12/11/24

Good morning, Ann Arbor!

This is the Ann Arbor Minute - the email your inbox secretly loves more than all those “mandatory” work ones.📬

What’s on tap for today:

• Scary vandalism incident 🚨

• AA budget gets a boost 💸

• Ann Arbor snowstorm parking ban could be coming! ❄️

Ready to dive in? Let’s do it…

NEWS DIGEST

🕊️ University Regent Targeted in Antisemitic Vandalism  

University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker’s home in Huntington Woods was vandalized early Monday in what officials have called an “antisemitic attack.” Messages like "Divest" and “Free Palestine,” alongside threatening symbols, were left on a vehicle and shattered glass surrounded his home. This marks the third time Acker, who is Jewish, has been targeted since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Acker says his family was asleep during the incident, captured on a neighbor’s security camera. University officials, including President Santa Ono, have strongly condemned the act, linking it to escalating tensions over university policies regarding Israel. Acker is urging Michigan leaders to call out such acts as antisemitism and promises not to be intimidated by these threats. Local police are investigating the incident as part of ongoing hate crime concerns.

(Source)

💰 Ann Arbor’s Budget Gets a Boost from Property Taxes 

Ann Arbor’s financial forecast is looking bright, thanks to growing property tax revenue expected to add millions to the city’s budget. Interim CFO Kim Buselmeier shared the positive outlook during City Council’s annual planning session on Dec. 9. The extra funds come as property values continue to rise, providing a solid revenue stream that will support city services in the fiscal years ahead. With this influx of cash, Ann Arbor might be better poised to tackle both ongoing and new community projects.

(Source)

⚖️ Former Ann Arbor skating coach to stand trial for sexual assault  

Steven Lester Pottenger, a suspended Ann Arbor figure skating coach, is set to face trial on January 16 in the Washtenaw County Trial Court on two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. The allegations involve incidents from 2020 with a minor between the ages of 13 and 15. Pottenger, a decorated former U.S. Junior Pairs champion, was temporarily suspended by the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club and the U.S. Center for Safe Sports earlier this year. While Pottenger denies the charges, the case will proceed to determine the outcome. If found guilty, he could face up to two years in jail and a $500 fine.

(Source)

🚗 Washtenaw’s Rabhi pushes back on I-94 smart lane plan 

Washtenaw County Commissioner Yousef Rabhi has called the proposed Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) corridor on I-94 one of Michigan’s "most disgusting" projects. The pilot plan would turn a lane into a tolled route for automated vehicles, managed by the private company Canvue. Rabhi expressed frustration over private profits being made from public infrastructure owned by taxpayers. He plans to introduce a resolution opposing the project in January. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has yet to respond to Rabhi’s criticisms. For now, this debate is shaping up as a clash between tech innovation and public interest concerns.

(Source)

🚗❄️ Snowstorm Parking Ban Could Be Coming to Ann Arbor Streets 

Ann Arbor may soon make it illegal to park on streets during snowstorms under a proposed ordinance. If approved, this would give the city administrator the authority to ban street parking during heavy snowfalls to improve plowing and safety. While tickets and tows could eventually be part of the enforcement, city officials plan to start this winter with an educational approach, focusing on awareness rather than penalties. This new rule could be a game-changer for snow removal across neighborhoods but may require some adjustment for residents who rely on street parking during the colder months.

(Source)

WEATHER

Today

☁️High: 34°F, Low: 13°F

Cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible.

Tomorrow

☁️High: 19°F, Low: 10°F

Cloudy with very cold conditions. Higher wind gusts possible.  

AROUND TOWN

🎄 Drive-Thru Christmas Magic Lights Up Ann Arbor 

The Ann Arbor Baptist Church on Wagner Road is back with its dazzling “Christmas Experience” light show! From Dec. 12–15 (6 to 8 p.m.), visitors can enjoy more than 100,000 twinkling lights—including a glowing tunnel and 25-foot Christmas trees—all from the comfort of their cars. The free event includes a live nativity scene, carolers, a drive-up café with hot cocoa and cookies, and even a five-minute mini movie on a 16-foot screen! It’s a festive way to celebrate the season with family and friends.

👟 Lace Up for AARC's Free Group Runs 

Looking to stay active and meet fellow Ann Arborites? The Ann Arbor Running Company (AARC) hosts free group runs multiple days a week for runners of all abilities. Choose from a 5K route on Mondays and Thursdays, interval training on Tuesdays, or special beginner/advanced group runs on Saturdays. Conveniently spread across AARC's locations, runs kick off at 6 p.m. on weekdays (Corner Brewery or AARC Colonnade) and 7 a.m. Saturdays at AARC Downtown. It's the perfect way to enjoy the city, get fit, and connect with the local running community. Find details at annarborrunningcompany.com.

🎤 Laugh Out Loud with Melanie Hearn

Get ready for a night of side-splitting comedy as Melanie Hearn takes the stage at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, 212 S. Fourth Avenue, on December 12 from 7:15 PM to 8:45 PM. Known for her sharp wit and infectious energy, Melanie has graced iconic stages like the Hollywood Improv and Comedy Store and opened for big names like Maria Bamford and Preacher Lawson. She’s also a featured voice on WDIV Channel 4’s Live in the D and a performer at the prestigious Detroit Women of Comedy Festival. Don’t miss your chance to see one of stand-up’s rising stars in action.

🎶 Candlelit Classics at Kerrytown

Spend a magical evening at Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., on December 13 at 7:30 PM for a unique holiday performance. Curated by R. MacKenzie Lewis, this candlelit concert showcases reimagined arrangements of holiday and everyday favorites, performed by a mixed ensemble of Michigan’s finest musicians. The intimate setting and creative adaptations promise to highlight the beauty and versatility of the ensemble’s sound. It’s a festive night of music you won’t want to miss.

Please verify event details with the organizers before attending, as schedules may change.

SMARTER EVERYDAY

On this day in history... 

In 1901, Guglielmo Marconi made history by sending the first transatlantic radio signal.

Against skeptics who dismissed it as impossible, he proved the invisible waves connecting continents weren’t science fiction.

Remember this: The world may doubt you, but physics often sides with persistence. 

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