Ann Arbor mayor proposes stipend program to encourage more street performances
A pair of street musicians performs on the University of Michigan Diag on a recent afternoon in downtown Ann Arbor.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
"I was in Montreal a few years ago and saw a street performance," he said. "My wife and I were there and we were really interested in it. It was actually Shakespeare."
John Hieftje
That was until they talked to the performers who responded, "Well, we're not totally spontaneous — we get a stipend for doing this and the city makes arrangements."
"We thought that was wonderful because things like that were happening all over Montreal," Hieftje said.
Then just few weeks ago during a trip to the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Hieftje said he walked over to Sculpture Plaza at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Catherine Street.
"There were some excellent student musicians from the University of Michigan music school playing," he said. "It gathered a crowd. It was just kind of a little buzz there. Everybody was enjoying it."
Hieftje said that got him thinking again: What if there was a way to encourage more street performances of various kinds around Ann Arbor?
"I'm wondering if we can't come up with a program to offer a stipend for that type of activity," he said. "It will certainly appear to people as if it's spontaneous, and it will be nearly spontaneous and still allow them to put the hat out."
Hieftje tossed out the idea at Wednesday's meeting of the Downtown Development Authority. The DDA's Partnerships Committee is now planning to discuss it at a future meeting.
"I think you're talking a $2,000 to $3,000 program a year — just to offer them a little incentive," Hieftje said. "I've been thinking about it for a while and I think it's something we can put together pretty easily and it would enliven us. We have an incredibly lively downtown and it would just add to it."
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 email newsletters.
Comments
JoeNuke
Tue, Jun 11, 2013 : 8:34 p.m.
I think a stipend would be ok, but local businesses should decide whether they want this and who should get the stipend. DDA could fund it, I suppose, but I think it would be better if it was informally cooperative among local like-minded businesses.
say it plain
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 8:13 p.m.
I can't believe the Mayor is even considering this, and that we are all commenting on this. It's truly theater alright, theater of the *absurd*. Three words, Mr. Mayor: Fix. The. Roads. Let's vote on the idea on a proposal requiring Hizzoner to cut the visits to Montreal and instead spend his summer driving around town. Drive up and down Huron and Ann Arbor Saline near the entrances off 1-94 and so on. Back and forth, multiple times a day. And through the city with its ill-timed lights. That would be the kind of performance I'd like to see!
UpperDecker
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 4:49 p.m.
So is anyone else thinking about the return of bum fights?
JRW
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 4:12 p.m.
So, street performers need to get a license before they perform, but panhandlers do not? Something very wrong with this picture. They are both asking for money. Perhaps the city should start mandating licenses for panhandlers and arrest those without licenses. Maybe that would cut down on the panhandling. Let the street performers do their thing, yes with a license, and forget about tax dollars for stipends. Fix the potholes!
Paul Wiener
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 4:07 p.m.
It'd be hard to imagine a more idiotic and wasteful proposal, though I have to admit I'd support one that paid most street performers NOT to play - starting with the wolf-"violinist." I know I'd pay. Why not give money away to street beggars too? Coming from this joke of a Mayor, I'm not surprised at any ridiculous proposal.
4 Fingers
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:50 p.m.
You do realize that "Street Performers", and I use the term loosely, are primarily found in Tourist towns. So if that's where everyone wants to go with this, be ready for more pan handling, more touristy shops, and all your opportunistic franchise restaurants popping up. Hey, maybe we can even have Tourist Police like Mexico does! Can't Wait.
James.
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 3:16 a.m.
Yes, it would be a shame to have people visit Ann Arbor for fun.
John Hritz
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 3:26 p.m.
Ryan: This poll is a false dilemma. This seems like a great use for crowd-funding. The city provides guidelines and the people interested in supporting buskers participate in a Kickstarter campaign. There are other options between no and the city funds it.
John Hritz
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 9:15 p.m.
I haven't done a Kickstarter myself, but I have participated in them. They seem like a reasonable way to fund something like this. The city seems to have played very little part in the food trucks. Having an area like Liberty Square or the new library lot open for busking might be interesting. Sonic Lunch seems to draw a lot of people. Taking advantage of public space in a similar fashion might reinvigorate blocks that have lost businesses and tie together Washington Street and Liberty.
Kyle Mattson
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 3:39 p.m.
Your poll feedback is understandable John, but there are only so many angles we can cover in creating a poll. Hence why adding a comment such as you did with ideas outside of the scope of the poll is often valuable. Your idea for a crowd funding type program is interesting, we've seen similar suggestions pop up in reference to public art installation funding. One concern I could see with that process is that managing the whole nominations, funding, and scheduling performers may be more than city can take on for a simple project. Do you have more details on how you think it could be run?
A A Resident
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 3:12 p.m.
Street musicians do what they do. Next, we'll be paying bees to pollinate plants!
Colorado Sun
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 3:11 p.m.
Maybe we can pay a stipend to the Huron Valley Green Party to sing songs supportive of a free Palestine. That certainly will not be controversial. Nope. Not a bit.
caleb
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 2:52 p.m.
better investment then the giant light-up bacon on huron.
UpperDecker
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 4:50 p.m.
Did you say bacon?
JRW
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:49 p.m.
Everything does not have to be about MONEY. Let the street performers happen spontaneously and let the crowds contribute directly to them as they wish. Stop trying to "monetize" everything!
JRW
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:46 p.m.
"I'm wondering if we can't come up with a program to offer a stipend for that type of activity," he said. "It will certainly appear to people as if it's spontaneous, and it will be nearly spontaneous and still allow them to put the hat out." Just let the street performances happen on their own. They don't need a "stipend" program, or any kind of program. Give it a rest, mayor. Ann Arbor isn't Montreal. Spend your time in the office on reducing bureaucracy, not increasing it, and fix the roads! How many potholes would $2000 or $3000 fill?
James.
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 3:14 a.m.
It cost Toronto about 6mil a year to keep repairing its pot holes. Pot hole filling is a 3-person job, about $60 an hour just in labor/benefit costs. If its anywhere near a catch basin or manhole than it could cost about $1,500. Of course some one could just get a bag of 'cold patch' asphalt for under $20 and pour it in and throw a traffic cone over it for an hour.
Cornelius Nestor
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:44 p.m.
I really used to enjoy the street entertainers many years ago when the Art Fair had a number of them. They were amusing because they were paid by the crowd and so it's hardly a surprise that they gave the crowd what it wanted. I believe the city has a paid art consultant of some sort-- do you really want a bureaucrat to decide who gets to perform? If the city pays for street art, we should expect to get the performance equivalent of the Huronal and the upside umbrella frame in the "Justice Center." Better to let the buskers pay a nominal license fee and try to recoup it and a profit by giving people what they really want.
