The Boston Globe reports on a UM study that found “when misinformed people, particularly political partisans, were exposed to corrected facts in news stories, they rarely changed their minds. In fact, they often became even more strongly set in their beliefs.” The article quotes the study’s lead researcher, UM political scientist Brendan Nyhan: “The general idea is that it’s absolutely threatening to admit you’re wrong.” [Source]
Ann Arbor City Council meeting (July 6, 2010) Part 2: The two main events of the council’s Tuesday meeting were consideration of a historic district on Fourth and Fifth avenues and a resolution opposing Arizona’s recently passed law requiring local law enforcement officers to follow up on possibly undocumented immigrants.
Eunice Burns and Shirley Axon, co-founders of Huron River Day, were at the podium to receive a proclamation honoring the event to be held July 11. (Photos by the writer.)
Public commentary and deliberations on those two issues sent the council’s meeting well past midnight. [Chronicle coverage of those issues is included in Part 1 of this meeting report: "Unscripted: Historic District, Immigration"]
The council transacted a lot of other business as well. Councilmembers approved a change to the zoning code that modifies the list of allowable uses for public land so that the planned Fuller Road Station can be accommodated. Also passed was a change to the site plan approval process, which relaxes the requirement that up-to-date site plans be accessible to the public on a 24/7 basis.
Parks were front and center, and not just because of the public hearing and council action on allowable uses of public land. At the start of the meeting, a proclamation was made for Huron River Day, which takes place at Gallup Park on Sunday, July 11. And the council continued its pattern at the first meeting of the month of recognizing volunteers who help maintain the city’s parks through the Adopt-a-Park program.
In other action, the council approved the $2.5 million purchase of development rights for the 286-acre Braun farm in Ann Arbor Township, as recommended by the city’s greenbelt advisory commission, and established a residential parking permit program for the South University area. [Full Story]
Rolling Sculpture car show in downtown Ann Arbor. License plate says it all. [photo]
Couple carting away defective manhole cover, via bicycle trailer, for re-installation in garden.
Lisabelle putting the final touches on a portrait of a gentleman who’s sitting next to her, quite still, in Kerrytown’s Sculpture Park.
Stealth attack from buried Allen Creek to reclaim its valley? [photo]
Ann Arbor City Council meeting (July 6, 2010) Part 1: At its Tuesday night meeting, the city council rejected a recommendation to establish a historic district on Fourth and Fifth avenues south of William Street and north of Packard. The absence at the meeting of Mike Anglin (Ward 5), who was expected to support the district, did not have an impact on the outcome of the 4-6 vote.
Sabra Briere (Ward 1) and Carsten Hohnke (Ward 5) confer during a brief break at the city council meeting. After the break, Hohnke withdrew his motion that would have asked the council to consider the Heritage Row project for a third time in total, and for the second time at their July 6 meeting. (Photos by the writer.)
Rejection of the district then set off a series of parliamentary procedures by the council. The actions were prompted by concern that without the protection afforded by the historic district, seven houses would be demolished through construction of an already-approved matter-of-right project (MOR), City Place.
So the council brought back for reconsideration a different project on the same site – Heritage Row, which the council had rejected at its previous meeting. A key feature of the Heritage Row project, which includes three new apartment buildings, is that it would also retain the seven houses.
The vote on the reconsideration of Heritage Row failed. That resulted in an attempt by Carsten Hohnke (Ward 5) to have the council reconsider the historic district, which the council had just rejected. Hohnke’s council colleagues weren’t interested in revisiting the issue.
So Hohnke then began the parliamentary procedure to reconsider the Heritage Row project – for the second time that evening and for the third time total. The move required another rule suspension – this one concerning the number of times a question could be considered.
After a brief recess, however – during which Hohnke was apparently persuaded that developer Alex de Parry would not actually follow through and build the City Place MOR project – Hohnke withdrew his motion. A comment from Ann Arbor resident Ethel Potts, who attended the council meeting and who has witnessed more than four decades of city politics, summarized the sentiments of many in the audience: “As weird goes, this was pretty weird.”
A moratorium on demolition, which covers the area considered by the historic district study committee, will remain in place through Aug. 6. The council meets on Aug. 5, after the primary elections on Aug. 3.
In other business, the city council approved a resolution opposing legislation recently enacted by the state of Arizona that requires local law enforcement officials to investigate a person’s immigration status, when there is a reasonable suspicion that the person is in the U.S. unlawfully.
The council transacted a range of other business and communications as well. Those issues are covered in Part 2 of the July 6 meeting report. Part 1 focuses on the Arizona immigration law and the historic district. [Full Story]
Spectators already setting up for the car show.
John U. Bacon
Whenever I drive up US-23, I can’t resist gazing at two structures on my right: The Whitmore Lake High School stadium press box, where my writing career started, and the big red ski jump on Whitmore Lake, where it almost ended.
I once volunteered to visit the Whitmore Lake Water Ski Club, the oldest in the state, to try water ski jumping. The problem is, this is not something you can gradually work up to. It’s your basic all-or-nothing proposition.
