqpAK38Ylu1x7BzPHHiL0KkVtMehPDjFa6etDlgBYhsWnHSC3XUFRWeu0M72qVtdSMgesDpdC20vtuBPRrVMG9hbfAJbebB5sq0YjQuInkTYCsWVOL7FJt3xEvmYR4KGSlHueuw8C-5oqt4oGX8z1COawwg9lAPZEh9faw4xRcVWCM3mrNf4XXloC1XX9yt2FT2pdj2GlYYQtaD6~PdY4WsI21nNdxuj8D3sZJbT6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","The City of Grand Rapids","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","City Manager: the commission received a report on the Grand Rapids Police Department\u0000(GRPD) policy governing interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and with undocumented residents, and dozens of residents urged the commission to declare Grand Rapids a sanctuary city and to adopt enforceable limits on local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The city manager told the commission the city\u0000enacted an \"equal services policy\" in 2017 and that the GRPD later adopted a more prescriptive foreign-national policy after a 2018 incident. \"The department will not inquire into a person's immigration status when a person seeks police services such as filing complaints or reporting incidents to 911,\" the city manager said in the meeting packet presentation. The manager added the city is \"focused on safety and not status.\"

Why it matters: speakers at the meeting said federal executive orders and enforcement plans have created immediate fear in immigrant households, affecting school attendance, health and daily life. Public commenters pressed the commission for a formal sanctuary-city declaration and for binding local rules that would prevent GRPD and other city employees from assisting ICE operations.

Residents described acute impacts. \"We are living in constant chaos,\" Jasmine Ryder, a Third Ward resident, said of families affected by separate infrastructure damage and broader fears. Several school staff and nonprofit caseworkers described students and families too scared to attend school or access services. \"Parents are having to make an emergency plan in case that they can't make it home to cook for their kids,\" Melissa said during public comment.

Commission responses and next steps: Mayor LeGrande cautioned that \"sanctuary city\" is largely a media term and does not itself create legal protections, and he warned against giving \"false hope.\" He and the city manager stressed the limits of municipal authority while expressing moral support for affected residents. Commissioner Esauce and others urged combining policy with budgetary investments such as legal or social services that can protect community members practically.

The commission took no formal vote on a sanctuary designation at the meeting. The city manager recommended a practical next step: add federal advocacy for immigration policy reform to the city's legislative agenda and ask staff to return with options for legally enforceable local measures. \"A good next step would be to advocate for the reform federally in your legislative agenda,\" the city manager said.

Public safety policy in the packet: the manager summarized the city's written policies. According to the presentation, the 2017 equal services policy bars non-police public servants from asking about immigration status in the course of their duties; the 2019 GRPD foreign-national policy says officers should not hold foreign nationals without a judicial warrant and should avoid coercive threats tied to immigration status. The manager said the police chief had emphasized focusing department resources on violent crime.

What remains unresolved: advocates asked for explicit, enforceable prohibitions on any GRPD cooperation with ICE and for accountability mechanisms if officers violate the policy. Some nonprofit leaders warned the city to consider potential federal funding consequences of more public declarations and asked the commission to coordinate with schools and service providers to minimize risk to clients. The commission pledged further deliberation and follow-up with staff, departments and partner agencies.

Ending: Commissioners closed the item by thanking speakers and promising additional staff work and intergovernmental advocacy; no ordinance or binding directive was adopted at the meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Commission Meeting - January 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City Manager: the commission received a report on the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) policy governing interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and with undocumented residents, and dozens of residents urged the commission to declare Grand Rapids a sanctuary city and to adopt enforceable limits on local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.","taxTitle","Grand Rapids City, Kent County, Michigan","taxId",3704,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6360230,"Commission approves sixth budget amendment to record grants, bond proceeds and debt service",393,2913000,3306000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175093-e077956af0575b1cc0fd7c608226d697&start=2913&end=3306","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175093-e077956af0575b1cc0fd7c608226d697/thumbnail_2913000.jpg","/articles/6360230/Grand-Rapids-City/Kent-County/Michigan/Commission-approves-sixth-budget-amendment-to-record-grants-bond-proceeds-and-debt-service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360230-029579941ef370bc79ded317b18c3aff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186409&Signature=h1YEUrnHgrfCxlQKvknOSjonBQgmC7hVK1JY4GX-Y4Sipaayrps50X67J2jGjmm8LYbiLrGdSSSm-kfLYCw1hNpaOp71AahOCiKLSQb9NC8sUCt8IGr2KaojZoY1x-CoqW56PiQ87cfx93iDy7~RvryZP72uXIQPxQOxYgLd-pouajFC5xLy-KJ7DNxNqvWBAzu4bqo0k57MYODL6sVzN7zevb0moALRYyZ-zkdZ1Q1OhrJCZz1x3-F1lPEt7mI0w4dE6LagcbP~-J3DcveOyg8ooB8Kg4efX8Gsh2hgpbVw0H0FwNFNcTpGxSF~BNGN1-6ZJUyoJ821hAmw-BDy3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Grand Rapids City Commission voted to adopt the sixth budget amendment, recognizing reimbursements and a series of grant awards and bonding proceeds. The motion included grant recognitions for election reimbursement, traffic-enforcement overtime, energy-efficiency block grant awards, eviction-diversion funds, philanthropic contributions for parks, and authorization to recognize new bond proceeds and related debt-service appropriations.

