Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje says he's 'pretty comfortable' with cuts made to police and fire
(A factually incorrect statement made by the mayor has been removed from this story.)
Mayor John Hieftje says he's feeling OK about the job cuts Ann Arbor has made in its police and fire departments while he's been in office the last decade.
"We've been pretty comfortable in reducing police numbers," he said, pointing out crime is going down and the University of Michigan now has 54 of its own officers.
"And we're studying the fire side, looking very intently at it," he said. "So we're pretty comfortable with what we're doing."
After several years of making cuts, Ann Arbor officials are considering eliminating 37 more positions in public safety over the next two years — 25 in police and 12 in fire.
Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje talks about the city's budget struggles with AnnArbor.com's editorial board on Monday.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Hieftje sat down with AnnArbor.com's editorial board on Monday to discuss the latest talks surrounding the budget. He was joined by Council Member Christopher Taylor, D-3rd Ward, and CFO Tom Crawford, incoming interim city administrator.
"We're getting some pretty good opinions that our initial response times probably won't be affected on the fire side," Hieftje said. "And it shouldn't be affected on the police side. The chief is confident he can maintain patrol numbers."
The city of Ann Arbor has 124 sworn police officers and 89 firefighters. On the police side particularly, those numbers are down considerably from a decade ago.
Fraser last year proposed eliminating 40 positions in police and fire, but the City Council used some last-minute budget balancing measures to stave off most of the cuts.
Hieftje said his hope is to lessen the blow again this year, but he acknowledged the City Council has much less wiggle room this time around.
"We're certainly going to attempt to do everything we can," he said. "It's harder this year than it was last year. It's harder every year. All the water has been wrung out of the towels. There just aren't any more rabbits to pull out of the hat."
Hieftje said he might reconsider some of the cuts to police if crime goes up two years in a row. Crime in Ann Arbor went up 2.6 percent last year, but the overall trend over the last decade is down, according to figures from the Ann Arbor Police Department.
AnnArbor.com is awaiting the city's response to a Freedom of Information Act request seeking records related to the fire department, including data on response times and the most recent reports on calls handled this year compared to last year.
Asked what data the city has looked at to determine it can safely cut 12 more positions in the fire department, Hieftje said the city is awaiting the results of a consultant's study. But he pointed to what city officials learned when they evaluated the city's fire services in 2003.
At that time, Hieftje said, there were about 70 percent fewer fires than there were in the 1970s, and the vast majority of runs were emergency medical responses.
The fire department responded to 280 fires in 2009, the last year for which complete data is available on the city's website. The department also handled 3,290 emergency medical calls, 224 auto accidents, 695 false alarms, and 1,191 other incidents varying in nature that year.
Crawford said the reality is that every part of the city's budget has been reduced over the last few years, and public safety — the largest part of the general fund — isn't off the table.
"You can't go on and not have the police and fire entities challenged with finding a way to do their job with less resources," he said. "That is what this is about."
The city is paying $54,000 to have the International City/County Management Association conduct a study of staffing levels in the fire department. ICMA is expected to issue a report by mid-summer, and Hieftje said the city will give serious consideration to its recommendations for how to more efficiently provide fire services in the years to come.
"Our firefighters are very well trained and we try to keep them well equipped," Hieftje said. "But we're really working on a 100-year-old model of people going to a station, sleeping there overnight, working 24-hour shifts. A firefighter works nine days a month. So we are thinking about different models, the way it's done in some other cities. Maybe it's a 12-hour shift."
Hieftje pointed out the city of Troy's fire department is composed primarily of volunteers — about 180 of them — who are on call to assist the city's 10 career firefighters. Ann Arbor officials kicked around the idea of switching to an on-call system of some kind at a city budget retreat in December, but there has been little discussion of that idea recently.
Asked if the city has looked at the potential impact on insurance rates for residents and businesses if continued cuts to fire services are made, Hieftje and Crawford both said they don't believe that would be affected. They said the ICMA study will look more closely at that.
Before he resigned last month, Fire Chief Dominick Lanza raised concerns the city already had cut too deeply and said the fire department no longer can handle two major fires at once. Hieftje argues Ann Arbor now has enhanced relationships with surrounding fire departments and can count on their firefighters to assist if there are two fires at once.
"There's about 12 or 13 times a year, as I understand it, where they even hook up to a fire hydrant, so that possibility is fairly remote," he said. "It's kind of like the United States used to talk about having to fight a major war in Europe and Korea at the same time."
Christopher Taylor
Starting next year, the difference between 16 and 18 percent is $2.52 million versus $2.83 million — or about $157,262 for every percent. The city has been getting about $3 million a year from the DDA, and city officials say more cuts to police and fire are needed to offset any large decrease in that amount.
Taylor said the two parties met again on Monday morning. The city's latest request is expected to be discussed by DDA officials in committee on Wednesday, and potentially voted on by the full board next Monday. An agreement could come to the City Council for approval later that night.
Aside from monetary terms, the proposed agreement calls for a transfer of powers, giving the DDA sole authority to raise downtown parking rates and extend meter enforcement hours.
"The goal here is to enable them to deploy their expertise with respect to parking demand management in order to optimize parking for the users of downtown," Taylor said.
"We know that evening enforcement is something they think would be of value to the downtown to help activate the downtown," he said, acknowledging the DDA also plans to raise parking rates by about 3 or 4 percent every year over the next decade.
Hieftje agreed those decisions are best left to the DDA. He said the goal in setting parking rates is to "find that sweet spot where it hurts just a little."
The DDA's concern in giving the city 18 percent of parking revenues is that its cash reserves could sink too low. The DDA already has been running deficit budgets to pay for the new $50 million underground parking structure on South Fifth Avenue between Liberty and William.
Taylor and Hieftje, however, think the DDA's financial projections are too conservative and do not include about $435,000 in annual tax revenues the DDA soon will be getting from two new developments — 601 South Forest and Zaragon Place 2.
Taylor also said the DDA's funding assumptions do not include the extension of nighttime parking meter enforcement hours, which could bring in $600,000 to $800,000 a year in extra revenue if two more hours of enforcement are added.
"We don't feel that even at that 18 percent number that we would be in any way endangering their ability to make bond payments or anything," Hieftje said.
"Those are ultimately our bonds," he said. "The DDA doesn't take on any debt of its own. Everything they do is backstopped by the city. So we would have a great deal of concern if the DDA couldn't pay its bills because we would be paying them."
