Arbor Update

Ann Arbor Area Community News

Michigan Student Assembly seeks Commission Chairs

Posted by Murph on 5. December 2004

As if anybody didn’t receive this:

From: Anita Leung
Subject: Michigan Student Assembly Seeks Commission Chairs!
Date: December 5, 2004 3:28:31 AM EST

The Michigan Student Assembly (Michigan’s Central Student Government) is seeking students to run for and serve as chairs of our Commissions. Elections are on Tuesday, Dec. 7th at 7:30 PM, and there will be an informational meeting on election procedures and the responsibilities of a chair. Any student-at-large, experienced or not, may run. It is encouraged that students run as co-chairs to share the responsibilities.

  • MSA Commmission Chair Informational Meeting
  • Monday, December 6th, 2004
  • 8 PM @ MSA Chambers [3rd Floor, Union]

Here is a brief description of the Commissions:

Academic Affairs Commission – AAC works towards the improvement of the academic experience of all students; and AAC is responsible for the administration of Advice Online.

Campus Safety Commission – CSaC promotes the safety of all students on campus, educate students on safety issues, and facilitate communication between relevant student organizations.

Campus Improvement Commission – CIC works to improve campus in all aspects of campus life.

Community Service Commission – CSC reviews applications for funding from student organizations engaged in direct community service, community development, and community organizing; submitting community service student organization funding recommendations to the Assembly.

Environmental Issues Commission – EIC works to promote a sustainable University community and environmental awareness on campus, facilitating communication between relevant student organizations.

Health Issues Commission – HIC works to promote the health of all students on campus, educate students on health issues, and facilitate communication between relevant student organizations.

International Student Affairs Commission – ISAC works toward the improvement of student life for all international students on campus, and facilitate communication between relevant student organizations.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Affairs Commission – LGBTA works toward the improvement of student life for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, and shall facilitate communication between relevant student organizations.

Minority Affairs Commission – MAC works toward the improvement of student life for all African American, Asian and Pacific American, Latino, Latina, Latin American, Arab American and Native American students, and shall facilitate communication
between relevant student organizations.

North Campus Affairs Commission – NCAC works toward the improvement of student life for all students who live and study on North Campus, and shall facilitate communication between relevant student organizations.

Peace & Justice Commission – P&J shall promote a peaceful and equitable University community.

Student Rights Commission – SRC works toward the protection of the rights of students by reviewing and recommending changes to the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities upon a majority vote of the Assembly. SRC also advocates for the adoption of the recommended change before the University administration.

Voice Your Vote Commission – VYV promotes political awareness and participation among the University community without engaging in partisan political activity.

Women’s Issues Commission – WIC shall monitor and work toward the improvement of student life for all women on campus, and shall facilitate communication between relevant student organizations.

For more information, view the MSA website at http://www.umich.edu/~msa and attend the informational meeting. Please direct questions to msaexec@umich.edu.

Comment [3]

Nine Theta Chis arrested for home invasion, theft

Posted by Murph on 5. December 2004

From the Ann Arbor News:

Nine college fraternity members were arrested and may face charges of home invasion after they were caught taking composite pictures from a University of Michigan sorority house early Saturday morning, authorities said.

Police responded to a call about 4 a.m. at the Delta Delta Delta Sorority at 1718 Tappan Ave., according to Ann Arbor Police Sgt. Pat Ouellette.
. . .
Police said the men were members of Theta Chi Fraternity, which has a chapter at U-M. The value of the composites was estimated at more than $6,000, police said.

Comment [8]

City of Ann Arbor budget cuts loom

Posted by Murph on 5. December 2004

The Ann Arbor News reports on the City’s projected $6.1 million deficit for next year, with the worst-case scenario involving the closure of a fire station (one was already closed two fiscal years ago) and cutting 26 police jobs.

Police Chief Dan Oates said a projected 5 percent cut all the departments have been told to make would cripple his force.

“Up until now, we’ve had four consecutive years of significant reductions and we’ve been able to do it in a way the public has not noticed the consequences,” Oates said. “That all changes in the coming fiscal year.”

Councilmembers vowed to place public safety services, such as fire and police, at the highest priority, but this would require deeper cuts in other departments; the discussion excerpted reflects some of the possible options:

“When it comes down to core services, people can swim in their own pools,” explained City Council Member Chris Easthope, D-5th Ward about his group’s choices.

“We said, ‘What do you want to close? A pool or a fire station,’ ” said Council Member Mike Reid, R-2nd Ward.

But the budget exercise exposed potential friction on the council as budget discussions progress.

All three groups made major cuts in community development, which oversees affordable housing and nonprofit organizations.

“That’s wrong!” said Council Member Kim Groome, D-1st Ward, pointing to the white board where each of the scores were marked. “Serving low-income people. Isn’t that a core service?”

