ann arbor is overrated.

We’ll Take Quantity, Thanks

Planning Commissioner Ethel Potts trots out the hoary concept of “quality of life” to honor departing councilmember Bob Johnson. (Okay, this was from Monday’s News, but it’s A2; do we really want to be some fast-paced megalopolis where bloggers write about something on the actual day it happened?) “Who else (on the council) represents one whole viewpoint — quality of life?” To fill the impending quality-of-life vacuum, Lower Town historic district activist (and David Cahill spouse) Sabra Briere is getting into the race.

The News leaves this tantalizing tidbit hanging out there:

In Johnson’s early tenure, he was a close ally to Hieftje. Recently, the pair has butted heads over parks funding and had a curt exchange in which an incredulous Johnson asked Hieftje at a public meeting, “Is that a serious question?'’

Well? What was the question? We have a couple ideas (”Do you think it’s ever possible to have enough neighborhood input?” “Is there some other water out there that’s tastier than A2H20?”) but inquring bloggers want to know!

63 Responses to “We’ll Take Quantity, Thanks”

Quality of life is underrated.

How you can say “Ann Arbor is overrated” while junking the whole idea, quality of life, which gives rise to the idea of rating in the first place, is slightly beyond me. Maybe beyond others, too.
posted by David Boyle on June 14th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
“Quality of life” is a very specific political rallying cry in Ann Arbor that generally means fewer tall buildings, less density, etc. Everyone wants better quality of life, which is why I think it’s hilarious when anyone is said to be actively fighting against it.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on June 14th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Okay, if you take “q-of-l” as idiomatic/AA-specific, that is more understandable. (The issue of whether we need more tall buildings, aside)
By the way, don’t forget Hitler and Osama, not to mention Alberto Gonzales. Not * *everybody* * wants better quality of life…
posted by David Boyle on June 14th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Hitler, Osama and Gonzales (although I don’t think that Gonzalez’s actions were quite horrible enough to place him in that hyperbolic company) were all acting to ensure what they thought/think is a better “quality of life.” Whether that definition is insane to the rest of us is another issue.

And of note, those who envisioned both Lower Town in A2 and Water Street in Ypsi were going for “quality of life,” too. And those are both plans of unrivaled genius.
posted by Jordan on June 14th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Here is Sabra’s statement of candidacy:

Bob Johnson, a principled voice of reason on Council, has decided not to run for re-election. His voice supporting parks and natural features, and respect for citizens’ needs, will be sorely missed.

I am running to take his place on City Council.

I have lived in Ann Arbor for more than half my life, and here in the First Ward for almost 21 years. I raised my son, went to school, met and married my husband, worked and shopped and rented and bought houses here. Ann Arbor is my home.

Some things make Ann Arbor unique. In our rush toward increased development, we should not lose the character that makes people want to live here instead of anywhere else. Our neighborhoods are interesting and pleasant places, not just bedroom communities. Our downtown is walkable (although we can make it more so). We are surrounded by arts, theater and music. Our citizens frequently volunteer their time to their schools, community organizations, and their city. These things enrich our community. City Council has the responsibility to keep Ann Arbor’s character in mind as it approves changes that affect us and our neighborhoods.

City Council should listen to the citizens and make certain that change benefits all of us. Big buildings in themselves add nothing to our quality of life. In a time of serious distress for our state and city, we should repair our city hall, not replace it. And if I had been on Council recently, I would have done as Bob Johnson did — worked to keep Council’s promise to increase the parks budget.

I believe in Ann Arbor’s future. The First Ward needs a new voice to speak for its neighborhoods, citizens, and small businesses. I bring a fresh perspective to the table.

I have participated in civic and community activities since shortly after I moved here. I have been precinct chair and ward chair (in the First, Fourth, and Fifth Wards), have been secretary and chair of the Ann Arbor City Party, and have worked on more campaigns than I care to count.

I am a volunteer for the Huron River Watershed Council and Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation. I am one of the gardeners for Avalon Housing. I serve on a city committee to study whether my neighborhood should be a historic district. I have also been president of the Washtenaw Branch of the ACLU and worked in large and small capacities for issues I believe in — such as the Greenway, reproductive rights, and peace.

I have a degree in history from the University of Michigan, and work for a non-profit. My husband is a lawyer, and we live in a small, old house with three cats. Our son is grown.

This is a contested primary. For me to be effective on Council, I need to hear from you. Please call or email me with your concerns about your neighborhood. Please share your ideas for how Ann Arbor can stay the place you want to live.