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
Patricia Lesko
Thu, Apr 28, 2011 : 1:08 a.m.
Good for you for removing one of Hieftje's made up "facts." Here's another: "There's about 12 or 13 times a year, as I understand it, where they even hook up to a fire hydrant, so that possibility is fairly remote," he said. As he understands it from whom or from what report? Nowhere on the firefighters reports that they fill out after calls does it record whether or not they hooked up to a hydrant. Furthermore, the pumper truck is used, and that's 500 gallons of water delivered without a hydrant. How many times did the pumper respond to a fire? Here's another factually incorrect statement: "Asked if the city has looked at the potential impact on insurance rates for residents and businesses if continued cuts to fire services are made, Hieftje and Crawford both said they don't believe that would be affected." For pity's sake pick up the phone and call the agency like I did and talk to them directly. They'll tell you, as they told me, that further cuts will definitely have an impact on the business, auto and homeowner insurance rates. Hieftje makes you look foolish and unprofessional virtually every time you quote him without checking his "facts" first.
CincoDeMayo
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 11:09 p.m.
Dear Ryan, Is it appropriate to just remove those paragraphs? My problem is not so much budgets that need to be tightened, but politicians - our mayor and our city manager - misleading the public with inaccurate information. And that information being communicated via AnnArbor.Com and other media. I think it is totally wrong to just remove those paragraphs and note it in a comment 131 comments later. How about adding to the article that you did some fact checking and found that the mayor's comment was untrue? Or, using today's technology, strike through those statements and add an explanation that readers can see when they hover over the sentences that have been crossed out. To just delete an untruth told by the mayor days later is so wrong. The issue IS these inaccuracies.
CincoDeMayo
Thu, Apr 28, 2011 : 3:25 a.m.
Okay - thank you. However, for the record, I think that that inaccuracy should be addressed within the original article. It's hardly fair that the mayor can say whatever he wants, have hundreds read it, and then days later when it is found to be inaccurate, simply deleted. Granted - people have already read the article - as they have read many in the past - and that initial misunderstanding of what is going on sticks with them. By the time any corrections are made, or countering information transmitted, the damage has already been done. People are left confused. The firefighters sound bitter and whiny. Fraser (and Hieftje) continue to mislead.
Ryan J. Stanton
Thu, Apr 28, 2011 : 2:09 a.m.
I'm not just deleting his comment. I'm also writing a follow-up story on what actually is going on with emergency medical calls.
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 10:08 p.m.
Just want to note for the record that a factually incorrect statement made by the mayor has been removed from this story. The following two paragraphs were removed: Because of union contracts, he said, firefighters continue to respond to emergency medical calls despite the fact that city officials believe Huron Valley Ambulance is capable of handling them. "That is built into the union protocols and so (city firefighters) continue to run on all of those, whether it's someone who broke their arm, and quite often the ambulance service will already be there," Hieftje said. "We don't really have the ability to keep them from doing that."
Stuart Brown
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 2:44 p.m.
It has been stated here that cuts to the Fire and Police budgets are political payback for the Police and Fire Fighters supporting Pat Lesko in her run for Mayor in the Democratic Primary in 2010. The reality is that the thinning of Public Safety has been ongoing for some time and the Police and Fire Fighters had nothing to lose by endorsing someone else for Mayor. The cuts that are happening would be happening at the same rate regardless of who the Police and Fire Fighters endorsed for Mayor. At least the city unions showed some balls and demonstrated that they will not go down without a fight. It would have been a truly pathetic display if both unions had endorsed Hieftje last time; they would have gotten nothing for it but the same kick in the behind they are getting anyway. As far as this sites role in keeping the current Mayor and their softball questions, one need look no further than the so called "Fact Checking" performed by one Ryan Stanton in one article in the summer of 2010 where he tagged along with Pat as she was campaigning door-to-door. Contrast the quality of this "Fact Checking" with the same in this article and you have a very good reason why this Mayor can essentially extend his middle finger at the citizens of Ann Arbor when it comes to de-funding the city's safety services despite property tax revenue increases exceeding inflation since 2001 (from $55 Million/year to over $80 Million year currently.)
Awakened
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 11:06 a.m.
So. When does the interview with former Fire Chief Lanza or anyone uncomfortable with these choices get posted.
snapshot
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 8:37 a.m.
DDA needs to go and elected officials need to do their job.
Dominick Lanza
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 3:32 a.m.
THe firefighters contract DOES not mandate hat they run EMS calls it only mandates that they be trained as EMTs. If the fire department were to stop running EMS calls HVA would be hard pressed to arrive in a timely fashion. HVA operates under what by some could be considered a closed shop they influence politicans throughout the County and have a monoply. They operate with no contract if the City took them to task they could stop responding tommorow with no recourse for the City. They play russian rou;ette with ambulance coverage and keep there fingers crossed that the arrive in a timely fashion. Most important thing is the Mayor or anyone else on council who complains about the firefighter or police contracts needs to point the finger at themselves they voted to approve them. Shame I have to be no longer employeed to speak openly about the shirtcomings they created.
Awakened
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 12:57 a.m.
What a PR boondoggle! He must know that everytime there is an unsolved rape or fire death he will be asked how comfortable he is with that. I do not think arrogance is the issue. Ignorance of candidates is the issue. Does the 80% of Ann Arborites who don't follow the blog or vote care? It seems not.
Awakened
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 11 a.m.
Sadly, Cinco, I haven't seen it. maybe I am getting bitter. But Ann Arbor only elects one party and very, very few voters turn out to vote in the primary which essentially selects the mayor and council. The recent budget open house put on by Fraser was attended by seven people. Seven. I fear now that only disaster will awaken the sleeping.
CincoDeMayo
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 1:18 a.m.
