EDITORIAL: The Ann Arbor Public Schools & Transparency
Saline, Michigan public school Superintendent Scot Graden has been blogging about his job, public education and a variety of other education-related issues since 2007. In 2009, writer Mark Stock published a piece in The School…
Ward 2 Challenger’s Fundraising Letter Misleads Voters About Incumbent’s Record
KIRK WESTPHAL'S FUNDRAISING letter, has raised a ruckus among Ward 2 residents who found claims made about incumbent Ward 2 Independent Jane Lumm misleading. The letter is on Westphal's campaign stationary and signed by Downtown Development…
Interview: Ward 2 Incumbent Discusses the Pedestrian Crosswalk Ordinance, City Employee Pensions, Parks & Transit
A2Indy: What are the two most pressing issues facing Ward 2 in your opinion?
Many of the most pressing issues in the 2ndWard are city-wide issues – enhancing public safety, adequately funding core infrastructure needs, and carefully…
Interview: Ward 2 Challenger Kirk Westphal On Prosperity, Downtown Ann Arbor & The DDA
What in your education and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this position?
My degrees in economics and urban planning serve me well in understanding both: 1) the current fiscal demands, and 2) the future promise of…
Local Political Appointees In Electronic Hot Water For Denigrating Women, Voters & Council Members Online
SHORTLY AFTER BEING nominated to serve on the Ann Arbor Planning Commission by Mayor John Hieftje, Jeremy Peters’s credentials were closely questioned by residents and Council members.
Peters (left), Director, Creative Licensing,…
The Ann Arbor Independent—First time in over 110 years the city has a locally owned weekly newspaper
WELCOME TO The Ann Arbor Independent. For the first time in over 110 years Ann Arbor once again has a locally-owned weekly newspaper. The last time our city had a locally owned weekly newspaper was 1902, when the Ann Arbor Argus-Democrat…
Interview: Ward 1 Independent Jeff Hayner Discusses Proactive Policing, Recycling and Lower Town
Editor’s Note: Ward 1 incumbent Sabra Briere was given the opportunity to participate in this interview and provide answers to these questions. She chose not to do so.
A2Indy: What are the two most pressing issues facing Ward 1 in your…
Water At Argo Pond and Cascades Not Tested For Disease-Causing Microorganisms
SINCE DECEMBER 2012, there have been seven raw sewage spills into the Huron River. On August 29, 2013 there was sewage spill into the river at the spot where it runs through the Nichols Arboretum. The spill was not reported by the media…
Ann Arbor State Rep. Jeff Irwin Abstains On Vote That Defines ‘Journalists’
THE HOUSE JUDICIARY Committee recently approved House Bill 4770, which among other things, attempts to define what a journalist is to restrict access to motor vehicle accident reports for a period of 30 days after the accident.
The…
Citizen Journalists Should Not Be Shut Out By Government
by Manny Lopez
Scrutiny and sunshine are great ways of keeping government officials honest.
But the effort doesn’t come without occasional conflict. That’s especially true today given the advances in technology and ease with which…