Tag Archives: transparency

EMU Regents to vote Tuesday on the future of Snyder’s EAA. Will they finally do the right thing?

By Mark | December 7, 2015

As you might recall, last year at about this time, the Republican political appointees who control Eastern Michigan University (EMU) chose to continue their sponsorship of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s controversial Education Achievement Authority (EAA) despite the urging of EMU President Susan Martin, the faculty, and the students they have sworn to serve. Saying that […]

Posted in Education, Michigan, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged Brian Banks, Chop House, Detroit Public Schools, dismantling of public education, EAA, Eastern Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents, Education Achievement Authority, EMU, Jim Stapleton, Rick Snyder, Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, Simone Lightfoot, Steve Wellinski, Steven Camron, Teach for America, threats to public education | 18 Comments

Michigan ranks dead last in accountability and transparency according to new nationwide study

By Mark | November 9, 2015

According to a report just issued by The Center for Public Integrity, Michigan not only receives a failing grade when it comes to accountability and transparency, but, according to the data, we’re less accountable and transparent than every other state in the entire union. Following is a clip from their report on Michigan, followed by […]

Posted in Michigan, Politics, Uncategorized | Also tagged campaign finance reform, corruption, dark money, ethics, ethics violations, Flint, integrity, Jeff Irwin, lobbying, pay to play, The Center for Public Integrity | 15 Comments

Giving ex-felons a second chance, the corporatization of higher ed, and the religious roots of Cultivate Coffee and Tap House… on episode 31 of the Saturday Six Pack

By Mark | October 29, 2015

This last installment of the Saturday Six Pack was really good. And I think I’d say that even if it wasn’t my show. It was interesting and topical, challenging and funny. There was just a lot to like about it. We talked with an inspiring ex-felon, a fiery union organizer, and a local man whose […]

Posted in Local Business, Locally Owned Business, The Saturday Six Pack, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged AAUP, American Association of University Professors, beer, Billy Kangas, Calvin Evans, coffee, Cultivate Coffee and Tap House, Eastern Michigan University, EcoTimber, Emerald Ash Borer, EMU, ex-prisoners, Frank Allison, furniture, generational success, Grace Church, Howard Bunsis, John Boehner, Judith Kullberg, mentoring, Parker Executive Search, Paul Hickman, picture frames, prison, prison labor, shared governance, Sustainability, sustainable building materials, timber, triple bottom line, Ugly Mug, University of Iowa, Urban Ashes, urban salvaged wood | 12 Comments

Ypsi Police Chief Tony DeGiusti on body cameras, the militarization of police forces and the impact of Ferguson

By Mark | December 5, 2014

On Tuesday evening, our City Council voted to approve a resolution making funds available, among other things, for the purchase of 15 body cameras to be worn by Ypsilanti police officers while on patrol. As readers of site know, this is something that I’ve been pushing for since first reading about the results of a […]

Posted in Civil Liberties, Ypsilanti | Also tagged body cameras, Citizens Police Academy, Community Policing, Eastern Michigan University, Eastern Washtenaw Safety Alliance, EMU, Eric Garner, Ferguson, Leforge Road, Michael Brown, Pete Murdock, police brutality, police tactics, public safety, public safety officer, regional cooperation, Rialto, school shooting, Staten Island, surveillance culture, SWAT, the militarization of the police, Tony DeGiusti, video surveillance, Wayne, YCAT, Ypsilanti Community Action Team, Ypsilanti police department | 32 Comments

Michigan… come for the great lakes, stay for the corporate oligarchy

By Mark | May 7, 2013

According to the Detroit News, our Governor’s secret education privatization task force, nicknamed the Skunk Works, was just the tip of the iceberg. Apparently, in spite of Snyder’s pledge to bring unprecedented transparency to Lansing, a great deal of the legislation coming out of the Capital these days seems to be the product of corporate […]