I think people care. It's just that there is no way for them to know all of the implications. We are in difficult economic times. Budgets are a reality. The media has been used to effectively confuse the constituents and make working class public servants the enemy. And woe to those who have been supported by the union to receive decent wages and working conditions. I think that if there was more honesty and respect in the communications and integrity of the administration, negotiations could be trusted. When the city manager says that he does not know what cuts need to be made in order to save jobs, that's an indication that it is not the budget he cares about. His ax to grind is getting rid of police and firefighters. That worries me. The fire department for years has presented numerous cost saving ideas, and rather than seriously consider any of them, the city manager vilifies the firefighters in the media. Sad to hear Hieftje simply parrot the out-going city manager.
pbehjatnia
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 12:22 a.m.
just occurred to me that maybe hieftje "feels comfortable" about no police because he figures the criminals are all contained? i did a quick search on mi sex offender list: 5 registered sex offenders are residents of the delonis center at this time. so i guess in re this type of offender he should feel good: they are housed comfortably, provided services and meals all on taxpayer dollars. less money needed for cops then i guess. i think we should bunker all offenders of any kind at the delonis and maybe even build a few more centers to house, clothe and feed them - maybe even give new bicycles - that way we can all feel safe because we have taken care of our fellow citizens who do not regard the law. how about that? now that's a millage to vote on.
CincoDeMayo
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 12:12 a.m.
Well, that's funny. But I am seriously concerned. The reality is that any one of those things could happen. You would call 911. The officer responding to the robbery could do little other than take a report. The firefighter responding to the fire could do little other than attempt to protect property only. And only HVA would respond - as soon as they could - which could easily be too late. I disdain fear mongering, and really am not usually afraid. But I actually do now have serious concerns. Furthermore, I fear the integrity of Ann Arbor's administration. The worst fear of all.
pbehjatnia
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 11:38 p.m.
oops! my house is on fire, i was just robbed at gunpoint and i think i am having a heart attack! who should i call: a. aa pd b. aa fd c. ghostbusters answer: c. they are the only ones with employees.
dgomg1
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 10:25 p.m.
Is anyone really surprised at Hiefje's statements and actions? This is classic bully politics plain and simple. If you oppose someone for re-election you better be prepared to pay a price if that person wins. Hiefje is now settling his score with the Unions for not endorsing his re-election. Hiefje's true ethics are at play here and sadly the citizen's will pay the ultimate price in slower service on police and fire response. Hiefje will have a million excuses and others to blame with someone suffers a loss because of his policies. As for Chief Jones, your department must have had a lot of fat to tell us we will not see any difference in service provided. Are you really that afraid to stand up to the circus politicians of this city or are you just that disingenuous? I can only imagine how demoralized your staff must be to have such little support from their boss. A2 is quickly going down hill.
huh7891
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 10:01 p.m.
"We've been pretty comfortable in reducing police numbers," he said, pointing out crime is going down and the University of Michigan now has 54 of its own officers. Hello Mr Mayor!!! This is the City of Ann Arbor, NOT the City of U of M. have you forgotten who you work for? So are you trying to reduce A2 police and rationalize U of M has lower paid , less skilled university police to fall back on ? Sorry, not acceptable. How is one so "comfortable " with cutting someones employment like it was an after thought....
lynel
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 12:21 a.m.
No, he hasn't forgotten who he works for. He works for the U of M
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 9:38 p.m.
Quoting Gary Hann at 7:36 AM on April 26, 2011 "Let's see . . . only 30% of Fire Department work has to do with anything involving fire?" What a pejorative question. Simplistic questions like this are what politicians run on. A fire is the least of my worries. Although, a concern, I am more worried about the the things that constitute the other 70% of the firefighters' job. Ann Arbor is an intelligent community and I would not have thought so many would fall for this simplistic line of rhetorical questioning. Regarding this statement: "The inmates have truly been given the golden key to the asylum, and we the people have no say in the avalanche of feeding at the public trough!" In my mind you are speaking of the administration having the golden key and feeding from the public trough. They are manipulating their employees and the tax payers that those employees serve.
CincoDeMayo
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 12:14 a.m.
The city of Ann Arbor is the Asylum - and us taxpayers are the insane who voted in this administration.
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 9:13 p.m.
The fire department has recently been asked by the administration to no longer respond to a large proportion of medical emergencies - medicals that the FD, more often than not, are the first to get to. Personally, that alone has made me UNcomfortable about living in Ann Arbor. Up until this point, I felt like it was still worth the extra cost of owning a home in A2 compared to the outlying townships. But now, I seriously am worried about getting medical attention in time. I have worked in the field as a 911 operator and I know the cost of not having the quickest medical attention possible. I also know that the fire department generally beats HVA to medical emergencies and car accidents. I want them there. So, on a personal level, I now feel fear living in Ann Arbor. On an administrative level, this is also a great way to set up the Fire Department to show that they are not responding to as many calls. The manipulativeness of this administration scares me. Furthermore, to put the community at risk by showing response time can be kept the same without addressing effectiveness (one person with one truck showing up is not worth a whole lot) is another frightening manipulation. I am surprised (? hmmmm maybe not) that AnnArbor.Com continues to simply be a mouthpiece for Fraser and Hieftje when they make false statements such as those concerning the contract for responding to medicals. I also was surprised to hear Hieftje simply parrot what Fraser has said. I thought that he was his own man, and maybe that was the reason for having both a mayor and a city administrator --- for the checks and balances that could occur. However, you know that there is no checking going on when you listen to one lie, and then hear the other repeat it. As an Ann Arbor tax payer, I feel so manipulated by this administration to the point that I am scared of continuing to live here.
CincoDeMayo
Thu, Apr 28, 2011 : 11:53 a.m.
With as much speed and effectiveness as the fire department. I think that response should be in place first, before just removing what we have now. Have HVA show how they will handle it, then consider it as an alternative.
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Apr 28, 2011 : 11:42 a.m.
Then what you want is more HVA ambulances. What you want is HVA to be first on the scene every time...unless your house is on fire.
CincoDeMayo
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 12:57 a.m.
Well, what one needs is early medical attention. I can either wait with medical care or without medical care. Time is critical in receiving that first medical attention. The firefighters arrival would ensure that bleeding would be stopped, breathing started, epinephrine given, advanced airway initiated and early defibrillation received. So, when HVA did arrive I could go to the hospital still alive. That's all I want.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 11:46 p.m.
"I also know that the fire department generally beats HVA to medical emergencies and car accidents." I guess I would ask by how much? The thing is, correct me if I'm wrong, they don't arrive in a vehicle that will transport a seriously ill or injured citizen to the hospital do they? So if a hospital with all its bells and whistles is what one needs then one is waiting on HVA anyway.
Sasha9441
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 7:12 p.m.
That man in the background of the picture is CUTE!
lynel
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 12:14 a.m.
Ryan, is this you post?
