Now more than ever, it’s time to highlight transportation issues and think regionally and multi-modal: bicycles, cars, busses, light rail and pedestrian. I will work to expand the number of bike paths in the city, improve regional bus service, encourage the development of the east/west and north/south rail; and improve Ann Arbor’s pedestrian friendliness.

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With decreasing tax revenues and state revenue sharing, it is essential to monitor spending while improving the quality of delivery of services to Ann Arbor residents. My greatest areas of concern are water and sewer infrastructure, snow removal, pothole repair and parkland maintenance.

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COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER WILL RUN FOR 1ST WARD SEAT

Democrat Sandi Smith has announced her candidacy for the Ann Arbor City
Council in the 1st Ward, which covers much of downtown, as well as
northern and northwestern Ann Arbor.  Smith is challenging
Councilmember Ron Suarez in the August Democratic Primary.

 “The 1st Ward needs effective leadership that will strive to sustain
what’s so great about Ann Arbor,” said Smith.  “We need strong local
businesses. We need to sustain our neighborhoods, our environment and
our community.”

 Smith cited several issues she will address as the 1st Ward’s
Councilmember, including encouraging sustainable development to keep
the downtown vibrant, promoting historic ...
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The following is a partial list of resolutions initiated or supported by Sandi Smith during her tenure on the Downtown Development Authority board member since 2004, a committee member of Capital Improvements, Partnerships, Operations, and Research and Opportunities committees; Chair of the Partnerships Committee; and Chair of the DDA. The resolutions include many progressive activities which include:

· Affordable Housing Investments
· Alternative Transportation, including:
· Historic preservation and renovation

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One of the hottest topics around town is the issue of building a new court/police building. This issue has been with us for at least 8 years, but probably more like 50 years. I’ll first lay out the background, and then pose the hard questions.

POLICE: City Hall was built in 1963 and the Police were located in the basement of the building as temporary headquarters. The Police Headquarters now occupy 23,000 square feet in the basement and first floor of City Hall. The current Police facilities are inadequate for several reasons, including:

• The facilities were not built with a women’s locker room because the City did not employ any female officers in 1963. The current women’s locker room is a makeshift room without floor-to-ceiling walls.

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