Sabra Briere
995-3518
sbriere@comcast.net

Paid for by Sabra Briere for City Council, 1418 Broadway, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.
posted by David Cahill on June 17th, 2007 at 8:10 am
Good job. But what are you doing to get other candidates to run in the other wards, for the full “sagebrush rebellion” effect? There is only so much that Sabra can get done on her own, without other new blood to vote as she does. . .
posted by David Boyle on June 17th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Watch the Fifth and Third Wards.
posted by David Cahill on June 17th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Vote Sabra! Big buildings are scary!
posted by FAA on June 18th, 2007 at 9:39 am
I’m sure Sabra will be glad to have your support, FAA. Are you a First Warder?
posted by David Cahill on June 18th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
I am a first warder. In all seriousness, I would probably vote for Sabra if she wasn’t pathologically opposed to buildings taller than her husband, crazy about a greenway through a floodplain next to railroad tracks, and seemingly obsessed with declaring Ann Arbor to be a 27 square mile historic district.

Tell the missus I said hi, David, and sorry, but I’m voting for Ficus.
posted by FAA on June 18th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
FAA: developer-bought anonymous troll, or just anonymous troll? Your call. America.
posted by David Boyle on June 18th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Correction: “Your call, America.” Accidental errors are not as bad as deliberate trollery, I guess.
posted by David Boyle on June 18th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
AAIO-bought anonymous troll.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on June 18th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Heh!
posted by David Boyle on June 18th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
Sorry about the first comment. That was trolling - an impulsive response to the stupid, trite line in Sabra’s statement about big buildings. My second comment, however, was an all in earnest sharing of fact and opinion. If you think that’s trolling, fuck off.

Oh, and for Christ’s sake get over the anonymous thing. Given Sabra’s past involvement with the ACLU and their stance on anonymity online I like to think she’d share their (and obviously my and our anonymous host AAIO’s) viewpoint. So, on that note and in the spirit of democracy, best of luck to Sabra (and Ficus)!
posted by FAA on June 19th, 2007 at 10:58 am
I thought the line about big buildings was funny.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on June 19th, 2007 at 11:18 am
“If you think that’s trolling, f-ck off.” Famous last words. Sort of like, “He’s not a Nazi, he just hates Jews, blacks, and his own grandma” or something.

Anonymity is fine for credible and useful people like aaio. That doesn’t mean it’s good for any troll, three-letter name or otherwise.

Looks like the Sabras of this world are winning the hearts of Ann Arbor, by the way, see Tom Gantert in AA News, Council rejects Elks’ plan: Neighborhood residents kill condo idea.

P.S. I’m waiting for aaio’s “Black Elks Speak, to No Effect” post on the outcome of the Avery House issue

David Boyle
posted by Avery House Is Overrated. on June 19th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I get the hilarious reference to Ficus the candidate, but perhaps FAA would like to explain it for the cognoscenti of esoterica.
posted by David Cahill on June 19th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Ms. Briere lost me at the issues she believes in “such as the Greenway, reproductive rights, and peace.” I’m against all 3, at least the Ann Arbor version of peace.
posted by Thomas Cook on June 20th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Gotta watch those “reproductive rights”. I guess.
posted by David Boyle on June 20th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
So, is Thomas Cook really an anti-Greenway, anti-choice warmonger?
posted by David Cahill on June 20th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
I always thought Thomas Cook was an English travel agency.
posted by Tom Brandt on June 20th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
long time local Washtenaw county real producer/farmer was just told they would be kicked out of the farmer’s market for not paying for parking spaces. Although the farmer has paid for their stalls, the farmer does not park in the lot and has no use for the service…

What would Sabre do for this farmer and what is the market manager thinking??? Kicking a farmer out of the market because they do not use the parking inside the market….. Make any sense?
posted by sjt on June 21st, 2007 at 2:22 am
Ah choice, what a lovely word. Double plus good that. Finish the sentence though, what’s the choice? Are you anti-life? Sorry, I got a litmus test and if you don’t get that one right you don’t get my consideration at election time. It’s a personal failing of mine to err on the side of thinking there’s never an excuse to actively seek out the death of innocent human life. Hell, I’m not a big fan of taking the lives of the guilty, being one of them myself.

The Greenway is just a silly boondoggle. It’s about the least lovely path thru town and an active railroad is using it. I don’t see how you can put a walking path in that will be worth the hassle and cost, look like anything other than a alley way thru the back side of semi-industrial ugliness, and not get people clipped by a 10000 ton train.

As to war monger, no, I pray for peace every night. I just don’t think drumming in a smelly circle of old hippies is the way to bring it about. That’s what my crack about the Ann Arbor version of peace was about. “Peace” is a password in this town that is about as meaningless as “nice”.

