East Lansing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director Elaine Hardy was replaced as staff liaison to the East Lansing Human Rights Commission after serving in the role for over five years, and no one is saying why.
City Manager Robert Belleman sent out a memo on Friday, April 10, announcing that Hardy is no longer the liaison and an HR employee will replace her. During a contentious three-hour-long commission meeting on Monday, members of the commission were baffled that no one knew why Hardy was removed, including the new staff liaison Human Resources Administrator Wendy Yaney, as well as Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Grigsby and Human Resources Director Emily Kenney.
For months, there has been tension between city leaders and members of the Human Rights Commission, as the body has been investigating an incident of alleged police brutality, despite city attorneys advising against the investigation because the incident is the subject of lawsuits filed in federal court. Hardy was also removed from her role as staff liaison to the city’s Police Oversight Commission – which has also been critical of the incident…