Jaime Magiera
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:23 p.m.
Stipend or not, Hieftje has the right idea on the need for street culture. One of the things that made Ann Arbor attractive and interesting in decades previous was the amount of street musicians, artists, etc. The number of performers/artists has decreased steadily in the past 15 years. We need to bring that back.
newsboy
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:07 p.m.
A stipend? Street performances like art are so much better when they are spontaneous. Signing up for something requires premeditation and planning. If you truly want good street performances get rid of the permits, bureaucratic rule and reactive governess this city has been plagued with. When we allow a few snobs to control the what, the when and the where, we will never know what (freedom of expression) truly is! If you like things orderly, well planned and well financed try Disney World. I'll take Wood Stock any day; just don't eat the brown acid!
Wondering
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:17 p.m.
Ryan-- Your poll seems not to be operating as I thought AnnArbor.com polls usually operate.....are you actually allowing folks to vote more than once, or is the vote button still appearing while not actually registering subsequent votes.....? Thanks.
Jojo B
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:55 p.m.
Try voting twice and it will tell you that they already got your vote. Unless you keep logging into A2.com using 50 different aliases and IP addresses.
a2citizen
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:48 p.m.
You're a democrat, aren't you?
Trepang674
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:04 p.m.
Santa Monica has a main boulevard closed off permanently and is rich with activity. Full of culture and life. When are we going to close off Main Street? It would be the perfect back drop to great street performances...not casual hucksters and panhandlers. This is a low investment high value proposition.
A A Resident
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:02 p.m.
Great idea. Pay people to do something they would do for free, if we'd let them. Wait, I get it. If this has token government funding, the musicians can be prohibited from using music with religious content!
NE Steward
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 11:56 a.m.
Use the money you took from us to use for "art" - - you are raisng property taxes, you are proposing increasing millages on at least 2 to 5 items, you want to make some needed infrastructure investments, retirement pensions are going away, we have inflation, you talk and want to spend money on "affordable housing" and now you want to give our money away...please! Ask and play for donations
rutrow
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 10:56 a.m.
Excellent idea. And at little enough cost that 'certain people' won't have legitimate basis to bemoan the expense.
PersonX
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 10:14 a.m.
Who will decide who will perform? The Mayor? Will they all have to be tall?
Hot Sam
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 9:42 a.m.
Put the money toward police style uniforms for the parking enforcement folks....the bad guys would think they are so outnumbered, they would surely stay away...
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:45 a.m.
I really hope no one in City government takes the comments section seriously. It's certainly not indicative of the thinking of actual Ann Arbor residents, since a majority of us support the mayor, while in the comments section, it's more like 15% support for the mayor.
M-Wolverine
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:59 p.m.
Let's open up the Democratic Primary to all votes, then we can see who wins the election.
sigdiamond
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:13 p.m.
I certainly hope you're not suggesting that Ann Arbor ISN'T the radical right-wing, culturally backwards town that's on display in the comments section of this web site. Because that would destroy my entire faith in the credibility of the internet.
a2citizen
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:31 p.m.
The same rationale explains all the noise in the media behind gay marriage
aabikes
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:10 p.m.
Comment section election!
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 11:59 a.m.
I am an "actual Ann Arbor resident" and I'm not a big fan of the mayor or his shrinking cabal. And the position of the commenter that tells us how the smart majority actually feels is already filled.
Joan Doughty
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 5:56 a.m.
Love the idea. Just returned from a trip to Edinburgh, where there were all kinds of street performers, including fire eaters, etc. It made for a very fun, lively atmosphere...
rm1
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 5:22 a.m.
Someone said, apparently referring to the mayor: "The funny thing is that people actually vote for this clown election after election." Suggesting, pretty unmistakably, that a majority of people agree with him and disagree with you. Isn't that the logic of it?
arborani
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 3:24 p.m.
I suspect some straight-ticket-itis
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:43 a.m.
It's pretty hilarious. "Why do people keep voting for the mayor?" Because a majority of us agree with the mayor and disagree with the person asking the question. That's how democracy works.
Frustrated in A2
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 4:43 a.m.
Google the word dumb and the first link is to this idea of our mayors. There are a lot of other useful things that will benefit more of the community as a whole with that money. Try again mr. Mayor!
RUKiddingMe
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:33 p.m.
Uh...NOT waste it?
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:41 a.m.
With a tiny sum of $2,000 a year? Name a single better thing you can do with that little money.
Charles Curtis
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 4:27 a.m.
Bad idea, but not because of tax money wasted when we have far more important needs to apply taxes to. But we will get some questionable performances that will cause more issues than anyone cares to deal with. What defines a performance and what type of standards will be applied, and then who will decide what the standards are. Will political issues be allowed? Will religious ideas be allowed? The last thing we needs is another mayor appointed committee to decide these things. I see this as a hornet's nest that our tax money should not be involved with in any way.
KateT
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 3:11 a.m.
"Appearing" spontaneous seems a bit disingenuous. How many hours of entertainment by how many people would this 2-3K entail? Say you pay 2 people $10/hour each, or $20 an hour. That's 100-150 hours over a year, or about 2-3 hours a week. A drop in the bucket. Would they clock in and out somewhere? Who would be their supervisor? I think paying musicians any less than that would be offensive, yes? I like the idea of creating zones where people don't need permits. Skip the pay and fix the pot holes.
ViSHa
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 2:34 p.m.
I don't think shows in the park would be a bad idea but first AA needs to clean up it's panhandling problem. I know people would like to think it's not so, but it really does factor into people's plans. Just yesterday I saw the crutch guy accosting some poor woman and getting down right nasty when she didn't give him anything.
James.
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 3:06 a.m.
It would probably look more like 1k to a local civic theatre to spend on practice space rental, costumes, and maybe throw a little extra in to hire a string trio, and they would perform a series of shows in the park over the summer. Another 1k might go to a local band that has a long history of free outdoor performances and it would encourage them to organize several more. They would be spending/investing way more of their own time and money into the performance. The mayor didn't suggest paying some average guitarist a minimum wage for more hours of busking... he specifically used 'Shakespeare in the Park' as an example. Thats more like a 'splash' in a bucket as far as downtown culture is concerned. Plus, most all of that money would go right back into the pockets of residents and local businesses. I don't suggest 'not fixing pot holes'... there isn't really any excuse for not fixing a pothole... but it is ludicrous that it costs so much to fill a single pothole.