I got a call one night, woman on the other end said I want to go to Hawaii. I said great, when we going. She said, is this Thomas Cook, the travel agency? I said nope, this is Thomas Cook, the guy watching Sports Center in his living room. Way too common and boring of a name, what can ya do?
posted by Thomas Cook on June 21st, 2007 at 10:49 am
sjt, I talked to the chair of the Farmers Market Commission this morning about your report. He was aware of the situation; I am unsure what will happen next. Stay tuned.
posted by David Cahill on June 21st, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Um…is Sabra running or is she just a puppet for David and his wacky notions? Why are people asking David what Sabra would do? And why is he answering back and not her? This smells already.
posted by imjustsayin on June 21st, 2007 at 1:00 pm
I’d give them a break. David’s website says his office is at his home so he’s wasting his own valuable company time surfing and responding (unlike me who is wasting someone else’s money). They live in the same house - I’m sure he’s a got a handle on what her views are. Maybe she doesn’t like to surf blogs.
posted by Thomas Cook on June 21st, 2007 at 1:21 pm
While I have no doubt that Sabra is a fully autonomous wacko, I think it’s safe to assume that much like the Clinton/Clinton package deal, Briere/Cahill will be like getting two for one.

And just for the record, she’s got my vote. With Tobi Hannah-Davies and Heidi Herrell long gone, the Council has been woefully short of kooks. And haven’t we suffered long enough with representation that’s merely dull and incompetent? Doesn’t the lunatic fringe deserve a voice? Haven’t we earned a treat? Indeed, my friends, a vote for Sabra is a vote for comedy.
posted by Parking Structure Dude! on June 21st, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Oh man, we’re not in for soy powered jitney and doggie day care debates again are we? That stuff just takes away from important city business like impeaching Bush and passing resolutions that Israel is naughty. What is it about my side of town (1st ward) that breeds wackiness? It’s like a Masada of madness up here on the Northside. We need more bridges to the mainland.
posted by Thomas Cook on June 21st, 2007 at 2:07 pm
OK. I don’t surf blogs. This will probably be my one and only post. I’m only saying this one time, because I want to clarify things.

David Cahill and I talk — we’re married. We do more than talk. Sometimes we agree on policy things, and sometimes we don’t. I haven’t read anything (so far) that has him saying what I think on any issue — and you should understand that he doesn’t speak for me any more than I speak for him. We’re both political, but we’re different. That difference makes our relationship more fun.

So. No soy powered jitney. No doggie day care. No kittie day care, either, although we have cats. I’m not too very lunatic. And if you want to oppose me, cool. But at least you shouldn’t do that because you’re ignorant about me (or think you know me because you think you know David).

I don’t lurk much on blogs, and I don’t think I’ll be back here too often, but someone alerted me to the fact that people here thought David was ‘running me’ and alluded to our having a ‘Clinton-Clinton’ type relationship. I hope it’s lots better, but I assure you it’s lots different. We have our own styles, and our own spheres. After all, I can cook and David can clean! .
posted by Sabra Briere on June 21st, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Nice response Sabra, it put a big smile on my face. May not get my vote but I’d snowblow your walk in winter and buy ya a cold beverage of your choice if you were a closer neighbor. It’s snarkiness like mine and other posters that makes my wife avoid like the plague surfing blogs so I understand. Northside represent!
posted by Thomas Cook on June 21st, 2007 at 6:03 pm
local washtenaw county , real farmer,A2 market customer devotee for over 20 years, producer of great clean produce, bilked for 200$ in parking fees!!!!! Help the farmer feed the city !!???!!!!!
The local farmer that feeds your city with food needs YOUR help in feeding the CITY! parking fees!!!
Imagine being forced to pay for parking in ann arbor and you don’t even want the service!And there is no rule or code that says you must pay…However you are told ” the fee is not optional! it is required”!!! Ask where it is written that the fee is not optional and is required and you get no answer!!!!!!!!!! Farmer is being forced to pay a parking fee of 200$. for 2 parking spaces it does not use. City says”that’s just the way it is”! The city then rents the 2 spaces at 4$ daily.. 50 weeks, wed. and sat.that’s 800$ plus 200$ charged to the farmer that does not even use the parking that’s approx. 1000$ per year for 2 parking stalls!
Farmer claims that NOT parking inside the market lot is an asset to the city and the market manager, and is wondering why it is being charged 200$ for not being a burden. The farmer claims it is management’s fault for the situation. Management has been approached several times after the farmer stated they could not get trucks in and out of the spaces freely as with any other lots within the city.The current manager stated she would take care of the problem and would refund the farmers money if she could not rectify the situation. Farmer has not heard from manager since and the situation still occurs for this farmer. The only thing this farmer has heard, was taped, and the manager stated “every time this farmer comes to market “the farmer creates problems”!!!!!!This farmer admits to not knowing what problem/problems are created EVERY time they come to market . the farmer only knows that their farm produces the quality that consumers and commissioner Genia Service stated she expects from it’s “farmers” and “market”!
Take into consideration (according to recent previous manager Louise Wireman)at a committee meeting attended by farmers and commissioners, that many farmer’s are in competition with approx. 20 vendors (perhaps up to 60 stalls) that the manager knows is buying and selling. She stated “She was NOT going to kick them out”. She even named names. One of them is a commissioner that still resides on the commission. Last night Commissioners on the market board spoke about a commissioner/supposed producer that has admitted to buying frozen pies and baking them and the commission voted to remove this commissioner from the commission for cause. No one knows the procedure that follows this!!!!!

