Updates

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Statement on Passage of Ceasefire Resolution

At our January 11th Ann Arbor City Council meeting, my colleagues joined me in unanimously passing a resolution calling for a lasting bilateral ceasefire in Gaza and Israel, the release of all hostages, and increased humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. I am so proud that our city took a stand with peace and justice. We stood up for the many members of our community who feel scared, who are experiencing increased hate, and who are losing loved ones. There is no doubt that this is a local issue.

As the 16th city in the nation to call for a ceasefire, I am incredibly proud of who we are as a community. Ann Arbor is an amazing place to live because we speak up and protect those who are the most marginalized among us. Now is no different.

Read my full remarks from the meeting below:

“The purpose of this resolution is to call for a ceasefire and for peace. This is not a partisan resolution. It is not anti-anyone. It’s about humanity, it’s about protecting life. It calls for everyone to be safe, protected, and to have what they need to survive.

Many people in this room have spoken to the events over the last months and years, and many do work around these issues. I encourage them to continue their advocacy work calling for justice and peace.

This resolution is about addressing the very real increased pain and fear that many of our community members are feeling right now. We have heard from people for weeks that this is a local issue, and how it is different from other conflicts. The fact that this room is full says very clearly that people do experience it as a local issue.

We deliberately chose to not having any "Whereas" clauses, because what's important for us to do right now as a city is to stand by all residents and their pain, to affirm their pain and experiences, not to be further divided by going into the near or distant past or comparing death tolls and destruction. I have previously spoken about the horrific acts of violence on October 7th as well as the continued violence in Palestine. The place for that is not in a resolution that calls for peace for everyone. The point is that this has to stop.

This is a resolution that numerous constituencies and communities have had time to react to, including on specific verbiage. Giving multiple constituencies time to react to it was important. Leaders from the Jewish Federation have said they are not opposed to it, although they have expressed their views very clearly about this coming forward. Jewish Voice for Peace members are not opposed to it. Palestinian, Arabs, Muslim, and pacifist voices are not opposed to it. It takes no sides. It is minimalist in order to bring us together, not divide us.

I hope that with my colleagues support of this resolution tonight, which calls for a bilateral lasting ceasefire, release of all hostages, unrestricted aid to Palestine, support of Congresswoman Dingell’s statement, and a condemnation of rising hate at home - we will show all of our community members that we are with them, that we mourn alongside them, and that we, as a city, are always on the side of peace and justice.

This process has also demonstrated to me the necessity of having diverse voices in the room to pass inclusive policy. I hope the new people that have started coming to our meetings for the first time because of this conflict continue to stay engaged and involved in our city and help us pass policies and programs that represent the needs and wants of all of us.

To the people who helped bring this resolution forward - both those in the community, and those on council - thank you. And special thanks to Council Member Briggs, who provided unwavering support and allyship throughout this process.”

Ban the box in city contracting

With our county having one of the highest rates of recidivism in the state, this ordinance amendment is an important change to our city’s Non-Discrimination Ordinance. This asks Ann Arbor contractors to evaluate if a person is a good fit for a job based on their qualifications and allows a criminal background check to be performed only once a conditional job offer is made. Employment reduces recidivism and is so important for a good quality of life #BanTheBox.

View the MLive article here.

sidewalk infrastructure and accessibility concerns: My work with CODI and city staff

  • E-scooter/e-bike parking – Spin is a private micro-mobility company that has approval to operate e-scooters (450) and e-bikes (100) in the City of Ann Arbor. Part of our contract with them includes measures to make sure scooters and bikes are appropriately parked. First time users have to agree to the terms of operation which include proper parking protocols. Additionally, when users end every trip, they must take a picture of how they left the scooter/bike to ensure the vehicles are properly parked. Repeat offenders of improperly parked vehicles can have their account suspended. We recognize that these measures alone do not lead to 100% compliance for proper parking – which is why the City has 2 categories in A2Fix for “abandoned bicycle” and “abandoned scooter.” These complaints go to Community Standards and Spin to address in a timely manner. For reference there were 46 such complaints registered in A2FixIt from March 2022 to March 2023; 16 of which required corrective action; 26 of which were either not problematic or the scooter was gone upon arrival.

  • Sidewalk gaps – when the sidewalk millage was passed by the voters of Ann Arbor a few years ago, staff developed a prioritization matrix in an effort to program the work that needed to be done. The scoring matrix takes into account: pedestrian crashes; proximity to schools; evidence of community support; transportation equity; classification of adjacent road; proximity to a library, government office, major commercial attractor, or park; proximity to transit; near term opportunity in the City Transportation Plan; and if City-owned parcels are involved. More information on sidewalk gaps can be found at www.a2gov.org/newsidewalks.

  • Sidewalk stairs – the City has been removing stairs in sidewalks for some years. Recent accomplishments include State/Kingsley, a couple of locations along Geddes Ave, and there is currently a project in the works to remove the stairs on Geddes at Onondaga. The City is aware of the stairs at Third and Krause and that project will be added to the Capital Improvements Program later this year. There is no timeline yet established for that project.

If you have thoughts, questions, or suggestions, please contact the Committee on Disability Issues (CODI). You can visit the CODI website or email CODI@a2gov.org.

