At a meeting on Tuesday, the East Lansing City Council unanimously voted to amend a 60-year-old ordinance that governs the Human Rights Commission in a way commissioners believe significantly weakens the body’s authority.
The original ordinance allowed the Human Rights Commission, or HRC, to investigate any complaint filed with them, providing multiple avenues to investigate complaints, mediate and issue orders. Under the new amendments, the HRC’s role is stripped down: they can receive complaints and hold hearings, but if a violation is found, they may only refer the parties to a qualified mediator or help the complainant to file with a state or federal agency.
Crucially, the amendments exempt city employees and city entities from HRC reviews entirely. Any complaint against city staff or an elected official must now be filed with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, or MDCR…