Top Cat
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 6:36 p.m.
Is this man eligible for another term as Mayor ? Reading between the lines, he sounds to me like someone who has decided that he is in his last term in office and won't run for re-election.
CityFF
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 6:33 p.m.
It is FALSE that union contracts dictate responses to medical emergencies. FALSE. Ryan has posted the union contract online for anyone to review it and no where does it say that. I think that comments regarding his 2 wars theroy is great. We are neck deep in THREE wars right now. 280 fires per year but the chance of having 2 at the same time is....very very possible and does happen. As Chief Lanza points out there were 5 fire deaths last year. Staff in the FD has gone down from 126 to 86. Is there a possible coralation in those numbers? How is Frasers "experiement" working out for those 5 people?
Dominick Lanza
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 5:52 p.m.
The Mayor is comfortable because he has not had to deal with a fire or an armed robbery. Ask the 5 people killed in fires last year how comfortable they are, ask the business people in the banks, jewlers, credit unions who had guns pointed at them during robberies how comfortable they are. Mr Mayor you parrot Roger Fraser when you speak about fire safety of course response times will not be compromised unless you have no one on duty. It only takes one person to drive the truck so as long as they are there the truck still arrives but no one is there to fight the fire so what good is that response time? Needless to say the firefighters supported your challenger is this political pay back? Troy is 60 or 70 years younger than Ann Arbor their buildings even the oldest were built under some kind of codes not so in Ann Arbor 125 years ago buildings were built with no codes no thought for safety. Also Troy was a planned community with ordinances which say if you do business in Troy you must let you employees leave if there is a fire if you dont you get no business liscense. You could not field a force of volunteers in Ann Arbor Keep cutting firefighters and police officers see how comfortable the growing numbers of victims fire and crime are. What they told me about Ann Arbor politics when I took the job as Fire Chief is true" Ann Arbor is 27 sq miles surrounded by reality". The council needs to pay attention to the people make the decisions to raise taxes or cut non essential services.
aes
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 7:21 p.m.
I keep thinking: How come nobody says "Recall the mayor!"? If he is so cavalier about public safety, obviously he doesn't care about the citizens of Ann Arbor at all, because public safety is why we have government in the first place.
YouWhine
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 5:47 p.m.
"That is built into the union protocols and so (city firefighters) continue to run on all of those, whether it's someone who broke their arm, and quite often the ambulance service will already be there," Hieftje said. "We don't really have the ability to keep them from doing that." Wow... A couple of flat out lies right there.... The administration HAS been making changes and the fire department now responds to VERY FEW medical calls. Also when sent on medical calls, and back before the ambulance company was put in charge of dispatching the fire department, the fire department almost always arrived before the ambulance. It is scary that, in an attempt to get response numbers down, and justify cutting firefighter jobs, the city no longer sends the firefighters on calls for chest pains, trouble breathing, and strokes.
Steve Hendel
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 5:34 p.m.
I wish just once the Mayor and Council would be straightforward with us about the implications of further public safety cutbacks. I wish they would stop pretending that current service levels (e.g. response tImes) can be maintained with fewer and fewer resources. BECAUSE if that is really true, that we can do more with less, why did we wait until now to try to do it? BUT that's like asking "Why did we wait so long to start fixing the West Stadium Bridge"?
Tom Wieder
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 12:59 a.m.
Actually, Steve, the bridge is east of Main St., so it's really the East Stadium Bridge.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 5:07 p.m.
"Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje says he's 'pretty comfortable' with cuts made to police and fire" Will this go down in history comparable to Tony Hayward's, "I want my life back"?
cette
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 4:59 p.m.
This man is too much.What an odd interview. There's 280 fires a year, that's more than 2 out of 3 days, and yet he thinks the likelihood of two happening the same day are low...not that believable. He's comfortable laying off first responder staff, not a problem, (probably) and he uses data from the 1970's to compare to justify his current decisions, and if crime goes up 2 years in a row he'll think about upping police presence. Is he not aware that the state keeps releasing inmates to save costs? Can someone tell him that? You can use two fact sets to make a decision... How does he keep getting re-elected??
pbehjatnia
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 6:01 p.m.
bc this is a 1 horse town, that's how.
63Townie
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 4:57 p.m.
"Because of union contracts, he said, firefighters continue to respond to emergency medical calls despite the fact that city officials believe Huron Valley Ambulance is capable of handling them." Mr. Mayor, what about the situations where AAFD personnel have to drive the ambulance to the hospital because the two EMTs are in the back working on a patient? Again, he doesn't speak with AAFD, so he has no understanding about their duties above and beyond fighting fires.
Jon Saalberg
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 4:44 p.m.
Said it once, and I'll say it again - how can we expect any common sense city management from an administration that thought it was a good idea to build a $50M + parking deck the city does not need?
tmo
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 4:34 p.m.
"Hieftje sat down with AnnArbor.com's editorial board on Monday to discuss the latest talks surrounding the budget." Was Hieftje interested in influencing the next editorial, or did AA.com layoff all its reporters? Remind me to skip that next editorial.
Awakened
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 11:02 a.m.
Seems like it could read, "Hieftje sat down with AnnArbor.com's editorial board on Monday to discuss how they should talk about the budget."
63Townie
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 4:11 p.m.
"That is built into the union protocols and so (city firefighters) continue to run on all of those, whether it's someone who broke their arm, and quite often the ambulance service will already be there," Hieftje said. "We don't really have the ability to keep them from doing that." AAFD routinely beats HVA to medical calls, that's why they are referred to as "First Responders". Also, HVA doesn't have the extraction equipment or the training to get someone out of a crushed car. "Our firefighters are very well trained and we try to keep them well equipped," Hieftje said. "But we're really working on a 100-year-old model of people going to a station, sleeping there overnight, working 24-hour shifts. A firefighter works nine days a month. So we are thinking about different models, the way it's done in some other cities. Maybe it's a 12-hour shift." Hieftje pointed out the city of Troy's fire department is composed primarily of volunteers — about 180 of them — who are on call to assist the city's 10 career firefighters. Good luck with implementing THAT in Ann Arbor. No matter how hard the mayor tries to shove this down the taxpayers throats, Troy is a completely different city than Ann Arbor. Apples to oranges. I'd like to see what the response times would be like when you have a volunteer department that has to leave their jobs and navigate rush hour traffic. Ask any AAFD driver/operator what it's like to do it now, and that's WITH a fire truck. Oh wait, the mayor doesn't talk to AAFD to see what's really going on, he gets his input solely from Fraser and from studies gerrymandered to get the results he wants .
rusty shackelford
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 4:04 p.m.
