Arbor Update

Ann Arbor Area Community News

Work-study Program to be Suspended this Summer

Posted by Ari Paul on 1. April 2005

Citing a lack of funding, the Office of Financial Aid announced that U-M will suspend its work-study program for this Spring and Summer terms.

The Michigan Daily reports:

Julia Mehney, an LSA junior who receives work-study assistance, said she believes the cuts will cause many students to look for jobs off campus.

As an alternative, Fowler suggested that there were “thousands� of non-work-study jobs within the University, although a visit to the student employment website showed only about 300 current listings.

However, Latoya Battle, an RC senior, said her work-study job paid very well. “Since I came off the program, I’ve been working two jobs.�

Slight fluctuations from year to year may have drastic effects on the meager few percent that are reserved for spring and summer funds, as has happened this year.

“Work-study usage has been stable for the past 15 years,� Fowler said. “Is this just an anomaly or is this the beginning of a trend? We just don’t know.�

Comment [1]

MI High Court Protects Immigrant Workers

Posted by MarkDilley on 1. April 2005

“For immigrant workers, the minimum wage and other worker protections are useless if going to court risks getting them deported. So kudos to the Michigan Court of Appeals.”

via Nathan Newman

Comment [1]

GEO signs tenative agreement

Posted by MarkDilley on 1. April 2005

Hoping this isn’t an April Fools joke…

“Guaranteed raises of 2.5%, 3%, and 3% in the three years of the contract! We signed current contract language on No Interference and our Agreement expires on March 1, 2008. More details to follow…”

via GEO weblog

Comment [4]

The bill now goes to the Republican-controlled Senate

Posted by MarkDilley on 1. April 2005

“The Michigan state House has passed a bill that allows healthcare workers to refuse to treat patients on moral, ethical, or religious grounds. In other words, doctors could not be held liable for refusing to treat gay patients.”

via DED Space

Comment [4]

Survivor Speak Out

Posted by MarkDilley on 1. April 2005

Are you a survivor of sexual assault or violence?
Would you like the opportunity to voice your experiences?
University women against rape is offering a safe, positive, and understanding environment for you to speak out.

University Women Against Rape is committed to promoting awareness and fighting against sexualized violence.

COME AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

THURSDAY, APRIL 7TH, 2005
7:00 – 9:00 pm
KUENZEL ROOM @ THE UNION
For more info contact: bjrobins@umich.edu or jnine@umich.edu

Daily Endorses DDA Proposal

Posted by Brandon on 31. March 2005

From today’s Michigan Daily:

Though both proposals represent important visions for the future of Ann Arbor, two multi-use buildings would benefit the city’s growth in a way that would not hinder environmental initiatives the city has supported. The City Council should support the original buildings proposal and work to preserve open spaces by implementing the Greenbelt initiative. Provided that internal politics and conflict do not stop the council from putting its Greenbelt plans into action, Ann Arbor citizens can look forward to responsible development downtown over the coming years.

Greenway / DDA public comment in the A2News

Posted by Murph on 30. March 2005

The News may be a little slow getting to the public debate party, but what they lack in speed, they make up for in quantity. Today’s news includes three full pages of letters on last week’s greenway resolution and on the DDA’s Three Site Plan.

The anti-resolution and pro-DDA letters (as two overlapping categories) seem to outnumber the pro-resolution and anti-DDA letters (most of these are both), with a few interesting twists – one writer supports the DDA’s plan with the suggestion that the side of the structure facing the park be used as an artificial rock climbing wall, and another suggests that the top level of the structure be turned into a dog park.

On the front page, Greenway advocates to seek public support (not available online?) discusses the next steps planned by the Sierra Club’s Doug Cowherd, who wants the City Council to hold public hearings in April, and who states that the greenway’s supporters will also be holding their own public forums; the DDA’s Susan Pollay, who says their plan won’t be up for a decision by the Council for some time, and that the DDA is “still listening to community discussion around this issue;” and City Councilmembers Easthope and Johnson, who say the Council won’t be touching either proposal again until after the budget is passed, at the very earliest. Johnson is quoted as saying, “We do public hearings on ordinances. It would be unprecedented to do one on a resolution.” Somebody has to set precedents, right?

Meanwhile, the News notes that the local Sierra Club’s 17 May meeting will focus on the greenway and feature Margaret Wong as a speaker, 7:30pm at Matthei Botanical Gardens; and the Women Progressive Activists will host an 11 April discussion of the greenway, 7pm, Church of the Good Shepherd, 2145 Independence Blvd. If you’re reading AU, you know that a workshop at Leopold Bros. (not in the News, yet) is also planned, date TBD.

Comment [25]

Belle Isle Aquarium to close April 3

Posted by Murph on 30. March 2005

The City of Detroit is scheduled to close the Belle Isle Aquarium on Sunday, 3 April. The Friends of the Belle Isle Aquarium are continuing to try to convince the city not to close the BIA, including a rally on Saturday at 10am, and, the Aquarium is closed, they have vowed to become a “government in exile” and fight for reopening under a future City administration.

The unfortunately acronymed FOBIA is urging people to donate towards the Aquarium’s salvation and to contact City and State officials asking for a stay of the closing.

Part of the problem is that the City funds the Aquarium on its own, despite the fact that the aquarium is a regional asset, and not just a city attraction. Consider, as an alternative model, Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Regional Asset District, which spreads funding of such facilities across the municipal area.

Wireless Washtenaw Planned

Posted by Scott Trudeau on 29. March 2005

Washtenaw County appears to be poised to follow in the footsteps of other municipalities (like Philadelphia) and pursue County-wide wireless Internet access:

County officials and other advocates outlined an aggressive timetable to roll out a wireless Internet, or Wi-Fi, network to blanket the region. Tentative plans include opening up the project for vendor bids as early as May, selecting technology providers by July and establishing three pilot programs by November. Dubbed “Wireless Washtenaw,” the initiative aims to build the countywide network by late 2007, allowing anyone with a wireless-enabled computer or handheld device to log onto the Internet for free in certain zones, or from their home or office for a still-undetermined monthly fee.

The county is following the lead of communities in other states that are building wireless networks as a way to attract and retain businesses, bring broadband Internet to rural or under-served urban areas, and help bridge the divide between the digital haves and have-nots.

> via Ann Arbor News: Wireless initiative touted

Comment [7]

Diag Dance Party

Posted by MarkDilley on 29. March 2005

From an email I received:

”... If you are in or near Ann Arbor this Wednesday and can get to the diag (between State and South University right in the heart of downtown A2), drop in. It will be a blast.”

“Your presence is requested for a mid-day diag dance party hosted by yours truly, dj max blix. come on out and get down to the best (only?) politically conscious disco-tech-house-boogie-funk in town. if you have class, skip it. put on your sneakers and prepare to dance. we are going to be setting up a sound system right on the diag from 12-1PM this wednesday, march 30. this is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at best, and it’s something i’ve always wanted to do. don’t be late, it’s only an hour long. i hope to see you there- max”

check out this mp3

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