M-Wolverine
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:57 p.m.
Three or four potholes on roads that have thousands and thousands of hours of use? Who's myopic....
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:41 a.m.
So instead of hundreds of hours of local music, you'd rather we fill 3 or 4 potholes? Seems awfully myopic.
James.
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 2:45 a.m.
I think its a terrific idea to set aside some money to encourage more performances in public spaces. I would use it to encourage local theaters or musicians to have free performances around town. I don't think he is suggesting that someone is going to be handing out big checks to random buskers. Maybe just make the license easier and cheaper to get, and then hold an online poll to see what performers were the most popular over the summer and award them some money. 2-3k is a tiny tiny drop in a huge pool of tax money, people act like every dollar a city spends comes straight out of their own pockets. Get over it. I would be thrilled if every penny of my tax dollar went to making my city fun, lively, and interesting. 2-3k can make a big difference with something like this, but it won't make a dent in other issues. I would definitely spend more time with my kid downtown if there was more to see and hear outside for free.
James.
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 2:39 a.m.
Money wasters? It would be an investment in our community and put money right back into the pockets of Ann Arbor residents. "It's only pennies" wasn't any part of my justification, I think anything that improves and the downtown experience is a benefit to the community... and this is a very cheap and simple thing he is suggesting. One that my family would enjoy, as well as most other people I know. DJBS, I think you miss my point entirely. It comes from all of our pockets, and we all have a right to enjoy and appreciate the way its spent. Just because you don't use a particular park doesn't mean it doesn't deserve repair. Their are a great deal of people that enjoy and appreciate cities with a lively downtown culture/atmosphere. I would love to see more creative ways of improving the city at low costs. The A2gov website has a detailed list of all their expenditures, I suggest you review it for a little perspective.
DJBudSonic
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:17 p.m.
That's because every dollar the city spends does come from our own pockets. Whose pockets do you think it comes from?
RUKiddingMe
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:48 p.m.
The rallying cry of the money wasters: "it's just a drop in the bucket." When that argument is used to justify any expense, it should be an automatic and immediate shut-down. Similar phrases were used to justify percent for art, the school board "cookie and snack" fund, etc. If this "it's only pennies" argument even surfaces during the discussion of a potential expenditure, it means there is no better justification for it. I'd like to keep my drops and pennies, thanks. I do better not wasting them than the city, apparently.
Deborah Magee
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 2:23 a.m.
Close Main street and make it pedestrian only. Similar to many European cities create a space for community to enjoy art, culture, & all the city has to offer.This would set Ann Arbor apart as a unique destination.
Nicholas Urfe
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 2:07 a.m.
$3000! With all that money they could fill one pothole! They could pay the Ann Arbor school boards catering for over six months!
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 2:01 a.m.
When was the last time the mayor gave a damn about something outside of downtown? Seriously. He won't be happy until it's some urban theme park thing.
Goofus
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:55 a.m.
Just convert the whole city in a fulltime Renaissance Festival and charge for parking and room & board in all the high rises.
Nick Danger
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:14 a.m.
Its about quality of life.This enhances the Ann Arbor experience.I am all for it .Whats the alternative turn into Dexter or Saline
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 2:03 a.m.
Yes, because we are just a hair's breadth away from being Dexter and Saline. I guess we'd better snap up those buskers before they do.
Nick Danger
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:10 a.m.
great idea
amlive
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:53 a.m.
To put things in perspective, this expenditure would be the equivalent of a family earning $80,000 buying 2 gum balls from the quarter gum ball machine in a year. Oh the horror... Anything to make our tourist town a little more touristy and make visitors a bit mor likely to come back or tell stories or post videos on Facebook will increase the likelihood of even more people wanting to spend time (and money) here. At such a ridiculously low cost, it seems you'd have to be a stubborn idealistic fool not to give it a shot. Sounds like a pretty safe bet to see a return on the investment, even if only small. If not, well I guess we'd be out a couple gum balls.
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:11 p.m.
You got that "tourist town" thing right.
golfer
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:23 a.m.
got rid of the art commission. now we are expanding bikes. next we have entertainment singing for money. same as the begging for money. yes it is a heck of a lot better I agree. enough is enough.
Mark Wilson
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:18 a.m.
If you knew that a street performer might be getting a stipend, would you be more or less likely to toss in a buck of your own? I'd be less likely. I do not support taxing other people to support things that I like, and I certainly do not like being taxed to pay for things I don't like. This ain't broke so don't try to fix it.
Mike
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:07 a.m.
What's the expression Forrest Gump said? Stupid is as stupid does...............
sweetdaddy1963
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 11:59 p.m.
How about putting that towards AAPS or the kids in Ann Arbor will be you're street performers man this city is something else!
Wondering
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 11:41 p.m.
I wonder how the stipend would be administered.......no doubt it would require a full-time administrator.......? :-) Are schemes such as a this poorly disguised means for the Mayor to keep his "public art" administrator in a full-time taxpayer-subsidized position......? I am a long-time Democrat, but I may very well have to reconsider.....Lon Johnson, are you listening? Such irresponsible antics are resulting in my seriously question the health and viability of the one-party system that has evolved in Ann Arbor.
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:38 a.m.
It's $2000 a year - have a little bit of perspective.
Greg
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 11:25 p.m.
With public tax money, heck no. If those who want it find a way to pay for it, go for it. Seems Mayor and DDA are struggling to find a way to spend that 1%. Guess some have never met a dime of other peoples money that they can't spend.
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:37 a.m.
This is WAY less than 1% of the budget. Or did you think a city of 115,000 was getting by on only $200,000 a year?
JBK
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 11:16 p.m.
Incrdible! A day after we learn that the 1% for the Arts is going away, we get hit with this. Sounds like a wash to me. Never mind we could use a few more cops on the street and the POTHOLES that are the size of meteorite!:)
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:07 p.m.
Mr Wizard - I'm sure you are getting converts left and right with your factual and reasonable posts.
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:36 a.m.
The 1% for Art generated funds several orders of magnitude larger than the proposed funds for this tiny program. Math much?
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 2:01 a.m.
Here it comes ..... "1% for busking". You heard it here first!
Ed Anderson
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 11:14 p.m.
Come on! Can't people see the Mayor has been in office far too long and has lost all touch with the hard working tax paying citizens? Exorbitant city property taxes. No money for more police officers. Not a word on AA's obligation to animal control after two years of wrangling with the County. Big money wasted on green ventures that are all fluff. He doesn't even have to pretend anymore. These niceties should not even be mentioned out loud when priority items related to public health and safety are ignored!
