Arbor Update

Ann Arbor Area Community News

Proposal to Discontinue Night Ride

Posted by MarkDilley on 22. August 2005

Notice is hereby given of a proposal by the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) to discontinue Night Ride taxi service after September 30, 2005.

Night Ride provides shared-ride taxi service within the city limits of Ann Arbor at times when AATA buses are not in service. Night Ride is proposed for elimination as part of AATA efforts to reduce costs in response to continuing cuts in the level of state funding.

Comments or Questions: If you have a comment or question about the proposed elimination of Night Ride, please contact the AATA by August 17, 2005 by any of the following methods: Call the AATA Service Hotline, 734.677.3934. E-mail the AATA at cwhite@theride.org . Fax the AATA at 973.6338, addressing the fax to “Service Changes”. Write the AATA at: Service Changes, 2700 S. Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Attend the public hearing to be held at the beginning of the AATA Board Meeting at 7:30 p.m. on August 24, 2005, at the address above.

I got this in an email, with the reply, which is the first comment.

Comment [10]

ACLU Defends Churches in Ypsi

Posted by Ari Paul on 20. August 2005

An interesting move by the ACLU of Michigan, considering many of the patriotic group’s critics charge that it is anti-religion.

From the ACLU press office:

In a letter sent yesterday to the Ypsilanti mayor and city council, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and its Washtenaw Branch has advised that a city zoning ordinance unconstitutionally discriminates against religious groups. The letter also urges that the city reverse a decision to evict a Pentecostal church group from a building in the business district.

“Religion flourishes in this country when government remains neutral,” said Michael J. Steinberg, Legal Director of the ACLU of Michigan. “Government may not favor religion over non-religion, but by the same token, it may not discriminate against religion. Ypsilanti’s zoning ordinance discriminates against religion by allowing secular community groups to meet in the business district but not religious groups.”

Comment [16]

Royal Oak considering booze tax

Posted by Murph on 19. August 2005

The Detroit News’ headline summarizes nicely: Royal Oak weighs booze tax – Bar, restaurant owners fear idea city is reviewing to soothe budget ills will send patrons elsewhere.

The article also mentions suggestions such as selling Royal Oak’s City Hall – contrast with Ann Arbor’s intent to build a new, $40-60m City Hall or annex.

Comment [10]

Michigan Daily seeks architecture critic

Posted by Murph on 18. August 2005

As an attempt at cross-media pollination, Michigan Daily Editor in Chief Jason Pesick has asked me to advertise here for an architecture critic for the Daily – some lucky lurker’s chance to be read by thousands of bored students every week! E-mail Jason with interest:

The Michigan Daily is looking to recruit an architecture student (either an undergraduate or a graduate student) for the purpose to critique and analyze campus architecture in the Daily. When plans for new buildings are announced or new details are released on the design of something like North Quad, we could put a column on page 1. But this writer would technically be an Arts staffer who could write in that section on a fairly regular basis, if not a fixed schedule. Obviously, anyone who’s interested in filling the position could help us figure out exactly what it would entail.

Here’s some potential topics that he/she could write about:

  • An analysis of the situation with the frieze building, carnegie library and the facade. he/she could opine on which parts are worth preserving and why, and how feasible it would be.
  • If he/she knows anything about major architectural firms, he/she could offer insight into the reputations of the firms that the university has hired lately.
  • Something about how a lot of the architecture on campus mimics stuff at at other universities and if there’s any significance to that
  • Analysis/critique of the long-term plans for the medical campus and north campus
  • Obviously there’s a lot that could be written about the renovations to the stadium

If you are an architect, I’m sure you know what they’re looking for better than either Jason or I do.

Comment [21]

Anti-War Vigils Tonight

Posted by Rob Goodspeed on 17. August 2005

MoveOn PAC is sponsoring thousands of anti-war vigils across the country. Two are in Ann Arbor tonight:

North U and State (7:30 pm)

In front of People’s Food Co-Op in Kerrytown (7 pm)

see more information

Comment [4]

Saturday: Darfur Benefit Show at Black Elk Cooperative

Posted by Brandon on 17. August 2005

This Saturday, 8/20:

BENEFIT FOR THE PEOPLE OF DARFUR
(all proceeds go to Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders)
FEATURING PERFORMANCES BY:
-SEVEN CHAKRAZ (smart hip-hop reppin’ for the Ace Deuce)
-KELLY JEAN CALDWELL (reigning queen of heartbreak and, of late, singalongs!)
-CHRIS BATHGATE (youthful melancholia never sounded so good)
-MATT JONES (trilling acoustic beauty, ex-of Descent Of The Holy Ghost Church/Dabenport/Great Iron Highway)
-BRAIN SHAKE!!! (fucked a cappella samplin’ crunk noize featuring ACTUAL BIRDS himself on the mic… second and final show before DJ Pretty Boi flys out to Japan to learn more about real hip-hop fashion)

+some serious fucking dance party action.

