Chip Smith

by P.D. Lesko "There is no funding plan." Ward 2 Council member Jane Lumm (I) repeated this phrase during the discussion on April 20 of a resolution co-sponsored by Mayor Taylor, Ward 3 Council members Grand and Ackerman, and Ward 5…

by P.D. Lesko The only reason former City Administrator Howard Lazarus is several hundred thousand dollars richer is thanks to an open-ended, 2016 contract negotiated by someone among the attorneys employed in the City Attorney's…

In November 2019 AnnArbor City Council voted to pass a Climate Emergency resolution. When the resolution passed, Mayor Chris Taylor told the public, "This is an opportunity for the city to begin to address a topic of planetary concern in…

On Tuesday August 8 Ann Arbor voters will go to the polls to vote in the City Council Democratic primary elections. The Ann Arbor Independent does not endorse in political races. We think our readers are informed enough to use the…

Updated: On Aug. 3, the Mayor sent out an email to residents in which he endorses Council candidates. Portions of Taylor's email have been added to this article. by Patricia Lesko "To lie about an issue is to be a politician. To lie…

by Patricia Lesko Local real estate developer Dennis Dahlmann gave campaign donations to three candidates running for Ann Arbor City Council who have decided to return the developer's money. The candidates, Anne Bannister (D) running in…

by Patricia Lesko Ann Arbor's mayor, Chris Taylor ("Mr. Congeniality" according to a 2015 article in the Ann Arbor Observer), has been singing and dancing around Wards 3 and 5 on behalf of his City Council candidates Zachary Ackerman and…

July 3: UPDATED: James Leonard emailed on July 3, 2017 to say that he does, indeed, intend to comment. His comments will be added when they are received. July 7: UPDATED: James Leonard's comment has been added. by Patricia Lesko Charles…

by Patricia Lesko During four public meetings in early 2017, Ward 4 Council member Jack Eaton (D) spent a total of four hours accessing Facebook and a total of five hours accessing Twitter. Eaton, when asked to comment said: "I…

by Patricia Lesko The Ann Arbor Independent used FOIA to obtain emails, Tweets and text messages sent over several weeks prior to the April 17 City Council meeting between a trio of Council members and Caleb Poirier, founder of tent…