Browsing Tag
Ann Arbor City Council
by Patricia Lesko
Ward 3 resident and former council member Stephen Kunselman announced on April 26 that he has qualified to appear on the August 8 Democratic primary ballot. The City Clerk's office confirmed that he had submitted at least…
Sierra Club Issues Surprise “Early” Endorsement of Ward 4 Candidate for Council
by Patricia Lesko
The Sierra Club, Huron Valley Group, and Sierra Club, Michigan Chapter today formally announced an early endorsement of Ann Arbor Council member Jack Eaton (D-Ward 4) for re-election. In past, such endorsements have…
Amid Claquers, Boos, Cheers and Political Theater Council Votes 8-3 to Sell Library Lot to Core Spaces
by Patricia Lesko
The 8-3 vote last night to sell the Library Lot, a plot of publicly-owned land adjacent to the Downtown Library on Fifth Ave., will bring in $10 million from the developer, half of which will be deposited into the…
During Public Meetings, Records Show Two Council Members Spend Hours on Twitter and Facebook
Update: This article has been updated to correctly attribute the video screen capture photo of Council member Chip Smith to Ward 5 resident Kevin Leeser.
by Patricia Lesko
Public records turned over to the The Ann Arbor Independent…
EDITORIAL: City Council Members Playing on Social Media During Public Hearings
We can't even comprehend having to write the headline that tops this editorial. Ann Arbor City Council members should never be playing on social media during open meetings or public hearings. But they are. Again.
The Ann Arbor…
Final Report on Deer Cull Recommends Cull/Sterilization Continue Through 2020
by Patricia Lesko
The Council packet for the Mar. 20 City Council meeting includes the Deer Management: White Buffalo Report. The 22-page Year One Summary report includes information about the methods used to both harvest 96 deer and…
Ward 5 Council Candidate David Silkworth Wants Local Government to “Put People First”
by Patricia Lesko
U.S. Navy veteran and Democrat David Silkworth has pulled nominating petitions to run for Ann Arbor City Council in Ward 5. Silkworth, an insurance executive, must gather 100 signatures of registered Ward 5 voters in…
Ecology Center/Recycle Ann Arbor & The Landfilling of Our Recycling
by Patricia Lesko
I recently received a long email with the Subject line: City of Ann Arbor Action - MONDAY NIGHT!! from someone named Doug Selby. In his email, Mr. Selby urges me to attend the next City Council meeting to pressure Council…
A2Politico: Doing Less for Longer—A Politician’s Dream
by P.D. Lesko
KIRK WESTPHAL CAUSED the political firmament to tremble (convulse, really) when he was just rumored to be prepared to pitch the idea of changing the length of City Council members’ terms from two to four years. The…
Deer Management Consultant’s Work Draws High Praise and Harsh Criticism
by P.D. Lesko with reporting by Maddie Fetchiet
BETWEEN DEC. 2014 and June 2015, Project Innovations, a Farmington Hills, Mich. consulting firm owned by Charlie Fleetham, was paid slightly less than $40,000 total by Ann Arbor. Despite…