"Not only is it morally wrong, I think it's illegal what they're doing," Mayor Virg Bernero said.
He's calling out City Council members Judi Brown Clarke, Jody Washington, Adam Hussein and Carol Wood for voting against a housing project in Old Town.
They voted against the $5.7 million development of an abandoned warehouse on Washington Avenue because they didn't think the finances made sense.
The Mayor sees it differently.
"They basically said well come on now Old Town is an up and coming area, we're a fancy place with art boutiques and expensive restaurants and these poor people, they won't really add anything. They won't be able to afford the restaurants," Mayor Bernero said.
He told Fox 47 News that attitude won't be tolerated.
"These are working people who have low end jobs, who are starting to build, climb up the economic ladder. If we don't help people who are building this, climbing that economic ladder up, you know, who should we help? You know what are we doing here?" he asked.
Council President Judi Brown Clarke said that's not the case. She has an issue with the city not getting enough tax revenue on the project.
"We have to be really fiscally responsible on how we road map and we landscape the city in which it makes sense. And, we have the revenue we need to do the things we can do and have quality of life," she explained.
And, Brown Clarke thinks the Mayor's press conference Thursday was an attempt to draw attention away from the controversy over the City Attorney separation agreement among other issues.
"We have absolutely nothing to hide and look forward to any investigation," she added.
The Greater Lansing Housing Coalition is planning to file a complaint with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development asking for an investigation.
And, it's been a while since any affordable or low-income housing was built in Lansing. Bob Johnson with the City's Department of Planning and Neighborhood Development told Fox 47 News it's been 10 years and the City is long overdue.
We spoke with the Old Town Commercial Association as well and the Executive Director, Austin Ashley, has been hoping something will happen with the building.
Ashley said Old Town is currently at a 95-percent occupancy rating, so they're running out of room for both office pace and housing. And, he added, just like it's been since the beginning, Old Town is open to anyone and everyone.
The Mayor is hoping Brown Clarke will reverse her vote by Monday's Council Meeting. That's when he expects the issue to be brought up again.
We'll let you know what happens.
