Browsing Tag
Jack Eaton
The Dec. 1 City Council meeting included members grappling over their own rules, a failed floor motion to put Council’s only CPA on the group’s Budget & Labor Committee and a lengthy debate centered around limiting members’ speaking…
Ward 3 Politicos Oppose Inquiry into 40+ Cash Withdrawls Made By Chair of Ann Arbor City Democratic Party
by P.D. Lesko
THE EXECUTIVE Committee of the Ann Arbor Dems recently voted on a proposal put forward at the group’s most recent meeting to “close the books” on Chair Mike Henry’s $6,000 in cash withdrawls. The group voted to accept…
Questions Surround Ann Arbor Dem Party Chair’s 40+ Cash Withdrawls of Party Funds
MICHAEL HENRY HAS served as the Chair of the Ann Arbor City Democratic Party since 2013. Prior to his 2013 election, he served as a co-Chair for two years. The Ann Arbor Independent was given documents and emails which addressed Michael…
Ann Arbor District Library Rule Number 7—What “Dozing” Meant for Homeless Library Patrons During the Polar Vortex
by P.D. Lesko
A Washtenaw County employee told City Council in January 2014 that Ann Arbor’s homeless men, women, children and families could use a variety of public buildings during the day to escape temps. that plummeted to -20F. One…
City Administrator Once Again Refuses to Turn Over Records to a Council Member
CITY ADMINISTRATOR Steve Powers answers directly to City Council. The city’s Charter requires the 11-member group to annually review the City Administrator’s performance. Council sets his pay and has the ultimate authority to fire him. …
EDITORIAL: Entrenched Cronyism on City Boards and Commissions
K. INGRID AULT ran for Ann Arbor City Council and lost to incumbent Stephen Kunselman. Ms. Ault’s ideas and vision for the city did not appeal to the voters of her Ward. Ms. Ault was then appointed to the Parks Advisory Commission. The…
EDITORIAL: The Art of Compromise
IN 2007 A FORMER Ward 3 Council member emailed his Council colleagues “talking points” for a meeting to be scheduled with Mayor John Hieftje. Hieftje had threatened to veto the police-courts building and Leigh Greden suggested to fellow…
EDITORIAL: What About The Roads?
WE HAVE COME to expect, sadly, the wholesale neglect of our roads by the city’s current mayor and his political allies on City Council, two of whom are currently running for mayor. In 2009, and again in 2011 state officials released a…
With Library Lot Sale Vote, Mayoral Candidates Show Support (Or Lack thereof) For Parkland Protections
FORMER WARD 4 City Council member Marcia Higgins, along with Mayoral candidates Christopher Taylor and Sabra Briere all voted to allow the city’s parkland to be “repurposed” for “transit.” It was Higgins who inserted language into a zoning…
Op-Ed: Funding For Expanded Day And Night Homeless Shelters
by Jack Eaton
I REALLY APPRECIATE hearing from many of you about various issues related to homelessness, emergency shelter and affordable housing. I do see a problem in this discussion where some issues are conflated and some opinions…