The Ann Arbor Independent - A locally owned newspaper in Ann Arbor

A2P Notes: This is filed under "Scoops & Scores" because you read it here first. Over the past 36 months Council has struggled with budget "deficits," threatened to close Mack Pool and the Burns Park Senior Center to make ends meet,…

TKWU, my favorite Chinese restaurant, doesn't use Styrofoam takeout containers, but our favorite burger place does, and so do loads of other local restaurants, as well as local food carts. Takeout orders at TKWU are packaged in durable…

by Chris Savage In an unprecedented move this spring, the Emergency Financial Manager (EFM) of Benton Harbor, Michigan swept aside the City Commission and assumed total control of the government. Appointed by Democratic Governor Jennifer…

Ann Arbor city staffer (and likely the next City Administrator) Sue McCormick (pictured left) has earned the nickname of SHOPerations Manager for the City of Ann Arbor. Why? Because Ms. McCormick likes to spend your money on shiny new…

On May 11th, Eclectablog posted an item that should let Michigan Democrats know exactly how far the Michigan Democratic Party is prepared to go to lend support to the efforts to repeal the Emergency Financial Manager legislation and the…

A2P Notes: Just after AnnArbor.com was launched, essayist Jack Lessenberry wrote in the Metro Times: Now I like to think of myself as a fairly sophisticated newspaper critic. I've worked for a lot of them, have had bylines in The Washington…

by Betsy McMillin I have gotten a lot of great, positive feedback from The Entitled Nation (March 20, 2011), a lot of people seeing themselves and their kids, even when they didn't want to. I wish I could say that my kids are not as…

by Erika McNamara Once again panhandling has grabbed the attention of the Ann Arbor public and media. Recently, the Ann Arbor City Council decided to amend the city Panhandling Ordinance. This decision was based on the recommendation of…

Since 2008, Ann Arbor has been at the top of MITA's list of cities with the worst roads in the state of Michigan. With its Road Repair Millage that brings in $9-$11 million dollars per year in funds that, in theory, are supposed to be used…

The cash cows who live in Ann Arbor have a record of voting to nickel and dime themselves to death, literally. The city's property tax bill, thanks to "supplemental" millages, has come to resemble a check in a French restaurant where…