Given the fact the city has NO criterea for inspections, it cannot advertise as a producer only market YET!!!!!! Consumers are being tricked and as the market manager stated, “the consumer can ask the farmer”. Even now as the market advertises as “LOCAL PRODUCE,” without criterea , isn’t this false advertising by the city management? It was recently found that farmers also paid 11,000$ for a computer and set up for the manager. Excessive? You be the judge! let’s hear it from someone that would be willing to do it for less!!!!!The customers should determine whether or not real ,Authentic farmers / and criteria, are essential to the market compared to farmers/bakers that buy and sell no matter what “frienships” the manager has created for herself. Artisans should perhaps pay substantially more than farmers, given the fact that local farmers growing IN MICHIGAN have a very very very short season. Artisans can sell year round!
Recently it was found, only by a limited amount of vemdors (do not know if even city council or the mayor knows)that the operating rules DO NOT EXIST!!! Yes, that’s what the city attorney and manager have determined! Oh,! not in writing to vendors ,but in closed session!!!!!!!! Imagine having a contract with the city and the one thing in that contract is that the vendor and city will abide by the market operating rules./city code. Come to find out ….no market operating rules rules have been promulgated!!!!!! Just think of all the FARMERS that sat through many many many hours of mediation only to have the current city attorney state that NONE of the mediation agreements have been promulgated!!!!!! Oh, but they are still circumventing several of their “RULES and even trying to uphold many of them.
One non promulgated rule involves the seniority !!!of artisans vs. real farmers./ seniority of vendors that lied when seniority list was created!!! BY the GROWERS ASSOCIATION!!!!! ha !! The city knowingly has allowed minors and artisans to occupy stalls before actual farmers. Supported by the mayor!!???
Vendors had a recent commission that knowingly allowed a vendor to buy and sell eggs and instead of kicking the vendor out, the growers association publicly chastised the vendor that came forward when all vendors attending mediation knew about it but were toooo fightened to file a complaint. The growers association tried to kick this vendor out for filing the complaint while the vendor was trying to protect the public!!!!

Oh the list goes on and on with “I’m just here for the insurance to get my mouth /teeth fixed, . Was heard by many vendors by current manager….

The city must remember …. There are NO RULES as of today’s date…
Why is the city INsisting that one vendor pay for parking stalls they do not use or want and allowing another vendor to sell cheesy bread from little ceasers., buy and sell, finished plants, .
Apples in June ……..Selling any produce or fruit prior to the michigan season is suspect. A vendor selling advertised atmospherically controlled apples in May , June, july (without being licensed at the state) complains about a farmer selling onions in april..

several Current real /producers/,- market commissioners, feel that the city does not care about truth to it’s customers or vendors that rent from them . Choose the farmers that care!!!!! and are not out to steal your money!
posted by sjt on June 22nd, 2007 at 10:19 pm
106 exclamation points, in case anyone cares.
posted by TD on June 23rd, 2007 at 12:21 am
It be great if more names and dates, and less word salad, were produced.

Sjt, I have no idea who you are. Please send me e-mail: cahilldATcomcast.net.
posted by David Cahill on June 23rd, 2007 at 8:55 am
Punctuation, capitalization and spacing are overrated.
posted by David Boyle on June 23rd, 2007 at 11:36 am
I attend the market from time to time and can verify that there is an abundance of buying and selling going on especially during the spring plant sales. There’s alot of “proven winner”plant sales. I can purchase this brand name plant company’s plants in every garden store in Ann Arbor. I can also tell a grower from not, is when a vendor offers me a whole flat of flowers for 3 dollars in mid April.
posted by joe t on June 23rd, 2007 at 1:39 pm
I turned into the recent maket commission meeting this past Thursday with great enthusiasim .
As a customer of the market I want the commission to I know I am thankful for bringing to light of a particular vendor allegedly buying and selling frozen baked food products.
I’d like to address commissioner Peter Pollack june request ….” Can I sit on the committee that will be regualing the renovation.”
Is it possible that Mr. Pollack has renovation ideas and has used his position on the commission to accomadate his own agenda for the renovation ? My opinion is commissioner pollack sits on the commission only to obtain his his own agena diregarding buying and sellling,
posted by jan j. Leaten on June 24th, 2007 at 5:18 am
I turned into the recent maket commission meeting this past Thursday with great enthusiasim .
As a customer of the market I want the commission to I know I am thankful for bringing to light of a particular vendor allegedly buying and selling frozen baked food products.
I’d like to address commissioner Peter Pollack june request ….” Can I sit on the committee that will be regualing the renovation.”
Is it possible that Mr. Pollack has renovation ideas and has used his position on the commission to accomadate his own agenda for the renovation ? My opinion is commissioner pollack sits on the commission only to obtain his his own agena diregarding buying and sellling,
posted by oh come on now on June 24th, 2007 at 5:20 am
Look for the rebroadcast of the market commission meeting on CTN. Its better than watching a movie!! That chair-guy really opened a can of whup-ass on some a those folks. Looked like a vote of “no confidence” for hastily-assembled proposed operating rules.

