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Ann Arbor Government
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…
Judge Cedric Simpson Refuses to Rescind $3M Bond For Alleged Kidnapper and Rapist Jeffrey Dwayne Smith
by P.D. Lesko
On Sept. 19, Jeffrey Dwayne Smith, 47, of Flatrock, Michigan, was arraigned in 14A-1 District Court before Magistrate Elisha A. Fink. Smith was charged with one count of sexual assault, as well as two counts of domestic…
Elected Officials Must Ask the Michigan AG to Launch an Investigation into SafeHouse
Local and county elected officials must ask Michigan AG Dana Nessel to investigate SafeHouse Center, its Executive Director and its Board of Directors. Here's why: purported public fraud by the non-profit.
On September 22, the…
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…
Alleged Assailant of Survivor Evicted by SafeHouse Jailed on $3M Cash Surety Bond
by P.D. Lesko
Jeffrey Dwayne Smith. Photo | The Ann Arbor Independent
On Sept. 19, Jeffrey Dwayne Smith, 47, of Flatrock, Michigan, was arraigned in 14A-1 District Court before Magistrate Elisha A. Fink. Smith was charged with one…
Ann Arbor Council Member Sends Open Letter to SafeHouse Executive Director Barbara Niess-May
by Council member Katherine J. Griswold, MBA, MSW
Hello Barbara Niess-May,
SafeHouse provides a critical service in our community. Per its mission: to provide safety, support, advocacy and resources for survivors of sexual assault…
Federal Railroad Administration Judges Ann Arbor Multi-Modal Train Station Plan Out of Touch With Reality
by P.D. Lesko
On August 11, 2021, in a letter to City Administrator Tom Crawford, the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) said of the proposed plan to build a $171,410,000 "train station," the feds…
Domestic violence 911 Calls Increased During Lockdown, but Official Police Reports and Arrests Declined
by Jillian Carr
COVID-19 stay-at-home orders surely saved many lives, but a growing number of studies document that lockdowns led to more reports of domestic violence.
Even as 911 calls for police help increased, official…
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…
What It Would Mean to End Qualified Immunity for Police and Other Public Employees
by Jared Wadley
An interview with Michael J. Steinberg, UM professor from practice and director of the Civil Rights Litigation Initiative at the University of Michigan Law School.
Police reform efforts nationwide have sparked debate…