Arbor Update

Politics

Build the AU Candidate Questionnaire - August 2009 Primary

Posted by Murph on 6. July 2009

This year’s primary is coming up on Tuesday, August 4, 2009. The Washtenaw County Clerk’s website lists exactly two primary races on this ballot, in Ann Arbor’s 3rd and 5th Wards. As is traditional, ArborUpdate will be submitting a set of questions to the candidates and posting their answers.

1. Submit questions in the comment section below.
   • Try to avoid yes/no questions in favor of more open-ended responses.
   • Pick questions that all candidates can speak to, not just one individual.
   • Comments like, “I second John Q’s question” are good, too, but please don’t diverge into long discussions – remember, these are questions for the candidates.
2. On July 15, we’ll close the thread and select some questions to send to the candidates. 4-5 is typical, and we’ll be combining similar questions, de-polemicizing questions, and making similar edits in the process.
3. We’ll ask for candidate responses by July 25, so that we can post them the week before the election.

The races and candidates (all links to ArborWiki) are:

3rd Ward City Council, City of Ann Arbor – Democratic Party Primary:

• LuAnne Bullington
  
• Leigh Greden (incumbent)
  
• Stephen Kunselman
  

5th Ward City Council, City of Ann Arbor – Democratic Party Primary:

• Mike Anglin (incumbent)
  
• Scott Rosencrans
  

Comment [65]

Event: Access to Government Data: A Citizens Guide to FOIA

Posted by Matt Hampel on 6. July 2009

This Friday — hosted at the Workantile Exchange. Upcoming link

This lunchtime (bring a brown bag lunch) seminar will provide you with the skills and knowledge to obtain public information from local, state, and federal governments. We will cover the state and federal Freedom of Information Acts, what types of records are publicly available, and how to request information. The seminar is taught by Noah Hall, an environmental law professor at Wayne State University Law School and Executive Director of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center.

Comment [1]

City Council

City Council: A2D2 and R4C

Posted by Juliew on 6. July 2009

City Council: Monday, July 6 at 7:00 pm.

Agenda

Highlights:

• A2D2 Zoning Changes
• Resolution to appoint R4C and R2A Zoning District Study Advisory Committee
• Resolution establishing a site development committee to initiate a search for a private development partner for the S. Fifth Avenue
  parking structure site
• Resolution to approve Walgreens site plan for the corner of Jackson Road and Stadium Boulevard

Comment [4]

Transportation

Michigan may lose 2 Amtrak lines in 2010

Posted by Matt Hampel on 30. June 2009

In the post on the “hydrogen superhighway,” Joel Batterman notes that the State of Michigan may cut funding to the Pere Marquette and Blue Water trains. The Pere Marquette has service between Grand Rapids and Chicago; the Blue Water, between Port Huron and Chicago. Here’s a PDF with information on the planned shutdown and what you can do about it. The Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers has more information.

In other news, I emailed Amtrak asking for information on any improvements in progress or planned for the Wolverine line. No response, and there’s nothing of interested on the stimulus plan bids page.

Finally, Wolverine’s service hours change starting today — some trains are earlier, others later, and some are unchanged.

Comment [5]

Transportation

Next-gen "hydrogen superhighway" proposal to get local public hearing, July 10

Posted by Murph on 26. June 2009

Every few years, Brighton-based Interstate Traveler Company pops up briefly with their visions of solar-generated hydrogen-powered mag-lev high-speed rail pods that could carry everything from people to individual automobiles to freight, provide conduits for public utilities, revitalize the American steel industry, and even provide remedies for drought and famine, all through private investment expense.

Usually, their appearances get no more than a single news article, but this time they seem to have found traction. On June 15, the company presented to a State task force, claiming they had $2B in private investment lined up to build a Lansing-Detroit line. They would require the State’s involvement only in providing permission to use highway right-of-ways for the system, which would be built on elevated tracks built in the medians of I-96, US-23, and I-94.

The proposal will now get a public hearing locally on July 10, from 10am – noon, at the University of Michigan’s Palmer Commons. Later presentations are planned for Grand Rapids and Detroit, according to the A2News.

The proposal has its skeptics, including commenters on the DetroitYES forums and The Transport Politic blog. State Rep. Bill Rogers (R-Brighton), who heads the legislative task force, responds that a privately-funded system is at least worth a look. As quoted by DetNews, “If they truly can finance it, I don’t know why it couldn’t exist,” Rogers said. “I just don’t know if the money is there.”

Comment [7]

Photowalk-- Saturday, June 27th

Posted by Patti Smith on 22. June 2009

This Saturday, you have the opportunity to participate in the Photo Walk, sponsored by the Ann Arbor District Library. Here is what those nice folks have to say about it:

Bring your camera and explore Ann Arbor! Participate in our first Photowalk, which will begin in the Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room on Saturday, June 27 from 10:00 to 11:30 am. This event is held in conjunction with the Library’s summer reading program, Local Motion – which encourages the use of local neighborhoods, gyms, recreational facilities and outdoor areas to move and explore Ann Arbor and get fit!

Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room (lecture) 10:00 – 11:30 am

Walk Around Ann Arbor 11:30 am – ?

Photowalk is a fun way to capture photos of the beauty of Ann Arbor and then post them online for all to see!

We will begin with presentations by several local photography experts, including:

*Myra Klarman, professional photographer specializing in studio and lifestyle portraits

* Michael C. Myers, local photographer and a founding member of the Ann Arbor Crappy Camera Club

*Leisa Thompson, Ann Arbor News Staff Photographer

Learn how to take the best shots and what angles and light would produce the best results! This portion of the event will also include an introduction to the photowalk itself. You will also receive instructions for what is next.

