October Newsletter
We are a group of people who are looking to make our city better for all. As part of the Strong Towns movement, we align with the following five core campaign ideas.
Safe & Productive Streets
Transparent Local Accounting
Incremental Housing
End Parking Mandates and Subsidies
End Highway Expansion
These goals achieved through active participation in civic forums, activities, and group activities.
Upcoming Events
National Week Without Driving
October 2nd - 8th
Community DASH Ride
October 6th, 6:30pm
Festive Fall Strongtowns GR Meeting
October 17th, 5:00pm
StrongTowns Meeting
November 21st, 5:00pm
Why We Are 501(c)(4)
Let's get the legalese out of the way: per the IRS, Strong Towns Grand Rapids is a 501c4 because:
To be tax-exempt as a social welfare organization described in Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 501(c)(4), an organization must not be organized for profit and must be operated exclusively to promote social welfare. The earnings of a section 501(c)(4) organization may not inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any managers agreeing to the transaction. See Introduction to IRC 4958 for more information about this excise tax. For a more detailed discussion of the exemption requirements for section 501(c)(4) organizations, see IRC 501(c)(4) Organizations.
-“Social Welfare Organizations.” Internal Revenue Service.
Now for the more personal reasons StrongTowns Grand Rapids is a 501c4. We are a group of people that wanted to start a local grassroots organization that worked on improving the urban environment in the Grand Rapids area. We all have different experiences in the world, and unique perspectives on the world we build up together. If you are like us, you might have traveled to other cities and found aspects of that city that you might want to see in Grand Rapids. Strong Towns GR’s vision for the city is one that has safe, productive streets that promote community and commerce. The highways are limited to only that which is already existing, as we will need all the space we can get for this future oriented city. The vision continues with parking reductions, allowing for more space within the city to be reclaimed for unique buildings or relaxing parks. We also believe that within this vision, housing is no longer a scarce commodity that limits the city's potential. Of course in order to achieve this goal we will need to reform the local accounting to best use the city's resources in the manner most appropriate.
This is why we are 501c4, as we will need to push the local government in this direction. This means supporting other activist groups and politicians that align with our vision for the future of Grand Rapids. This also means supporting our local government on projects already in progress and being able to provide feedback on what is working or what might need to be improved.
-Anna Carley
Starting The Conversation
A key to Strongtowns is an empowered citizenship; you can talk to your local leaders and elected officials. This can be as simple as an e-mail or a phone call. Your message does not need to be technical or profound. Tell your story. You could send a picture of yourself using a bike lane or a crosswalk, you could comment about where there is a bad intersection, or some other concern! Or express your concerns about housing costs and an idea or two you think could help.
Be positive, remember that they are people who live in the same city you do.
One technical detail when communicating with the City Commission via e-mail is the ability to unintentionally invoke Michigan’s Open Meetings Act (OMA). A conversation between more than two public officials, under OMA, is automatically a “meeting”. This can cause elected officials to be hesitant to reply as candidly as otherwise. To avoid invoking OMA send the message “To:” yourself and “BCC:” the elected officials.
If you would like your message to be read into the City Commission meeting agendas - to be “on the record” - also send your message “To:” the City Clerk <cityclerk@grcity.us>.
- Adam Tauno Williams
A Time Of Many Plans
There are multiple plans under development in the region. The city is currently closing out the second phase of its three phase Comprehensive Master Plan process. The Comprehensive Master Plan which will be developed will be the foundation for future land use decisions as well as a new Zoning Code which will drafted possibly sometime in 2024.
The city’s master planning process is a great opening for advancing Strong Towns principles, especially incremental housing and mobility improvements.
The home page for the Master Plan process is here. Please consider tracking this process and participating in the city’s engagement.
The Rapid is also beginning the development of its next Transit Master Plan which will guide investment for the next 20 years. The brand for the new plan is “Thriving”. There are surveys and an area for making comments available at the plans’ website.
-Adam Tauno Williams