“It is an important service,” said Council Member Leigh Greden, D-3rd Ward. “Is it a core service? That’s the question.”

Comment [9]

Detroit Zoo's elephants California-bound

Posted by Murph on 4. December 2004

If you want to see elephants at the Detroit Zoo, do so now. They’ll have left for a sanctuary in California by spring at the latest. From the Detroit Free Press:

Wanda and Winky—two aging elephants at the heart of a bitter struggle between the Detroit Zoo and its accrediting organization—will be headed to a sanctuary after all.

In a pact Friday, the zoo, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, the Columbus Zoo and the San Antonio Zoo, which owns Wanda, agreed the sanctuary would be best for both animals.

“I think the elephants will be pleased,” said Detroit Zoo Director Ron Kagan, who has lobbied for months to move the pair to a warmer climate. He wants them to be able to roam and said it would be best for their arthritic conditions.
. . .
The duo will be moved to the 2,300-acre Performing Animal Welfare Society’s sanctuary, about two hours east of San Francisco. That sanctuary received its sixth elephant from the San Francisco Zoo a week ago after public outcry that the city’s tiny exhibit space wasn’t sufficient.

For months, there has been a debate over where the two would be transferred to. The AZA had blocked Kagan’s plan to send the animals to a sanctuary in California or Tennessee. The AZA’s solution was to move them to another zoo within the association if Detroit couldn’t provide care.

City income tax idea meets skepticism

Posted by Murph on 4. December 2004

Today’s Ann Arbor News has two articles on the proposed income tax (see previous coverage on AU), one discussing mostly negative reactions from commuters and residents, the other mostly negative reactions from the business community.

An estimated 68,500 commuters will head into the city each day to work by 2005 and would be affected by an income tax.

An estimated 68,500 commuters will head into the city each day to work by 2005 and would be affected by an income tax.

The City Council is considering placing the tax before voters as it struggles with an ongoing financial crisis. Ann Arbor officials say they’re faced with rising health care premiums and other costs, at the same time the state has cut funding to cities because of its own financial problems. Meanwhile, except for new construction or property that has been sold, city real estate taxes are capped due to Proposal A and the Headlee Amendment.

Leigh Greden is the only Councilmember cited in either article, and seems to see a completely different rationale for the tax than the News does.

Council Member Leigh Greden, D-3rd Ward, said an income tax is worthy of consideration for reasons other than raising money.

“If I decide to support an income tax, the goal would not be to raise revenue. The goal would be to shift the tax burden off of Ann Arbor taxpayers, and onto commuters,” he said. “When you have over 60,000 people driving in and out of the city every day, it costs Ann Arbor taxpayers money in roads, police and other services.”

Commuters quoted in the article challenge Greden’s assertion that they are a net drain on the city,

Beveridge said she doesn’t agree that commuters don’t contribute their fair share to the city.

“I do all my shopping in Ann Arbor. My dentist and my physician are in Ann Arbor. I lunch and dine in Ann Arbor. When you break it down, I probably spend that amount (a yearly city income tax) of money every week between grocery shopping and the business I do here.”

Michelle Isbell, who works at The Fitness Experience in the Arborland shopping center and lives in Azalia in Monroe County, said she also does most of her shopping and buys gasoline in Ann Arbor.

Business owners predict that the income tax will hinder relocation of businesses to Ann Arbor and hiring for those already here,

“It’s an environment where wages are basically flat, and this is a pay cut,” said John Edwards, president of Edwards Brothers Inc. Four hundred of the 500 workers at the book printer commute to their jobs in Ann Arbor. “Anything that results in a pay cut to employees, it puts me at a distinct disadvantage to my competitors,” he said.

Edwards estimated an income tax of half a percent would cost his employees $100,000 a year.

Other managers said approval of an income tax will add to Ann Arbor’s reputation as an appealing but ultimately difficult place to start a business.

For more on the State revenue sharing cuts mentioned, see AU post $440m State deficit looming.

Parade of Fools, Sunday, Burton Tower

Posted by Murph on 4. December 2004

Sounds. . .interesting:

The Media Arts program cordially invites you to take part
in:
——————————————————————————-
THE PARADE OF FOOLS
HIGH NOON, THIS SUNDAY SUNDAY DEC. 5TH
MEET @ BURTON TOWER, CENTRAL CAMPUS, ANN ARBOR
(sunday parking for free right across the street @ thayer st. complex)———————————————————————————
The Parade of Fools is a short, creative, family-friendly parade meant to celebrate foolishness, and to defy the true absurdity of the world around us. This brief (30 min) and musical march will begin at Burton Tower, meander through campus and town, and end with…

!!!!A RECEPTION @ THE MICHIGAN UNION, ANDERSON ABC ROOM !!!! ...with REFRESHMENTS, AFTER-PARTY MERRIMENT, and festive Mariachi music provided by Detroit’s own inimitable———->MARIACHI NUEVO ZAPOPAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU WILL:
-meet @ Burton Tower at noon Dec. 5th
-come dressed in your finest foolish attire (costumes of any sort are appreciated)
-bring your favorite NOISE-MAKING DEVICE: musical instrument, plastic kazoo, portable boombox/ghetto-blaster w/fav mix tape, pots and pans to hit, ANYTHING!
-march with us in the Parade of Fools
-eat refreshments!
-dance MARIACHI!!
-HAVE FUN!!!!