Can someone explain to me why we need a mayor when we pay a "city manager" a lot of money to do what a mayor does in most places?
Awakened
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 3:19 p.m.
The ICMA study is about cost, including "acceptable liability." It is an organization for and by City Managers and finacial officers. Not firefighting experts. Ford's view of 'acceptable liability' for the Pinto was that it was cheaper to pay a few wrongful deaths than make the car safe. The citizens are ultimately responsible not only for the cost but also the morality of the decisions being made by the people they elect. Are the citizens comfortable with Mayor Hieftje's decisions?
LogicIsTheAnswer
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 3 p.m.
Wow! After this article, it is clear that the Mayor really doesn't understand the fire or police services and that he is being led down the wrong path. Wake up Mr. Mayor! Fire trucks carry water that put out fires when small enough. Fires stay under control with quick responses, needing less water leading to less damage to our citizens. Yep, keep cutting the services, let the houses burn completely down, let more lives be taken, but hey "the fire department will use more hydrants because of the longer responses". The city is here to provide us with proper police and fire services. The citizens pay "large" amount of taxes for these services! Secondly, it seems Mr. Mayor, you are going to use the results of a Management consulting firm study as the answers to your "upcoming" cuts. Again, "Wow", maybe three studie [like the shot down Conference Center proposal] should be done to get unbiased results. It seems to me that your study is going to give you "your" desired results. I think an true third party with no connection to management or union should be done before anymore cuts are done to the fire or police departments.
Stephen Landes
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 2:47 p.m.
Per the article.... Because of union contracts, he said, firefighters continue to respond to emergency medical calls despite the fact that city officials believe Huron Valley Ambulance is capable of handling them. "That is built into the union protocols and so (city firefighters) continue to run on all of those, whether it's someone who broke their arm, and quite often the ambulance service will already be there," Hieftje said. "We don't really have the ability to keep them from doing that." Whaaaaat? We have firefighters responding to ambulance calls because it is in their union contract, yet the concessions we are asking for from them are wages and benefits? Take this provision back to the bargaining table and work to change this portion of the contract and leave firefighter wages and benefit alone. There is no excuse for locking such a procedural requirement into the contract when it is apparently not required. Allowing this situation to go unchanged is real incompetence on the part of city administration and is a real point for A2.com to push on in a dedicated article.
BornNRaised
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 6:04 p.m.
Correct. And most of the time we do beat HVA. Well over 50%. I find it interesting that AA.com will delete a post by someone when it "can not verify the information" but as soon as the Mayor lies, they print what ever he tells them. Hey, AA.com, how about checking your facts? The mayor is a liar. In fact, Fraser has made it a point to cut back on the medicals we go on. In fact, HVA has even told him they need us there. So what is starting to happen is you get an ambulance, THEN the ambulance crews radio that they need FD assistance. How much time to you think that wastes? Sure, I suppose he can argue that ambulance beat FD. So what? They can't go further until they get help.
Awakened
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 3:24 p.m.
I hope a firefighter opines on this. My understanding is that fire runs on any complaint that is life threatening like chest pain and difficulty breathing. Otherwise they only respond when HVA requests them because they do not have an available rig. The contract for service is between the City and HVA. Not the union contract. Mistaken or misleading?
David Cahill
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 2:46 p.m.
I don't understand this statement: "That is built into the union protocols and so (city firefighters) continue to run on all of those, whether it's someone who broke their arm, and quite often the ambulance service will already be there," Hieftje said. "We don't really have the ability to keep them from doing that." Firefighters don't stand on top of the fire station looking for smoke on the horizon. Instead, a relatively new entity called "Central Dispatch" calls and dispatches them to some kind of emergency scene. It's up to Central Dispatch (run jointly with the County) to determine who responds to what call. Or is the mayor saying that union contracts control what Central Dispatch does?
BornNRaised
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 6:04 p.m.
Correct. And most of the time we do beat HVA. Well over 50%. I find it interesting that AA.com will delete a post by someone when it "can not verify the information" but as soon as the Mayor lies, they print what ever he tells them. Hey, AA.com, how about checking your facts? The mayor is a liar. In fact, Fraser has made it a point to cut back on the medicals we go on. In fact, HVA has even told him they need us there. So what is starting to happen is you get an ambulance, THEN the ambulance crews radio that they need FD assistance. How much time to you think that wastes? Sure, I suppose he can argue that ambulance beat FD. So what? They can't go further until they get help.
Awakened
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 3:27 p.m.
I hope a firefighter opines on this. My understanding is that fire runs on any complaint that is life threatening like chest pain and difficulty breathing. Otherwise they only respond when HVA requests them because they do not have an available rig. The contract for service is between the City and HVA. Not the union contract. Mistaken or misleading?
aes
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 2:41 p.m.
If the mayor has been quoted accurately, I have to say that his comments and his attitude make me nauseated.
Bob Heinold
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 2:35 p.m.
All seems good as we slouch toward pre-Giuliani NYC with favorable crime reports.
BornNRaised
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 2:05 p.m.
It's interesting to read the comments to stories like this one. Seems everyone is against cuts to public safety, but when it comes time to say something at a council meeting, everyone sits in their seats and looks at the floor. You think anyone on council cares about these posts? They mean nothing. And don't think for a second that writing letters or calling them does anything. They've proven time and time again to suppress that. When Fraser called for the original layoffs last year he stated, "...and not one resident spoke out against the proposal." We discovered countless emails and letters that were in fact written. It's easy for them to sweep that under the rug, because it's not recorded at a public council meeting. Council people keep putting their 'surveys' online. #1 concern... Public safety. And look how they treat the opinions of residents. But, keep typing away. Hieftje says it, AA.com prints it, residents believe it. End of story.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 11:50 p.m.
I believe we have gone back and forth on a single issue.
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 8:37 p.m.
