Michael Ford

by Leonard Fleming Regional Transit Authority officials said a decision on the future of the agency’s first CEO will be made by March 16 following questions raised about his job expenses. The RTA board met Wednesday for two hours…

by Robert Snell, and Christine MacDonald The Detroit News is reporting that Regional Transit Authority CEO Michael Ford repaid $18,813 Thursday, hours after a closed-door meeting with board members amid an investigation into his expenses…

THE BOARD MEMBERS appointed by former mayor John Hieftje to oversee the AATA (and then AAATA) were, ostensibly, blind-sided by an article published in The Ann Arbor News on Mar. 20. That paper reported that between 2010-2015 AATA/AAATA…

An Open Letter to the AAATA Board Questioning the Legality of CEO Michael Ford’s Retroactive Raise The Michigan  Constitution art 11, Sec. 3, provides: “Neither the legislature nor any political subdivision of this state shall grant or…

by Lou Glorie IN 1973 WHEN Ann Arbor voters first approved a millage dedicated to public transportation, the United States was learning a tough lesson due the Oil Embargo. Cars were lined up around gas stations for their rationed  gas. …

CAMPAIGN FINANCE  forms often make interesting reading if you can connect the dots and take a little time to find out who’s who. It’s actually the who’s who part that tells the story. A donor name is nothing without the story. On the…

Please note: Editorial Board member Katherine Griswold did not participate in shaping this editorial. A MEMBER OF a citizen group recently alleged that AAATA was involved in the theft of that group’s yard signs placed on…

Please note: Kathy Griswold is the Chair of The Ann Arbor Independent’s Editorial Board. SUPPORTERS OF LOCAL transit argue that Mayor John Hieftje has pushed everything but local transit—trains to Howell, park and rides and bus service…

In 2011 AATA employed 8 managers who earned above 90K. In 2014, 9 top-level managers earn six-figure salaries.  IN SEPTEMBER 2011, former Ann Arbor News government reporter Tom Gantert reported in the Michigan Capitol Confidential that,…

WEMU AS WELL AS The Ann Arbor News recently reported on data contained in a Peer Comparison Report released by Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority officials which focuses on a comparison of per passenger costs with “peer public transit…