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:06 p.m.
" Don't mistake your opinion as representative of anyone other than yourself." Pot, meet kettle.
you can't handle the truth
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 11:23 a.m.
Right on, Ed!
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:35 a.m.
I've lived here a long time, and I feel neither unsafe nor unhealthy. I support the mayor and this program. Don't mistake your opinion as representative of anyone other than yourself.
AA Neighbor
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 11:11 p.m.
Career politicians think up the darndest things. Spontaneity is cool--paying people to be cool is not. More downtown and mall policing would be a better investment in keeping people safe and feeling welcome in our city.
Trepang674
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:11 p.m.
You should climb out of your neighborhood and enjoy the nigh life a bit more.
Chase Ingersoll
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 11:08 p.m.
So the government takes money from tax-payers and then gets to decide who gets a stipend. Fascism and statism come in many forms, including ones clothed in the promotion of "public art".
rutrow
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 11:02 a.m.
How we get from street performers to statism and fascism is utterly amazing. Only in Far-Rightwing America.
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:33 a.m.
Yes - they collect taxes and redistribute them to police, fire fighters, EMTs, museums, artists, and construction workers. They pay the engineers who design our water systems, and subsidize public transportation. This is how ALL governments work - what did you THINK the government was for? Where did you THINK your taxes were going?
DJBudSonic
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 11:06 p.m.
The difference is, in Montreal, there are myriad parks and public plazas downtown and all over the cry, not just the campus areas, in which to ply your street art. oh, don't forget he dozens of subway stops and platforms. In Ann Arbor, it will soon be all parking lots, high-rises to the sidewalks edge, and sidewalks full of tables.
Sam S Smith
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 10:58 p.m.
How about the DDA working towards lowering the city taxes so that the middle class can afford to live here? Or spending on priority city services?
ViSHa
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:06 p.m.
@brad, lol, no kidding, probably besties with the mayor
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : noon
So can you comment on anything other than the comments "Mr Wizard"?
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:30 a.m.
The DDA has nothing to do with setting the tax rate. These comments are just getting bizarre.
It's hard to hide from facts
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 10:24 p.m.
Pay people to panhandle??? Now I've heard it all. No wonder the city is nearly going broke.
M-Wolverine
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:51 p.m.
That's not really true though Ryan. Because you CAN panhandle in Ann Arbor. You just can't do it "Agressively." And has been pointed out multiple times there are restrictions on street performances. So they're two activities to collect money that have restrictions placed on them and are allowed in some cases and not others. Not that different at all.
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 10:43 p.m.
Panhandling, defined as accosting people on the street and begging for money, is entirely different from performing music or some other craft and welcoming voluntary donations from people who enjoy it. That is why the city allows street performers and has ordinances prohibiting aggressive panhandling.
Bob W
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:53 p.m.
I guess my first thought is where did the Mayor get the estimate of $2-$3,000? It wouldn't surprise me at all for find the costs to be more because it doesn't sound like much.. Who will administer this, we have folks sitting around doing nothing? More importantly, what about the time the Mayor is devoting to thinking about this, would it be better spent on more pressing city issues?
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:04 p.m.
Mr Wizard keeps saying he represents the majority of Ann Arbor thinking. He must be that "Wizard of Oz" we've heard about!
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:29 a.m.
Wow, now you get to tell your public servants what they can spend time thinking about? Something something land of the free something something.
Bill
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:55 a.m.
Of course the city would need at least a part time coordinator of public music!
Richard Wickboldt
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:47 p.m.
I am glad to see that the No votes are ahead of the Yes. Nice idea as long as we aren't using tax payer money to pay performers to do what they like to do and then get more money in the hat. The businesses will get the most benefit if having performers all around town giving a wonderful experience to the consumers. They should pay the stipend. However something like this could get out of hand and Ann Arbor would just be a carnival with all kinds of acts including the freaky kind and we wouldn't have enough beat cops to keep it under control.
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:28 a.m.
I might be more inclined to believe that this program could get "out of control" if you could point to a single case where such a program lead to such an outcome, rather than just making things up because you don't like an idea.
Tyler
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:44 p.m.
Stupid idea. Who will decide who will be paid and who doesn't? The mayor?
Jay Thomas
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 3:13 a.m.
Um... the DDA I guess.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:43 p.m.
$3000 here, $3000 there, pretty soon you are talking about some real money.
ManA2
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:19 p.m.
I think it is 80% of the way to being a good idea. The upside of a small amount of money is you can up the quality of the performers. The way to make it a better idea is simply to approach a business or individual with a list of some good performers and get them to sponsor it. Ann Arbor Bank already sponsors Sonic Lunch. This isn't very different. I think it would be easy to do it without using tax dollars. We've already got a thriving downtown. I think this could step it up a notch.
AA Neighbor
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:05 p.m.
We live around the corner from the worst road condition in Ann Arbor (the road over AA-Saline Road), admittedly a multi-jurisdictional venue. Our mayor and Marcia Higgins, the 4th ward council rep., should have coordinated the repair a long time ago. Instead, they dilly dally with juvenile programs for the further entertainment of the masses. The role of the government is to provide justice and security for the population, not to chase every inane trend developed by marketing gurus and app solutionists. Does the mayor seriously think the people will agree to be taxed to provide stipends for a farrago of fifth-rate street urchins? Liaskos
M-Wolverine
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:49 p.m.
"I know it's hard to be in the minority, but maybe you should work on coalition building"...boy, the Democratic Party is different in Ann Arbor....I thought you were all for minority rights? Though it's good to see that the Mayor gets his majority from guys posting at 2:30 in the morning.
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:26 a.m.
I'd pay for street performers over streets any day of the week. And I am a member of the easy majority the mayor gets in every election. I know it's hard to be in the minority, but maybe you should work on coalition building rather than railing against a tiny outlay like $2,000 a year that wouldn't begin to cover any road repairs. Have a little perspective, maybe.
DonBee
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:03 p.m.
Well, he can't have his percent for art, so he has to find another way to waste the money the tax payers provide. What say Mayor 1% of the DDA capture for street performers? That way you get to keep your 1% mantra going?
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:02 p.m.
