Audit Statements Raise Questions: Is Ann Arbor SPARK A Private Venture Capital Firm or A Public Nonprofit Organization?
Please note: Kai Petainen sits on The Ann Arbor Independent’s Editorial Board.
SINCE 2009 ANN Arbor’s elected officials have given Ann Arbor SPARK over $5.1 million dollars in public money. In addition, a Washtenaw County tax has…
Changes At The Ann Arbor Summer Festival
ROBB WOULFE, THE Executive and Artistic Director of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, will be stepping down from his role to take up a new post in Colorado. He will become the new Chief Executive Officer of cultural arts for the city of…
EDITORIAL: Time To End Public Money For Ann Arbor SPARK
ANN ARBOR SPARK officials have refused to provide audited financial statements to the public and elected officials. When Governor Rick Snyder and MEDC CEO Michael Finney headed the organization, the Annual Report claimed that over 12,000…
U of M Professors Average $148,700 Per Year According To AAUP 2013 Salary Survey
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION of University Professors has released its 2013 Salary Survey. The comprehensive look at what colleges and universities across the U.S. pay their faculty includes breakdowns of state-by-state data.
In Michigan,…
Interview: Rick Dekeon—Don’t say “I can’t do it.” Say “I can’t do it right now.”
by Betsy McMillin
I truly don't know how to do justice to long-time Ann Arbor Public Schools teacher Rick Dekeon. Anyone who knew him knows exactly what I am talking about. He was by far one of the most amazing teachers you will ever…
Ward 4 Council Member Claim “Residents Don’t Shop Downtown” Draws Sharp Criticism
AT THE NOVEMBER 7th City Council meeting, Ward 4 City Council member Margie Teall made an observation: She said that Ann Arbor locals shop at big box stores and that downtown is supported by “tourists.” It should be noted that Teall did not…
Citizen Complains To Michigan Attorney General to Get Ann Arbor SPARK’s Audited Statements
Editor’s Note: Kai Petainen serves on the Editorial Board of The Ann Arbor Independent.
THESE ARE THE facts:
1. Between June 2009 and November 2013, the City of Ann Arbor gave Ann Arbor SPARK $5.1 million dollars from its General…
City Attorney Faces Council Scrutiny Of His Advice Memos Which Critics Claim Are Legal Opinions Delivered in “Secret”
ANN ARBOR CITY Attorney Stephen K. Postema has represented the City Council as its legal eagle since 2003. He advises the Mayor, City Council, City Administrator and oversees the City Attorney’s Office, with a staff of 10 attorneys and a…
High Overhead & Debt Load Push DDA Parking Space Revenues Well Below National Average
MAYOR JOHN HIEFTJE’S propensity to populate the city’s boards and commissions with what City Council members allege are his political cronies has long irked political insiders.
This, among other reasons, is why there is a quiet movement…
Insider Baseball: If Rep. John Dingell, Jr. Retires, Who’s Next?
by Joseph DiSano
THE BIGGEST PARLOR game played among political observers is “Will John Dingell retire?” And this year is no different — except there actually may be some merit to the speculation.
It will be a sad day when the…
