Campaign finance reports show majority supporters trying to oust 2 Ann Arbor City Council members
Six candidates running for seats on the Ann Arbor City Council have collectively raised nearly $25,000 in campaign contributions as they head into the Aug. 2 primary.
Another candidate, 3rd Ward challenger Marwan Issa, missed Friday's reporting deadline and still hadn't filed as of earlier today, according to election officials.
The reports show two candidates — 3rd Ward challenger Ingrid Ault and 5th Ward challenger Neal Elyakin — have political backing from people who are known political allies and supporters of Mayor John Hieftje and other members of the council majority.
The campaign finance statements, which cover donations received through July 17, are posted on Washtenaw County's elections website here.
Kunselman, D-3rd Ward, and Anglin, D-5th Ward, are known for going against the grain at times and taking positions that conflict with the majority opinion on council. That's been evident most recently with the proposed Fuller Road Station project, which both Anglin and Kunselman have expressed doubts about.
Ault raised $4,031 in cash donations plus another $381 in in-kind contributions for her campaign against Kunselman. She spent nearly $2,700 by the end of the reporting period.
She received $100 from Joan Lowenstein, chairwoman of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority; nearly $300 from Leah Gunn, a county commissioner and DDA board member; $200 from DDA board member John Splitt; and $100 from Jesse Bernstein, chairman of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.
Ault also received $300 from Eric Mahler, chairman of the Planning Commission; $200 from local developer Dan Ketelaar; $100 from Planning Commissioner Jean Carlberg; and $250 from Jeff Hauptman of Ann Arbor-based Oxford Property Management.
Elyakin raised $5,923 in cash donations plus another $1,573 in in-kind contributions for his campaign against Anglin. He spent more than $2,700 by the end of the reporting period.
He received $100 from Bernstein, $200 from Lowenstein and some larger donations from people in Farmington Hills and Bloomfield Hills — including $500 from Florine Mark, the founder of Weight Watchers. He also reported a $360 late contribution received July 21 from Farmington Hills attorney Mark Bernstein.
Ault and Elyakin both have been endorsed by City Council Member Sandi Smith, D-1st Ward, who is appointed by the mayor to serve on the DDA board.
Council Member Stephen Rapundalo, who is defending his 2nd Ward seat against challenger Tim Hull, raised $2,950 in cash donations and did not receive any in-kind contributions. He spent nearly $2,200 by the end of the reporting period.
Like Ault and Elyakin, Rapundalo also received contributions from supporters of the council majority, including $100 from Lowenstein, $400 from Gunn, and $200 from Splitt. He also took in $25 from DDA board member Roger Hewitt; $250 from John Greden, father of former City Council Member Leigh Greden; and $500 from the Miller Canfield PAC.
Hull raised $2,095 in cash donations plus another $45 in in-kind contributions for his campaign against Rapundalo. He spent less than $520 by the end of the reporting period.
Hull's supporters also include known opponents of the council majority. He received $50 from Sumi Kailasapathy, who ran against Smith in the 1st Ward race for council last year; and $100 from Karen Sidney, who is Anglin's treasurer and a frequent critic of city hall. He also received $400 from Ted Annis, former treasurer of the AATA's governing board.
Anglin raised the most of any candidate with $6,850 in cash donations plus another $214 in in-kind contributions. He spent more than $3,400 by the end of the reporting period.
Many of Anglin's supporters also are known critics of the council majority. He received $350 from Jack Eaton, who ran against Margie Teall in the 4th Ward race for council last year; $200 from John Floyd, who ran against Carsten Hohnke in the 5th Ward race for council last year; and $100 from Lou Glorie, who also ran against Hohnke last year.
Anglin also received $200 from Beverly Strassmann, a neighborhood activist who has fought to stop developments in the Germantown neighborhood. He also received $500 from Dennis Dahlmann, owner of Dahlmann Properties and the Campus Inn.
Kunselman raised $2,750 in cash donations plus another $56 in in-kind contributions. He spent more than $1,300 by the end of the reporting period.
He had some of the same supporters as Anglin. He received $500 from Dahlmann; $200 from Eaton; and $300 from John and Gwen Nystuen. Gwen Nystuen is a member of the Park Advisory Commission who also is supporting Anglin's campaign.