The job of a Mayor is to set priorities. Rather than speaking out about what to do about fixing our fire and emergency services, police response times and roads, is this really his priority? What about using the bully pulpit the Mayor's office provides its occupant to say that the Ann Arbor Public Schools should eliminate the $4.5 million discretionary fund rather than 45 of the 50 teachers they have pink slipped? Or, convene the AAPS-City Committee Joint Committee that has been dormant as long as the Mayor has been in office? Frankly, it's just embarrassing.
Trepang674
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:17 p.m.
If you were mayor we would have a pretty boring world to live in. You show no imagination. How about eliminating Community High? Get teacher salaries in line with the rest of the state. Fully utilize the new high school...you have a lot of work to do within the school budget and you want more.
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 11:56 a.m.
@SLR - don't feed the "I speak for the majority!" troll
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 11:55 a.m.
@ormad - do you have to trot out that "sure there's only two of us, but we represent the majority" schtick every time? It's tired and a very poor substitute for facts.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 3:29 a.m.
@Wondering wrote: "the budget woes of both AAPS and the City of Ann Arbor will be addressed only through a thoughtful careful tightly-prioritized budgeting and decision-making process." We are in complete agreement. I've made many comments along those lines and even quoted extensively a former Ann Arbor Mayor who also made that point. Add the county into that list too with their plan to balance their budget not through judicious cost cutting but via a risky plan to financially engineer a profit out of a $345 million borrowing to pre-fund the underfunded pension and retirement health care plans. When I was young the Democratic Party stood for socially progressive *and* fiscally conservative values.
Wondering
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:47 a.m.
Thanks, Stephen, for the clarification. I agree that it bears looking into regarding how such discretionary funds have historically been spent. However, please see below regarding why that perhaps may not, and perhaps should not, translate into a direct rehiring of 45 pink-slipped teachers. My major point stands--the budget woes of both AAPS and the City of Ann Arbor will be addressed only through a thoughtful careful tightly-prioritized budgeting and decision-making process. Government does not understand how to curb its appetite for more and more tax dollars--we need to elect leaders who choose to bring that appetite under control in a no-nonsense competent way. And that is a comment coming from a long-time Democrat. If Democrats are going to engage in fiscally irresponsible behavior, then I will be looking for other options come November. It is long past time to prioritize taking care of business in a competent fiscally responsible way, as we taxpayers are required to do.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:27 a.m.
P.S. It funds things like class trips, pizza parties and other optional activities. The teachers I've talked to think that it would be okay if it was used to pay for saving teacher jobs and then rely more heavily on PTOs or parents for optional extras.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:24 a.m.
@ Wondering: The $4.5 million discretionary fund is not the fund balance or rainy day fund of the AAPS. It is a fund that is spent every year from the annual operating budget.
Wondering
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:19 a.m.
Stephen, I totally agree with you that paying stipends to street performers when our streets and city services are in their current condition is absolutely embarrassing. However, I don't agree that AAPS should use their $4.5M discretionary fund to pay teachers. A discretionary fund is necessary for handling cash flow issues, as evidenced by the recent need for the district to borrow substantial funds to address cash flow issues. And borrowing to address cash flow issues invites that pot of money to be used for everyday expenses, which of course simply increases the debt problem. What AAPS needs to do instead is to start setting some important priorities for an out-of-control budget that includes lots of projects that have been folded into the budget over many years in fatter times that no one is now willing or able to identify and dismantle. The City of Ann Arbor has a similar priority-setting problem, as evidenced by this latest debate regarding essential business not being taken care of, while City Council debates the pros and cons of a public art program that seems not to have accomplished very much of substance for our city. Are there actually folks out there who believe that the fountain in front of City Hall or the chandelier inside the court building add to the meaningful culture of our city? "Art" and "government committee" may be as much a contradiction in terms as "street musician" and "taxpayer-subsidized music stipend."
DJBudSonic
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 11:03 p.m.
Me, too, Mr. Ranzini. Plus I attended the public presentation on the North Main Corridor, and was a chapparone for an AAPS 4 day class trip. But that still doesn't give us the right to have a difference of opinion with the powers that be on this board. Oh wait, I also paid my taxes.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:56 p.m.
Hey @Ordmad: As promised I did send my detailed comments in on the N. Main Corridor Study. I also sent some detailed comments in on the city's S. State Corridor Study, the WATS 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan and the city's Non-Motorized Trnasportation Plan update. I also met recently with two trustees of the AAPS to discuss the situation there with them in detail. Good enough for you?
ordmad
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:42 p.m.
Out of touch with voters if you use this comment board as some sort of litmus test for consensus. Take a closer look at this board and you see that a lot of folks that form part of this consensus and vote in the polls don't even live here. Take even a glance at election results in recent years and you see that, for the most part, people are happy with this place and those that govern but for the usual political b.s. causing a few tight races. Ditto when you look at quality of life surveys. Fact is, people love to complain here in this space but do little to nothing if it requires getting involved and, yes, consider this last piece a bit of directed criticism with all due respect.
djacks24
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:32 p.m.
Agreed. If this article doesn't show how out of touch with reality he is to the voters, then the voters themselves are out of touch also.
ViSHa
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:35 p.m.
That is certainly a nice happy picture of street performers accompanying this story. Why do I get the feeling that this will not be the reality of this stipend program?
ViSHa
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:05 p.m.
"Find us, please, the beat cops who will work for $2000 a year. I'll be over here, not holding my breath" " rather than just making things up because you don't like an idea." .....takes one to know one. All of your "rebuttals" are full of contradictions and insults, but that's right, you speak for the majority "dawg", lol.
Brent Lofgren
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:33 p.m.
Ann Arbor has done things patterned after Boulder, CO before, and Boulder has some great street performers, such as the guy who can tell you exactly where any 5-digit zip code is located. I'm not sure whether they pay stipends, but at least in that district of Boulder, they definitely have some system of licensing and endorsing street performers.
ChrisW
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:57 p.m.
We do that with Google Maps and it's free.
Ypsi Russell
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:22 p.m.
I've seen some very accomplished young classical performers playing on the sidewalks around State St and Main St, and noticed that they displace the panhandlers wherever they set up. It would be worth a little seed money to encourage that every day.
nekm1
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:14 p.m.
Beat police YES! Street performers...not so much.
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:13 p.m.
Sorry Mr Wizard. We're simply not interested in subsidizing your street performing gig. Get a real job.
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:20 a.m.
Find us, please, the beat cops who will work for $2000 a year. I'll be over here, not holding my breath.
you can't handle the truth
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:11 p.m.
I guess it makes sense for Ann Arbor of all places to get ideas and want to model itself after a socialist country that taxes its citizens to death like Canada.
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:19 a.m.
