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Best of The A2Independent
UPDATED: UMHS Signs Five-Year $45M Deal With Life Technologies—UMHS CEO Serves On Company’s Board Of Directors
Dr. Pescovitz owns shares in the company worth $385,000 and accumulated additional shares days before the October 2013 Board of Regents meeting at which the contract between UMHS and Life Technologies was granted approval.
IN THE…
City Officials Spend Heavily On Advertising In Monthly Tabloid & Rely Less On Advertising In Twice Weekly Newspapers
THE ANN ARBOR Indepdendent accepts no advertising from local, county or state government, local universities or the Ann Arbor Public Schools. It is a policy that takes direct aim at bolstering the newspaper’s editorial independence. The…
Citizen Survey Reveals Low Levels Of Civic Engagement & Activism In Ann Arbor
CITIZENS OF ANN ARBOR may just be resting on Alan Haber’s laurels. In 1960 Haber was the first president of the radical student group Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). SDS has been an important influence on student organizing. The…
Interview: Ingrid Ault Talks About Why You Should “Think Local First”
1. Talk a little about Think Local First and how the organization has grown since its inception.
In 2003 our founder Lisa Dugdale gathered the original 25 businesses that started Think Local First of Washtenaw County. In the past ten…
Emails Reveal Editor of Local News Site And Council Member Crossed Ethical Lines With Communications
NO THEY’RE NOT exchanging racy comments. However, a Freedom of Information Act request uncovered 130 pages of emails between David Askins, the editor of a local news site called AnnArborChronicle.com, and Ward 1 City Council member Sabra…
Interview: Rick Dekeon—Don’t say “I can’t do it.” Say “I can’t do it right now.”
by Betsy McMillin
I truly don't know how to do justice to long-time Ann Arbor Public Schools teacher Rick Dekeon. Anyone who knew him knows exactly what I am talking about. He was by far one of the most amazing teachers you will ever…
Interview: Malik Yakini Is Changing the Face of the Food Landscape in Detroit
by Hannah Wallace
When he was seven-years-old, Malik Yakini, inspired by his grandfather, planted his own backyard garden in Detroit, seeding it with carrots and other vegetables. Should it come as any surprise that today, Yakini has…
Council Members Discover Pedestrian Crosswalk Ordinance Passed Without A Professional Engineering (PE) Report
Editor’s Note: Katherine Griswold is the Chair of The Ann Arbor Independent’s Editorial Board.
WARD 1 COUNCIL member Sumi Kailasapathy conducted an email exchange this Fall with city staff, including the city’s transportation project…
Interview: Ward 2 Incumbent Discusses the Pedestrian Crosswalk Ordinance, City Employee Pensions, Parks & Transit
A2Indy: What are the two most pressing issues facing Ward 2 in your opinion?
Many of the most pressing issues in the 2ndWard are city-wide issues – enhancing public safety, adequately funding core infrastructure needs, and carefully…
Interview: Ward 2 Challenger Kirk Westphal On Prosperity, Downtown Ann Arbor & The DDA
What in your education and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this position?
My degrees in economics and urban planning serve me well in understanding both: 1) the current fiscal demands, and 2) the future promise of…