I have a new piece up at A2Politico that discusses a recent decision by the Washtenaw County Commission to unilaterally cut the payment for its contract with the Huron Valley Humane Society (HVHS) in half. At first, this might seem unimportant given the fiscal crises faced by most municipalities these days. But when you dig deeper, you realize what a […]

Last week, I wrote about Carson Borbely & Katy Butler, two inspiring Ann Arbor teens who have done something tangible and important to combat bullying in Michigan. Fighting back against a Senate-passed “License to Bully” bill that claims to be “anti-bullying”, the created a petition at Change.org. When I wrote my piece last Thursday, the petition had a bit over […]

Last week, I wrote about the so-called “anti”-bullying bill passed by the Michigan Senate a couple of weeks ago that is not only not anti-bullying but, in fact, is generally known as “The License to Bully Bill”. In my article, I mentioned two Ann Arbor teenagers who stepped up to respond in a powerful way. Two Ann Arbor-area students, Katy […]

Two events this week for folks interested in the We Are the 99%/Occupy movement. The Washtenaw Community Action Team (WCAT) (part of the We Are the People Michigan coalition), Occupy Ann Arbor and Occupy UM will jointly hold a pair of events this week that address the Occupy movements and how local labor, students and community members can get involved […]

On Halloween 2011, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor arrived on the campus of the University of Michigan to deliver a speech that was snowed out in February. When he arrived, roughly 200 protesters were there to greet him. A large banner reading “Cantor works for the 1%, Who will work for the 99%?” was surrounded by gravestones representing the death […]

As I reported last week, Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is giving a speech on Monday to the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. >> NOTE: the event itself is at the Michigan League Building, not the Ford School. <<>> Also, please note the new start time of NOON. << In honor of his Halloween visit, a protest […]

The African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County is having an Underground Railroad Bus Tour on Saturday, October 15, 2011 from noon-3:00 p.m. The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes, hidden places, determined citizens and self-liberated people of color seeking freedom. Two essential routes to Detroit and ultimate safety in Canada crossed in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. […]

My good friends at the Washtenaw Community Action Team are hosting a film series and social forum called “The Power of Working People”. Their announcement follows. Highly recommended! The Washtenaw Community Action TeamPresents The Power of Working PeopleA Film Series and Social Forum The Washtenaw Community Action Team (WCAT) announces — The Power of Working People – A Film Series […]

Last night Planned Parenthood of Mid and South Michigan held a beer-tasting fundraiser at Ann Arbor’s Arbor Brewing Company. I posted a few photos from the event HERE and there are many more below from my wife, Anne C. Savage. I had a chance to talk with Rene Greff, co-owner with her husband Matt, of Arbor Brewing Co. and the […]

By now you’ve surely heard about the Occupy Wall Street protest rally happening in New York City. The rally cry of “The Other 99%” is resonating across the country as these protesters, many coming in from far away, protest the Wall Street firms and individuals that ran our country into an economic black hole and came out shiny clean and […]

Not surprisingly, there is a huge push to “Buy Michigan” to help our local economy these days. For example, there is Buy Michigan Now, BuyMichiganProducts.com, Buy Michigan First, and Think Michigan Made. With all of this, I was shocked to see this on my parking ticket last weekend: Click for a larger version Really, Ann Arbor? You’re outsourcing the processing […]