The plain fact of the matter is that Washtenaw County is losing about 10 acres of farmland per day to construction of shit-box subdivisions, mega-churches, strip-malls, and McMansions. Preference at the Ann Arbor Wednesday and Saturday Farmers Market should be given to LOCAL producers, who can be verified by visits from a Market Manager, the Market Commission-members, or non-partisan inspectors. Incentives would help too, such as subsidies from the Washtenaw County Commission, and the Chamber of Commerce. Local food will be a huge issue in years to come. Locally produced will also mean less of a “carbon footprint”, and perhaps keeping more water in the local watershed.

The person who eventually wins the First Ward seat on council should realize that the Market is in the first ward, and that there are alot of people in this city that truly care about fairness and equity issues that have been ignored or obstructed for many years at the market. Its time that the people took the market back from some unscrupulous, monopolizing vendors, and a management that winds up taking sides.
posted by fuzzbollah on June 25th, 2007 at 12:25 am
masterful meeting……….
There’s a song I heard on WCBN radio a few months back. It’s a song about the market. Did a search and found it on the internet.
It’s called Soppy Cover-Up Job. I applaud the citizens and vendors that are trying to clean up the market from cheaters.
here’s the link to the song and video….
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3434097949481344704&pr=goog-sl
posted by the rasta dream on June 25th, 2007 at 3:01 am
masterful meeting…
Heard a song on WCBN a few months back.
It’s called Sloppy Cover-Up Job. It enlightens the consumer to the plight of farmers in our own backyard Washtenaw County, that are being wounded at the A2 farmer’s market by unfair practices and vendors that are cheating.
Enjoyed the live version at the “Foggy”
posted by tom rasta on June 25th, 2007 at 3:26 am
If the manager Jessica Black is allowing buying and selling she should be fired. What is the mission statement of the market? If she won’t clean the market of buying and selling then tell her to PLEASE PLEASE clean the bathrooms as they get disgusting around noon on Saturday.
Why pay a manager out of the market fund if she is going to cheat vendors and consumers.
posted by market watch on June 27th, 2007 at 12:04 am
After attending the Ann Arbor Democratic Party forum it became very clear that John Roberts was the best choice for the First Ward seat to replace outgoing Councilman Rob Johnson.

John Roberts, a former City Councilman, seemed to have the best grasp of the issues and knew how to take a leadership role on Council, while also working with the current membership.

While Mr. Wickboldt seemed to be a very intelligent man, but he doesn’t seem to have an adequate grasp on the issues facing Ann Arborites, nor does he seem to know what he would do once elected. His website has little substance, with less than a few sentences for each issue he addresses.

Ms. Briere seemed to be in the race more out of a personal agenda to take on the current Council than to make a realistic difference in Ann Arbor. At the forum she seemed to have good answers when she had time to hear what others were saying (often saying the exact opposite of the incumbents), but when she was first or second to answer a question she stumbled, and really didn’t have much substance to her answers. Also her anti-development agenda will slowly kill Ann Arbor. Detroit is a glaring example of what happens to a shining city when it begins to sprawl. The center of the city begins to die as the people move further and further out. The answer for Ann Arbor long term is to increase residential development DOWNTOWN so that the city has a population support base well into the future. That cannot be done if Ms. Briere gets her wish and halts nearly all development in the City.

Rob Johnson had clear, concise answers. He has past experience and he would work well with other Councilmembers to attract real results for citizens in the 1st Ward. His knowledge of the issues will make him a great Councilmember and he seems to understand the delicate balance of keeping the city green, while also avoiding the sprawl that will lead to a city with a dead or dying center. Vote Rob Johnson for City Council…the best choice for the 1st Ward
posted by 2nd Ward Democrat on July 15th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
That is “Vote John Roberts for City Council…the best choice for the 1st Ward!”
posted by 2nd Ward Democrat on July 15th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
“Rob Johnson”? I’m amused that people are having trouble remembering Candidate Ficus’ name. At yesterday’s forum, Council member Wendy Woods (D-Fifth Ward), who served with him on Council until he was defeated in last year’s primary, called him “Mr. Rogers”.

