Monitoring the Rich and Powerful in Grand Rapids – Segment Two

One of the 10 principles of journalism is that it must serve as an independent monitor of power.

Now, I don’t claim to be a journalist, more of a media watchdog, but I do engage in movement media. Movement media is reporting and documenting what social movements are doing, which is what I have been trying to do with GRIID since 2009.

However, since I have been monitoring what I call the Grand Rapids Power Structure for nearly two decades, I thought I would start a new segment – Monitoring the Rich and Powerful in Grand Rapids. 

The Monitoring the Rich and Powerful in Grand Rapids segments will offer brief commentary on those who have power over others in this community. These segments will not replace my regular reporting on the Grand Rapids Power Structure, since those stories will offer more in depth writing. 

As we navigate a second Trump Administration with the likes of Elon Musk, it seems like a perfect opportunity to shed some light on rich and powerful of Grand Rapids, or to frame it the way that radical media from the 60s and 70s would do regarding the Capitalist Class, using the phrase, “up against the wall motherfucker!”

1. Dick DeVos, the oldest son of Rich DeVos has a Facebook page, where he refers to himself as a Public Figure. While that is sort of a true description, I would prefer to call him – Local Oligarchy member. Dick recently posted on his FB page the following: The team working on the Acrisure Amphitheater reached a special milestone on Friday as workers raised the final steel beam and completed the amphitheater’s framework. Congratulations to the entire team and GREAT WORK!!  Grand Action 2.0 and our partners could not be more excited to see how this project transforms Grand Rapids. Very grateful for all of the workers, engineers, and contractors who have been working on this project!!  Dick DeVos conveniently omits the fact that the bulk of the funding for the 14,000 seat amphitheater is because of all the tax breaks and public money from the State of Michigan, Kent County and the City of Grand Rapids. DeVos does acknowledge that he is part of Grand Action 2.0, which has been the entity driving most of the downtown Grand Rapids projects since the arena in the mid-1990s. I have written about Grand Action 2.0 a great deal in recent years, which you can find here, but in one of the articles I ask the question – How is it that we allow groups like Grand Action 2.0 to get away with the shit they do?
2. In a new post from the website Grand Riverfront it states: Amway Stadium, set to open in 2027, is expected to drive economic development, expand opportunities for young athletes, and attract large-scale events that benefit businesses across the region. The new venue will be more than just a soccer stadium. It’s designed to be a multi-purpose facility that serves the broader community. While it will be home to an MLS NEXT Pro team, it could also be available for high school and collegiate championship games, lacrosse, rugby, and marching band competitions, as well as an endless list of community opportunities – much of which have yet to even be imagined. Tourism officials and business leaders believe the stadium will generate millions in visitor spending, benefiting hotels, restaurants, and local businesses. Groups like this, which are essentially made up of the same people that are part of Grand Action 2.0, the DDA and the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce are always claiming these project will be an economic boost. These groups often cite economic impact numbers, but they rarely, if ever, say where the money is going, which in the downtown area in goes to the OWNERS of the hotels, parking structures, bars, restaurants, etc. The business class reaps the profits from these projects, not those who work in parking garages, restaurants, bars and hotels. People who work in these spaces still don’t make a living wage, while the owners of these spaces continue to expand their wealth.
3. The West Michigan Policy Forum recently posted an article by one of their members, John Kennedy, the CEO of Autocam. They write on their FB page: Michigan’s roads are in dire shape, but raising taxes on small businesses and people isn’t the solution. John Kennedy said the West Michigan Policy Forum stands against a proposed Corporate Income Tax hike because it will hurt local businesses, job growth, and Michigan’s economy. Instead, Kennedy said revenue-neutral proposals like Speaker Matt Hall’s plan is the best way to fix our roads and bridges. Let’s prioritize better budgeting over more taxes to keep Michigan open for business and drive real economic growth. John Kennedy, who is a member of the Grand Rapids Power Structure, besides sitting on the board of the West MI Policy Forum, also sits on the board of the Acton Institute and the Right Place Inc. Kennedy is on the far left of the info-graphic here below.