Arbor Update

Ann Arbor Area Community News

MI ElvisFest in Ypsilanti

Posted by dilleym on 10. July 2004

Tonight, Saturday July 10

“The Michigan Elvis Festival began in 2000 in Ypsilanti, Michigan’s Historic Depot Town. The Elvisfest has now moved to beautiful Riverside Park where Elvis fans flock by the thousands every July to pay homage to the King of Rock & Roll and to hear the most award-winning Elvis Tribute Artists in North America and other talented Legend Tribute Artists.”

Cheezy music website

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U.S. Blocks Aid to Cuba...Again

Posted by Ari Paul on 9. July 2004

Granma, the Cuban State newspaper reports:

The Chiron Corporation, a pharmaceutical company, has been fined $168,500 by the U.S. government for exporting vaccines to Cuba, the U.S. Treasury Department reported today.

The sanction, in keeping with the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba, occurred when the company revealed that a European subsidiary illegally sold two types of vaccines for Cuban children between the years of 1999 and 2002.

John Gallager, a spokesman for Chiron, clarified that they were authorized by UNICEF to sell one type of children’s vaccine to Cuba, but another two types not authorized by Washington were included.

Looks like the children of Cuba are still paying a deadly price from America’s dogmatic refusal to deal with the head of the Cuban state they tried to kill several hundred times.

Michigan GOP for Nader, Pointless?

Posted by Scott Trudeau on 9. July 2004

The Michigan Republican Party is organizing to gather signatures to put Ralph Nader on the ballot. In an email alert sent to Michigan GOP activists began:

TO: Republican Leaders
FR: Greg McNeilly
Executive Director

Your help is needed in the next five days to ensure that Michigan voters are not disenfranchised. Michigan Democrats are trying to block an independent candidate from having access to the ballot in Michigan. More specifically, they want Nader off the ballot.

Each side accuses the other of “dirty tricks” :

In 1992 and 1996 Ross Perot was on the Michigan ballot. Many Republican strategists believed this hurt Republican candidates. It may have. But the Republican Party never tried to deny access nor disenfranchise voters by opposing ballot access for Perot.

And from the San Francisco Gate, this quote:

“It’s another example of state Republicans willing to try every unethical trick in the book to hold power,” Democratic Executive Chairman Mark Brewer said Thursday. “This clearly shows that a vote for Ralph Nader is a vote to re-elect George Bush. The Republicans know that, and that’s why they are desperate to have Nader on the Michigan ballot.”

The Reform Party, which has ballot access in Michigan, has endorsed Nader, and he intends to accept their endorsement. The Michigan Reform Party has already agreed to put Nader on their ballot line. The whole thing seems pointless given the fact that Nader will be on the ballot in Michigan. Nader disavowed the GOP effort.

> San Francisco Gate article: Michigan Republicans gather names for Nader
> Full text of GOP email

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The Continuing Debate on Israel's Wall

Posted by Ari Paul on 9. July 2004

The Economist states: “The International Court of Justice has ruled that the barrier Israel is building in the West Bank is illegal and has demanded reparations for Palestinians affected by it. There will now be pressure for sanctions to make Israel stop building the barrier but its construction is likely to continue.”

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Protest Economics

Posted by Rob Goodspeed on 9. July 2004

Ben Cohen from Ben & Jerry’s seems to think New York City has their economic development ideas all wrong:

Mr. Bloomberg justifies the effort and expense he dedicated to the convention – at least in part – by saying that New York will reap major economic and public relations benefits by playing host to the Republicans. But what about the economic benefits that will accrue thanks to the one million protesters who are expected to visit New York City to demonstrate?

Even if you add the 15,000 journalists who will be swarming around the Republican convention to the 13,000 convention-goers – and, for good measure, you throw in 50,000 stray lobbyists and vendors selling talking Ann Coulter dolls – the protesters will outnumber and may well outspend the Republicans and their entourage.

Look at the numbers. Protest organizations are chartering buses and mobilizing people around the country to come to New York. If 500,000 out-of-staters visit for one night – a reasonable number in light of past demonstrations – they could easily drop a total of $150 million or more.

> Alternet: “Welcome the Protesters – and Their Credit Cards”

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Republicans Defend Government Intrusion

Posted by Ari Paul on 8. July 2004

The New York Times reports:

The Republican-led House bowed to a White House veto threat Thursday and stood by the USA Patriot Act, defeating an effort to block the part of the anti-terrorism law that helps the government investigate people’s reading habits.

The effort to defy Bush and bridle the law’s powers lost by 210-210, with a majority needed to prevail. The amendment appeared on its way to victory as the roll call’s normal 15-minute time limit expired, but GOP leaders kept the vote open for 23 more minutes as they persuaded about 10 Republicans who initially supported the provision to change their votes.”Shame, shame, shame,’’ Democrats chanted as the minutes passed and votes were switched. The tactic was reminiscent of last year’s House passage of the Medicare overhaul measure, when GOP leaders held the vote open for an extra three hours until they got the votes they needed.

“You win some, and some get stolen,’’ Rep. C.L. Butch Otter, R-Idaho, a sponsor of the defeated provision and one of Congress’ more conservative members, told a reporter.

Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., said he switched his initial “yes’’ vote to “no’’ after being shown Justice Department documents asserting that terrorists have communicated over the Internet via public library computers.

Why is it, that Republicans are quick to pass laws against the internet, because terrorists could conceivably use it to communicate, but would not dare pass laws against weapons that terrorists could conceivably use to kill people?

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Clamor Guidebook for anti-RNC Freedom Fighters

Posted by Ari Paul on 8. July 2004

Here is some essential reading for those who will attend the RNC in New York, brought to you by the good people at Clamor.

Nazis to March on Cadillac

Posted by Ari Paul on 8. July 2004

Sources from Direct-Action.net are saying that “On Sunday, July 11th, members of the White Supremacist National Socialist
Movement are gathering in Cadillac, Michigan.” Those who wish to stand in opposition are urged to “meet at the MSU union by 7:45 Sunday morning, and ride with us to confront the Nazis. Rides are available. If you aren’t coming from Lansing, meet at Kenwood park in Cadillac at 11:00. The nazi gathering is supposed to start around noon.”

Here is the ADL’s profile of this movement.

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City council approves traffic light, raised medians for Plymouth Road

Posted by Brian Kerr on 8. July 2004

The Ann Arbor News writes that a new traffic light will be installed at Traverwood Boulevard, in addition to raised medians, illuminated crosswalks, and rearranged bus stops elsewhere along the street. Unless I’m missing something, this seems to be welcome news for North Campus area pedestrians.

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Michigan Land Use Institute is Hiring

Posted by Ari Paul on 7. July 2004

“The Michigan Land Use Institute, one of America’s largest and most effective state-based Smart Growth advocacy organizations, seeks an accomplished project coordinator and writer to conserve farmland, grow jobs, and enrich communities by advocating for agricultural entrepreneurs and community-based food systems in Michigan,” reads an ad from JournalismJobs.com.

However, the ad forgets to mention the best part of job. You will be able to work with former Daily columnist, Jess Piskor.

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