Check out Sabra’s website at www.sabrabriere.org.

Here is Sabra’s presentation at yesterday’s forum. I can see why a Council apologist might be upset at it.

Good morning. I hope I speak for all of us today as I thank the Democratic Party for hosting this forum and John Hilton for being our moderator.
My name is Sabra Briere. For those of you who don’t know me, I came to Ann Arbor in 1973 – but not as a student. I moved here with my son, living first in University Townhouses, later in downtown Ann Arbor and on the Old West Side, before moving in 1986 to my home on Broadway. During those years, I finished my college education at The University of Michigan, earning a Bachelor’s degree in History.
My son got me involved with my neighbors – and my neighborhood, no matter where I lived. From volunteering at his pre-school to being PTO president to becoming Chair of the City Democratic Party and President of the local ACLU to City Council – it seems like a natural progression to me.
I’m running for City Council because, as much as I love living in Ann Arbor, I also am concerned that we risk losing sight of what we love about living here. We love Main Street and State Street – their Victorian store fronts and 21st century uses. But we miss the amenities that would make living downtown more attractive, like real groceries, hardware stores and pharmacies. We love old, funky neighborhoods with front porches and sidewalks. But City Council is crowding them, extending ‘downtown’ into what were once only single family neighborhoods. Council sees opportunities for density and mixed use development on open and ‘underutilized’ land.
I’m liberal. For years that’s meant that I was comfortable here, not getting too fussy as we changed or really too nostalgic for the past. But I think the City is going in the wrong direction. Council is talking about trading density for sprawl, but is losing sight of the value we place on quality of life. Council talking about Ann Arbor being a city – but what we love about Ann Arbor is the ‘towniness’ of it. And what makes a town – of any size and any density, vertical or horizontal, is its neighborhoods.
I’ve spent a lot of the last month and a half going door to door and I’ve spent a lot of the last 30 years talking to my neighbors. I’ve learned from them more about the issues that concern them than I ever have from the papers or watching City Council meetings. This year, I’ve heard them talk to me about density and development. They are concerned with downtown development, certainly. But they are also concerned with all the development going on all around Ann Arbor. They’re concerned about traffic and transportation. They care about fiscal responsibility. The City is creating a new, built environment that many feel no one has really thought out.
Buildings should relate to the neighborhoods where they are built. A new condo complex can bring 600 cars into a neighborhood. When you route those cars through neighborhood streets, previously quiet cul de sacs no longer are safe places for children to play. A street that’s been busy can suddenly feel ‘arterial’ as Pontiac Trail does. The city thinks about these issues only when neighborhoods become upset.
Downtown density doesn’t affect many of my constituents, but it’s on their minds a lot. Most of the people I’ve talked with want me to tell City Council that they don’t like all the big buildings going up, and that they want less density, less feeling of being crowded out of downtown. “There’s already no where to park.” I heard. “Who’s going to live in these buildings? There’s no where to shop for necessities and everyone will need a car.” At the same time, I heard a lot of support for the Greenway. The idea of downtown parkland to offset some of the density just made sense. If you want people to live downtown, you have to make downtown attractive.
When I talk to people, someone will always bring up fiscal responsibility. They are concerned that we haven’t planned well, and now are facing unanticipated problems. Some of these problems are out of our control, but when we give large bonuses to our top administrator, and then lay off our service staff, it looks bad. When we tell our voters that a new millage will guarantee ample funding for parks and then cut parks maintenance to the bone, it looks bad. When the city cannot maintain our water supply system, but somehow has enough money to build a new city hall, it makes people wonder at our priorities. I’d certainly fix my plumbing before adding on to my own house.
When new projects come up in the city, we read about them in the paper. Should we close Huron River Drive? Should Avery House be built? Should a round a bout be placed at Nixon and Huron Parkway? Should police patrol the parks? We read about it the paper – or maybe we read a blog. Paper or blog, neither is a good way to inform or involve a neighborhood when changes are proposed. And all neighborhoods are concerned about changes that affect them.
Businesses and developers come often enough to city hall that they can form relationships with the staff. You don’t. Most of us never pull a permit, never call a department, never even contact a Council member. So when a neighborhood hears something that mobilizes it enough to go to a meeting or to Planning Commission or to City Council, that neighborhood is upset. The city should clear the way to bring neighborhoods into the discussion early. This hasn’t happened, and I want to make certain it does. My years of neighborhood involvement and commitment to bringing neighborhoods into the process, coupled with my understanding of Council and ability to work with other Council members, will get that done.
We’ve had enough of the city passively waiting for you to inform yourself about city issues. It’s the City Council’s responsibility to represent you. That means that sometimes the city should really reach out to YOU.
I hope I’ll have your support on August 7th.
posted by David Cahill on July 15th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
I’m glad she didn’t come here as a student — that was the one thing I was worried about.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on July 15th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Careful with the boxing gloves, including calling people “Ficus”, and jonesing that certain people do have not UM degrees, please…
posted by David Boyle on July 15th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Someone farther up in this article referred to Candidate Ficus.
posted by David Cahill on July 16th, 2007 at 8:42 am
The one problem with Sabra’s argument is this: if a lot of people want to move to your town there isn’t a lot you can do to stop them. If a lot of people move to your town, they need to live somewhere, and you don’t need Econ 101 to realize that this means either (a) more housing is going to get built, or (b) the cost of housing is going to shoot up, due to greater demand. If more housing gets built, it either has to take the form of increasing density in already developed land, or sprawl into previously undeveloped land. The problem with the above speech is that the simultaneous desires to avoid sprawl and maintain A2’s “towniness” imply no more building, which means that A2’s crappy housing will get even more ridiculously overpriced, and the town will become even more socioeconomically homogeneous (if that’s possible).

