Tag Archives: domestic partner benefits

Michigan legislature moves to outlaw domestic partner benefits in violation of the State Constitution… Will Snyder veto?

By Mark | December 8, 2011

State Representative Jeff Irwin sent out the following note earlier this afternoon. House Republicans vote to ban domestic partner benefits: Moments ago, the House passed HB 4770 which – if signed by Governor Snyder – will make it illegal for governments, schools and universities to offer domestic partner benefits. If signed, HB 4770 will immediately […]

Posted in Civil Liberties, Michigan, Politics, Rants, Uncategorized | Also tagged gay demonization, gay rights, H.B. 4770, HB 4770, Jeff Irwin, Rick Snyder | 14 Comments

Ypsilanti City Council stares into the budget abyss

By Mark | October 3, 2011

As you all know, the city of Ypsilanti has been in a perpetual budget crisis for the past half dozen years, with insolvency looming in the not so distant future the whole time. In spite of this fact, however, we’ve somehow managed to keep on going. Well, it’s looking as though the end may now […]

Posted in Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged Brownfield Redevelopment Tax Credits, brownfields, budget cuts, City Manager, Ed Koryzno, Emergency Financial Manager, Emergency Financial Manager’s Act, gay rights, health care costs, health insurance, local income tax, pensions, property tax, property values, revenue sharing, Rick Snyder, Stop City Income Tax, Water Street, Ypsilanti City budget, Ypsilanti City Council, Ypsilanti Fire Department, Ypsilanti police department | 47 Comments

Ypsi/Abor Exit Interview: Thomas Kula

By Mark | September 26, 2011

When I think about the kind of people we need more of in Ypsi, there are probably five or six distinct archetypes that come to mind. If I ever went to the trouble of naming them, one would certainly be called “The Kula” in honor of the man we’re talking to here tonight. Thomas moved […]

Posted in Ann Arbor, Detroit, sex, Shadow Art Fair, Special Projects, Ypsilanti | Also tagged 14th century upper Scandinavian underwater basket weaving, Ames, banners, bike polo, Bike Ypsi, Chicago, Corner brewery, creativity, Des Moines, DIY, drag, Drake University, Elbow Deep, exit interviews, Ferndale, fitting in, football, gay, gay demonization, gay rights, growing up around pigs, growing up rurally, HARC, hatred of football Saturdays, Hipsilanti, House of Chanel, interviews, Iowa, Iowa State University, Late Night Thinking, make it happen, Motor City Pride, New York City, optimism, Ozone House, pigs, post-industrial era, public transportation, Spur Studios, Thomas Kula, Thompson Block, Ugly Mug, University of Michigan, Water Street, why people move to Ypsilanti, Woodruff, Woodruff's, Ypsi Food Co-op, Ypsi/Arbor Exit Interviews, Ypsitucky Jamboree, zines | 24 Comments

Ypsi Immigration Interview: Lee Azus

By Mark | September 15, 2011

To make up for yesterday’s Ypsi Exit Interview, which seems to have upset a few folks, here’s another in my series of Ypsi Immigration Interviews. I hope you enjoy it. MARK: What’s your name, and what is it that you do? LEE: My name is Lee Azus. I owned a bookstore for 15 years in […]

Posted in Detroit, Michigan, Ypsilanti | Also tagged apple picking, Beezy's, Bi-Rite Creamery, Borders, burritos, Corner brewery, Cross Street, cross-country skiing, Dalat, Dos Hermanos, Eastern Michigan University, Elbow Deep, Fischer Building, gay bars, gay marriage, gay rights, Get Lost Books, Ghirardelli Square, Heidelberg Project, Huron River, independent bookstores, Lee Azus, Michigan Avenue, Michigan Militia, River Street Bakery, San Francisco, Sidetrack, Ugly Mug, Wolverine Diner, Woodruff's, Ypsi Food Coop, Ypsi immigration interview | 34 Comments

Snyder stops party from punishing public universities offering benefits to domestic partners

By Mark | May 22, 2011

As you’ve all no doubt heard by now, the State of Michigan ended up taking in quite a bit more in tax revenue this year than was previously estimated. As a result, the State is expected to carry a surplus of $429 million into the fiscal 2012 budget year. And, now it looks as though […]