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Ann Arbor Government
Sheriff Deputy’s Sex Crimes Trial: Politics, Postponements and Missing Evidence
By P.D. Lesko
Washtenaw County Sheriff's Deputy D'Angelo McWilliams.
If Washtenaw County Sheriff's Deputy and alleged rapist D'Angelo McWilliams were a vegetable, he'd be a potato--a very, very hot potato. McWilliams's hiring and…
A2Politico: County Pols Plan to “Protect” the Mental Health Millage. They’re Five Years Late & $35M Short
by P.D. Lesko
The 2016 Mental Health and Public Safety Millage was the brainchild of County Commissioner Andy LaBarre (District 7). It was the perfect way to get voters to pony up tens of additional millions for two of the poorest run…
Alleged Rapist Hired as Deputy; Sheriff Denies Release of Background Check as “Not in the Public’s Interest”
by P.D. Lesko
On March 25, 2024, The Ann Arbor Independent submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the County Sheriff's Dept. to obtain a copy of the background check done on Sheriff's Deputy D'Angelo Ladonn McWilliams prior…
U-M Tickets Student Protesters and Bans Them From Campus Buildings: ACLU Says, “Not So Fast”
by Ann Mullen
According to an article in The Michigan Daily on Mar. 29, Students Allied for Freedom and Equality (SAFE) reported that three students were served citations by police in Ann Arbor “for trespassing at the 101st Honor…
A2Politico: City Bicentennial Celebrations Include a “Fun” Opportunity to Pay $795,000 to Pave a Parking Lot
by P.D. Lesko
So far, Ann Arbor's Bicentennial "celebrations" look like a "delicious" get together planned by out-of-touch, rich, white people: crustless mayonnaise sandwiches, only the best Lipton tea (but a charge for cracked cups for…
County Sheriff Spends Mental Health and Public Safety Millage Money on New Boat, New Furnishings, Graphic Design, and Bogus Therapy Program
by P.D. Lesko
This article was made possible by The Ann Arbor Independent FOIA Fund.
At a recent "informational meeting" with officials from western Washtenaw County, the Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton, The Sheriff's…
Ann Arbor’s Guaranteed Income Program Starts Giving Out $528 Monthly Payments
by Ken Coleman
A two-year project aimed at providing monthly payments to 100 current and future Ann Arbor entrepreneurs with low and very low incomes kicked off this month. Over 1,000 people applied in Oct. 2023.
Powered by Poverty…
In May 2023, Michigan Court of Appeals Found That Local Trial Court Judge Showed Bias, Abuse of Discretion and Ignorance of Court Rules
by P.D. Lesko
On May 11, 2023, the Michigan Court of Appeals published an opinion in which a three-judge panel found Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Tracy E. Van den Bergh's rulings in a divorce case repeatedly showed bias and abuse…
A2Politico: Ann Arbor Hires As Police Chief Candidate Who Allegedly Battered and Injured a Woman
by P.D. Lesko
On Dec. 19, Ann Arbor City Council voted unanimously to approve the City Administrator's recommendation to hire Andre Anderson as the City's next Chief of Police. In recommending Anderson despite his blemished service…
Who Derailed Ann Arbor’s Plans for an Unarmed Response Program?
by P.D. Lesko
In April 2021, City Council voted to adopt resolution R-21-129 which directed then City Administrator Tom Crawford to implement an "unarmed crisis response program in the City of Ann Arbor."…