Take our coach, Hal Baker. On several occasions he had cleared a hundred feet, the sport’s main milestone, but one time he hit the side of the jump so hard, he embedded white paint in his skin. A few times, he leaned back too far, causing him to fall backward into the water – at 50 miles per hour.
“I’ve been pulled out unconscious a few times,” Baker said, with a reassuring maniacal cackle. This was a man who knew the thrill of victory, and the unconsciousness of defeat. [Full Story]
Writing in Michigan Golf, Brandon Tucker highlights the city-owned Leslie Park Golf Course: “As a high school player, I always held my breath on holes 4 through 6. They’re the holes that are really tough pars, and a bad shot can put you in real trouble. No. 4 is easier these days after the Emerald Ash Borer disease that swept through the Midwest took out a large tree on the right side that could wreak havoc with poorly played lay-ups (trees were also most noticeably removed to the right of the first and 18th holes, which makes these holes far easier off the tee with a righthand bailout).” [Source]
At its July 8, 2010 meeting, Ann Arbor planning commissioners unanimously approved a raft of changes to zoning and off-street parking codes as part of the city’s efforts to adjust the density, height, and setback requirements of existing zoning districts. No one spoke at public hearing on the issue held prior to the vote. The commission’s new chair, Eric Mahler, cited the length of time that these changes have been discussed: “That long saga comes to an end – good work.” The changes will next be considered by the city council.
Previous Chronicle coverage: “Zoning 101: Area, Height, Placement.” Details of the July 8 meeting to follow: [link]
At its July 8, 2010 meeting, the Ann Arbor planning commission unanimously elected a new slate of officers for the coming year. They are: Eric Mahler, chair; Kirk Westphal, vice chair; Diane Giannola, secretary.
Details of the July 8 meeting to follow: [link]
Crain’s Detroit Business publishes an Associated Press report that looks at a 2008 audit of Ann Arbor Spark in the context of Rick Snyder’s bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. “Yet while Snyder boasts on his website of Spark’s success at attracting talent and investment to the Ann Arbor area, a 2008 audit of the organization’s 2007-08 contract with the Ann Arbor-Yspilanti SmartZone Local Development Finance Authority found that SPARK didn’t have adequate internal controls, submitted invoices late, provided services for companies that weren’t eligible because they weren’t in Ann Arbor and billed for services even when they hadn’t fulfilled the contract’s terms.” Snyder co-founded Spark and served on its board at the time. [Source]
Two guys standing at the back of a parked SUV – back hatch is open to reveal what look like two buck heads. Can’t tell whether they’re mounted.
WDIV-Channel 4, Detroit’s NBC affiliate, reports on the addition of a trolley to help shuttle patrons around this year’s Ann Arbor Art Fairs, which run from July 21-24. The segment includes interviews with local artists Stan Baker, Kate Tremel and Samuel Yao. [Source]
A post on On Location Vacations describes a fan’s experience encountering David Arquette and Courteney Cox, who are filming Scream 4 in the Ann Arbor area: “After about 20-minutes I spotted David Arquette coming out of the house. We were a block away. They had us fans quarantined. I recognized the Dewey mustache. I quickly turned to Tyler and said, ‘There’s David!’ Not even one minute after David walked out Courteney followed wearing a light pink dress, it almost looked like a night-gown of some sort from where we were standing. They both were on their cell phones.” [Source]
Pam Kisch has a vivid, and unpleasant, memory of what happened when a federal civil-rights suit was filed against the owners and managers of a south Ann Arbor apartment complex this past March.
The Fair Housing Center of Southeastern Michigan found that potential renters of Ivanhoe Apartments in Ann Arbor sometimes had different experiences, depending on their race. (Photos by the writer.)
“Channel 7 came in and did a story that had these sound bytes from residents,” says Kisch, executive director of the Fair Housing Center of Southeast Michigan. ”People got on camera and said ‘No, there’s no discrimination here.’
“They might live there,” says Kisch, “but they don’t know.”
By then, Kisch was sure she did know.
Between 2006 and 2009, the Ann Arbor-based Fair Housing Center sent 18 men and women to the Ivanhoe Apartments to present themselves as prospective tenants. Some were African-American; some were white. The very different experiences they described prompted the U.S. Justice Department to file a race discrimination suit.
Although they deny any wrongdoing, the owners and operators of the apartment complex have now agreed to pay $82,500 to settle the case. The details of a settlement were announced this week by the Justice Department. The agreement must still be approved by U.S. District Court Judge Sean F. Cox. [Full Story]
12:28 a.m. Rides all lit up ready for the Jaycees carnival.
The Onion reports on the expanded Michigan Stadium. It’s big. [Source]
At their July 7, 2010 board meeting, Washtenaw County commissioners voted to halt the process of exploring possible expansion of the county road commission – though it’s still unclear what the vote means. The board held a public hearing on the possibility of expanding the number of road commissioners from three to five. They then voted on a motion brought by Wes Prater to stop further steps in the process. Voting against a halt were Conan Smith and Jeff Irwin. Irwin said he intends to bring a resolution to the Aug. 4 meeting with the intent of adding two road commissioners – positions that are appointed by the county board.
