OP-ED: An Alternative to Proposal 1
by Robert J. Schneider
As I mull over the idea of paying more taxes if Proposition 1 passes tomorrow, I can't help but think that, instead of piling more taxes upon the poor schnook who already pays through the nose, wouldn't it be great…
A2 Indy Wins Reporting and Photography Awards for Local Coverage from Society of Professional Journalists
by John Ball
THE ANN ARBOR Independent earned three “Excellence in Media” awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, Detroit Chapter, for 2014 photography and reporting on such varied topics as investigative reporting, the 2014…
Burns Park Senior Center Hosting Artists’ Reception May 1
by Pam Simon
THE COMMUNITY IS invited to attend an artist reception featuring Ann Arbor artist Brenda Miller Slomovits with live classical guitar performance by Michael Harrington and light refreshments. The event is free and takes place…
EDITORIAL: Protesting and Protesters
FROM WALKING WITH signs in protest of the killing of Aura Rosser by a city police officer around City Council members mid-meeting as the elected officials sat in their chairs, to rushing U-M Regents shortly after that group’s April meeting…
Purple Rose Theater Play Review: “Tally’s Folly”
by Christian Usera
“THIS IS A waltz!” exclaims an exuberant Matt Friedman (Robert Najarian) as water vapor drifts through the air and reflects the stage lights. The theatrical “fourth wall” is shattered within the first three seconds of…
A2Politico: BAMNing for a Soupçon of Minority Enrollment at U-M? Sacrebleu & Maize
by Bryan Kelly
SO IT’S COME to this: protesters from BAMN (By Any Means Necessary), the radical Trotskyite organization with a heart of gold, “bulldozing” through a barricade at a Board of Regents meeting at the University of Michigan to…
Local Remodeling and Architectural Firms Team Up for LEED Platinum Redesign—NARI Tour April 25-26
by Ken Wachsberger
THERE IS NO higher sustainable honor for a remodeled home than to be certified as LEED Platinum status. Ann Arborites Patricia Harroun, of Cardea Construction Company, and Michael Klement AIA, of Architectural…
EDITORIAL: Using Fees as Backdoor Taxes
THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S proposed $99 million General Fund budget was released ahead of last week’s Ann Arbor City Council meeting. The budget projects that expenses will outstrip revenue, and in what has become a commonplace occurrence,…
Sweetheart Deal: Suspended City Employee Collects Pay for Months and Vests for Retirement
by P.D. Lesko
Download a copy of Ralph Welton's Separation Agreement here.
While City Administrator Steve Powers announced Welton’s “resignation” in Jan. 2015, the Separation Agreement signed by Welton and city HR Director Robyn…
High School Heroes: Battling the Stigma of Mental Illness one Day at a Time
By Stavi Tennenbaum
EVA ROSENFELD, JUNIOR, and co-editor in chief of Community High School’s nationally acclaimed CHS Communicator newspaper, is an avid reader, artist, Neutral Zone Board leader and widely published journalist. A Google…