[Vendorsmi] Good News for Some Blind Vendors

[Terry Eagle]

Tuesday, December 11, 2012 
Note:  While some blind vendors face facility loss because of Snyder
administration proposed WORK-TO-WELFARE for the blind legislation, a glimmer
of hope or luck face some other blind vendors.

More employees headed to state-owned sites Pace of moves set to accelerate
in January 

State government efforts to reduce the amount of office space it leases by
consolidating employees in buildings it already owns are to accelerate in
January. That's when a series of moves and renovations begins at two
state-owned buildings in Lansing. State employees in Constitution Hall and
the Mason Building, both on West Allegan Street, recently were notified
about plans that will at least temporarily relocate them. Work that's
expected to start next month is one of the early steps in a plan under which
the state hopes to save millions of dollars a year by trimming the 5 million
square feet of office space it leases by up to 1.5 million square feet. The
state has 7.1 million square feet of office space in buildings it owns. But
after losing 20 percent of its workforce in the last 12 years, mostly to
attrition, those buildings are as much as 30 percent underutilized. Phil
Jeffery, chief deputy director of the Department of Technology, Management
and Budget, said it hasn't been determined what major commercial leases will
be terminated to fill the extra capacity in the state-owned Constitution
Hall and Mason Building. But, he said, changes will be made in such a way to
minimize the impact on downtown Lansing. I'm not in favor of leaving a
blighted spot in the middle of the city of Lansing," Jeffery said. Lansing
Mayor Virg Bernero said he has been briefed several times on the state's
plans and believes one beneficial effect will be more state employees moving
into state-owned buildings in Lansing from leased space outside the city. We
appreciate Gov. (Rick) Snyder's interest in and commitment to a vibrant
capital city by moving more state employees into the city, and we will
continue to cooperate and collaborate with state government to ensure value
for state taxpayers and a healthy and vibrant downtown," Bernero said. While
there may be some tax revenue implications associated with the moves, we
expect that gains in city income tax revenues will help offset any losses in
commercial property taxes. State employee unions have been cautiously
supportive of the plans, reasoning that if state officials can save money on
real estate, they may not have to make further cuts to wages and benefits,
said Phil Thompson, executive vice president of Michigan Public Employees
Service Employees International Union Local 517M. Jeffery said that just
under 1,000 state employees now work in Constitution Hall. Once renovations
are completed, it will be able to hold up to 1,900, he said. About 560
people work in the Mason Building today, officials said. After renovations,
it will accommodate at least 850.