Key items listed by Commissioner Knight during the ordinance discussion included an election reimbursement for the clerk in the amount of $89,269.90; an energy efficiency and conservation block grant award of $235,280; a 61st District Court Eviction Diversion Initiative additional award of $102,607; a $50,000 Mitten Foundation contribution for Richmond Park; and estimated new-bond proceeds and interest revenue totaling $24,000,539,668.15 with a debt-service appropriation of $5,255,517. The packet also referenced ARPA funding use and several other departmental grants and appropriations.

The commission approved the ordinance and separately approved a motion for immediate effect. The clerk called a roll: Commissioners Belchak, Kilgore, Assasse, Perdue, Knight and Mayor LeGrande were recorded as voting yes; the motion carried 6-0 and was declared immediately effective.

Vote details: roll-call yes votes were recorded for Commissioner Belchak, Commissioner Kilgore, Commissioner Assasse, Commissioner Perdue, Commissioner Knight and Mayor LeGrande. No recorded no votes, abstentions or recusals were recorded in the roll-call segment.

What it means: the amendment recognizes and appropriates grant revenues and formalizes estimates for new bond proceeds and required debt-service appropriations. The funding items will be applied to the departments and capital projects named in the commission packet, including elections, police overtime enforcement, sustainability programs, eviction-diversion court work, parks projects and construction of public works and training facilities.

Ending: the ordinance passed by roll-call vote and was made effective immediately per the commission action; commissioners moved on to the public comment portion of the agenda.

","The Grand Rapids City Commission adopted its sixth budget amendment to recognize a set of grant awards, reimbursements and new bond proceeds, including an election reimbursement, energy block grant funding, eviction-diversion funds, a $24,000,000 estimated new-bond receipt and related debt-service appropriations; the vote was 6-0 with immediate",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6360235,"Residents say June 13 water-main break left families with destroyed homes, seek city assistance",6224,3216000,9440000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175093-e077956af0575b1cc0fd7c608226d697&start=3216&end=9440","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175093-e077956af0575b1cc0fd7c608226d697/thumbnail_3216000.jpg","/articles/6360235/Grand-Rapids-City/Kent-County/Michigan/Residents-say-June-13-water-main-break-left-families-with-destroyed-homes-seek-city-assistance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360235-5d5388d54e9fc40a5b38f9c8b5001176/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186409&Signature=U212SJtK2Vlge4JeOOHsUw4U-sNnIOn7Bk5UcvusTCTRjEI6NxD6rMoU2LK4xKNoh-rfhGSJURTfPNE~WxZV-ajmRsQ1aXpuaUM3-fvvmGkTq7E41beKZHxPBm-7WdH8WY~HRxw9ehsvpOj2Ffxq8jujSXbqxU-5nSX3NEV~THJaYOg9FGN~t7tFtQsHVK4Tsnw~iIzP6x5lLAIaxklwsABcUQt4NpevY8m07JTzHIJdb~E25mzviRx1ebDpO1maJBFXQMLdI06gA0g3QHvBuQ~ZU5WVExYyKeY4ktaHi3-MJY3BUXNEas1F8~1f~Fy7yLSM5cbRnWPsDEQAv89zwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","More than a handful of residents told the commission they continue to suffer health and financial consequences from a June 13, 2024 water main break at Adams and Philadelphia, describing mold, destroyed personal property and repair debts.

\"It has now been over 7 months since the water main break at Adams in Philadelphia on June 13, 2024,\" said Jasmine Ryder, a Third Ward resident. \"This water main break destroyed many of our homes, cars, and belongings. Since then, we have been living in constant chaos, trying to get things fixed, figuring out how to pay for it all, and adjusting to what feels like a new heartbreaking norm.\" She said residents who sought city financial assistance were told to seek legal counsel and that appeals have produced no clear path to reimbursement.

Other speakers corroborated health and safety concerns. Casey Carnoli, who said his home was badly damaged, told commissioners he and neighbors had been invited to a closed-door meeting and encouraged to seek legal representation; the group has since sent demand letters to the city. \"We were invited to a closed door meeting with some of the officials here tonight and encouraged to seek legal counsel,\" he said. Megan Carnoli said the family suffered more than $120,000 in damages and is planning to move outside Grand Rapids because they \"have no trust in the people we elected to help us.\"

Resident Larry Gibbs, who said his neighborhood includes about 15 damaged homes, urged the commission to follow through on previously discussed executive orders and relief. He described continuing health problems in homes with mold and said the city had previously halted an executive relief step when attorneys became involved.

What the commission heard: speakers sought clarity on whether the city would provide direct financial assistance, how demand letters would be handled, and when homeowners might expect decisions or relief. Some said insurance covered portions of losses but left families with significant debt.

Commission response and status: commissioners acknowledged the item and requested a follow-up update. Commissioner Kilgore said neighbors have begun communication with the city and pledged to continue work toward remediation; several commissioners asked staff for a written update on demand letters and next steps.

Ending: commissioners did not approve an immediate new program; they asked staff to report back with status and next steps on the demand letters and any possible relief or program changes.

","Multiple residents affected by the June 13, 2024 water main break in the Adams/Philadelphia area told the commission they remain displaced or under-repaired, cited health impacts and large out-of-pocket costs, and said earlier city responses were inadequate or stalled.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Grand Rapids hears widespread calls for sanctuary designation and reviews GRPD policy on immigration enforcement

Commission approves sixth budget amendment to record grants, bond proceeds and debt service

Residents say June 13 water-main break left families with destroyed homes, seek city assistance