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…
Film Review: Daisy Edgar-Jones in “Where the Crawdads Sing”
A young woman raised in the North Carolina marshes becomes the subject of investigation after a grisly murder in this film adaptation of Delia Owens’ best-selling novel.
Rated PG-13, 2 hours 5 minutes
by Lovia Garkye
Where the…
Regents Made Unprecedented Change to U-M President Ono’s Contract
by Jeremy Bauer-Wolf
Santa Ono, the incoming president of the University of Michigan, would lose his tenured faculty role if the institution fired him for cause, a departure from typical contracts with college chief executives.
…
In Ward 5, Ali Ramlawi Defends His Seat on Council Against Marketing Executive Backed by Mayor
by P.D. Lesko
Ward 5 Council member Ali Ramlawi has served since 2018.
Ali Ramlawi was elected in 2018 to represent Ward 5 on Ann Arbor City Council. He defeated incumbent Chuck Warpehoski. Ramlawi's campaign website says he's…
Michigan Launches ‘988’ Behavioral Health Crisis Helpline
by Kyle Davidson, Michigan Advance
State officials on Thursday announced that Michigan would join the nation in using a new number, 988, to connect residents experiencing behavioral health crises with resources.
In 2020,…