Kunselman also received $100 from LuAnne Bullington, who competed alongside him for the 3rd Ward seat two years ago when they both were trying to oust Leigh Greden.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
amlive
Thu, Jul 28, 2011 : 5:21 a.m.
I have faith that we'll be able to keep Anglin in the 5th, and I hope the same for Kunselman, but I do wish there could be some greater chance of change in the others. I think it would be fantastic to see Hull beat out Rapundalo this year. As to another's comments on dissatisfaction with communication with Anglin, all I can say is that my experience has been quite different. I've called him a number of times to ask questions and express my concerns, and he has gotten back and spent a generous amount of time talking with me ever time. Sometimes we agree, sometimes we don't, but even if we don't he will explain why he holds such position or opinion quite thoroughly, often sharing details I may not have been aware of, and answering any questions I have quite well. Even if we don't agree in the end, I appreciate his candor and honesty, and he doesn't seem much for playing with political rhetoric or mincing words. On most issues though, I have been quite in agreement with his positions. He certainly has my vote. And if you are in the 2nd ward, I strongly recommend giving some serious consideration to a vote for Tim Hull. I truly feel that Anglin, Kunselman, and Hull each have their priorities much more in line with the real needs and expectations of most Ann Arbor residents.
63Townie
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 6:18 p.m.
The DDA is too inbred for anyone to be comfortable with, unless of course, you are the mayor and most of city council. Please voters, retain the council members who aren't a rubber-stamp for the DDA and the mayor.
Ron Granger
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 12:55 p.m.
Follow the money - it supports the candidates who want to convert our parks to parking lots for the university of michigan. I do not want a rubber stamp city council, that marches in lock step, and does not question questionable expenditures. Like the millions spent on the new city hall, in clear opposition to the voters, that stupid no-bid german art project, and the conference center and parking structure, etc. The DDA has grown too big for it's britches, and too incompetent. And it is not being held accountable. I'd like to see major housecleaning on the council. The the cronyism is getting a bit much.
Stuart Brown
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 4:14 a.m.
It's important to remember that Ann Arbor is effectively a non-partisan town with the council members known as "Democrats". Most of the majority council members are DINO's (Democrat In Name Only); the Democratic majority on council routinely ignores resolutions passed by the Ann Arbor Democratic Party. Marcia Higgins ran as a Republican in 2003 against the Green Party member Scott Trudeau and decided to switch after Scott received about 35% of the vote. Stephen Rapundalo was a Republican, now a Democrat who supported Rick Snyder for Gov. in 2010. The primaries on August 2nd will determine who gets on council but wait; there is an interesting issue on the November ballot. The millage renewal for the streets repair millage comes up in November. If you're ticked over the way the city's safety services have been decimated this past couple of years, send a loud and clear message that this will not go unnoticed. Vote down the streets repair millage to send a message and because the streets repair fund has a $28 million dollar surplus in it the city has accumulated while Ann Arbor's roads have been crumbling. This council canceled Christmas Tree pick-up service to save less than $50,000 per year will spending about a $1.1 million since 2008 on cell phone service for city administrators. Enough! Until this mayor and council gets the message that citizen priorities really do matter, vote down every millage renewal that rears its ugly head.
CynicA2
Sat, Jul 30, 2011 : 7:19 a.m.
True enough! Just remember who put us in the soup when you go to the polls this August 2nd, and thereafter!
Stuart Brown
Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 1:39 a.m.
CynicA2, They should be using bonds to finance the Stadium Street Bridge; did they max out the city's credit card with other purchases? So, if what your are saying is true, the citizens of Ann Arbor needed to suffer not having the road repair they paid for done because the city blew its bonding authority on other projects? This is poor planning because it costs a lot more to fix roads that are in poor condition rather than fixing them when they are still not poor; waiting on road maintenance costs more.
CynicA2
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 7:51 p.m.
I tend to agree with your analysis of the circus that is Hieftje administration. With respect to the street millage, however, I think there may another reason the Hieftje is sitting on that $28 million. Even after all the drama and kerfuffle over funding for the Stadium bridges, the city is still not sure if and when all the federal and state money will arrive. It is possible, I have been told, that much of this money may NEVER get here, due to budget cutting linked to the deficits, state and federal. If that turns out to be the case, then the city wants to have enough to proceed to replace the bridges on their own. Nothing is for "for sure" anymore.