Yes, Canadians are soooo dissatisfied with all their "socialist" services. If by "Canadians" you mean "Americans who've never met a Canadian."
GratefulReb
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:09 p.m.
Can we fix our schools and roads first? Just saying.
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:18 a.m.
Not for $2000, we can't.
you can't handle the truth
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:07 p.m.
If you are good, you don't need a stipend. People around here are very generous. There are certain performers that I always throw a couple bucks to when I pass by.
motorcycleminer
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:06 p.m.
Can it get any dumber ..sadly I doubt it ...legalized panhandling...just give the liberty square crowd a boom box and viola...performance art....duh...
Mark Wilson
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:11 a.m.
Not legalized, subsidised.
Mike58
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:04 p.m.
Always in a hurry to spend some tax payer's money. Just waive the permit and you will get some decent performances.
you can't handle the truth
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:03 p.m.
Or is this his way of doing something about the aggressive panhandling problem? Instead of that one guy screaming at people day after day "Hey you! Help a homeless person!" and following them around, the mayor is going to give him a few hundred bucks and a plastic bucket to bang on?
Trepang674
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:21 p.m.
"one guy screaming at people day after day " Seriously??? Don't know where you spend your time downtown...
j
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:54 p.m.
Let's start paying for something we already have for free.
Brian Kuehn
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:52 p.m.
It is always a feel good act to spend money for an activity that will please some people, especially when it is not your money. To curb the tendency of local politicians to continuously advocate new ways to spend money outside of the City's core service areas, we should require all suggestions to be linked to specific reductions in spending and/or new revenue sources.
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:16 a.m.
I pay taxes in town, I support the Mayor, and I support this program. You disagree - get a majority behind you. It's called democracy, dawg.
dms
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:52 p.m.
I am sorry that the no votes are now higher than the yes votes. I sell at the Sunday Artisan Market and it is always nice when there are street performances. It adds and excitement to our city at a very low cost. If we do not keep our city vital, people won't want to be out and about. People who voted no.....think beyond yourselves. DS
Trepang674
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:24 p.m.
You are right...Pothole repair vs Performances. This is a stupid argument. I guess most of the NO voters would rather hear jackhammers and 45 MPH vehicles than music and song.
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 11:51 a.m.
I bet they increase business at the artisan market, don't they? Which is the exact reason why the vendors should be paying them, not the taxpayers.
djacks24
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:28 p.m.
If I want to be entertained, I'll watch TV or go to a concert.
A2anon
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:58 p.m.
I'm betting the majority of no votes come from people who don't actually live in A2, they just like to complain about it.
BobbyJohn
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:56 p.m.
If street performers know that they will not be hassled by the city like they are now, they will come out in force on their own.
leezee
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:55 p.m.
Just allowing them to perform is all they need to do. They don't need to pay them.
WalkingJoe
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:50 p.m.
How about we take some of the freeway off ramp performers and pay them to perform in the city?
WalkingJoe
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:08 p.m.
Chris, you're right they are mainly mimes I believe.
Chris
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:11 p.m.
Their shows are pretty one-dimensional. Do they have some sort of central booking? I usually see the same ones on the same spots, but sometimes they rotate.
mun
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:45 p.m.
Nope. Bob Seger and Iggy Pop didn't need stipends.
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 11:50 a.m.
@Nicholas - not that we've seen so far.
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:25 p.m.
They were 40 years ago. Anyone from the current century?
Amy Biolchini
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:43 p.m.
Interesting concept. In Seattle's Pike Place Market, the buskers/street performers have to pay for a $30 annual permit to perform on the street and they're each assigned a spot that's designated by a spray painted number on the ground. The money goes to the non-profit development authority that the city of Seattle formed in the 70s to manage the market. http://pikeplacemarket.org/applications_permits/become_a_busker
DonBee
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:08 p.m.
Amy - The $30 is a day's tips for a good performer in Pike Street Market or less. The reason for the boxes and numbers is that the number of performers was so high no one could get into the market stalls to buy anything. More like fleas on a dog, than background at one point. Now it is controlled and as you get seniority, you can move to a better spot or keep your spot. Many cities require permits and/or licenses, some require you to display your license/permit number at all times, so if there is a problem, it is easy to report someone to the police - maybe not as the person who did it but as a potential witness. In some communities the permit money goes for promotion, in others it goes to keeping non-permitted performers from crowding the permitted ones. Some communities have limits on the number of permits.
a2citizen
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:04 p.m.
And who will spray paint the numbers? "Mole" and "Saes" ? By the way, though unintentional, nice segue from my comment a few minutes ago. Which is why I made my first sarcastic comment. The unintended consequences of interfering with natural development can be costly.
Alan Goldsmith
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:39 p.m.
I can't wait for the Mayor's concept for a Ann Arbor Public Music Commission, who the members will be, where the debate will go as to 'correct, Ann Arbor values' for acceptable performance will be defined and what contracts musicians will be forces to sign vis a vis volume levels, quotas for the right number of tunes with bikes or trees or water conservation as topics, and who from his group of DDA appoitees will hav veto power over music offensive to our values as a community. Just put out the word musicians are welcome, run an ad in the A2 Observer, The Metro Times and Current and make sure there aren't harassed by the police, and that they can keep any and all tips they earn. We don't need the Mayor or the DDA to coordinate this like they 'coordinate' everything else. Let Ann Arbor be Ann Arbor and enough of these cute stories about Shakespeare and Montreal and how other cities are somehow magically places and A2 is a backwater.
LDN
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:39 p.m.
I think it is a great idea. People are short-sited when they don't realize that everyone will benefit from this program. The more desirable we make A2 for people to visit, the more money they will spend that will benefit the local economy. Therefore, it is actually a good investment. LDN
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 11:49 a.m.
I don't believe I'll benefit from that. Not at all. I know it's a popular misconception, but most of us are not in the tourist business here.
JBK
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 11:34 p.m.
LDN - Yes we are short sighted! Short sighted as I never saw the pothole at State and Briarwood that blew out my tire and cracked my rim. Tire replacement was roughly 115 and rim replacement almost 400, so yes we are a little short sighted with our money. NOW if you would like to donate to reimburse me for my troubles, then I am all for street perfromers!
Usual Suspect
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:49 p.m.
Your premise that street performers make a place more desirable is severely flawed.
pbehjatnia
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:37 p.m.
art $$ gone - FINALLY. now king john needs a new toy - lets pay people to jest at his court. perfect. yet another DUMB LUXURY for our regent. maybe we should hire a few troubadors to serenade us while we're at it?
