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Bill Would Ban Sanctuary Cities in Michigan
by Genevieve O'Gara
In 2017, Ann Arbor City Council instructed the AAPD to stop collecting information pertaining to the immigration status of individuals. Council did not pass a resolution proclaiming Ann Arbor a "sanctuary city."!-->!-->!-->…
Mayor Taylor Used City Staff to Secretly “Harvest” Resident Email Addresses, Then Solicited Campaign Donations
by P.D. Lesko
In March 2022, The Ann Arbor Independent filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain all emails sent in 2020 and 2021 to and from City staff to any email address at Hooper Hathaway, the law firm where the Mayor is!-->!-->!-->…
Washtenaw County Reps Who’ve Missed the Most Votes in Lansing
by P.D. Lesko
Michigan's legislators are among the highest paid in the nation. Currently, legislators in our state receive a base pay of $79,650, plus another $12,000 annually for expenses. Leadership positions receive added!-->!-->!-->…
Ann Arbor’s First Adult Marijuana Consumption Lounge Bogged Down by Licensing Process
Ann Arbor plans on issuing 28 licenses for marijuana consumption lounges within the city limits.
According to a press release, a new business called Hot Box Social announced that it is the first licensed adult-use!-->!-->!-->…
Political Donor to Mayor & His Council Allies Benefits From City Zoning Changes Around Briarwood
by P.D. Lesko
2/11/22: This article has been updated with comments from Council member Kathy Griswold (D-Ward 2).
Council member Kathy Griswold's (D-Ward 2) resolution asked City staff for the answers to a few questions: Who owns the!-->!-->!-->!-->!-->…
Independent Investigation Confirms Allegations of SafeHouse Mismanagement: Executive Director Barbara Niess-May Resigns
Updated 1/24/22 with comments from Nicole Beverly.
by P.D. Lesko
On January 18, 2022, after the results of an independent investigation into allegations of mismanagement were delivered to the SafeHouse Board of Directors, long-time!-->!-->!-->!-->!-->…
County Administrator’s Attempt to Charge A2Indy $200+/Hour in FOIA Fees to Release His Own Phone Bills and Emails, Reversed
by P.D. Lesko
The Ann Arbor Independent used the Michigan Freedom of Information Act to obtain eight months of County Administrator Greg Dill's county-owned cell phone bills, as well as emails between Dill and former SafeHouse Executive!-->!-->!-->…
County Administrator Greg Dill Gaslights & Misleads Community With His “Statement on SafeHouse”
Editor's note: On October 17, 2021, The Ann Arbor Independent published an editorial in which we called for the Washtenaw Board of Commissioners to fire Greg Dill for his role in putting domestic violence victims and their children in!-->…
Premiums Lower, but Michigan Auto Insurance Costs Still High and Plagued by Persistent Racial Disparities
by Jared Wagley
Michigan’s auto insurance reform law has contributed to an 18% drop in average premium costs from 2019 to 2020—the steepest decline in the country over that time period, according to new analysis by Poverty Solutions at!-->!-->!-->…
In Whistleblower Complaint, Michigan AG Asked to Investigate SafeHouse Board, Executive Director and Staff
by P.D. Lesko
A whistleblower's complaint against SafeHouse Center, the non-profit's Board members, Executive Director and staff, dated October 31, 2021, has been filed with Michigan's Attorney General. The complaint asks AG Dana Nessel!-->!-->!-->…