Lansing official criticized for online comments

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Online posts by Lansing Charter Commissioner Lori Adams Simon have sparked concern from mental health advocates. They say these posts, which took shots at someone’s mental health, aren’t expected to come from an elected official—especially one with a decade of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion experience.

What started as a heated Facebook exchange between a community member and Simon resulted in Simon recommending that the person be placed under a 72-hour psychiatric hold.

Simon says she made that comment in the heat of the moment.

A social media post sharing an article about Simon sparked an online exchange between Simon and Lansing resident Rebecca N.

6 News will not be publishing Rebecca’s full name due to personal safety.

Rebecca’s comment questioned Simon’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) experience, as well as the legitimacy of her consulting firm.

Simon has her own DEI policy consulting firm, but she started her career working in DEI with Sparrow Hospital.

When Simon did not answer Rebecca’s question, Rebecca replied “I’m waiting for you to do your *expletive* job, you lazy bum.”

“I think it was fair to say I was rude and I was certainly frustrated,” says Rebecca.

That set off multiple back-and-forth comments between her and Simon, which Simon calls a “verbal assault.”

“She exuded, in my opinion, her unearned or perceived privilege to trying to diminish my accomplishment and devalue my potential contributions to the Charter,” says Simon.

“She was like ‘no, you need to show me’ and said that I had a shell company and was positioning myself for financial gain,” said Simon. “Her assault was so irrational and hostile, that’s why I referred to the state of her mental health.”

Simon says Rebecca’s comments were racist and were pointed at her being a Black woman in a position of power.

“I thought that way because oftentimes Black women are approached in that manner, especially by white counterparts, and I had never met Rebecca N,” said Simon. “I never interacted with her.”

Simon at one point responded “This is why we need a psychiatric facility in Lansing,” later recommending a 72-hour psychiatric hold after Rebecca called her a “*expletive* clown.”

“I think we should expect our elected leaders, we should expect everyone to not make those leaps from being in an argument with someone willing to attack them,” says Rebecca.

Frances Kanous, a peer support specialist, agrees and says that, with Simon’s 10 years as a DEI professional, she was out of line.

“Her behavior is anything but professional in my opinion,” says Kanous.

Simon says she was reacting to a moment and admits that her comments were offensive to those with disabilities.

“I understand the importance of accountability and I in the future, I’ll just move, remain very professional, constructive, and focused on the critical work involved in the internal review process,” says Simon.

Both Rebecca and Kanous say that they don’t want to see this escalate to Simon’s removal from office or any similar action, and they are glad to hear Simon accept the accountability.

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