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Ann Arbor Government
272 Assaults Reported by AAPD to Date in 2014— 11 Percent Involved Weapons, Including Guns
AN ANALYSIS OF data submitted by the AAPD reveals that an individual in Ann Arbor is most likely to be assaulted on Sunday and then Saturday. Monday has been, since January of this year, the day of the week on which the fewest assaults took…
Michigan Crosswalk Safety Rules Unclear, Hinder Walkability
by Darcie Moran
WHEN A CAR and a pedestrian meet at a crosswalk, what’s supposed to happen?
It’s a safety question that’s left some Michigan communities requesting more signs to remind drivers to yield for pedestrians.
But some…
83 Drug Crimes Reported by AAPD to Date in 2014—26.5 Percent for Heroin, Crack, Narcotics
IN HIS EARLY 2014 presentation to City Council and the public, Ann Arbor Police Chief John Seto reported that Part I crime in Ann Arbor was down over the previous year. While the report included numbers for burglaries and larcenies, it did…
Mayoral Candidate Alleges Opponents’ Affordable Housing Resolution “Pandering” and “Politicking”
WARD 3 COUNCIL member Stephen Kunselman repeatedly alleged that a resolution brought to Council’s June 2, 2014 meeting by Mayor Hieftje, Ward 1 Council member Sabra Briere, Ward 3 Council member Christopher Taylor, Ward 4 Council member…
26 Home Invasions Reported by AAPD in the Month of May, 90 Thus Far in 2014
ACCORDING TO DATA compiled by the Ann Arbor Police Department, during the month of May there were 338 crimes, total, reported. The homes of 26 residents were invaded by thieves. Of those break-ins, 12 were forced entries, or almost half of…
France is Paying People to Bike to Work—Could Ann Arbor Do the Same?
by Liz Dwyer
NEXT TIME YOU head to Paris, you might see more people riding bikes across the Seine. That’s because France has just launched a trial experiment that will pay 10,000 people to bicycle to work.
According to Reuters, 20 of…
In Two Separate Rulings U.S. District Judges Blast City Attorneys’ Legal Arguments
by P.D. Lesko
ANN ARBOR City Attorney Stephen Postema was dressed down in a 17-page opinion penned by U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Zatkoff in May. The judge concluded city officials had no legal justification to keep Bob Dascola…
City Administrator Once Again Refuses to Turn Over Records to a Council Member
CITY ADMINISTRATOR Steve Powers answers directly to City Council. The city’s Charter requires the 11-member group to annually review the City Administrator’s performance. Council sets his pay and has the ultimate authority to fire him. …
Over 1,000 Potholes Reported to City—Residents Can Seek Reimbursement for Damage to Vehicles
IN THE JUNE 2014 issue of The Ann Arbor Observer, writer Jan Schlain reports, “So drivers will be hitting this year’s bumper crop of potholes for a while. They just shouldn’t expect any compensation from the city when they do so.” Ward 2…
Highest Percentages of No Votes on AAATA Millage Came From Ypsilanti Township and Ann Arbor
THE AAATA MILLAGE vote was costly. Ted Annis, former treasurer of the AAATA Board of Directors placed the amount spent on the special election, staff time, surveys, consultants, marketing and materials by AAATA at around $1.5 million.…