Browsing Category
Econ
Majority of $767,218,458 in Federal Stimulus Funds to Washtenaw County Soaked Up By….
by Robert C. Smith
The amount of stimulus funding send from Washington, D.C. to Washtenaw County between 2009 and 2011 is a staggering $767,218,458 million dollars, the 4th largest amount given out within the state. That's $2,222 dollars…
How Much “Fire, Ready, Aim” Leadership Cost Taxpayers This Time
by P.D. Lesko
The University of Michigan picked up its marbles and is going home. Officials there are now looking to build the U.'s next parking garage anywhere but on a 10 acre parcel of riverside parkland on Fuller Road. While the U…
Michigan Backs Financial Scheme of Convicted Felon & Now Taxpayers on the Hook for $18 Million
by P.D. Lesko
Guess what you can get in Michigan for a $10,000 donation to Rick Snyder's campaign? You can get $18,000,000 in state money to bail you out when your project crashes and burns just 10 months after it's launched. You can also…
Who Are Ann Arbor’s Own 1 Percent? Hint: Many Work for Local Nonprofits & In the Public Sector
The New York Times recently published a feature about the 1 Percent. Reporters Shaila Dewan and Robert Gebeloff write: "Now, the colossal gap between the very rich and everyone else — the 1 percent versus the 99 percent — has become a…
How The 1 Percent Create Jobs: Officials Dump Millions In Public Money Into Local Job Creation & Exercise Little Oversight
by P.D. Lesko
Michigan has bled jobs, and the state's residents have suffered Depression-era unemployment levels.
The Detroit Free Press recently concluded in its report card evaluation of Governor Rick Snyder that Snyder's first year in…
Ann Arbor Politicos Dish Up Millions in Public Money & Give SPARK Pals A Pass On Public Accountability
by P.D. Lesko
I read a Tweet from Ann Arbor SPARK on November 17th: "Paul Krutko, Ann Arbor SPARK's CEO, speaking at the VC breakfast in San Jose, California. http://twitpic.com/7felds."
Krutko was the Chief Development Officer for the…
New Report: Michigan Economy Is Moving “Significantly Backward” By Hiking Taxes on the Poor
by P.D. Lesko
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, one of the nation’s premier policy organizations working at the federal and state levels on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income families and…
While Ann Arbor Pols Push Tax Hike, Street Repair Millage Fund Balloons & Miles of Roads Resurfaced Plummets
For more than five years, Ann Arbor residents have had to deal with a mismanaged and heavy- handed city sidewalk program which forced them to pay for repairing sidewalks along their property. City officials estimate property owners spent…
Interview: U.S. Rep. Schauer
by Chris Savage
In 2008, Democratic state Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer was elected to be the Representative for Michigan's 7th Congressional District, replacing Republican Tim Walberg. The 7th District, which spans a large…
Forbes Mag. List of Cities With the Happiest Young Professionals Includes Detroit But Not Ann Arbor
by P.D. Lesko
The Boomers on Ann Arbor City Council are fixated on turning the city into a mecca for Young Professionals. After all, 35,000 wanna-be YPs study at the University of Michigan, and if all of them would just stay put, in less…