I don't think BornNRaised is trying to insult anybody, I think they are just pointing out something that they have discovered: This administration is excellent at using the media to publicize their half truths and spins on reality. If there is any way that they can cover up things that they do not want to be known, they will. If there is anything that they can use to "support" their decisions (such as $54,000 studies that are not even completed yet) they will. Hiding emails and letters are easy, and, using the fact that few people show up at council meetings is another tactic. Of course, it is hard to get to those meetings as a working person or parent. I have attended in the past, but with four children in tow. As quiet as they were, it was very difficult. But, again, I don't think the comment was meant as an insult, just an honest observation.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 6:02 p.m.
If you think the way to get Ann Arbor residents to take 2-3 hours out of their evening to drive down town and get 2 minutes in front of a microphone to lobby for your job is to insult them I think your off track.
Soothslayer
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:56 p.m.
Good lord. Hieftje is in dire need of a PR agent. Wrong sentiment & words when folks are loosing their jobs. Jumbotron facepalm.
Carole
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:49 p.m.
Agree with Tom --one major cut could be DDA. I had to deal with them on a parking issue three years ago, not a good experience. It took at least five telephone calls to even get a response, was given wrong information about what I needed to do - i.e. close off parking at farmers market for an evening event. It was a horrible experience. Added to that, the following year was the same thing -- contacted DDA several times with no response. So, to my way of thinking, all the funds going in their direction should be going to the city to fill all of the empty buckets that are needed to keep our AAFD and AAPD folks on the job -- which they do extremely well. As for the $50 m underground parking lot -- it seems to me to be having a good deal of safety concerns. I'm no so sure I would feel comfortable parking there.
Urban Sombrero
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:30 p.m.
Maybe I'm reading more into it than I should be, but every time I read quotes from the mayor, he comes off as incredibly smug and cocky. I could be wrong, but that's just my impression. It's like he doesn't give a rip what the taxpayers say, he's going to do things his way and to hell with anyone who criticizes him. Like I said, that's just the impression I get. I hope this doesn't get deleted. I swear, I'm not trying to attack anyone. It's all about perception.
pbehjatnia
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 5:58 p.m.
um, it's not your imagination. smug and cocky are right on point. can i add delusional?
Urban Sombrero
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:58 p.m.
I hear ya.
Huron74
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:54 p.m.
You'd be smug and cocky too if you ran virtually unopposed for ten years. One of the features of being a one party town. Enjoy.
Karen Sidney
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:25 p.m.
The staff cuts have not been evenly distributed. Based on city figures for budgeted employees from Fiscal year 2002 (when Fraser arrived) to FY13, police and fire employees have been cut 35% compared to a 28% cut for all employees. Between FY02 and FY13, the city attorney staff has been cut 11% and the courts 12%. Bring staff cuts for those two departments in line with cuts to police and fire would avoid some police and fire layoffs. IT and the DDA have more budgeted employees in FY13 than they had in FY02. Budgets reflect an organizations priorities and it's clear that police and fire are not a priority for the current council majority.
pbehjatnia
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.
amen.
timjbd
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:25 p.m.
Mayor John Hieftje, aka: Mr. Comfortable.
DBlaine
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:13 p.m.
To justify cutting firefighters, the mayor said: "It's kind of like the United States used to talk about having to fight a major war in Europe and Korea at the same time." Yeah, the US doesn't have to worry about fighting two wars at the same time anymore. Now we just fight three! Hey a2dotcom, is there a pulse on your editorial board?
timjbd
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:18 p.m.
It's not a big truck, it's a series of tubes: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/timjbd?feature=mhum#p/f/6/EtOoQFa5ug8" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/user/timjbd?feature=mhum#p/f/6/EtOoQFa5ug8</a>
Bertha Venation
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:09 p.m.
So glad to know the Mayor's house is fire-retardant, and that he will not need police in an emergency. That's very re-assuring. Now I can sleep at night.
Stephen Landes
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 2:52 p.m.
I'm sure the mayor's house and contents are so "green" they would be too wet to burn and worthless to steal.
Tom Wieder
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:09 p.m.
I'm so tired of hearing about the DDA "giving money to the city." The DDA is part of the city government (until we get rid of it, which I hope is soon). There is no reason Council should continue to support this separate fiefdom, allow millions of tax dollars to flow into it and then fight with it to get some of the money. Abolish the DDA, and let downtown projects compete on an equal footing with other needs of the citizens at budget time. And Council will have tom make the tough decisions and be directly accountable to the voters.
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 6:24 p.m.
Sensible until you remember who you are asking to be responsible.
timjbd
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:15 p.m.
Seems so sensible that it can't possibly be under consideration.
glenn thompson
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:54 p.m.
"Crawford said the reality is that every part of the city's budget has been reduced over the last few years" The actual cost for the Mayor and Council has steadily increased from about $260,000 in FY 2007 to a budgeted cost of about $360,000 in FY 2012.
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 6:22 p.m.
"Somebody's getting rich, and it's not me."
timjbd
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:16 p.m.
I bet the mayor is "comfortable" with that, too.
timjbd
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:47 p.m.
"Hieftje pointed out the city of Troy's fire department is composed primarily of volunteers — about 180 of them — who are on call to assist the city's 10 career firefighters. Ann Arbor officials kicked around the idea of switching to an on-call system of some kind at a city budget retreat in December, but there has been little discussion of that idea recently." I wonder if they floated the idea of volunteer city government? (Not to mention state government...) That would save a pantload right there. That one "study" displaced the salary of a cop or firefighter. But that's just a drop in the bucket. There's that bucket again..
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 6:20 p.m.
Maybe a bucket brigade instead of a fire department? Maybe that's the real reason the buckets of water were being collected at city hall.
Cash
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 4:36 p.m.
Darn that bucket!
David Paris
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:45 p.m.
' "The goal here is to enable them to deploy their expertise with respect to parking demand management in order to optimize parking for the users of downtown," Taylor said.' Mr Taylor, I know that you are smarter than this. Any so called "expertise" necessary for parking demand management can be handled by the most rudimentary of software programs, I sense a little smoke being directed into unpleasant areas! It sounds to me like an excuse to out-source to a private firm for the purpose of profit maximization, which, according to other points of the article, is clearly their motive. And, as for Mr Heftje's comment 'Hieftje agreed those decisions are best left to the DDA. He said the goal in setting parking rates is to "find that sweet spot where it hurts just a little." ' all I have to say is- whenever I have a little pain that I'm not comfortable with I do what I can to make it go away.
AACity12
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:43 p.m.
