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After Ann Arbor Assistant Administrator Fournier Backed Out of Evanston Top Job, Evanston Mayor Says, “We Dodged a Bullet”
by P.D. Lesko
In May 2022, Ann Arbor Assistant City Administrator John Fournier left officials in Evanston, IL scratching their heads after Fournier spent a week sending "counters" to an employment contract that had been approved by a…
Four Assistant City Attorneys Assigned to Fight Former City Attorney’s Request for Public Records
by P.D. Lesko
The Ann Arbor Charter states that, like the County, Ann Arbor shall employ a single City Attorney. There are, at present, a dozen attorneys employed by the City, plus numerous contract attorneys. Four of those twelve…
County Clerk Asked to Disqualify Ann Arbor’s Mayor From Running for Re-Election
by P.D. Lesko
When filing to run, candidates for elected office sign affidavits swearing their campaign finances are in proper order. Between 2018 and 2020, Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor purchased multiple Facebook ads, but his…
Do You Qualify? Over 1M in Michigan Have Health Coverage Through State-Funded Healthy Michigan Program
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Healthy Michigan Plan is now providing health care coverage to 1,000,456 million Michiganders, marking the first time more than one million people have opted for affordable and accessible…
Campaign Finances of Ward 4 Incumbent Show Financial Support Primarily From Ward 4 Residents
by P.D. Lesko
Ann Arbor City Council member Elizabeth Nelson (D-Ward 4) ran as an unknown in 2018 for a four-year term. Nelson is running for re-election in 2022. According to her pre- and post-election campaign finance statements filed…
$431M Waived for UIA in Federal Pandemic Overpayments for 55,000 in Michigan
by Scott McClallen
(The Center Square) – The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency says it will waive about $431 million it overpaid to more than 55,000 Michiganders in federal pandemic unemployment benefits.
About $11 million will…
Few of Ward 4 Council Challenger’s Donors Live in Ward 4
by P.D. Lesko
Library Trustee Dharma Akmon has raised $15,365 for her Ward 4 City Council race, according to public campaign finance records. On April 14, 2022 Akmon Tweeted out a thank you to "***194 individuals***" who have allegedly…
Former City Administrator Takes First Step Toward Suing Mayor and Council Members for Defamation
by P.D. Lesko
In August 2021, former Ann Arbor City Administrator Tom Crawford resigned. Seven members of Ann Arbor City Council (Taylor, Disch, Song, Grand, Radina, Eyer and Briggs) had voted to terminate Crawford's employment based on…
City Council’s Universal Basic Income Program Could Hurt Low-Income Recipients
by P.D. Lesko
Since Linh Song (D-Ward 2) was elected to Ann Arbor City Council in 2020, the average median household income in the city has risen to $104,000. There are 5,500 people on Ann Arbor's public housing waitlist for 150…
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Deputy to be Sentenced in May for Using Neck Hold on Inmate
In August 2021, a Washtenaw County deputy headed to trial in connection with an assault involving an inmate last summer.
According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Cpl. Christopher Ellul was arraigned on an assault…