AAATA Seeks Five-Year, $21.8M Proposal on Aug. 2 Ballot
by Scott McClallen
After losing about 5 million riders since 2017, the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority is seeking a $21.8 million tax hike over five years on the Aug. 2 primary ballot on property owners in the cities…
Letter to the Editor: The Taylor Machine Must Be Defeated
by John Smith
I view the Taylor Machine as an existential threat to effective, vibrant Democracy in this town. This Machine must be defeated. So, what is to be done? I believe it is essential to do two things, 1)…
A2Politico: The Washtenaw County Democratic Party’s Voter Suppression Must Stop
by P.D. Lesko
For the past several years, Chris Savage has chaired the Washtenaw County Democratic Party (WCDP). Let's begin by acknowledging that there are plenty of good, honest people who belong to the group and who volunteer. A…
Film Review: “Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank”
A hapless canine is recruited to protect a village of hostile cats in this animated reimagining of 'Blazing Saddles' voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, Michelle Yeoh, Michael Cera and Ricky Gervais.
Rated PG, 1 hour 37 minutes
by Frank…
August 2022 Primary Election Guide
Since its launch in 2013, The Ann Arbor Independent has never endorsed in any political race or donated to any candidate. The A2Indy provides readers information to make their own decisions. The A2Indy takes…
A2Politico: When Candidates and Their Supporters Go Low, Ann Arbor Voters Should Go High
by P.D. Lesko
From union leaders who handed out money and endorsements inequitably, to self-serving non-profit leaders and right on down to loopy locals, the August 2022 Democratic primary election is turning into a doozy. Rich, white,…
In Ward 4, Incumbent Elizabeth Nelson Faces Two Challengers
by P.D. Lesko
Democrat Elizabeth Nelson was elected to represent Ward 4 on Ann Arbor City Council in 2018. After her election, she began publishing a chart of Council meeting votes and publishing a newsletter. In her time in office,…
Mayoral Candidate Anne Bannister: By the Numbers, Votes and Resolutions
by P.D. Lesko
Democrat Anne Bannister has lived in Ann Arbor since 1974, when she moved to the city with her family. Presently, she lives in Ward 1 in a home on Main Street and works in the financial services industry. In 2009, she…
An Ode for the Anthem: U-M Professor Mark Clague’s “O Say Can You Hear? A Cultural Biography of the Star-Spangled Banner”
Jenn McKee, Pulp
It seemed a little on the nose to be reading U-M associate professor Mark Clague’s new book, O Say Can You Hear? A Cultural Biography of the Star-Spangled Banner, on the 4th of July—at U-M’s Camp Michigania, no…
Mayor Taylor Used City Staff to Secretly “Harvest” Resident Email Addresses, Then Solicited Campaign Donations
by P.D. Lesko
In March 2022, The Ann Arbor Independent filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain all emails sent in 2020 and 2021 to and from City staff to any email address at Hooper Hathaway, the law firm where the Mayor is…