The only other alternative is to build a really big fence. Or a moat.
posted by Nick on July 16th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Nick, the problem with your argument is that there is no net demand for Ann Arbor housing/whatever. Our population is falling, there is a glut of office space - you name it, we are not in a town with a burgeoning population. Hm. I suppose we could build a moat to keep people *in*.
posted by David Cahill on July 16th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Sorry Everyone, I am “2nd Ward Democrat” from above.

Mr. Cahill, it isn’t so much an inability to remember John Roberts by name as it was a mistake being made (if you will notice John Roberts and Rob Johnson are fairly similar opposites).

I continue to support everything else I said in the post, however, as Mr. Roberts clearly has the best grasp on current issues facing Ann Arbor AND has the ability to work side-by-side with current council members to get things accomplished for the first ward. While I have no doubt that Ms. Briere truly believes that slowly killing Ann Arbor, from the center, is a good policy. I vehemently disagree. Ann Arbor is the best hope that Michigan has of maintaining a successful city. Detroit has died, largely because of sprawl…we cannot allow the same things to happen here.

Also, with the encounters that I have witnessed in the past between Ms. Briere and current members of City Council, I have a hard time believing that she will be able to maintain a healthy working environment on Council. Voters of the first ward need to return JOHN ROBERTS to city council.
posted by Travis Radina on July 16th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
“Nick, the problem with your argument is that there is no net demand for Ann Arbor housing/whatever.”

Uh, prices have taken a dip lately, but they haven’t reached *zero* (or do I misunderstand what “net demand” means?)

“Ann Arbor is the best hope that Michigan has of maintaining a successful city. Detroit has died, largely because of sprawl…we cannot allow the same things to happen here.”

Is that really a risk? As a small town around a relatively stable and large employer, the risks look a little different.
posted by Bruce Fields on July 16th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
Dave: the problem with your rebuttal is that it doesn’t take into account the true problem. while looking at projected census information (census.gov projections for aa), you’re correct, the population may be falling. but, when it comes right down to it, it doesn’t really matter if the population is growing or shrinking. if developers and banks think there’s money to be made building homes/condos/apartments, then they’re going to be built. and, they are being built. the development on the northeast side of town near nixon/green (in what was once farmland), green/plymouth (in what was once open space), and plymouth/murfin (this was is more reuse than sprawl) as well as the new proposals for downtown indicate that there is still a demand. i would guess that there are other areas of aa that are growing as well, but i don’t have a car and kinda stay in my own little 1st ward corner. so, i think to say that there isn’t a demand for new housing in aa is to stick your head in the sand and live in a state of denial.
So, Dave, does this make me a developer-bought troll? just remember, in the 1st ward, trolls can vote, too.
posted by TD aka 1st ward troll on July 16th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
David Cahill’s specious argument once again goes as follows, “Nick, the problem with your argument is that there is no net demand for Ann Arbor housing/whatever. Our population is falling, there is a glut of office space - you name it, we are not in a town with a burgeoning population. Hm. I suppose we could build a moat to keep people *in*.” And once again I will point out that he is wrong.

http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/content/pl_demographics.pdf

The region is and has been growing. As a matter of fact the county has doubled since 1960 with the overwhelming majority of the growth focused in or around the City of Ann Arbor. Just because the politics of the City of Ann Arbor has managed scare the developers away, of late, does not prove that there is no demand here; here being the Ann Arbor region. It is clear from this simple census document that until the 1980’s the city seemed to be embracing its appropriate role as the center of the region. However since then the slack has been picked up by the surrounding townships.

