Comments on: Ann Arbor Dems Primary: Ward 4 Council

By: Jack F.

Jack F. — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:40:35 +0000

“It was essential, she said, to keep the leadership that would keep the city on course. She said that she hoped voters would “hire” her for two more years to keep the city’s ship sailing steady and strong as the flagship of the state of Michigan

Speaking of hips, what’s the difference between Teall’s time on council and the Titanic? The later had a band.

By: Jack F.

Jack F. — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:37:14 +0000

Teall’s handling, along with her Councilmate Marcia Higgins, of the Georgetown Mall fiasco is something I wouldn’t use in my campaign for reelection if I were Ms. Teall. Whatever she claims to have done has backfired and been a total failure.

By: Fred Zimmerman

Fred Zimmerman — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:13:39 +0000

@3 — I read Teall’s comment that she was confident that the owner of the Georgetown Mall “would be cooperative” as a cross between strategy and wishful thinking. As long as it is possible to hope for cooperation, it may be counterproductive for city officials to bash him in public. But your post makes a good case that it’s time for our energetic and able city attorney, Mr. Postema, to fire a shot across this guy’s bow.

By: Fred Zimmerman

Fred Zimmerman — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:10:56 +0000

With regard to Teall’s comments about the E. Stadium bridge: too little, too late. It’s infuriating that the city has allowed the bridge to deteriorate to this point. The “free money” strategy was worth a try, but in the teeth of the worst recession in 80 years, it has become simply wishful thinking. At some point, we need to take responsibility for our own infrastructure, and that point is long past. I hope all ward 4 voters will join me in sending the message that willful neglect of infrastructure will not be tolerated.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:56:31 +0000

Teall is wrong when she states that “The owner of the Georgetown Mall would be cooperative” Perhaps he is able to charm people into thinking he is a good guy, but look at his actions:

He has not paid taxes. Even after a payment this spring, just in time to avoid foreclosure, he paid a pittance and is still hundreds of thousands of dollars and several years behing.

He made the US Post Office remove the very helpful mailbox that was in the mall. Now I have to walk much farther to mail a letter. Why did he do this? He wanted to force Kroger’s out.

He bought the property and let it go to ruin. He refuses to take any concrete action to make it better and he takes concrete actions, such as removing the US Post Office Letter Box, that makes it worse.

I want a candidate who is not taken in by snake charmers.

By: Mark Koroi

Mark Koroi — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 01:10:58 +0000

About 55 persons attended the forum.

Candidate Eaton is correct that the City Charter provides for City Attorney opinions to be part of the public record.

Ther Mayor has stated that the City Attorney had advised him no Open Meeting Act violations occurred with respect to the E-mail controversy that arose last year.

It would be interesting to see how the City Attorney rationalized his opinion if such were the case.

More transparency is necessary in the City Attorney office. Following the City Charter would further this goal.

By: Vin Caruso

Vin Caruso — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 01:05:40 +0000

The watershed study that the city refused to accept the report on, that Eaton was referring to and Teall avoided discussing, was the city (DDA) study of the sub-watershed study above the 1st and William site. A study to support a new parking garage in the floodway. The DDA budgeted $1/4-1/2M for this study but refused to accept the results. The modeling was done because I did a FOIA as a member of the ACWG.ORG to get the details after many unanswered requests for answers.

As a result of the FOIA we learned that the modeling was done but no report was on record, NOTHING was on record according to the FOIA. The consultant sent us the computer modeling raw data directly without the report because the city would not authorize it.

We need information about what those in the Allen’s Creek Watershed, and other watersheds in the city are facing, not more funds spent for undeliverable studies.

There is a current full city watershed study on going that did not have any rain gauges in the Allen’s Creek Watershed (ACW), this with 99% of the 1,200-1,500 or more homes and businesses at real risk of flooding in the ACW. This study has no overland flow gauges in our watershed with overland flow happening now, an alarming, every 1 1/2 years on average.

Teall could and should ask for, and not avoid dealing with, the results of the DDA study even if it is not the most current, it would be better than nothing, that which we have now, and fund meaning studies that will provide meaningful results.