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 3:54 a.m.
Don't forget to get your absentee ballot if you will be unable to attend the polls on August 2nd. <a href="http://www.a2gov.org/government/city_administration/City_Clerk/Elections/Pages/Ballot.aspx" rel='nofollow'>http://www.a2gov.org/government/city_administration/City_Clerk/Elections/Pages/Ballot.aspx</a>
CynicA2
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 3:01 a.m.
The clueless Hieftje and his toadies need to go. Anglin and Kunselman need to stay. Rapundalo is a Hiefjeite, and so needs to go. None of this will happen if those favoring regime-change in city hall fail to VOTE on August 2nd. The Hieftjeites are good at getting their supporters to the polls, and those opposing them must do likewise, otherwise, all you will be able to do is whine about the results on this blog for the next two years. VOTE!
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 3:43 a.m.
There I just voted right now!
Wolf's Bane
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 1:17 a.m.
This is SO exciting.
Wondering
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 9:57 p.m.
I'm surprised that the majority does not support folks raising rather mild questions and in a rather respectful way. That way of doing business can add a lot of credibility to the Council process. Enacting vote after vote without much intelligent discussion of the important underlying issues does not instill very much confidence in our governing process, I think--or in the officials who are running that process. And, when there are issues down the road with some of these important decisions--as there inevitably will be--I would think that all Council members would want to be able to point to a very public and very thorough airing of all the important issues and all the important data in order to protect our city and their reputations. So, I think the folks who are asking intelligent questions to probe implications/possible consequences and who are asking to see data to support the decisions being made are reflecting very well on Council..........and all of us--but especially other Council members and the Mayor--should understand that these folks' questions are actually adding considerably to the credibility of the Council process, definitely NOT undermining it.
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 3:42 a.m.
Well said, Wondering. It's like they are afraid to have any kind of lively debate, And anyone (say, Kunselman, for instance) who asks questions and tries to get to the crux of the matter is frowned upon. Maybe more aptly than the mayor and the rest of the council would like to recognize, the council member who asks questions is characterized as a dissident when they ought to be valued for their contribution in creating a more thorough and far reaching conversation regarding critical issues that the public cares deeply about.
Goober
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 9:50 p.m.
Their record speaks for itself on a continuation of spending like drunken sailors and on the wrong issues. I am talking to all I know, as well as pushing for replacements for all incumbent city council personnel. All of them - democrats and others. Replace all of them!!! We need new, fresh, council personnel who will help us manage our tax revenues wisely, at the same time valuing the true assets that we have as a city - our police personnel and fire management personnel. I have lost faith over the years, based on factual situations and actions, in our city leadership - the mayor, city administrator and all council members.
glenn thompson
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 12:59 a.m.
Mike Anglin and Steve Kunselmn have both opposed many of the city's costly projects, but they are the minority and do not control the Council's decision. Replacing these council members with those that simply support more thoughtless tax spending is simply worse.
Roadman
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 11:51 p.m.
True assets? What about our City Attorney's office too?
Roadman
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 9:02 p.m.
Campaign finance isues need to be reported on. The big story is that political action committees exert great influence in our system of government despite being largely unnoticed. Check out the county-registered "Citizens for Justice" PAC (not to be confused with the Amercan Citizens for Justice PAC run by Chinese-Americans in response to the 1982 killing of Vincent Chin). It donated $12,000.00 to the Prosecutor Brian Mackie campaign committee one week before the Nov. 5, 2008 general election despite the fact Brian Mackie had no opposition in that election and expended little or nothing to campaign, nor will Mackie ever likely face any primary or general election opponent for the rest of his elected career. Why the huge contributions? Who are the contributors? Answer: largely lawyers who practice against Mackie's office, work in Mackie's office, as well as labor union contributions. Eric Gutenberg,in contrast, got only $500.00 from that PAC in 2008 despite the fact he was in a highly competitive race with Chris Easthope that November and he was a top deputy to Mackie. It's registered office is the posh residence of a county official. Check out the "Declare Michigan PAC" that got huge contributions from big-name elected officials including a local judge who gave $17,000.00 in a single donation. Check out the "Garan Lucow Miller PAC" run by an insurance defense law firm that has its offices across the street from the circuit courthouse. It donated over $1,600.00 to the campaign committee of former APA Margaret Connors of Mackie's office for the 2008 district court judge primary; the money was, per finance reports , received after the election. Why? Check out the county-registered People Against Corruption political action committee - the "PAC-PAC" as it is jocosely referred to and its website <a href="http://www.a2buzz.org" rel='nofollow'>www.a2buzz.org</a> .
