Guest writer

Lansing’s skilled trades are built on grit, training, and hard work — not on a single, government-approved career path. I represent a trade association that boasts over 300 contractors and thousands of hard-working tradesmen and tradeswomen who work in Greater Lansing. Our workforce comes from everywhere: registered apprenticeships, Lansing Community College degrees, certifications from the American Welding Society, Michigan Works! programs and military service.

All of these paths produce skilled, safe and experienced professionals. But under the so-called “Responsible Contractors Ordinance” being pushed at City Hall, only one pathway — registered apprenticeships — would count. If your crew learned their craft through any other rigorous route, you’re out.

That’s not just ba

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