A2: ArborUpdate Awakes

After lying dormant since the site’s stewards made the collective decision to shut down ArborUpdate in February 2010, former contributor Josh Steichman has temporarily revived the once-popular local news and discussion blog. Steichman cautions “Don’t interpret this as a return for ArborUpdate,” but has posted a new item and opened a comment thread to call attention to planned protests of emergency manager legislation in Michigan, which would provide local emergency financial managers with certain powers, including the ability to nullify collective bargaining agreements. In concert with proposed cuts of state money to local units of government, which would increase the likelihood that emergency financial managers would be appointed, the move is seen by some as an attempt by Gov. Rick Snyder to break the power of unions across the state. Protests in Lansing are due to begin March 15. [Source]