by P.D. Lesko Ward 2 Democratic City Council candidate Kirk Westphal moved to Ann Arbor in 2004 and in 2006 was appointed by John Hieftje to the city's Planning Commission. It was, perhaps, another example of what one local politico…

Ann Arbor City Council is, once again, on fire. When Ward 3 Council member Steve Kunselman proposed a change in the fee schedule related to permits for bonfires and controlled burns of prairie grass areas, Council marm Sabra Briere ahemed…

by P.D. Lesko "We keep seeing the same names." "It's like there is some 'professional class' of board appointees." "We need to draw from a larger group of citizens." "I want to open the door for a closer examination of the appointment…

by P.D. Lesko Today, Jack Eaton announced his candidacy first via email to a loosely-organized group of neighborhood activists, city and county politicians. He wrote, "I wanted all of you to hear it from me, because so many of you have…

by P.D. Lesko Usually, employees get fired for filching money or abusing an employer-issued credit card. Except in Ann Arbor. Auditors past and present, in fact, have sent the city's Audit Committee letters of warning about sloppy…

In July 2012 Deb Polich (pronounced Polick) was named the new executive director of the Ann Arbor Arts Alliance. In August, says Polich, "We—the Arts Alliance Board and myself—had a meeting with Mayor Hieftje and Council members Taylor…

by P.D. Lesko Ward 5 City Council candidate Chuck Warpehoski is being endorsed by many members of the local Dem Klan, including John Hieftje, whose 2010 Facebook page described him as "Ann Arbor's popular mayor." The Warpehoski race is a…

by P.D. Lesko Ann Arbor's fire department is under-staffed, fire-related deaths have tripled, citizens routinely wait for an hour for police to show up to non-emergency calls, fees for water, sewer and solid waste have risen sharply.…

by P.D. Lesko Let's start with a quiz: 1.  Has Ann Arbor City Council voted to approve the construction of a train station in Fuller Park? 2.  As the city Charter requires, have the citizens of Ann Arbor voted to give over the 10-acre…

by P.D. Lesko U.S. Representative John Dingell and his wife Debbie couldn't save Second Ward Council member Stephen Rapundalo's political hide. Dingell endorsed Rapundalo and donated $250 to his campaign. While challenger Jane Lumm spoke…