M-Wolverine
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:40 p.m.
Large numbers of people make stupid decisions all the time. Because a lot of people paid to see Transformers 3 doesn't make it a good movie. The majority of people can be wrong. Or just plain stupid. Or as is probably the case here, where they're presented with no other options because the political machine is too entrenched for anyone else to be viable, and only half the people get to vote in the "election" because it's a primary. That's not how a healthy democracy works.
ViSHa
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:09 p.m.
"No one likes a sore loser."......or any kind of loser.
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:14 a.m.
He's democratically elected every time because a majority of the citizens of Ann Arbor disagree with your assessment of his job performance. No one likes a sore loser.
you can't handle the truth
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:36 p.m.
The funny thing is that people actually vote for this clown election after election. Can he do his own street clown performance and pay himself?
M-Wolverine
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:35 p.m.
David, do you have any real reasons you vote for him, other than you disagree with YCHTT, and that he's a Democrat? Because the rest of us are having a hard time seeing what he's doing right to deserve our vote.
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:13 a.m.
I vote for him every time, because I DISAGREE with you. That's how democracy works - if you want him out of office, you'll have to actually convince a majority to adopt your position. Why is that so hard to understand?
Jay Thomas
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 3:08 a.m.
I keep telling you, it's the students...
Classof2014
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:12 p.m.
The trouble is, there is no one to run against him. He needs to be put out of office, but there needs to be a candidate that would give him a run for his money. I like the idea of the street clown performance @you can't handle the truth
pbehjatnia
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:41 p.m.
no. sorry. he is not a performer. he is an under performer.
ChelseaBob
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:33 p.m.
Shakey Jake never needed a stipend.
ChelseaBob
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:48 a.m.
They should put up a board requesting people tell their Shakey Jake stories. I know there's a lot of good ones. I asked Jake once if he needed a place to sleep, and he told me he was fine, staying at the Hilton. I asked him to get me some of those little soaps, and next time I saw him he remembered me, and claimed he forgot to bring the soaps.
DJBudSonic
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 10:57 p.m.
You know why he always said " on the move" and "gotta keep movin"? Because the beat polic we no longer have would enforce a loitering or panhandling law if he stayed in one place for too long. When he would see the man coming, he would get his stuff and tell them " on the move" ... To let them know he wasn't loitering. Gotta keep moving or you will get a ticket. There is no law against walking in circles downtown, yet.
djacks24
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:41 p.m.
@Craig Great story!
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:40 p.m.
I was once stopped the light on Packard and Granger headed in to town. Jake was standing at the corner as i stopped. He looked at me, I looked at him, we made eye contact and that's all Jake needed. He walked over, hopped in my truck and said "gotta keep movin" . I think I dropped him off at 4th and Liberty if memory serves.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:36 p.m.
and maybe a few more strings on that guitar
Top Cat
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:51 p.m.
Some guitar lessons might have helped Jake a little.
pbehjatnia
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:40 p.m.
nope. just a drink.
Wondering
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:32 p.m.
I wonder what economic downturn the Mayor is living in? The one that has our public schools $5-10M in debt and potentially laying off 50 teachers.....? The one that has an emergency manager in Detroit and a number of other cities in Michigan on the verge of bankruptcy.....? The analogy "fiddling while Rome burns" for some reason seems to come to mind. I also wonder if "street musician" and "professional musician" are a conflict in terms/concepts? If I were a street musician, I would be very choosy regarding where I allow my money to come from.....serious attempts at control inevitably follow the money.
Bill
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:48 a.m.
I'm sure the mayor would only want to pay a stipend to musicians from outside our area then he can he can start the Percent for Pay program to take the place of the recently departed Percent for Art debacle.
djacks24
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:44 p.m.
Kind of brings to mind the orchestra still playing on the deck of the Titanic as it was sinking.
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:23 p.m.
The world does not stop just because the ann arbor school districts "books" and financial controls are a complete disaster. If you gave the schools another $2000 to $3000 are you sure they wouldn't just expand the board meeting catering?
mr_annarbor
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:32 p.m.
Instead of offering a stipend, why not just encourage people to donate to the performers they like? The performers that people really like will have the incentive to stick around, and there won't be any complaints along the lines of, "You spent taxpayers' money on that?"
RUKiddingMe
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:14 p.m.
I certainly don't complain on the stories about roads getting fixed. Or the trash collection service operating efficiently at projected costs. There just aren't many stories like that. I think perhaps you mistake the profusion of complaints as inevitable. I don't think it would be so if tax money were always spent wisely (or just wasted less frequently and in smaller amounts). Just doesn't seem to be getting better in A2 is all (although the percent for art developments were a small step)
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:11 a.m.
No matter WHAT you spend taxes on, there will ALWAYS be complaints of "you spent money on that?" These message boards are proof enough of that.
Gill
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 10:39 p.m.
Yep, the US is too puritan and conservative to handle any advancements that other countries apply. I think I just wasted 3 to 4K worth of time reading these inane posts.
ChelseaBob
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:34 p.m.
That makes too much sense. Politicians will never go along with that.
a2citizen
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:31 p.m.
Did the library really have graffiti classes a couple years ago or is that an urban legend?
Solitude
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 8:23 p.m.
@David Wizard, unless you are "decorating" property you yourself own, no, there is not.
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:10 a.m.
There's a big difference between decent graffiti art and plain old tagging.
a2citizen
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:19 p.m.
Thanks Kyle. I meant it for this thread...alluding to the unintended consequence of government actions. Coincidentally, there is an article today about "saes" and his damage. It does not take a whole lot of imagination to think of a few unintended consequences.
Kyle Mattson
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:32 p.m.
Hi a2c, I'm not sure if you intended this comment for a different thread, but for the past dozen or so years, the AADL has hosted an annual graffiti contest for students in middle and high school during the same time as the art fair. Here's a link to information regarding last year's contest: http://bit.ly/10QJLHc
Classof2014
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:11 p.m.
I heard that there was graffiti classes a couple years ago
RuralMom
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:28 p.m.
What happened to free enterprise where you play on the corner and if you are good, the PEOPLE enjoying your performance give you your reward. Is this being hampered by the panhandling laws? If so make an exemption if you have a city permit. In a City such as Ann Arbor with the U of M, we do NOT need to pay for street performers, half the population is already given us a Song & Dance.
Laura Jones
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:30 p.m.
@Nicholas Urfe. Panhandling is begging, often aggressively, on the street. Busking - playing music on the street for donations, is not panhandling.