* Following the lecture, at 11:30 am, we will go out in small groups to photograph Ann Arbor

* The results will be an online exhibit of your photos in the aadl.org pictureAnnArbor collection. Staff will be available throughout the day to help you upload your photos to the site, if you need it.

This event is for all ages, adults, teens, families – all may assist. What a wonderful way to be part of a beautiful creation – help us create this new online exhibit!

The Downtown Library is located at 343 S. Fifth Avenue in Ann Arbor. For more information about this event, contact the Library at 327-4555.

Site Announcements

On Moderation

Posted by Murph on 20. June 2009

First, thanks so much for all the intelligent, insightful comments over the years. As has been noted in the past, AU wouldn’t be what it is without comments, and we try to take a light hand in policing them.

Recently, though, we have been receiving more questions and challenges about how we have addressed (or not addressed) certain comments. Bruce and Matt have spent an admirable amount of energy on trying to keep things functioning, but there comes a time when their efforts, and the discussion of their efforts, and the discussion of that discussion, takes up a little too much space, both on the website and on our e-mail list.

Consider this a reminder, and fair warning: we’re all volunteers here. We’re not the press, we’re not the government, we’re under no obligation to make every commenter happy, be “fair”, provide “free speech”, etc. If we remove a comment(s) it is because there has been a consensus on our email list. If we put a deleted comment back, same reason. If we close a thread, ditto. If we rewrite your comments into iambic pentameter, par for the course.

You can ask us to pull or put back a comment, or explain our actions, but you might not get a satisfactory response. Again, volunteers – limited energy. It’s not personal. But it is our website. If you want unmoderated nastiness in your comments, there’s always MLive, or you can start your own weblog.

In summary:

Ann Arbor Civic Band Season Has Begun!

Posted by Patti Smith on 18. June 2009

My favorite episode of the twilight zone is called A Stop at Willoughby. Those who know me know that I love horror movies, mysteries, and Twilight Zone-y type stuff in general. It should therefore come as a slight surprise that my favorite episode is about an ad man who is over-worked and over-stressed and dreams about a perfect little town called Willoughby while riding the commuter train. (Or is it a dream?? Cue Rod Serling and the TwiZo theme song).

I want to live in Willoughby, some days (except with air conditioning, equal rights and the Internet). One of the reasons that I want to live there is because they have outdoor band concerts, at the gazebo, right in the center of town. But for a few weeks in the summer I don’t have to go anywhere, because Ann Arbor is lucky enough to have its own outdoor band concerts.

The Ann Arbor Civic Band plays Wednesday evenings at the West Park Band Shell, starting at 8pm, from late June through July. Their first concert was tonight, and I was thrilled to be in attendance with my dog, who barked right on cue a few times. It is a lovely time in a lovely setting. And, it’s free (donations greatly appreciated, especially since their city funding was recently cut). The conductor said something about getting their 501c3 status soon, so I think that means donations would be tax deductible. (Right? Any IRS people or tax attorneys on board?)

These concerts are something that I look forward to every year. They are my little slice of Willoughby, right here at home in Ann Arbor. And I’ll take that over Rod Serling any day.

Ann Arbor Transportation Authority

AATA [kicked] out of Arborland

Posted by Matt Hampel on 16. June 2009

In late May, the Chronicle wrote about problems between Arborland management and the AATA — management wanted the busses out. According to a release in the Arbor Update inbox, negotiations broke down and service will be stopped on July 1. Snippets follow:

After 30 years of providing transit service at Arborland, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) has received notification terminating the agreement which provided for a bus stop and transfer location in the shopping center, effective July 1.

Over the past year, AATA has worked with Finsilver Friedman Management Corporation of Farmington Hills to successfully resolve the only issue that has been raised, that of bus riders parking close to store entrances. AATA agreed to post signs designating commuter parking areas and to provide on-site staff to monitor the area at critical times.

In the short term, AATA plans to locate bus stops near the intersection of Washtenaw Avenue and Pittsfield Boulevard, where there are traffic signals and crosswalks. AATA sees this approach as the best available option for now.

“We contacted the City of Ann Arbor and the Michigan Department of Transportation about development of bus pullouts along the south side of Washtenaw Avenue between Pittsfield and Yost Boulevard, but moving to that site will take approximately a year to plan, obtain permits and construct.”

Comment [72]

How will the county to deal with the projected deficit?

Posted by Chuck Warpehoski on 13. June 2009

Due primarily to a county-wide decline in property values, Washtenaw County is facing a projected $26 million deficit in the 2010/2011 budget cycle. More on the County’s Financial Status & Projected Deficits

On June 3, the Washtenaw County board of commissioners was presented with Phase 1 of the plan to close this projected deficit. Phase 1 represents $14.5 million in savings, leaving $11.5 million to be addressed. Commissioners approved the recommendations at Ways and Means and will take up the measures before the full board on July 8.

Highlights of the Phase 1 proposals (view the resolution for complete details):

• Maximizing Revenue Opportunities Target $4,384,409
• Department Identified Expenditure Reductions $ $6,766,259
• Non-Union Employee Compensation & Benefit Modifications $4,716,090
• Major Organizational Changes $958,000

Phase 2 recommendations will include a combination of compensation and benefits concessions (dependent upon negotiations between the county and 17 bargaining units) and other program changes up to and including elimination of whole programs and/or departments. A list of some of the programs and departments that may be eliminated is on page 3 of the executive summary.

The entire budget presentation at the June 3rd Ways & Means meeting may be viewed on the County’s archived webcast. The PowerPoint Presentation, Executive Summary, Board Resolutions and accompanying Memorandum is available on the County’s 2010/2011 Budget Process web site.

Comment [37]