Details of the July 7 board of commissioners meeting to follow: … [Full Story]
At their July 7, 2010 meeting, the Washtenaw County board of commissioners unanimously approved a resolution that establishes “Open Book eWashtenaw.org” – an initiative to provide the public with greater online access to county data, including more detailed budget and expenditure information. Check registers will be the first information to go online as a part of the initiative. The effort has been spearheaded by commissioner Kristin Judge.
Detailed coverage of the July 7 meeting to follow: [link]
Washtenaw County commissioners took a step toward re-establishing the county land bank, by approving changes to an intergovernmental agreement at their July 7, 2010 Ways & Means Committee meeting. The revised agreement would expand the number of commissioners who would serve on the land bank authority from one to two, and eliminate the requirement that the county treasurer serve as chair. Commissioners Barbara Bergman and Leah Gunn voted against the agreement. The board is expected to take a final vote on the agreement, as well as a vote on rescinding its March 2010 dissolution of the land bank, on Aug. 4.
Previous Chronicle coverage: “Washtenaw Land Bank Debate Continues.” Detailed coverage of the July 7 meeting to follow: [link]
At its regular monthly meeting on July 7, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority authorized a grant not to exceed $407,000 to provide funding for public improvements like sidewalks and curb ramps, as well as for achievement of LEED certification, for a planned expansion by Zingerman’s Deli at Detroit and Kingsley streets. Previous Chronicle coverage on the project: “Zingerman’s Project Seeks Brownfield Status.”
Detailed coverage of the July 7 DDA meeting to follow: [link]
At its July 7, 2010 annual meeting, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority board elected its new board officers: chair, Joan Lowenstein; vice chair, Gary Boren; treasurer, Roger Hewitt; secretary, Russ Collins.
Detailed coverage of the July 7 DDA meeting to follow: [link]
Washington Post opinion writer Charles Lane says a proposed federal bailout to prevent teacher layoffs is a bad idea. He cites recent concessions by Ann Arbor teachers to support his view that the threat of layoffs has been overstated: “Chicago, with help from the state of Illinois, has managed to reduce teacher layoffs from a projected 2,700 to about 1,200 and maintain class sizes at normal levels. Even more jobs can be saved if teacher unions will forgo a scheduled 4 percent pay increase, a modest sacrifice in a time of near-zero inflation. After all, just up the road in Ann Arbor, Michigan, 191 layoffs have been canceled because teachers accepted wage restraint to save their colleagues’ jobs.” [Source]
The Detroit Free Press reports that owners of some BP stations in metro Detroit are switching brands, after losing business as customers boycott the company because of the Gulf oil spill. The article quotes Abdel Berry, who owns a station in Ypsilanti that he has converted from BP to Sunoco: “It’s either change or go out of business.” [Source]
The University of Michigan Police website alerts the community to efforts during the summer to curtail trespassing on railroad property: “The Norfolk-Southern Railroad Police will be conducting a trespass abatement enforcement campaign throughout July and August in the Ann Arbor area. The campaign will entail officers enforcing trespass laws on railroad property for the east-west commuter train line, including the tracks near University Hospital and Mitchell fields.” [Source]
The Wall Street Journal reports that Donald Trump is unhappy with former UM president Lee Bollinger over a land deal that Bollinger rejected. The report quotes a letter that Trump sent to the Columbia Spectator’s Eye magazine: “The new President of Columbia, Lee Bollinger, who came in from the University of Michigan, didn’t like the idea. Instead, he wanted to build Columbia’s new buildings in a lousy location on land which, in certain instances, he did not even own. Once the project was announced, it became virtually impossible to acquire the holdings because everybody wanted top dollar. He actually announced his project before buying the land – dummy!” [Source]
The Motley Fool reports on a growing number of contract research organizations that have emerged in the wake of Pfizer closing its Ann Arbor research operation. The article quotes Bill Sibold, CEO of Plymouth-based Lycera: “There is this resource now in Michigan where you can draw on the expertise of the former Pfizer/Parke-Davis. People don’t think Michigan has this capability, but Michigan does have the capability.” [Source]
At its July 6, 2010 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council reconsidered the Heritage Row PUD it had rejected on a 7-4 vote at its June 21 meeting. The council suspended council rules that allow only a councilmember voting on the prevailing side to bring a motion for reconsideration, so Stephen Rapundalo (Ward 2) was able to bring that motion. It failed again, this time on a 7-3 vote. It required an 8-vote super majority.
Voting for Heritage Row were: Sandi Smith, Tony Derezinski, Stephen Rapundalo, Christopher Taylor, Margie Teall, Marcia Higgins and John Hieftje. Voting against it were: Carsten Hohnke, Sabra Briere and Stephen Kunselman. Mike Anglin was absent.
Detailed coverage of the July 6 meeting to follow: [link]
