Adam DeLay
Candidate Website
Why are you running for East Lansing City Council?
I am running for council because the last few years have shown us some harsh truths; truths that many of us have refused to see for too long. The tumultuous Trump Administration. Racial injustice and inequity. A pandemic that laid bare just how easily our public health infrastructure can be overwhelmed and our economy pushed to the brink. As a community, region, state, and nation, we now stand at a crossroads. We have an opportunity to make great change, but only if we are willing to seize it. We only get one shot at this kind of opportunity every generation, and I am running to take that shot.
What are your main policy goals if elected to East Lansing City Council?
1) Police reform. I believe the city has taken some important steps on reform, including the formation of a citizen’s review board, however I believe that there is much more we need to do. I am proposing reinvesting 25% of the ELPD budget into a new community services department that will address things like poverty, mental health, and other similar issues. It is critical that we reprioritize how we spend our public safety dollars in a way that provides better services to our community.
2) Government transparency. I would like to make more information available to the public, especially as it relates to the city’s budget. I believe that a detailed line-item budget for every department should be available online to everyone, as opposed to the more generalized budget summary we now have. I’d also like to cut Freedom of Information Act fees in half and be more generous with waiving those fees, so that the public can more easily request and access information.
3) Renewable Energy and the Environment. I would like the city to get to 100 percent renewable energy as soon as possible, and to also have the city start investing in electric vehicles. The impacts of climate change are already being felt, and so it is up to every level of government, including local government, to do something about it.
What makes you stand out from the other candidates running?
It sounds cliché, but I consider myself to be a different kind of candidate/politician. I’ve worked in politics for several years, and know all the jargon, the political half answers and non-answers, etc. I much prefer to answer questions with more specificity, and to the best extent I can let you know how I feel about an issue and what I would (or wouldn’t) do. I think that is the key quality that sets me apart. I also think that I am running on a platform that speaks to what our community wants to see. There is a hunger in East Lansing for greater police reform, government transparency, etc. and I believe I can help make those policies a reality. Finally, I believe I am the only candidate who has made a commitment to not receive any PAC donations.
How would you improve the city’s relationship with Michigan State University?
I will answer that in two ways. First, in terms of improving the relationship with the University administration, I think that the COVID-19 pandemic has helped MSU and the city come together and communicate better as there was a mutual issue that was affecting public health in both communities. I think we need to build off of that increased cooperation and make sure that we are meeting regularly with university officials, understanding what their needs are, and offering to help where we can to make those needs a reality.
In terms of improving the relationship with students, I think that bringing students and the community together is key. That is why I was so disappointed that the city closed Albert EL Fresco without giving students a real chance to enjoy it. It was/is something that could bring together all of our residents on and off campus and build that sense of community. Beyond that, I think the key on the city side is to make sure we are giving students an opportunity to engage with us, and to also be engaged with the issues that students are concerned about on and off campus.
How do you plan on involving residents in East Lansing to build a better community?
As I mentioned above, one way of doing that is to create shared spaces for the community to come together. I think that is vital. Additionally, if elected I plan on hosting several office hours, town halls, and other similar events so that residents can come and share their ideas and views with me so that we can build that better community. It's really just about being available to people. I put my personal cell phone on my campaign materials because I want to be available. I want people to feel like they can reach out and get involved with what I, as a council member, will be doing for the community.
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