Here’s your chance to let loose, have a good time with great people, and take part in a celebration of spontaneous collective-creativity despite the crummy weather and uncertain times. (i.e. FOOLISHNESS!) – Feel free to invite friends and forward this message.

for MORE INFORMATION on the Parade and its conception, please visit our website: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~tflood/

Please send any questions to: paradeofools@umich.edu

The Parade of Fools is generously co-sponsored by: The Edward Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning; The Arts of Citizenship Program; and the University of Michigan School of Music.

We’ll see you there!

Media Arts Membership of America

Greens redesign site, focus on recount

Posted by Matt Hollerbach on 3. December 2004

The website of Green Party candidates David Cobb and Pat LaMarche has been redesigned with a focus on the recount currently underway in Ohio. The new site features a ‘Recount HQ’ and ‘Daily Update’ so interested surfers can follow the process.

More info: www.votecobb.org

$440m State deficit looming

Posted by Murph on 3. December 2004

The State of Michigan is facing a $440 million deficit, much of which will probably be made up for by cuts to revenue sharing with local governments and cuts to higher education funding.

The Detroit News reports on possible impacts:

Revenue sharing—money the state gives to counties and communities—has taken a $429 million, 27 percent cut over the past three years; it may be in line for another reduction.

Embittered by consecutive years of slashed state revenue funds, municipal leaders who have been forced to reduce basic services from fire protection to library hours say additional cuts from the state would leave their communities in extreme distress.

Presidents of Michigan’s 15 public universities, whose state appropriation already has been cut from $1.6 billion to $1.4 billion over the last five years, are hoping lawmakers won’t respond to the problem by slashing their funding again.
. . .
“We’re now at the point, no doubt, at which any more cuts will start to have an impact on our core mission of teaching and research,” said Daniel Hurley, director of university relations and administrative services for the Presidents Council State Universities of Michigan.

Meanwhile, the article notes, the Michigan Department of Corrections, which houses 50,000 prisoners in State facilities, is expected to receive a funding increase of about $40 million, bringing their budget to $1.74 billion. It also says that the Dept. of Corrections is planning to help manage its budget by, among other methods, passing lower-level criminals down to County jails for housing. Recall that the Washtenaw County Jail is currently asking for $300 million from County voters in order to expand capacity and programs.

AANews on The Planet

Posted by Murph on 3. December 2004

The Ann Arbor News today runs an article on The Planet, a new retail store/meeting space on South University:

. The store “was kind of a solution to all the problems at the same time.”

One of the problems, as de Angeli saw it, was the paucity of places for people of like minds to gather. The only existing politically minded gathering place was the local Democratic headquarters, but de Angeli said he was turned off by their tactics and disgusted that the Democrats failed to remove George Bush from office.

Since the shop has been open, business has steadily improved, and de Angeli said it’s gratifying to see people walking around campus wearing clothes purchased there. But in the end, de Angeli hopes that ideas will be the real products sold.

“We are really just selling things to pay the rent,” he said.

Aside from a self-endorsement on Livejournal a few weeks ago, I haven’t heard anything about them—can anybody comment on how well they’re shaping up as either a store or a meeting space?

Comment [6]

Friday: Sustainable Transportation Symopsium

Posted by Brandon on 2. December 2004

Need something to do tomorrow?

From Mobility to Accessibility:
A Symposium on Sustainable Transportation

Friday, December 3, 2004
8:45 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Auditorium (Rm 2104)
Art + Architecture Building
North Campus

Visiting Speakers

Anthony Downs—Brookings Institute
Some Realities About Future Congestion

Hank Dittmar—Reconnecting America
Transit and the Sustainable Metropolis

John Pucher—Rutgers University
Public Health and Sustainable Transportation

Sue Zielinski—Moving the Economy, Toronto
Toward Integrated Mobility Solutions

Susan Handy—University of California at Davis
Toward an Accessibility Framework for Transportation Policy

University of Michigan Speakers

Robert Fishman, Tom Gladwin, Joe Grengs, Douglas Kelbaugh, Jonathan Levine, Carl Simon, John Sullivan, Scott Page

Co-Sponsors

Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning
Erb Environmental Institute
Center for the Study of Complex Systems
Center for Advancing Research and Solutions for Society (CARSS)

Comment [1]

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