Ann Arbor considering ban on police use of facial-recognition technology
Updated Jan 07, 2021;
Posted Jan 07, 2021
An Ann Arbor Police Department K-9 Unit parked outside the police station on Dec. 31, 2020.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News
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ANN ARBOR, MI Ann Arbor officials are considering a ban on police use of a facial-recognition technology.
The issue came up this week as City Council reconsidered its recent approval of a $348,308 contract for new dashboard cameras for Ann Arbor Police Department vehicles.
Even though facial-recognition technology is not part of the contract and Police Chief Michael Cox said AAPD doesn’t use it, Linh Song, a council liaison to the city’s police oversight commission, said she brought the contract back for reconsideration Monday night, Jan. 4, to have a public discussion about it and address concerns.
Holiday tree on downtown Ann Arbor public property draws ‘trash’ and ‘graffiti’ complaints
Updated Dec 14, 2020;
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ANN ARBOR, MI A holiday tree planted by local residents on a city-owned parking lot in downtown Ann Arbor is drawing mixed reactions, including complaints to the city.
While some welcome the five-foot Douglas fir planted and decorated last week on the Fifth Avenue Library Lot, ceremonially marking the start of the future Center of the City park and commons, multiple people have filed formal complaints, reporting it via the city’s A2 Fix It app.
“Someone has illegally placed a Christmas tree on city property,” one person with the user name “City of Ann Arbor Neighbor” wrote, reporting it as unwanted “graffiti” on public property and adding, “please remove.”
First holiday tree planted at Ann Arbor’s future Center of the City park site
Updated Dec 11, 2020;
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ANN ARBOR, MI It may still be a parking lot for now, but some residents have big hopes for a future downtown park and civic commons on Ann Arbor’s Library Lot.
To ceremonially mark the start of the future Center of the City park and commons, about a dozen residents came together Thursday afternoon, Dec. 10, to plant and decorate a five-foot holiday tree in a red planter box at the Fifth Avenue site.
“Ready? Watch your fingers!” Kevin Leeser called out as local residents Alan Haber and Tom Stevens helped him rock the bulky tree off the back of his pickup truck into one of city’s landscape planters, which they dug out to make room for the Douglas fir.
Ann Arbor councilwoman accuses city attorney of being ‘loyal to the mayor’
Updated Dec 11, 2020;
Posted Dec 11, 2020
City Attorney Stephen Postema, who has been in his position since 2003, addresses the Ann Arbor City Council on Dec. 7, 2020.CTN
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ANN ARBOR, MI Following a night of political drama at Ann Arbor City Council this week, with officials raising concerns about a “toxic” meeting environment, there was more debate in committee the next day.
Discussing longtime City Attorney Stephen Postema’s next annual performance review, Council Member Kathy Griswold, D-2nd Ward, raised concerns about the process and suggested Postema held allegiance to Mayor Christopher Taylor.