7 pm
BLACK ELK COOPERATIVE HOUSE
902 BALDWIN (off of Washtenaw, one block past Hill)
$5 SUGGESTED DONATION (remember, it’s a benefit, so PLEASE don’t try to get in for free… I know we’re all poor right now, but it kind of defeats the purpose if nobody donates)

DON’T MISS IT!!!

Michigan Federation of Teachers joins national Wal-Mart boycott

Posted by Murph on 17. August 2005

The Michigan Federation of Teachers has joined the national “Send Wal-Mart Back to School” campaign, a boycott and education campaign to teach consumers why Wal-Mart is bad for communities.

From the Detroit News,

The Michigan Federation of Teachers is joining a growing national anti-Wal-Mart campaign urging shoppers to boycott the retailer for back-to-school supplies.

The federation is the latest Metro Detroit union to join the anti-Wal-Mart movement and plans to publish an article later this month in its newsletter reminding members to shop instead at union stores such as Grand Rapids-based Meijer Inc.

“This is a major issue for us,” said David Hecker, president of the Michigan Federation of Teachers, the state’s second-largest teaching union with 35,000 members. “Wal-Mart is viciously anti-union. They destroy small businesses and they have a record of discriminating against women and minorities.”

A Wal-Mart spokesperson could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but the company’s Web site called the national effort a “smear campaign.”

The Michigan Education Association, the largest Michigan teachers’ union, has expressed support for the campaign, but has not committed to any action.

Council moves forward on greenway, Friends decry "murder by task force"

Posted by Murph on 16. August 2005

Ann Arbor City Council last night unanimously passed a resolution to create a “New Greenway Task Force” that would deliver recommendations for a greenway running south from the Huron River greenway along the Allen Creek valley. The Task Force members will be appointed by 6 September, with preliminary recommendations due by 1 November 2005 and final recommendations by 1 October 2006. The resolution calls for the Task Force to include in the greenway at least the portions of the city-owned properties at 415 W. Washington and 721 N. Main that are within the floodway, and asks for a recommendation on the eventual use of the lot at 1st and Washington. Additionally, the resolution directs the City Administrator to begin working with the Ann Arbor Railroad to determine the potential of using the railroad’s right-of-way for parts of the greenway. See the original text of the resolution (pdf) for more details; at least one amendment was made to add a requirement for public hearings before the 1 October final recommendations were presented.

The Ann Arbor News reports that the Friends of the Greenway are not happy. Bill Hanson, who has announced an interest in Kim Groome’s vacated Council seat, “told the council Monday’s actions were an attempt to fool people who want a greenway with ‘green-sounding’ language. He summarized the council’s task force resolution as, ‘We love greenways. Trust us.’” Sonia Schmerl, co-Chair of the Friends of the Greenway, called the resolution ”’murder by task force’ for a full-scale greenway.”

Comment [18]

British Airways cancels all Heathrow flights

Posted by MarkDilley on 11. August 2005

!!!!!! Attention !!!!!!!

Over 1000 baggage handlers and food prep workers are on a wildcat strike (not authorized by the “union”.)

“British Airways cancelled all its flights from London’s Heathrow Airport on Thursday at the peak of its summer holiday season, stranding some 20,000 passengers, following a series of wildcat strikes.”

via CNN.com – British Airways cancels all Heathrow flights – Aug 11, 2005

x-posted

Comment [32]

Freedom of Speech, punch out.

Posted by MarkDilley on 11. August 2005

What kind of rights do people at work have?

A Michigan newspaper columnist who was fired Tuesday claims his dismissal was punishment for a column he wrote on Saturday criticizing American cars.

James Briggs, a former columnist and news editor at The Daily Telegram of Adrian, Mich., says the publisher canned him for writing the column that upset auto dealers and others so close to Detroit’s auto manufacturing power houses.

via Editor & Publisher tx jenny

Comment [3]

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