Ann Arbor AF

Today we are talking about this summer’s primary election, coming up in just a few weeks on Tuesday, August 2nd.  Absentee voting is already open, so make your plan to vote!  Links we mentioned: Preview your ballot Request an absentee ballot or find your polling place Learn about and support the AAATA transit millage Between now and July 30, vote us as the Best Local Podcast of Washtenaw ! Come ch...

Today we are rerunning episode 47: That. Damn. Bridge. Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com . Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook . And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

Today we are rerunning episode 35: our conversation with Alex Thomas. Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com . Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook . And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

Today we are rerunning episode 15: our Deeper Dive on Healthy Streets. Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com . Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook . And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

Today we are rerunning episode 7: our Deeper Dive on Boards + Commissions. Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com . Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook . And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, May 16th. We talk about the agenda, but the way we do it is that Molly has a rant, Jess has a rant, and then Molly has another rant. At the end of the episode, we’ll be looking ahead to the summer, and talking about some changes that are coming to the pod then and beyond! Links we referenced: This week’s agenda Survey is g...

Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Thursday, May 5th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including budget, tax collection, and spending…a.k.a.: money, money, and money. Links we referenced: this week’s City Council agenda ; our annual survey is up. Come tell us things!  also, maybe nominate us to be a finalist in the local podcast category of the...

Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, April 18th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including road bonds, water and sewer rates, and something that may or may not be housing. Links we referenced: NACA resolution , where the whereases are chef's kiss White paper on middle-income needs analysis and NACA championship Our annual survey is u...

We talk about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, April 4th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including ARPA, ARPA, and more ARPA. Links we referenced: This week’s agenda . The ARPA funding resolution . Those infamous amendments . Derrick Miller’s letter on how Ann Arbor’s Community Action Network and Ukraine are linked . Bill Lopez’s iconic Twitter thread reinterp...

Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, March 21st. We touch on a few interesting agenda items, including parking, police contracts, and a permanent city administrator. Links from today’s episode: Vote for us as one of Washtenaw’s best podcasts! this week’s agenda Eve Ewing’s article on the concerns of police labor unions Fiona Apple getting informed and getting...

Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up on Monday March 7th at 7:00pm. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including American Rescue Plan Act funds, infrastructure, and a couple of important rezonings. Links we referenced: This week’s agenda The ARPA Funds Recommendation memo The Infrastructure memo Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our web...

Today we talk about the next City Council meeting for about one hot second and spend the rest of the time on the one thrilling Top Ten list you didn’t know you needed. Municipal reports that made the Top Ten (but actually 3) (but really 6): Moving Together Towards Vision Zero , the city’s comprehensive transportation plan published in 2021 ; Reimagine Washtenaw , a 2014 corridor improvement study...

Today we are recording a special episode, a breakdown (in more ways than one) on the East Medical Center Drive Bridge decision. We’ll be talking about how folks got informed and involved, and how it went sideways anyway.   This may go without saying, but there are lots of swears.  Discretion for sensitive ears is advised. Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website,...

Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, February 7th.. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including transit-oriented zoning, deer, and That *** Bridge.  (There are a few swears in this episode, so heads up for sensitive listeners.) Things we referenced: - this week’s agenda ; - a video of the November Transportation Commission discussion of EMC...

Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Tuesday, January 18th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including memos, memos, and more memos. Links we referenced (or think you might find useful): - this week's agenda ; - A Brookings Institute article on workforce housing and middle-income housing subsidies, and a Smithsonian article on company towns;...

Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, January 3rd. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including sidewalks, safety, water, and poetry. Linked in today's episode: - this week's agenda - Unarmed Responder response memo - Coalition for Reenvisioning Our Safety Facebook page - Pedestrian Safety Improvements Around Schools report (the map...

Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, December 20th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items AND some non-agenda items. +10 Internet Points to the person who finds the "Plowy McPlowface" reference first and tweets it to #a2council. Links we referenced: - the meeting agenda - Michigan's Redevelopment Ready Program - Ann Arbor's w...

Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up on Monday, December 6th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including sidewalks, dollars for climate, and justice, and offer some ways for you to get involved. A quick process note: we record this a few days before the Council meeting, which means there will likely be some changes to the agenda between now and th...

Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, November 15th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including cars, churches, and the return to in person meetings. Links we referenced: - the A2 Humans Who Wonk thread on how to follow along with a development - NYT article about how police spend their time - the brand-new Renters Commission is now accepti...

Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, November 1st. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including staff changes, a potential sustainable energy utility, and the election that concludes this week, and offer some ways for you to get involved. A quick process note: we record this a few days before the Council meeting, which means there will likel...

Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, October 18th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including the "Moving Together" plan, menstruation, and Medical Center Drive. Links: - University of Michigan's environmental metrics and the PCCN (President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality) report - Ann Arbor's A2Zero Climate Act...

Today we're talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, October 4th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including council rules, sustainability, and a quick rant about fatphobia. Links: - to this week's Council agenda , - to the benchmarking ordinance , and - to the episode previewing the November 2021 ballot . Come check out our episodes and transcri...

Today we are talking about Ann Arbor's next election, with applications for absentee ballots going on now and then voting happening from early October through November 2nd. The ballot has been finalized; there are no candidates, only four proposals, all pertaining to amending Ann Arbor's city charter. Proposed Ann Arbor City Charter Amendments: - Proposal A: Best Value Purchasing - Propo...

Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, September 20th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including drive thrus, zoning, and we saved the best for the end of the episode: a preview of the proposed renters commission. Links we promosed: - the 538 article about the NFL's Rooney Rul e; - Joyce Parker's withdrawal from the hiring proces...

Today we are having a conversation with Alex Thomas about all things Ypsi Township. Alex's references: - Liberate Don't Incarcerate - the 2015 study on housing affordability and economic equity in Washtenaw County - the aborted move to rename Ypsi Township to Ford Lake Townsh ip - the Observer article documenting the 86% of the township's revenue that comes from law enforcement cita...