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 3:29 a.m.
Interesting. Thanks so much for the info.
unrulyfan
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 8:35 p.m.
Having watched the debates and read what I can find about the candidates, as well as my own experiences I am supporting Elyakin in my ward (5th) . I think Mile is a nice guy, but whenever I interact with him via email or in person I either get no response or he tells me what he thinks about a topic and does not listen to what I have to say. I've met Neal several times now and he seems like a good guy with an open mind. I've also met Ms. Ault on several occasions and was very impressed with her comprehension of the issues and the fact that she promotes local business. Mr. Issa can't seem to really get much right, from the 100 rejected petition names to missing the filing deadline . . . as my teacher friends would say "not yet". Steve Kunselman seems to be combative simply for the sake of being combative. I was appalled to read "Council Member Stephen Kunselman, D-3rd Ward, also chimed in during Monday's meeting to say it's taken some time but he finally has his hands on DDA financial reports going back several years and he's alarmed at what the numbers show" (link below). For a guy who has been such a vocal opponent to all things DDA I would have thought he would have done his research BEFORE taking such positions and making such accusations. This is simply not good public service. In the 2nd ward I think the voters would be smart to keep Rapundalo. I've met Tim and he is a nice guy with good ideas, but so is Stephen, and he has much more experience. <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/jerusalem-garden-and-earthen-jar-owners-unhappy-with-lack-of-assistance-from-city-dda/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/jerusalem-garden-and-earthen-jar-owners-unhappy-with-lack-of-assistance-from-city-dda/</a>
unrulyfan
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 3:30 p.m.
deb and kfloger, I'm glad to hear that. Like I said I like Mike so I'm glad you've had positive interactions with him. My contact has been limited, but my comments accurately reflect them, but we all have off days. Cinco, I don't go to city council meetings generally speaking, but I have had many interactions with Rapundalo and they were all positive. As far as Kunselman I just don't think he is doing a good job on City council Its not productive to simply say no to everything, and as I have already pointed out he does not take an informed position, he takes an angry one.
deb
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 1:37 p.m.
Same experience, Hohnke never even called me back. I then called mike, which I described in my post above
kfolger
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 12:46 p.m.
Wow, that's surprising. I've emailed Mike Anglin on several occasions and always gotten very prompt responses. In fact, when I ran into Mike campaigning at Westgate a few weeks ago I complimented him on how reponsive he has been. Carsten Hohnke on the other hand, not so much.
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 3:25 a.m.
I can't disagree with you more. Kunselman Anglin Hull Those are the three to vote for. I have people calling me from around the city asking me who they should vote for and those are the three I give. Raundalo "a nice guy"? I am not sure which meetings you have attended, but I am not the only one who has witnessed his glaring at Ann Arbor citizens who - although their opinions differ from his - take the time and effort to speak at council meetings. THis kind of response to concerned citizens is not "nice". I'll take the unexperienced guy who still has an open mind to people's concerns and will look at the best ways of resolving some critical issues. I, thankfully, do not live in Rapundalo's ward, but I grew up there and have many, many contacts still on that side of town who will be voting for Tim Hull. Kunselman has shown himself not afraid to disagree with the majority. He has shown himself capable of asking common sense questions that the rest of us out here, outside of the city administration loop, keep asking and keep wondering why other council members are not asking. I am grateful to a council member who can handle that role. Not enough questions are asked! Not enough dissent is displayed! If there is any, it is done behind closed doors, and then re-enacted in a staged and dilluted form for the public's consumption. Give me some more real people like Tim Hull and Stephen Kunselman. Please.
deb
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 10:59 p.m.
Funny, I called Mike on the telephone, he picked up, and helped fix my problem that day.
