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.
New Ann Arbor council looks for way to keep Airbnb houses in neighborhoods
Updated Dec 22, 2020;
Posted Dec 22, 2020
A house in Ann Arbor that was renovated and dedicated as an Airbnb house in recent years. It sold for $400,000 in April 2020, going back to being a single-family home.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News
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ANN ARBOR, MI Ann Arbor’s new City Council is looking to undo the last council’s ban on dedicated Airbnb houses in residential neighborhoods.
Council voted 7-4 Monday night, Dec. 21, to direct city staff and the Planning Commission to develop and propose regulations to allow continued operation of preexisting short-term rentals.
154-unit senior housing development gets Ann Arbor council’s initial OK
Updated Dec 22, 2020;
Posted Dec 22, 2020
A rendering by Edmund London and Associates of the Lockwood of Ann Arbor senior housing facility proposed on Ellsworth Road.Edmund London and Associates
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In a 10-0 vote, council gave a rezoning proposal for the development its initial OK.
The project now awaits final approval Jan. 19, when there will be a public hearing before council takes a vote.
Southfield-based Lockwood Development Co. is asking council to rezone a 7.2-acre property at 2195 E. Ellsworth Road from single-family residential to a planned unit development (PUD) district, and proposing a three-story, 168,130-square-foot building with 154 independent senior apartments.
Ann Arbor officials aim to address City Council’s bad reputation in community
Updated Dec 16, 2020;
Posted Dec 16, 2020
Council Member Ali Ramlawi, D-5th Ward, speaks during the Ann Arbor City Council s annual retreat and budget planning session Dec. 14, 2020.City of Ann Arbor
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ANN ARBOR, MI After two years filled with political fights among City Council members over everything from water rates to new development to firing the city administrator, public confidence in Ann Arbor city government is low.
In a recent city survey, only 57% of residents offered positive ratings about overall confidence in city government, down from 63% two years ago, and 60% offered positive ratings about city officials being honest, down from 66%.