Comments on: Eighth Monthly Milestone Message

By: Alan Goldsmith

Alan Goldsmith — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:06:23 +0000

Leah,

Attack away. But keep in mind I voted for you and will no doubt do so again in the future. Lol.

I love the A2 Chronicle and the service it provides and have donated to the Tip Jar a couple of times. It’s a great resource and will be even more so when the A2 News folds in a couple of months. But the city, the county, and the country are heading down a dangerous road if there is not some form of free press keeping an eye on elected officials. Especially with the News no longer around. You can praise the Chronicle all you want and I agree with you. Maybe the Chronicle never intents to do any hard edged investigative journalism that will piss off local pols. But if SOMEONE doesn’t, we are all in big trouble.

Don’t make me defend the Ann Arbor News…please. But investigative reporting is more than reporting ‘zingers’.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:13:22 +0000

I appreciate the way the Chronicle covers discussion, both by the members of the elected or appointed board being reported, and by the public who comment. It is much superior to what I have seen in some other venues, where only “zingers” are reported. I haven’t actually done the test of attending a meeting and then reading the report of it, but I have the impression that coverage is sufficient to give one a real sense of what was happening – not just the vote taken, but the issues and reasoning that lead up to it. And it is great to have access to documents being cited also.

By: LauraB

LauraB — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:51:45 +0000

Good luck Chronicle!

By: Dusty Lake

Dusty Lake — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:15:11 +0000

Ms. Gunn makes a good point. The people who serve in local government are just a step away from being regular citizens. The difference is they stepped up to help the community. They didn’t become different people, they didn’t go on the “take” but they gained a much deeper knowledge of how government works and the challenges faced.

I think we need to give our local (and state and national) elected representatives a whole lot of thanks and credit for what they do.

We need to elect good people and let them go to work. I don’t expect to agree with them all the time, they have to balance decisions on what is best for the most people for the long run. Sometimes we, the public gets too caught up in the short cycle. In the end many of the decisions they have to make are going to make some people upset. There is no way around it.

I also acknowledge they know more about issues than the public does.

If they learn about an issue, think about an issue and make a decision based on all the information they have at the time, I don’t expect them to make me happy every time but I will continue to support them.

By: Leah Gunn

Leah Gunn — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:18:50 +0000

okay, Alan – consider this an ATTACK!

Seriously, I have been active in politics for many, many years and what I appreciate about The Chronicle is the ACCURACY of the reporting. When I have read the AA News, I have often wondered, “Did the reporter attend the same meeting I did?”. That is why I appreciate Dave and Mary so much. In addition to reporting on government meetings, they have a lot of other features that I enjoy, such as Stopped Watched and the articles by guests such as Joel Goldberg on wine, Del Dunbar on taxes (although I must say I don’t agree with his premise)as well as the coverage of local happenings.

The Chronicle has become the news source of record (I almost slipped and said “newspaper”) for our community.

Also, you might consider that we politicians are public servants, trying to do our best in tough times.

By: Alan Goldsmith

Alan Goldsmith — Mon, 04 May 2009 10:49:13 +0000

It makes me nervous when politicians are cheerleanders for a news publication.

I might donate more if/when politicians are attacking you. Lol.

By: Kristin Judge

Kristin Judge — Mon, 04 May 2009 02:08:19 +0000

Heading to the tip jar right now. This will be the newspaper of the Ann Arbor area for the next 8 years – not merely months. Mary and Dave are honest, thorough and talented writers. If this is the future of journalism, I am looking forward to the future.

By: anna ercoli schnitzer

anna ercoli schnitzer — Sun, 03 May 2009 17:09:35 +0000

I couldn’t agree more with the two previous commentators. I believe that we are indeed very lucky to have the “Ann Arbor Chronicle” appear in our midst–so timely, accurate, detailed, and interesting. Plus, it always seems to strike just the right tone. Mary and Dave are doing an outstanding job, and we have the wonderful opportunity to support their work right from the beginning by contributing through the Tip Jar.

By: William Lockwood

William Lockwood — Sun, 03 May 2009 02:01:19 +0000

I agree Leah. This is certainly the time to support this great new local news source. The tip jar is open and eager for our help. Make your contribution to this on-line newspaper just as you do for public radio.

By: Leah Gunn

Leah Gunn — Sat, 02 May 2009 22:19:31 +0000

Okay you loyal readers – go to the top, scroll to the right and click on TIP JAR. Show your support for the Chronicle in a meaningful way!