Local Quakers spearheaded the People’s Food Coop boycott vote against Israeli products in 2007 and several have taken part in the Temple Beth Israel vigils.

I look forward to your continued advocacy of peace in that region.

“Petersen won the August Democratic primary against incumbent Tony Derezinski, while Kailasapathy and Warpehoski won their respective Democratic primaries against Eric Sturgis and Vivienne Armentrout, when incumbents Sandi Smith and Carsten Hohnke did not seek re-election.”

I prefer the latter characterization of seeking office to the former of competing for it.

“The council was asked to authorize $15,000 to pay for a study of alternatives to filling a gap in Ann Arbor’s sidewalk system along Scio Church Road.”

That’s an interesting contrast to the process for the approval of the underground parking structure.

“….[t]his is not the way government should be conducted.”

The AATA has had its share of problems and poor judgment.

This article also alludes to the AATA lawsuit by Blaine Coleman and the ACLU that is being defended with public funding by two expensive outside law firms in United States District Court in Flint. The Maddin Hauser firm was appointed by the AATA’s liability insurance carrier and the AATA has a $50,000.00 deductible for defense costs. Dave Askins had confirmed that the first month’s legal bill for representation last year was almost $7,000.00 for that firm alone. I am wondering what are the current billings and expenditures for costs and attorney fees to defend this action. The AATA aslo hired a University of Michigan professor as an expert witness at the rate of $250.00 per hour. I also wonder what attempts are being made, if any, to mediate a compromise in the case.

Under the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1871 pled in this case, the prevailing party may seek an award of attorney fees as a prevailing plaintiff even with a partial victory – which they have likely already achieved with Judge Goldsmith’s recent ruling on the request for a preliminary injunction.

The AATA’s potential exposure in this federal proceeding in attorney fees alone could easily run upwards of six figures. I fail to see what public objective is advanced by the AATA continuing to fight this matter in court.

I have to agree with CM Kunselman’s comment about AATA’s adherence to procedure. I was shocked earlier this year to find that they had not troubled to complete the process of enrolling the various township districts into Act 7 agreements. They had stated clearly that this had been done, but when I investigated, it turned out that many had not been finished. I’ve been assured that this was finally taken care of, but they had meanwhile solicited members for their u196 board and carried on as though all those steps were complete. This is not the way government should be conducted.