Ben Connor Barrie
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 8:19 p.m.
@yohan, how will the mayor et al. punish the Com and why? This article takes publicly available information (campaign finance statements) and essentially combines it with a Google search for the largest donors names. If they mayor et al. were so worried about this information getting out they could have formed a PAC or several and kept the large donors away from public scrutiny. How would they mayor and et al. go about punishing the Com?
Vivienne Armentrout
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 1:03 p.m.
I didn't mean to imply that the Council Party is not proactive in trying to halt dissent, which is what this election is apparently intended to achieve. I just wrote a blog post about it <a href="http://localannarbor.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/public-process-and-governance-in-ann-arbor/" rel='nofollow'>http://localannarbor.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/public-process-and-governance-in-ann-arbor/</a>. What I was trying to say is that a smart politician doesn't attack the media because they are needed. The city no longer advertises to the extent that it did. Council elimiinated the need to post agendas and they are now available only online. Legal notices are mostly in the Washtenaw Legal News. So I doubt that any advertising blackout is likely to be effective (even if they wished to employ that). Good reporting, Ryan.
nemo
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 12:25 a.m.
Ben: Remember last year when Mayor Hyena was ripping out campaign signs he didn't like? He's a petty, petty fellow.
yohan
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 10:39 p.m.
You are correct that the mayor is not IN THE BUSINESS of punishing media. However he has shown in the past several years that he DOES NOT tolerate dissent and those who disagree with him or embarrass him will be punished. You are correct in that he will not "pick a war" with the media but he will show them that there is a price to be paid for publishing anything negative about the mayor. How will he and his cronies extract revenge? Simple, what is the life blood of AA.com? Advertising. The city advertises in the media and so do many of the developers, contractors, DDA business owners and other supporters of the mayor. They won't make a wholesale cut off of all advertising in AA.com but just skip a month or two. Just enough to remind AA.com where their bread is buttered. On the other hand he does reward those that support him. He rewards his supporters with appointments to various boards / commissions / committees etc., Bid and no bid city contracts and the ever popular consulting contracts. This is the way corrupt big city politicians work. Even in a small company town like Ann Arbor.
Vivienne Armentrout
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 9:43 p.m.
The Mayor and his allies are not in the business of punishing news media. As old political operatives, they know that this information is public and have already accepted whatever consequence results from its revelation. They have nothing to gain by antagonizing the media.
deb
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 8:39 p.m.
im not trying to argue, or saying the mayor will do this, but my guess is that he could punish aa.com by not granting interviews, or not giving them leads/scoops, if he even did that before.
Carole
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.
Looks like DDA is trying to buy a council member. DDA needs to be shut down and thusly saving AA taxpayers a great deal of dollars. Surely hope Steve Kunselman and Mike Anglin remain on the council --
Sparty
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.
If Issa missed the reporting deadline, doesn't that indicate his level of seriousness as a candidate ....or worse his reliability ? Would he neglect to show up for council meetings? File required documents? Be transparent in issues affecting his constituency?
yohan
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 8:03 p.m.
Hieftje and company are very vindictive. They will punish AA.com for publishing this info.
a2grateful
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 8 p.m.
The two-party system here is extinct. It will never return. The alternative to the existing morass? 1) End party affiliation in the wards. 2) Allow candidates according to existing criteria, excluding party affiliation. 3) Have a single, November-only election. 4) Whoever receives most votes wins. This has potential to revitalize city council, ending the corrupt, crony system currently in place.
Basic Bob
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 1:52 a.m.
The DINOs took over Pittsfield to punish Democrats for allowing Walmart to close to their Upper Saline enclave. Now we have the most repressive police department in the county, especially if you look like an east sider.
Joe Kidd
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 9:50 p.m.
No, Ed, the other party moved to Pittsfield, Chelsea, Milan, Brighton, Whitmore Lake and Dexter. If what is left is so smart, why are there so many issues we do not see in those communities?
mun
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 9:20 p.m.
I believe former mayor Ingrid Sheldon was a Republican.
unrulyfan
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 8:42 p.m.
I agree if you are going to have only one party lets go non-partisan. Let the people with the best ideas do the job.
Ed Kimball
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 8:37 p.m.
