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Councilmember Hussain urges public to engage with Lansing Charter Commission
Summary
Councilmember Adam Hussain told the Jan. 27 council meeting that low public turnout for the Charter Commission risks leaving only minor edits instead of substantive changes; he urged residents to review materials and participate.
LANSING, Mich. — Councilmember Adam Hussain used his council remarks on Jan. 27 to urge residents to take part in the city’s Charter Commission process, saying low attendance at commission meetings risks limiting the review to minor edits rather than substantive reform.
Hussain told the Lansing City Council that the charter "is the document that creates our government" and that many residents want change. He said he was "taken aback" when a commissioner suggested the $500,000 charter review paid for by voters was intended mainly to update language and formatting rather than consider structural changes. "That is incredibly, tone deaf and out of touch," Hussain said.
Hussain said commission meetings typically draw only "one to two people" from the public and encouraged residents to use the Charter Commission landing page on the City of Lansing website to view archived meetings, schedules and contact links. Councilmember Penny Vanderglow added that the city page includes an option for virtual comment and that people watching via Facebook can participate virtually.
Hussain framed the moment as an opportunity to influence the “knobs and levers” that shape city government and urged broader participation by email, attendance or written comment. He said council members and city leaders have appeared before the commission to present views, and he called for residents to do the same.
The council did not take formal action on the charter during the Jan. 27 meeting; Hussain’s remarks were a call for public engagement and did not direct staff to take specific next steps.
The council adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
