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City Council
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…
How Many Units of Market Rate, Low-Income, Workforce and Affordable Housing Has Ann Arbor Built Since 2014?
by P.D. Lesko
"If you want to work on affordability, the thing that you do is try to increase supply. So, that is going to be a community conversation that we are going to continue to have. Obviously it’s going to mean that we have to…
First Amendment Twist: Federal Judge Awards Local Hate Group $159K in Legal Fees
by P.D. Lesko
Note: Our family belonged to Congregation Beth Israel from 1992-2004. I served on the Board in the early-90s. When the protests by Witness for Peace began, we were members of the synagogue. We joined Temple Beth Emeth…
A2Politico: How Utterly Pedestrian– The DDA’s State Street “Redesign” is All About Cars
by Patricia Lesko
Ann Arbor and the environment need expanded non-motorized transportation infrastructure. The need is particularly acute on Main St., State St., and Liberty. When the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA) came…
With Overtime, City Employees Increase Their Take-Home Pay by as Much as 58 Percent
Updated on 1/24/22 with comments from Council member Jeff Hayner.
by P.D. Lesko
The City of Ann Arbor currently employs approximately 840 full-time regular employees and 1,400 part-time and temporary employees. In 2020, taxpayers…
Mayor Pushes Council to Protect and Reward John Fournier, Subject of Allegations by City Hall Whistleblower
by P.D. Lesko
An anonymous source emailed MLive's government reporter a copy of a complaint submitted by a whistleblower who is among the ranks of Ann Arbor's upper management. In the complaint, the whistleblower alleged to members of…
In Public Statement, Eleven Elected Officials in Washtenaw County Chastise SafeHouse Center Board of Directors
by P.D. Lesko
Update 9/26/21: Ann Arbor Council member Elizabeth Nelson (D-Ward 4) signed the letter.
Efforts by the Executive Director and Board members of SafeHouse Center to hire a Miller-Canfield lawyer and conduct a quiet…
Trans Woman Targeting Ward 1 Council Member for Recall Sent Him Harassing Emails
by P.D. Lesko
Ariah Schugat is a 29-year-old trans woman who, in May 2021, submitted petition language to the Washtenaw County Election Board to recall Ann Arbor Council member Jeff Hayner (D-Ward 1). Schugat, formerly a resident of the…
Council Votes to Remove Member From His Boards and Commissions for Seven Months, “Against Advice of Counsel”
by Patricia Lesko
On April 19, 2021, in a move that the Ann Arbor City Attorney Stephen Postema called "unprecedented," Jeff Hayner (D-Ward 1) was stripped of his seats on seven boards and commissions, including the Parks Advisory…
Campaign Finance Violation Complaint Filed Against City Council Member
The Michigan Secretary of State's Bureau of Elections is investigating a campaign finance violation complaint filed against Mayor Christopher Taylor in March of this year. The complaint alleges that Taylor, a Democrat who has served on…