Arbor Update

Campus

MBooks Available Today

Posted by Juliew on 31. August 2006

As of this morning, online access to the University of Michigan’s digital book collection (MBooks) is available via Mirlyn, the UM Library catalog. This includes thousands of books digitized through the UM deal with Google.

More information can be found on the Library’s MBooks web site.

For a quick example, do a search in Mirlyn for “rail rapid transit” and pick the one by Boyd, J. Hayden.

Regional

Census reports Michigan, Ann Arbor incomes dropping

Posted by Murph on 30. August 2006

In a bleak day of DetNews reporting, the Census Bureau has released income estimates for 2005. Key depressing figures include:

• Michigan’s median household income ($46,038) has fallen below the nation’s ($46,242) for the first time since this statistic has been recorded.
• Michigan’s 2005 median income is down 12%, inflation adjusted, from its 2000 median.
• Detroit has reached a 31.4% poverty rate, the second highest among the nation’s major metropolitan cities, behind Cleveland, up from 26.1% in 2000.
• Ann Arbor’s median household income fell 18%, from $54,235 in 2000 to $45,798 in 2005.

Gubernatorial candidates attempt to make hay:

“This is just another indicator that Michigan is in desperate need of change,” said John Truscott, spokesman for Dick DeVos’ GOP gubernatorial campaign. “We have fallen to the bottom of the barrel in so many key economic indicators The governor likes to blame everybody else. But look at the rest of the country, which is doing pretty darn well.”

Chris DeWitt, spokesman for Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s campaign, said it’s an additional sign that outsourcing is causing severe harm to Michigan’s economy. DeWitt said millionaire DeVos’ “income has risen dramatically, thanks to his lobbying to make it easier to outsource jobs to countries like China.”

Comment [11]

Campus

Magic Bus

Posted by Bruce Fields on 30. August 2006

From the UM Parking and Transportation Services: “Magic Bus information is not a static schedule listing — It is actual arrival information, updated at regular intervals. Because traffic variations, breakdowns and day-to-day problems faced by any transit provider can interrupt service, Magic Bus was designed to keep you on schedule even if your bus is not.”

See the Magic Bus Website.

Comment [10]

Local

2006 Student Move-In

Posted by Juliew on 28. August 2006

UM Fall Move-In days are Tuesday, August 29 through Friday, September 1.

Parts of the following streets will be closed, routed to one-way, or “affected”: Thompson; Madison; Observatory; Washington Heights; East Ann; Monroe; Jefferson; Maynard; East University; Willard; and Church.

The following parking lots will be closed, have limited parking, or “affected”: Bursley Hall Parking Lot; Thompson Street Structure; Lot W16 (the “Triangle Lot”), located at Thompson, Packard and Madison; Lot W18, located next to Parking Services and the Thompson Street Parking Structure Lot; Lot M26 on East Medical Center Drive; Lot M28 on Washington Heights across from Markley Hall; and Lot E1 on North University Court across from Stockwell Hall.

More information is available at University Housing web site or from the notice sent to UM Staff. Questions concerning alternate parking options should be directed to U-M Parking Services at (734) 764-8291. For more on the Fall Move-In, contact the Housing Information Office at (734) 763-3164.

Comment [4]

Local

Teeter Talk: Matt Lassiter

Posted by Bruce Fields on 25. August 2006

Homeless Dave has posted an interview with University of Michigan professor Matt Lassiter:

So you’re against sprawl, right? And you can think of that in terms of being a good environmentalist, and you’re against big developers coming in and messing up your neighborhood, and you’re against pollution and all that…..

Comment [6] • Read More »

Local

Regional real estate slips big

Posted by Murph on 18. August 2006

The Detroit News describes metro home prices “tumbling” 8% in the second quarter of 2006, for the biggest quarterly decrease in median sale value since 1989.

The DetNews doesn’t include Washtenaw County, but, fortunately, local realtor Todd Waller blogs some statistics for Ann Arbor. His market statistics page shows Ann Arbor to be, if only barely, the strongest of the submarkets he includes statistics for. His monthly charts for July show sales down and supply up this year, with year-to-date average sale price down 3.8% from 2005.

Comment [64]

City Council

City Council: The Postponed Edition

Posted by Juliew on 18. August 2006

Monday, August 21, 7:00 pm

Eight items on Monday’s City Council agenda were postponed from previous meetings.

Highlights:

• Approval of the Metro 202 plan (large .pdf here). This will be on the docket for the fourth time.
• Approval of additional funds to look into the new/renovated City Hall and Police Station.
• Several facets of the Easy Street sidewalk assessments.
• Approval of a $400,000 one-year agreement to provide “parking citation processing, collection and record management services.”
• Approval of a “Park Maintenance and Capital Improvements Millage” and an “Administration of Park Maintenance and Capital Improvements Millage” for the November ballot.

Don’t forget, the “Democratic” Caucus meeting (since all Council members are Democrats, this meeting is primarily a pre-Council meeting with no camera and no time limits on speaking) is held on the Sunday prior to each Council Meeting at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers. Caucus meetings are open to the public and are an opportunity for anyone to speak informally with Council about agenda items. Speakers sign up on a first-come, first-served basis.

Comment [151]

Local

Ecology center fights back against effort to "stifle public debate"

Posted by Chuck Warpehoski on 18. August 2006

The Ann Arbor News reports that the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center is fighting back against a lawsuit by Morton Grove Pharmaceutical.

From what I hear, they think they have a very good case. They certainly have their message down. They are criticizing pharmeceutical use of lindane, which has been banned in 52 countries and California.

I don’t know how the courts will rule, but how can you beat Ecology Center Executive Director Mike Garfield’s quote, ” “It makes no sense that lindane can’t be used on pets or plants or persons serving in the military, but it can still be used on children.”

Comment [11]

Culture

3 days, 40+ bands: Madisonfest, this weekend

Posted by Murph on 15. August 2006

This weekend, Madison House will be hosting Madisonfest, featuring every local band who couldn’t hide fast enough when Brandon came looking. The event will be the final Madison House show ever, and will be a benefit for the East Quad Music Co-op, 826michigan youth writing center, and community gardening group Growing Hope.

Full schedules are available on Upcoming.org; Friday’s show will be at the West Park bandshell, with afterparty at the Blind Pig; Saturday and Sunday shows at Madison House, with Sunday afterparty at Leopold Bros.

Comment [21]

Local

Residential Mid-Rises Approved on North Main

Posted by Brandon on 11. August 2006

From today’s Ann Arbor News:

The council on a 9-2 vote approved the project’s planned unit development site plan and development agreement at its meeting Thursday night.

The proposal includes two multiple-story buildings that will have 123 residential units and a combination of commercial, retail and office uses on the site of the old Greek Orthodox Church, which will be torn down. The biggest building, on North Main Street, includes two towers of 11 and 9 stories that will include 105 condominium units. There is also an adjacent four-story building on Fourth Avenue that will have 18 lofts for rent and first-floor retail.

Mayor John Hieftje and Council Member Bob Johnson, D-1st Ward, voted against the project because of the building heights.

Comment [30]