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:22 p.m.
What you describe is often denounced as "panhandling" and derided. By paying a stipend it is not panhandling, it is encouraging people to make a positive difference in the character of downtown. There is no panhandling stigma.
pbehjatnia
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:40 p.m.
this is ann arbor. also known as the realm of john. we pay for bad foreign art and apparently we're on our way to encouraging those with no real talent to disturb the peace.
Gardener1
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:28 p.m.
How about just saying they can perform downtown in certain areas and not have them have to get permits, etc. No stipend.
Gill
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 10:34 p.m.
Seems like the same thing to me, waive 3 to 4k in permits or pay them enough to cover the permits.
David Johnson
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:27 p.m.
As a street performer, I have always asked the business I am performing outside of for permission to do so, having been warned that the police would ticket any street performer that didn't have a license. I even called City Hall to find out what I had to do to get a license, and I had to find a spot first and then go through the process of getting a street performer license. Although I think the stipend is a good idea, just removing the stigma would be a great way to encourage the musicians in town to come out.
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:23 p.m.
What kind of performing do you do? What's the nature of it? Is it an actual business for you? Because I know you can at least play your music on the sidewalk without a license.
Brian Kuehn
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:05 p.m.
Thanks for your perspective as a street performer. It seems the City could make it easier for performers while still respecting the right of building owners & occupants to control activity on and adjacent to their property.
A2TOWNIE1984
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:25 p.m.
@leezee is right, give the money to the beat cops. Where is this extra $2000-$3000 coming from??? I thought Ann Arbor was broke. I would rather be protected than serenaded.
Brad
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 11:05 p.m.
$2000 will pay the first $2000 worth of something we need a lot worse than this.
David Wizard
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 6:06 a.m.
This isn't 1925 - $2,000 is not going to pay the salaray of a single extra beat cop.
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:18 p.m.
$2000 - $3000 is hardly even doughnut money.
peg dash fab
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:59 p.m.
From DDA — see penultimate paragraph.
Carolyn
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:25 p.m.
Fix the crumbling bike paths in Gallop Park and the rest of the decaying infrastructure first, please.
Connecting Dots
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:43 p.m.
Bike paths need to be separate from the walking paths. Last time I walked in that park, a walker was hit by a bicycle. It is no longer safe to be a walker in Gallop Park.
Ms1215919
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:40 a.m.
and when those "bike" paths get fixed can we, for no $$, just get the bicyclists who use that path to say "on your left" or - use a bell - and attempt to slow down when passing pedestrians, especially those pushing strollers, before they hurt someone again? Are any street performers interested in doing "park performances" to bring attention to sharing the road/path/sidewalk? I'd contribute to that fund.
peg dash fab
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:58 p.m.
With $3,000?
ChrisW
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:22 p.m.
The Violin Monster is great, but can't we just leave out some dog food for him?
pbehjatnia
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:38 p.m.
i wish he would lose his instrument. he is beyond awful and is not even amusing.
pooh bear
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:17 p.m.
And I'm sure the mayor saw a lot of historic buildings in Montreal that are protected by a local ordinance that provide the backdrop for these street performers. We could support our historic districts downtown better too with signage (banners) and more history.
America
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:12 p.m.
I would love to see an area in downtown Ann Arbor resemble Harvard Square.
Mike
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:05 a.m.
I'd like to see it look more like Red Square...............
Top Cat
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:12 p.m.
Ann Arbor is a wonderful place to visit but I would not want to live and pay taxes there. What a dumb idea and potentially a complete waste of money.
Solitude
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 8:19 p.m.
Linda J, I believe the point is that why should the city spend money on something it can have for free?
I can't believe I'm doing this
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 2:20 a.m.
Music enriches our lives. 2 to 3K a small amount of money to reap those benefits. I like it.
LindaJ
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 12:57 a.m.
Top Cat, since you don't live here, I don't see what makes you qualified to tell the city how to spend its money. Whether or not the money would be wasted would depend on the caliber and the work ethic of the performers. Perhaps there could be some combination of licensing the performers (they pay for that) giving them a stipend, and allowing them to collect donations. Some appointed committee might want to audition the performers before licensing them! (But would Shakey Jake have passed such an audition?)
djacks24
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:33 p.m.
Agreed, Have lived in Ann Arbor (grew up here, still work here) and articles like this make me happy I live elsewhere.
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:17 p.m.
"I didn't know what I was missing until I moved." What is the name of this new utopia you have found? Is it Troy?
you can't handle the truth
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:05 p.m.
moved out, that is.
you can't handle the truth
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:04 p.m.
I didn't know what I was missing until I moved.
ItsTheTruth
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8 p.m.
We love living in Ann Arbor. You don't know what you are missing.
Top Cat
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:52 p.m.
aabikes......I think yours is a nice opinion as well.
aabikes
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:18 p.m.
Hmm that's a nice opinion. However, living in Ann Arbor is the only thing keeping me from moving out of the state. Also, I happen to love this idea.
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:09 p.m.
Since Linda brought it up, the downtown beat cops is another issue that's going to committee for further discussion.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 9:46 p.m.
How about the amendment to the city's budget to give the city's delapidated affordable housing $800,000 plus more? Did that pass Monday night @Ryan Stanton? Will you be doing a story on that?
leezee
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:07 p.m.
You could certainly get street performers without using any money at all. Considering some of the things the city is experiencing, I really think even broaching this idea is ridiculous. I'd much rather toss the money toward beat police.
Linda Peck
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 7:01 p.m.
I am happy to see the yes votes are ahead of the no votes. This is a great idea, put money into people, and also the beat cops. These are some good ideas coming from the City Hall.
Jojo B
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 1:05 p.m.
I'd be a "yes" if there weren't more pressing issues where money could go. Once my daughter's school teachers stop fearing that they will be let go in the public school budget cuts and we don't have to worry about losing police and firefighters, then I'm all for paying street performers and buying overpriced public art.
JGA2trueblue
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:11 p.m.
Sorry Linda. The NO votes seem to be the majority. And for good reason.
BobbyJohn
Wed, Jun 5, 2013 : 8:01 p.m.
Ann arbor used to have a lot of street performers (buskers), especially near the Diag. The police then started ticketing them. UM wouldn't allow them on the Diag. All we need to do is let performers know that they are welcome in Ann Arbor, and they will come. No need for the city to pay them.They can make good money on their own. Mayor Heiftje, please work with your employer, UM, and see what can be done. Also, Liberty Plaza would be a good location and perhaps it would make that spot more hospitable than it is.