I love Ann Arbor, its people, and its diverse neighborhoods. I grew up in a neighborhood that was like an extended family. We all knew each other and watched out for each other. Right now, the 5th Ward is a place where we still wave and smile and help each other. This sense of neighborhood and community makes Ann Arbor great.

My neighbors are concerned about the reduction in police and fire services. They are concerned about the condition of our parks and the potential loss of recreational opportunities in Ann Arbor. They are concerned that our trees are not being replanted and about the environment in general. They ask if their neighborhood will maintain the quality of life that has made Ann Arbor a city in which they wish to live.

I share these concerns. The citizens of Ann Arbor voted to pay higher than average taxes because we want better service and more amenities than provided in most cities. For example, we recently voted a special additional millage to acquire additional parkland in the city and the county . We pay a special millage for the maintenance of our parks and an additional millage for street maintenance. The citizens have shown they are willing to make sacrifices to make this city the type of place they enjoy and can be proud of.

Sadly, I do not believe that the city spending reflects the concerns of the citizens. In the past decade the city has built a new maintenance center, a new police courts building and now a large underground parking structure. City management is considering the construction of a large parking structure in one of our parks to benefit the University. The city has spent generously on new offices, court rooms, and parking structures while the services to the citizens have been reduced.

This difference between the priorities of the citizens and that of the city management is the fundamental issue in Ann Arbor today. This issue encompasses all the others. The citizens have said with their votes, taxes and personal actions that they place priority on services that benefit all of us. The city management has placed higher priority on construction that favors only a few.

I have voted against most of these large, expensive construction projects. I have fought to maintain the funding for our golf course. I have fought to keep the senior center and the Mack Pool open. I do not believe we should loose parkland for the construction of parking garages. These things are important for the long term health of our city and should be maintained.

I will continue to work to:

Give voice to views of the people I represent,
Protect the very special quality of life we want to preserve, and
To meet the challenges to our environment.

But while I will work hard for you, I also need your help. I need you to raise your voices and cast your votes to emphasize that it is our parks, our neighborhoods, even our trees that make Ann Arbor the desirable place that it is to live. These are the things that attract people to our city and make them wish to stay.

Our goal must be to put Ann Arbor citizens first. The ideas and ideals of the community should drive decisions. I know from my terms in office that citizens have the skills, knowledge, and deep personal commitment to Ann Arbor to take us forward in the best possible way.

Until the financial conditions improve, citizens may also have to do some of the things that in the past were done by city personnel. For example, the citizens of the Virginia Park neighborhood were concerned over the loss of trees in their neighborhood. They volunteered to do the planting and I was able to assist in having the city provide the trees. This effort was a small additional sacrifice to maintain the I look the look and feel of our neighborhoods. I look forward to working with the citizens of Ann Arbor in more cooperative efforts of this nature in the future.

Mike Anglin

ENDORSERS

Sierra Club -
 Huron Valley Group
Sierra Club -
 Michigan Chapter

Lynn Rivers
Jean Ledwith King
James D´Amour
Ann Schriber
Beverly Strassmann
Bob Johnson
Linda Pedrick
Marcia Polenberg -   Ramsay
Ted Ramsay
Mary Hathaway
Kelly Grocoff
Matt Grocoff
Paul Bancel
Peter Zetlin
Stewart Nelson
Tom Whitaker
Susan Whitaker
Anna Schnitzer
Al Gallup
Karen Gallup
Al Connor
Polly Connor
John Haines
Helen O'Connor
Cendra Lynn
Sonia Schmerl
Libby Hunter
Peter Woodman
Shirley Zempel
Karen Larson
Kevin Larson
Kathy Boris
Vivienne Armentrout
Shannon Brines
Karen Sidney
Glenn Thompson
Mark Koroi
Grace Shackman
Stan Schackman
Kitty B. Kahn
Steven H. Kahn
Mary Underwood
Gordon Beeman
Anna Beeman
Barabra Clark
Connie Greene
Frances Farmer
Belita Cowan
Rip Kinney
Dave Cahill
Fred Remley
Fred Sanchez
Linda Berauer
Ann Remley
John Nystuen
Gwen Nystuen
Frank Raymond
Myung Raymond
Scott Berry
Doug White
Charles Lewis
Rita Mitchell
Ed Steinman
Jennie Needleman
Phyllis Ponvert
Pat Schrock
Jeanette Okuley
Linda Lutzeier
Christine Lux
Marge Pacer
Carol Fleischer
Ethel Potts
Thomas Wall
Marie Wall
Jim Wall
Kathy Griswold
Terry Kihara
Michael Bruner
Alan Haber
Odile Hugonot Haber
Laura Lee Hayes
Vince Caruso
Rita Loch Caruso
Nancy Kaplan
Harvey Kaplan
Jeff Irwin
Yousef Rabbi
Valerie Jenner
Gavin Eadie
Christine Hildebrand
Joe O'Neal
Lou Glorie
Nick Collins
John Floyd
Peter Eckstien


Send an email to Mike@VoteForMike.org to join the list of endorsers. Include a comment for the site if you wish.