The reason we have only one party successful in A2 is that the other party has gone so far to the right that too few citizens will support its candidates. If only the rest of the country were as smart as Ann Arborites!
Carole
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 8:14 p.m.
Sounds interesting --
mr_annarbor
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 7:52 p.m.
Last I looked, there's no legal reason a Republican can't get on the ballot. In fact, B2Pilot and Floyd Griffey, I bet that if you'd filed, you'd have easily won the Republican primary and then been able to oppose the Democratic candidate.
Roadman
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 9:17 p.m.
Good question. When was the last time there was a contested GOP primary for an A2 City Council seat?
Floyd Griffey
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 7:27 p.m.
Gosh ... if we only had a two party system in Ann Arbor.
Doug
Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 6:09 p.m.
A two party system in Ann Arbor would be the Democrats and the ACLU.
nemo
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 7:47 p.m.
We do...Democrats, and DINO's. Fearless Leader and his henchmen are the DINO's of course.
Tom Wieder
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 7:22 p.m.
The real pattern here isn't people who support the de facto "majority" on Council versus those who don't. It's basically individuals who are in lock-step with the DDA, and want a conference center, versus those who don't support those positions. If you think that the role of the DDA has grown too large and needs curbing, or if you just want to get ride of it, you should vote for Anglin, Kunselman and Hull. If you think spending city money for a conference center was a dumb idea, you should vote for Anglin, Kunselman and Hull. If you think the DDA is just fine, and a conference center - partially paid for with city tax dollar - was a good idea, vote for their opponents.
Roadman
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 11:50 p.m.
Tom you should run for City Council yourself. You like going to City Council and the County Commission so much to give public commentary, it would only be natural.
Roy Munson
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 7:18 p.m.
Can they all be kicked out? And the Mayor too?
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 6:56 p.m.
as a third ward voter Stephen Kunselman has my vote, and i will lobby 5 other family members who live in the 3rd ward
Roadman
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 11:56 p.m.
I am sure you can carpool them to your precinct polling station. If they are in separate precincts, calltheir local precenct delegate for a ride.
B2Pilot
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 6:19 p.m.
City leaders should be smarter than this; and if their puppet appointees do not win? How productive will these 'elected' officials be?? shouldn't the citizens select their leaders?? The city started a downward spiral when it became a 1 party dictatorship -bad decision after bad decision with no constructive dialogue. Any voice of dissent is run out of town
Silly Sally
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 1:10 p.m.
No, the council, via the AADP, doing a very poor job of running the city. this is why: The city is broke and desperate for money. It has the "BIG DIG" by the library, which has taken much needed funds from police, fire, parks, ... It has assigned tax revenue to the DDA, then begs for some of it back. It builds roundabouts, bike trails, and bicycle lanes, but can't fill pot holes. It wants to cut trash pick up even further, but build a multimillion dollar recycle center instead of repairing the present one. It then wants to tax us further to build a parking structure for UM to build a train station when we already have a train station, and a huge, mostly unused abandoned former DTE lot next to it. Now that would be a good use of eminent domain by the city.
Roadman
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 11:53 p.m.
One party disctatorship? Isn't the AADP doing a good job of running our city?
Ed Kimball
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 8:34 p.m.
Aren't the people who provided financial support citizens???? Are YOU providing financial support to the candidates you favor, or are you just lurking in this web site and complaining?
deb
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 6:14 p.m.
Anyone in favor of more power for the dda (or backing there proposals) and the new U parking structure on Fuller road, is not a good candidate for the people of Ann Arbor.
Joe Kidd
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 9:45 p.m.
I do not support giving the DDA more "power" necessarily, but IMHO, the DDA needs independence from City Council. I would like to see elected DDA officials and not appointees. Why? It seems that DDA funds - which are supposed to go to downtown development - have been siphoned off by council to balance their budget. Today it appears DDA members are required to donate to candidates who support the mayor and the sitting council. In re to the parking structure proposal, it is out of the DDA district. I do not understand the controversy. Don't care really. If the U needs a lot they will build it elsewhere on UM property and if the city backs out, they will not be able to complain if they get no input or credit if it ends up as a link to a rail system. Some in the city may be more upset based on where the structure will end up if not on this spot.
deb
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 7:33 p.m.
their proposals