Browsing Tag
Jeff Irwin
by P.D. Lesko
According to Barton Hills Village's (BHV) Board of Trustees, in a statement issued to the Ann Arbor Observer, BHV “has experienced increasing traffic and mixed road use over time, including vehicles, pedestrians, runners,!-->!-->!-->…
Ann Arbor Sen. Jeff Irwin’s Bill Repeals Decades Old Engler-Era Ban on Lawsuits Against Drug Manufacturers
A bill repealing a Michigan law preventing state lawsuits against drug manufacturers passed the state House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 410, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), passed 79-30 in an!-->!-->!-->…
Sen. Jeff Irwin’s Proposed Elimination of “Assets Based Test” for State Food Assistance is Not Good Enough
Note: According to a Feb. 27 article in MLive.com, "Senate Bill 35 introduced in January would delete the asset testing requirement used by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to determine eligibility for the!-->…
Washtenaw County Reps Who’ve Missed the Most Votes in Lansing
by P.D. Lesko
Michigan's legislators are among the highest paid in the nation. Currently, legislators in our state receive a base pay of $79,650, plus another $12,000 annually for expenses. Leadership positions receive added!-->!-->!-->…
On Using the LGBTQ Community & Desperation Politics: An Open Letter to Ward 3 Council Member Travis Radina
by Patricia Lesko
When I ran for office against John Hieftje in 2010, a man named Phil Volk, then a leading member of Ann Arbor's gay community, published an opinion piece in which he said I was an "embarrassment to the gay community."!-->!-->!-->…
City Asks $929.84 to Release Body/Dash Cam Video of AAPD 911 Call to Home of Mitchell Irwin and Ann Arbor Council member Jen Eyer Irwin
by P.D. Lesko
The Ann Arbor Independent submitted a March 21, 2021 Freedom of Information Act request to the Ann Arbor Police Department for the body and dash cam footage from the January 13, 2021 911 call at the home of Ann Arbor!-->!-->!-->…
Husband of Ann Arbor City Council Member to Be Sentenced on Domestic Violence Charge
by P.D. Lesko
Public records from Ann Arbor's 15th District Court show that on January 13, 2021 former Michigan State Senator Mitchell Irwin was arraigned before the Honorable Miriam A. Perry on a charge of domestic violence. Irwin is!-->!-->!-->…
Tommy Chong, Local and State Elected Officials to Speak at 44th Hash Bash
by Charmie Ghoulson
ICONICAL COMEDIAN, actor, writer, director, activist, and musician Tommy Chong is headlining the 44th Annual Hash Bash Rally in downtown Ann Arbor April 4th. The 76 year old Chong will address the crowd of thousands…
Significant Risk City’s Water Source Could Become Contaminated from Scio Township Oil Drilling
by Donna Iadipaolo
As of May 7, 2014, West Bay Exploration was responsible for 29.4 percent of the hazardous material spills reported to the MDEQ district covering Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Ingham, Lapeer, Lenawee,…
EDITORIAL: Ann Arbor State Reps Must Focus on Bipartisanship
ANN ARBOR STATE representatives Sen. Rebekah Warren, Rep. Jeff Irwin and Rep. Adam Zemke left Lansing for their break with crucial work undone, including a solution to funding road repairs in Michigan. Republicans are primarily to blame for…