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Pedestrian Safety “Top Council Priority” in Dec., Months Later $450K for Pedestrian Safety at Schools Voted Down
by Patricia Lesko
At the May 15, 2017 Ann Arbor City Council meeting, Ward 2 Council member Jane Lumm (I) put forward five of the seven proposed amendments to Ann Arbor's over $350 million budget. Four of her amendments had co-sponsors,…
UPDATED: May 30 New Deadline to Take Online Survey About Community Interactions with Ann Arbor Police
by Patricia Lesko
The Project Team at consultant Hillard Heintze, a Chicago-based security consulting firm hired in Mar. 2017 by City Council, and who is being paid $200,000 to review the Ann Arbor Police Department, is seeking feedback …
Council Member Apologizes for Using Facebook and Twitter During Public Meetings
by Patricia Lesko
During four public meetings in early 2017, Ward 4 Council member Jack Eaton (D) spent a total of four hours accessing Facebook and a total of five hours accessing Twitter. Eaton, when asked to comment said: "I…
How Secure Are You? Happy World Password Day
by Megan Squire
The first Thursday in May is World Password Day, but don’t buy a cake or send cards. Computer chip maker Intel created the event as an annual reminder that, for most of us, our password habits are nothing to celebrate.…
U.S. House Passes Revised Version of the American Health Care Act—Michigan U.S. Reps. Respond
by Dave Alexander
The final vote was 217 in favor and 213 against. The House bill to revise Obamacare now goes to the Senate.
Here are key aspects of the House version of bill (per the AP):
Ends tax penalties Obama's law…
Emails/Texts Reveal Council Members Staged Homeless Support for Library Lot Sale Vote
by Patricia Lesko
The Ann Arbor Independent used FOIA to obtain emails, Tweets and text messages sent over several weeks prior to the April 17 City Council meeting between a trio of Council members and Caleb Poirier, founder of tent…
Ballot Initiative Effort Expected in 2017 to Legalize Marijuana in Michigan
Josh Sidor
Last year, efforts fell short to get it on the ballot but the question of whether to legalize marijuana in our state just might be left up to voters to decide after all.
The push for a 2018 ballot initiative is expected to…
Ward 3 Challenger Kunselman Says City Council “Lacks Direction and Leadership”
by Patricia Lesko
Ward 3 resident and former council member Stephen Kunselman announced on April 26 that he has qualified to appear on the August 8 Democratic primary ballot. The City Clerk's office confirmed that he had submitted at least…
OP-ED: During National Volunteer Week—Why Michigan Needs AmeriCorps
by Robert Kolt, Rep. Julie Calley (R-Portland), Rep. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing)
Most people recognize the Peace Corps, a great American service program to help meet social and economic challenges internationally.
AmeriCorps is the…
Sierra Club Issues Surprise “Early” Endorsement of Ward 4 Candidate for Council
by Patricia Lesko
The Sierra Club, Huron Valley Group, and Sierra Club, Michigan Chapter today formally announced an early endorsement of Ann Arbor Council member Jack Eaton (D-Ward 4) for re-election. In past, such endorsements have…