Disability Voting Rights Week Proclamation

At our 9/5 meeting, a Proclamation I helped author, honoring the week of Sept. 11th as Disability Voting Rights Week, was presented by Mayor Taylor and accepted by the chair of our City’s Commission on Disability Issues (CODI). The proclamation also speaks to the need for a new election protection center to increase accessibility and safety during the voting process. It highlights the need for people with disabilities - like everyone else - to be given an accessible and private place to vote. I want to thank Mayor Taylor, my colleagues, the members of CODI, and our city for honoring this week in Ann Arbor. Special thank you to Dessa Cosma, Executive Director of Detroit Disability Power, for providing comments on the importance of this proclamation.

Working to end Subminimum Wage in Michigan

I was proud to be the lead sponsor on a Resolution advocating for the State of Michigan to phase out its use of 14(c) certificates and subminimum wage for workers with disabilities. The resolution passed with full support at our 9/5 meeting. This bill demonstrates our city’s commitment to advocating for inclusion and equity throughout the state and to providing equal opportunity and compensation for all workers. Special thanks to the Disability Network of Washtenaw, Monroe, and Livingston counties for your assistance in drafting this resolution.

View my Spring/Summer Recap Newsletter Here:

equity-centered FY24 Budget Amendments

At the May 15th City Council meeting, several amendments were made to appropriate portions of the Marijuana Excise Tax toward equity-centered services and initiatives.

I was proud to co-sponsor a resolution to amend the FY24 budget to appropriate $500,000 of the Marijuana Excise Tax Rebate toward eviction prevention and low-income youth services. I was also a co-sponsor of a resolution to amend the FY24 budget to appropriate $400,000 of the Marijuana Excise Tax Revenue toward Comprehensive Trauma-Informed Supportive Services and Case Management for Returning Citizens and Residents Impacted by the Criminal Legal System with Tenant-Based Vouchers.

I was proud to support all of the proposed amendments, as they focus on ensuring that equity is at the center of the work we, as Councilmembers, do and that all in our community are equitably served and supported.

Photo by Ryan Stanton, MLive.

Bicentennial Park amended

At the May 15th City Council meeting, I proposed a Resolution Directing the City Administrator to Designate Southeast Area Park as the 2024 Bicentennial Park. The resolution passed unanimously and is important as it is really about equity and inclusion. Read the resolution here and a recent article from MLive here.

View my March/April Newsletter Here:

ID Card Non-Discrimination Ordinance Amended

As of the February 21st, 2023, Ann Arbor City Council Meeting, the “Ordinance to Amend Chapter 112 of the Ann Arbor Non-Discrimination Ordinance” passed unanimously by Council. I was the lead sponsor of this ordinance, which aims to protect people from discrimination who use a valid, government-issued ID. Discrimination based on ID affects thousands of people in the community, barring access to resources like housing assistance, employment, healthcare, bank accounts, and more. This ordinance makes our entire community stronger, healthier, and more vibrant. Councilmembers Linh Song and Travis Radina helped to co-sponsor this ordinance. 

The Chair of the Washtenaw County’s ID Program Task Force and Human Rights Commissioner, Attorney Keta Cowan, was the primary architect of this ordinance. I am honored to have worked alongside Commissioner Cowan in making this important change to our Non-Discrimination Ordinance. 

You can read the ordinance here. The passing of this ordinance was also covered by WEMU and MLive.

If you need an ID, regardless of citizenship or housing status, they are available from the Washtenaw County Clerk’s Office at 200 N. Main St. for $10.  

For more information on gaining a government-issued ID, visit:

If you have experienced discrimination based on using a government-issued ID, contact the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission by visiting their website or emailing HRC@a2gov.org. 

Energy Justice for all

I was the primary sponsor of a resolution requesting that the City, the Michigan Legislature, and the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) create policy changes that hold DTE accountable - not to their shareholders, but to US - and advance energy equity.

We hear our residents, and this can't go on.

Read the resolution here.

Read an article on the resolution published by MLive here.

The end to the cycle of unnecessary and preventable gun violence is long overdue.

I co-sponsored a resolution calling for the state legislature to act on gun reform. Similar to what so many face in our country every day, I shared my personal experience with gun violence and the domino effect of gun violence that this incident led to, causing immeasurable community harm and trauma.

I added two amendments to the resolution as well - one citing how BIPOC communities are disproportionately impacted by gun violence and must be at the table in policy-making, and a resolved cause directing the Michigan legislature to commit to adequately funding gun violence prevention and strong enforcement mechanisms without contributing to further mass incarceration.

When we focus on policy solutions to gun violence, reconciliation with communities of color must be an explicit part of equitable advocacy and policy development on gun reform.

I am honored to be part of this resolution. Read more here.

View my February newsletter here:

Justice for United Six Protest

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 16, 2023, I joined community members in protest against United Electrical Contractors and Landmark Properties. The companies have a reported history of perpetuating racism in the workplace by means of racial discrimination, visual imagery and mockery, and more. United in protest, Ann Arbor residents, and beyond, made it known that #NoJusticeNoPeace #JusticeForUnitedSix

To learn more about the protest, read this article: https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/01/anti-racism-protest-in-ann-arbor-takes-aim-at-building-contractor-on-mlk-day.html.