Its good to know that the Mayor is comfortable torpedoing the lives of 37 people that work for him. This will destroy 37 people and their families. They will lose their homes, cars and have to figure out how to pay for food for their kids. I know this is an everyday thing out there in this world but its really hard to hear that the Mayor is ok with it. I would rather hear him say something like " I really don't want to cut anyone. I feel awful what may happen to the people and their families. I would love to have a fully staffed public safetly department but the budget dictates otherwise. I wish only the best for my employees and this is the worst thing I have ever had to be a part of."
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 6:15 p.m.
Sad.
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 6:13 p.m.
Some of us will have trouble paying our Ann Arbor taxes...and our Ann Arbor homes will be going into foreclosure...(But, I know since past mayors have told me so, that not everyone can live in Ann Arbor. Not even those who were born, raised, educated and work here.)
logo
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:33 p.m.
Outdoor: I toured the new police station and court house and the mayor does not have an office there. The police officer who was conducting the tour said the mayor and administration will stay in the old building, in the same offices. By the way, this news outlet has said many times that none of the money for art could be spent to pay for salaries in the police or fire departments.
huh7891
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 9:48 p.m.
My suggestion , move the mayors office in the basement with the mold, radon and asbestos and flooding. Oh wait, that's being cleaned up now that the police have moved out...Despicable. Of course he won't mind he wasn't aware of a radon issue..
Awakened
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 3:29 p.m.
Once the PD was out the plan was to completely re-do the Council Chambers and offices in the extra space. I do not know if that is still planned or it has been delayed.
Stephen Landes
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 2:58 p.m.
Of course it isn't true. Our city accounting structure was not handed down from God carved on stone tablets (after all we respect separation of church and state, right?), but is a creation of people. The organization can be just as easily changed -- we are not destined to have all these separate accounts IF we decide we don't want them.
AACity12
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:44 p.m.
It must be true then.
outdoor6709
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:07 p.m.
Of course he is "comfortable". He can look out of his comfortable new office at his expensive German art. Think about how he build a bike path to nowhere that the students who vote for him will like and think about how his relection is in the bag. Being a politician these days is about paying off the groups that will get you reelected. Working on the problems or listening on t input of the 45% of the people who did not vote for you is off the table. How sad is that?
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 6:04 p.m.
Comfortable too now that he's off Traver Rd. and into the comforts of Ann Arbor Hills. I've been hearing this a lot lately: "Somebody's getting rich -and it's not me."
Cash
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : noon
I wonder if the mayor has ever been to Troy. The rest of us know that Troy is a relatively new city with new buildings, built to current standards and codes. Open your eyes, mayor. Look at the aging structures in Ann Arbor including historic University buildings. See ANY similarity, mayor? Good grief. Unbelievable.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 11:55 a.m.
The important thing to remember folks is buckets. When they take our money they sprinkle it around in several buckets. Once our money goes in to a bucket it can never ever be transfered to an empty bucket. This was ordained by God himself. Fire and brimstone would result. Once a bucket is empty the city's only option is to fire the people who depended on that bucket then put the bucket in the drop ceiling of city hall.
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 6 p.m.
Craig, You have really got me laughing today. Toooo funny!
timjbd
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:37 p.m.
Good to know there will always be an army of administrators to handle the buckets, though. They may not use them to put out a fire... Thanks for the perfect image.
Cash
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:06 p.m.
Craig, you're on a roll. There will be a poster here who chastises you and says how the money cannot be moved, much like tearing the tag off of your pillow...under penalty of law. While you post I will serenade you with "My Bucket's got a Hole in it"
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 11:43 a.m.
"All the water has been wrung out of the towels. There just aren't any more rabbits to pull out of the hat." Can I assume the horse is out of the barn? We'll get real leadership when pigs fly and the cows come home?
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 8:20 p.m.
I vote YOUR quote for the quote of the day.
Stephen Landes
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 3:01 p.m.
don't forget "the chickens have come home to roost"
timjbd
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.
This story was written by a vending machine.
Cash
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 11:56 a.m.
Or when hell freezes over.
Chip Reed
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 11:40 a.m.
"We know that evening enforcement is something they think would be of value to the downtown to help activate the downtown". Yeah, I won't go downtown after 6pm if I can't pay to park on the street. Oh, now I get it... MY going downtown is a negative factor in the activation of downtown.
pbehjatnia
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 11:35 a.m.
so i get to pay more taxes (i see a couple of education millages on the near horizon... for which, of course, i will vote NO), higher insurance rates, pray for rain (or that there is no war in europe or south korea) if my home catches fire, and if i need the police i should hope that i can defend myself or another citizen helps me because we have ZERO police available to respond. if i run into any problem with fire or police response i will sue and i can guarantee you it will be the deeeep pocket of ann arbor that i go after.
Ricebrnr
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 2:50 a.m.
Really? Care to enlighten us? because you claim to have a JD yet indicae you would sue for something that you can't win. In another you ask if someone had a permit any kind of permit to own an AK 47....you are not required in MI to have a permit to own a rifle. Interesting, eh? Perhaps you should try again.
pbehjatnia
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 12:25 a.m.
ricebrnr: true. but not the whole story. nice try. use appropriate search engines next time.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 7:44 p.m.
Then you should know that per DeShaney v. Winnebago County & Castle Rock v. Gonzales, No. 04-278 Services such as Police are not guaranteed to the individual. Should you attempt to sue based on Fire or Police not arriving in time to save you, you would be...disappointed. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/politics/28scotus.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/politics/28scotus.html</a>
pbehjatnia
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 5:53 p.m.
@riceburner: Huh? dont need legal advice, have own j.d. thx
Ricebrnr
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 5:03 p.m.
good luck with that. Fire and Police protect society, no l'le ol'you. Supreme court said so.
Sarcastic1
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 11:05 a.m.
Cut away baby. We need another Ypsilanti in Washtenaw County.
Stupid Hick
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:04 p.m.
Yeah, well Ypsilanti is underrated.
Cash
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 10:49 a.m.
Alan, Great post.....so true. From an earlier article: "AnnArbor.com is welcoming two new community members to our Editorial Board. Mary Kerr, president of the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and David R. Lampe, vice president for communications at the University of Michigan....". "Lampe oversees communications activities at U-M that include Public Affairs......and the Freedom of Information Office" As long as the "interviewers" are paid to promote the City and UM.....this is what we get. We get spoon fed public relations pieces from both the city mouthpieces and UM. I guess we now get "reality" articles....the mirror image of "reality" tv, staged but seemingly unrehearsed.
