City Council: Thursday, December 21 at 7:00 pm. Agenda
Highlights:
An Ordinance to Amend Section 1:833 of Chapter 24 (Public Art) to Reduce Percent for Public Art for Three Years
An Ordinance to Amend City Code to Implement a “Pick-Up” Provision Allowed by Internal Revenue Code 414(h) for Non -Union Employees of the City of Ann Arbor
I guess it’s pointless to worry about it now Mark. The City Council has spoken, the project is going forward, regardless of the cost, there is no clue about actually expenditures and the city is going to continue to suck up the Per Cent for Art during the worse financial crisis since the Great Depression. All without enough courage to take a public votre for the later.
Trust me—no one is goin to forget this, including the ‘good Democrats’ who were too cowardly to speak up, except for two.
I’ve heard this talking point three times today. That it took ‘courage’ to vote for the Dreiseitl project. That’s BS. For that project, every present council member except one caved to the ‘arts’ community spearheaded by Ms. Parker, who doesn’t even live within the city limits.
But no, Ms. Parker and her friends weren’t happy with that victory. They couldn’t even accept a temporary three year cutback in the Per Cent For Arts Program. And gutless council couldn’t even face up to a public vote for Sandi Smith’s proposal.
Yeah Gale, it took lots of guts to push both of these things through.
and Nero fiddled while Rome burned…
Okay, when a firefighter needs to come to someone’s house, and actually has to do something, we will be all so happy with the art in town.
This disconnect won’t be forgotten. Look what happened to Leigh Greden.
“This disconnect won’t be forgotten. Look what happened to Leigh Greden.”
Ann Arbor citizens need actual candidates to field in the August primary against the likes of Carsten Hohnke and his arrogant cohorts. Only then will we see a real opportunity for change for the better. The Leigh Greden defeat was a landmark event in local politics and stands as a warning to those who have an attitude similar to Greden.
We can turn out the lights now;2009 will be another year. Come next summer a new bevy of candidates will appear on the scene and challenge the so-called “dim lights” to upend the incumbents on City Council while the muckrakers such as Noah Hall and Judy McGovern will be hot on their heels. It’ll then be time to roll…….
The buzz currently regarding the art project is that city hall insiders are hopping mad that Herbert Dreiseitl has not responded to correspondences from municipal officials regarding cost and design modifications for his proposed art work. Partial support for this unfolding development came by way of an Ann Arbor Chronicle article indicating that Dreisetl was in Singapore and uncommunicative with the city on these matters. Whether there are real problems brewing between city leaders and Dreiseitl remains to be seen but there certainly does to be a certain level of disturbing indifference by Dreiseitl toward a city that has entrusted him with an art project approaching one million dollars in cost while the City of Ann Arbor is embroiled in a economic downturn and budget cutbacks affecting essential public safety services.
A contract for $111,000 for the Dreiseitl project design has just been added to tonight’s agenda.
—David Cahill Dec. 21 '09 - 09:33PM #
“A contract for $111,000 for the Dreiseitl project design has just been added to tonight’s agenda.”
This is for the DESIGN?
—Alan Goldsmith Dec. 21 '09 - 09:53PM #
I thought a smaller amount had previously been approved for the project design.
Is this additional to the prior amount approved or an amendment of that prior amount? I seem to recall about $70,000.00 being approved.
—Mark Koroi Dec. 22 '09 - 01:52AM #
I guess it’s pointless to worry about it now Mark. The City Council has spoken, the project is going forward, regardless of the cost, there is no clue about actually expenditures and the city is going to continue to suck up the Per Cent for Art during the worse financial crisis since the Great Depression. All without enough courage to take a public votre for the later.
Trust me—no one is goin to forget this, including the ‘good Democrats’ who were too cowardly to speak up, except for two.
—Alan Goldsmith Dec. 22 '09 - 07:43PM #
They took a public vote. And it took a lot more guts to vote for the art piece than against it.
—Gale Logan Dec. 22 '09 - 08:44PM #
I’ve heard this talking point three times today. That it took ‘courage’ to vote for the Dreiseitl project. That’s BS. For that project, every present council member except one caved to the ‘arts’ community spearheaded by Ms. Parker, who doesn’t even live within the city limits.
But no, Ms. Parker and her friends weren’t happy with that victory. They couldn’t even accept a temporary three year cutback in the Per Cent For Arts Program. And gutless council couldn’t even face up to a public vote for Sandi Smith’s proposal.
Yeah Gale, it took lots of guts to push both of these things through.
—Alan Goldsmith Dec. 22 '09 - 10:27PM #
and Nero fiddled while Rome burned…
Okay, when a firefighter needs to come to someone’s house, and actually has to do something, we will be all so happy with the art in town.
This disconnect won’t be forgotten. Look what happened to Leigh Greden.
—emilia Dec. 29 '09 - 04:07PM #
“This disconnect won’t be forgotten. Look what happened to Leigh Greden.”
Ann Arbor citizens need actual candidates to field in the August primary against the likes of Carsten Hohnke and his arrogant cohorts. Only then will we see a real opportunity for change for the better. The Leigh Greden defeat was a landmark event in local politics and stands as a warning to those who have an attitude similar to Greden.
We can turn out the lights now;2009 will be another year. Come next summer a new bevy of candidates will appear on the scene and challenge the so-called “dim lights” to upend the incumbents on City Council while the muckrakers such as Noah Hall and Judy McGovern will be hot on their heels. It’ll then be time to roll…….
—Annette Gilbert Jan. 1 '10 - 05:45AM #
The buzz currently regarding the art project is that city hall insiders are hopping mad that Herbert Dreiseitl has not responded to correspondences from municipal officials regarding cost and design modifications for his proposed art work. Partial support for this unfolding development came by way of an Ann Arbor Chronicle article indicating that Dreisetl was in Singapore and uncommunicative with the city on these matters. Whether there are real problems brewing between city leaders and Dreiseitl remains to be seen but there certainly does to be a certain level of disturbing indifference by Dreiseitl toward a city that has entrusted him with an art project approaching one million dollars in cost while the City of Ann Arbor is embroiled in a economic downturn and budget cutbacks affecting essential public safety services.
—Junior Jan. 17 '10 - 01:39AM #