The CEO of Rockford Construction writes a love letter to the City Commission because they adopted the ordinances that will protect the interests of those with money and power

In the Agenda Packet for the most recent Grand Rapids City Commission meeting, there was a letter from the CEO of Rockford Construction, Mike VanGessel.

If you have been following GRIID over the years, you know that Mike VanGessel is also part of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Now, he is not in the same league and the DeVos and Meijer families, but he is what we refer to as part of the second tier of the local power structure, particularly because of his involvement in organizations that are deeply entrenched in the Grand Rapids Power Structure.

In addition, as CEO of Rockford Construction, VanGessel has developed a close relationship with the DeVos family, particularly with their role in purchasing millions of dollars in land in the Southeast part of Grand Rapids before the residents even knew about it, and since then has been collaborating with AmplifyGR to push a specific type of development agenda. Lastly, with most the the larger development projects that Rockford Construction has been involved within the city, Grand Rapids government officials have provided the company with major subsidies/tax breaks for these development projects. 

Ok, back to the letter from VanGessel. The letter can be read on pages 75-76 of the Agenda Packet. In many ways this is a love letter from VanGessel to Grand Rapids officials, thanking them for adopting the most recent ordinances that will criminalize the unhoused. In the letter VanGessel says, “Contrary to your critics, you are not “panhandlers”, but our servant leaders.”

Now, I find it very instructive that this is how the CEO of Rockford Construction sees elected officials, especially when he and his fellow members of the local Capitalist Class wouldn’t have the first clue of what it means to be a servant leader. When it comes to real leadership, which is always about centering those who are most impacted by systems of oppression, VanGessel and his ilk are no where to be found. For example, VanGessel was a part of the Mayor’s Housing Task force, when he should have given up his seat for someone who was unhoused or experiencing housing insecurity. People with that kind of lived experience know what is best for them, not people who build housing.

Sources used for the top graphic:

https://www.accesskent.com/Departments/Elections/campaign_finance.htm