Kai Petainen
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 9:47 p.m.
the #1 lesson that is sometimes taught... is to network, network, network. get onto SPARK and that connection will connect you to many people. it is perhaps the #1 networking connection in Ann Arbor. i'm not saying that is good nor bad, but it is reality. through SPARK you have connections to Rick Snyder (Ardesta, Nature Conservancy) which in turn lead to a number of companies and eventually to Dow Chemical. SPARK itself is involved as an important part of a number of companies, and the people within it are linked a number of universities, colleges and companies. It is the #1 networking spot in Ann Arbor. people in city government, people at the university, people at big businesses.... and anyone who wants networking, should be a part of it. you want a high paying job with friends who will support you? join SPARK and make a difference. Ann Arbor is a fascinating town... the university and the city are quite intwined with one another. Now it seems like the Ann Arbor news is intertwined with the university as well. it's not a good thing or a bad thing, but one needs to remember how modern news has changed from being critical about everything, to being sponsored or networked by individuals. our news society is becoming polarized with fox news on one side and john stewart on the other. the same could be said about ann arbor and as we realize the political and university connections that people have, then it's good to know those connections and the potential biases that may come of that.
Dennis
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 5:48 p.m.
And they are all members of SPARK.
Kai Petainen
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.
<a href="http://www.vpcomm.umich.edu/davidlampe.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.vpcomm.umich.edu/davidlampe.html</a> "At Michigan, Lampe serves as the U-M's chief marketing and communications officer, and as such, works closely at the executive level to identify key issues and strategies that help advance the University's reputation. "
Kai Petainen
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:25 p.m.
one word -- marketing. two words -- reality TV.
pbehjatnia
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 11:37 a.m.
could you type a list of all the paid interrelations you are aware of? i am sure there are loads of us who would like to know.
Awakened
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 10:44 a.m.
"Asked what data the city has looked at to determine it can safely cut 12 more positions in the fire department, Hieftje said the city is awaiting the results of a consultant's study." So .... The data he has are the results of a pending study? The only way to know the outcome before the study is completed is if you paid for the results you desire. And if it goes bad he can say, "But we did what the study said." Brilliant! Well at least I have one less worry... The mayor is comfortable with his decisions.
timjbd
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:24 p.m.
He should personally explain how comfortable he is to the cop or fireman he sacked in order to shell out the $54k for that study.
Alan Goldsmith
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 10:20 a.m.
Couldn't the staff or editorial board think of even ONE tough question to ask any of these 'city leaders'? Not even ONE? Maybe you could have started why the Mayor and his friends in city government fight to the death over nearly every FOIA filing. Or his 'new' job at the U of M and any impact it has on his refusal to step aside for any votes dealing with U of M financial issues. Or why he's encouraged confrontation with police and firefighter unions. Or why you let him dodge the increase in Ann Arbor property owner insurance rates that will come with cuts in staffing by pawning it off on an upcoming 'study'. Or why you let him get away with this quote without a followup: "There's about 12 or 13 times a year, as I understand it, where they even hook up to a fire hydrant, so that possibility is fairly remote," he said. "It's kind of like the United States used to talk about having to fight a major war in Europe and Korea at the same time." Or this one:"Hieftje agreed those decisions are best left to the DDA. He said the goal in setting parking rates is to "find that sweet spot where it hurts just a little."" So the DDA isn't about 'development', it's more about skimming revenue then? And no questions about...oh never mind.
timjbd
Wed, Apr 27, 2011 : 1:30 a.m.
If a question is posed and then dodged, we want to know about that.
rusty shackelford
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 4:10 p.m.
Ryan J. Stanton--you're the best (which is to say, practically the only) reporter at annarbor.com, but your counterargument is essentially, "Don't assume this article I wrote is an accurate reflection of what happened." Is that really the message you want to convey?
Alan Goldsmith
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:22 p.m.
"Perhaps, it is actually the answers that you are unhappy with." No, it's the unasked questions I'm unhappy with. Maybe I'm expecting too much. "@Alan — You shouldn't be so quick to assume this single story chronicles every single question asked during the course of the hour-and-a-half interview." Ok, it was the first story from your 'editorial board' question session, a board that includes somewho who fought against Ann Arbor News FOIA requests. I just know most of these are softball questions and it's not because I don't like the 'answers. Eagerly awaiting the follow up stories based on the interview.
DBlaine
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 1:05 p.m.
@Steve, Why don't you just let the UM's PR guy write your articles for you, seeing that he's on the editorial board.
Steve Pepple
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:31 p.m.
@Cash. It was an editorial board meeting with city officials. Ryan sat in as an observer/reporter.
Cash
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:14 p.m.
Steve, In all honesty, it seems unwise to send the editorial board, made up of AA PR folk and UM PR folk to sit in on an interview of this type. Just my opinion. Send your best reporters and let 'em go!
Steve Pepple
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 12:04 p.m.
I sat in on last night's editorial board meeting and the question about home owner insurance rates was posed by the board. Mayor Hieftje and Chief Financial Officer Tom Crawford both said the city's ISO fire rating, one of the factors insurance companies use to set rates, has remained steady. And we did press the mayor on a number of issues, including police and fire staffing levels. Perhaps, it is actually the answers that you are unhappy with.
Brian Kuehn
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 11:33 a.m.
"Or why you let him dodge the increase in Ann Arbor property owner insurance rates that will come with cuts in staffing by pawning it off on an upcoming 'study'." This issue is still pretty hypothetical. The Insurance Services Office continues to rate Ann Arbor's fire protection at 4 (scale of 1-10 with 1 best). A lot more than staffing levels determines the rating. When and if the rating is adjusted downward, there may be a story to tell. Until that time, you are asking for a reaction to something that has not happened.
pbehjatnia
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 11:30 a.m.
@alan: thank you for saying this. thank you. @awakened & ryan: this IS what aa.com published. it is just more of the same. i think the 'snooze' just went .com that's all. just more of the same old a2 schmaltz.
Awakened
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 10:56 a.m.
It would, however, chronicle the one's picked to be published.
Ryan J. Stanton
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 : 10:52 a.m.
@Alan — You shouldn't be so quick to assume this single story chronicles every single question asked during the course of the hour-and-a-half interview.