As soon as Mr. Cahill reads this he will write that the demand is in the townships which is why they are growing, but that too is specious. Ypsi. Twp., Pittsfield, Scio, Northfield etc. are all bedroom communities for the City of Ann Arbor. Don’t believe me? Then go and watch the beginning, or end, of the day traffic patterns. Or maybe it would be more fun to go to the discussions about widening 23 North. Take the position that there is no need to widen 23 because it does not serve the interests of Ann Arbor and see what happens.
posted by abc on July 17th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Hi, Travis! It’s good that you’re using your real name. With regard to the forum on Saturday, Roberts did not say anything meaningful about any issue. He just said “it depends”. He also said he knew what the First Ward wanted, but didn’t bother to tell us what that was.

With regard to Detroit, I suggest that the Detroit riots in the late 60s were what reduced the inner city of Detroit to wasteland, not sprawl. There is no parallel to AA.

Now about demand. A developer lobbyist admitted several years ago that every large commercial project built in AA since 1975 has gone insolvent at least once. Developers misjudge demand, plus they want a “vanity project” in AA. However, the rents won’t support their loan payments.

So the fact that developers want to build here is not the best indication of demand. The glut of empty office space is a better indicator. With regard to housing, consider the cratering of housing prices and the large number “for sale” signs in places like the Third Ward. LuAnne Bullington, a candidate in the Third Ward, is particularly eloquent about the fix many of her potential constituents are in.

And in the most recent edition of Ann Arbor Business Review, Paula Gardner laments the real estate situation here, mentioning all those “for sale” signs in the Third Ward.
posted by David Cahill on July 17th, 2007 at 9:23 am
For sale signs in the Third Ward, yes, but mostly on or to the south of Stadium. Don’t worry, downtown and Burns Park are still safe.
posted by jcp2 on July 17th, 2007 at 11:26 am
“With regard to Detroit, I suggest that the Detroit riots in the late 60s were what reduced the inner city of Detroit to wasteland, not sprawl. There is no parallel to AA.”

This kills me. While most of the other major cities had major riots forty years ago, Detroit’s the only one that’s been so wrecked by them. Chicago survived, LA survived, DC survived.. Sure, you can tell that there are still problems, but they weren’t reduced to wasteland forty years later.

So what the hell happened with Detroit?! As a newcomer to the area, I asked someone what happened. “Oh, the riots in ‘67.” The riots forty years ago fucked the city entirely? Obviously, economic conditions contributed, but a lot of it seems to be persistent racism and corruption.
posted by Pants Rule on July 17th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
The A2 real estate market is down but it is still a whole lot better than almost anywhere in Michigan. We were in the norther burbs of Detroit the other day and signs were everywhere in both expensive and less expensive neighborhoods.

Ann Arbor’s market always bounces back sooner that the rest of the state. The U is adding a thousand jobs a year and still building. Smart developers who can afford it will build in anticipation of the demand two years from now.
posted by Dustin on July 17th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Dustin, where did you get the figure of a thousand jobs a year being added by the U of M?
posted by David Cahill on July 18th, 2007 at 8:33 am
Maybe someone can run against Sabra on a platform of offering amnesty to new homebuyers in A2.
posted by Nick on July 18th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
David — check out Origins of the Urban Crisis by Tom Sugrue. It’s a book on Detroit you might find interesting.
posted by Dale on July 18th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
David,

As for the Third Ward…I would never support anyone other than Leigh Greden in this election. I know LuAnne and while she is a great person, she could never replace the experience and knowledge that Leigh Greden brings to the table.

I know that both you and Ms. Briere have personal issues with Councilman Greden, but there is no question that he is the most experienced, qualified, and informed candidate in any of the Wards (though Wendy Woods…also an amazing candidate…is way up there too).

As you may have noticed, the Housing market is hurting everywhere in the nation right now. However, last time I drove through the third ward, there were a lot more Greden Signs than For Sale signs.

We need to remember that this is a democratic primary…and policy wise, most of the candidates are going to be on the same page (with the exception of some fairly destructive anti-development platforms). However, when it comes to actually sitting down and getting the job done for Ann Arbor and her citizens, Leigh Greden, Wendy Woods, and John Roberts are the best choices for City Council. They know how to work well together, they are respectful of their colleagues, and they are all in the race to improve Ann Arbor AND not simply to resolve a personal issue.
posted by Travis Radina on July 20th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Well, if Third Warders and Fifth Warders like the representation they’re getting, then they will vote for the incumbents. If they don’t, then Bullington and Anglin offer clear and substantial alternatives.

As to personal issues with Greden, please tell us what you mean.
posted by David Cahill on July 21st, 2007 at 7:55 am

We’ll Take Quantity, Thanks

63 Responses to “We’ll Take Quantity, Thanks”

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