EU e fdi$ an taUi
Eighty-Five Years of Editorial Freedom
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan
CITY ELECTIONS-APRIL 7th
Couincil candidate positions
First Ward
Wednesday, April 2, 1975
News Phone: 764-0552
420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Mi. 48104
Rent Control:
Defanging the slumlords
David
Goodman:
HRP
Karen
Graf:
Republican
Liz
Taylor:
Democrat
RENTAL HOUSING IN Ann Arbor is
hard to find, especially in the
central city, and that which is avail-
able is greviously - exploitatively-
overpriced.
Next Monday, voters will have an
opportunity to enact a rent control
amendment to the City Charter.
Rent control must be approved.
In other areas, such measures have
proven successful in curbing rents,
while not drying up housing or low-
ering maintenance on the existing
structures.
Those opposed to the rent control
amendment have contended that
both maintenance and the develop-
ment of new housing would be sig-
nificantly curtailed if the amendment
is passed.
NEITHER ARGUMENT RINGS par-
ticularly true. The proposal con-
tains a provision which would reward
landlords for making improvements
in their property. Also, no new con-
struction has taken place in the cen-
tral city in the past six years - and
there is no reason to assume that
trend might change regardless of the
vote on rent control.
In addition, the rent control
amendment establishes an elected
board to oversee implementation of
the proposal. This will allow a good
deal of flexibility and accountability.
Another plus in the amendment,
as proposed, is the funding proce-
dure for the board's operation - it
should cost the taxpayers no addi-
tional money. The entire project will
be financed through an assessment
against landlords based on rent
charged.
JN THE PAST landlords have been
unresponsive to tenants, who
have been left with only inadequate
means of pursuing legitimate com-
plaints against these powerful
barons.
The rent control board should pro-
vide a forum for airing and solving
these problems. In the same vein, it
would also give landlords a fair hear-
ing on their grievances.
An oft-heard criticism of the mea-
sure is that as a City Charter amend-
ment, the proposal cannot be easily
changed, if difficulties arise.
To be sure, with an issue as com-
plex as rent control, there could be
many potential problems in imple-
mentation and day-to-day opera-
tions.
But these concerns are far less
weighty than the immediate need to
put the brakes on the cost of rental
housing in Ann Arbor. Thus far stu-
dents and low-incene tenants have
suffered the most as a result of the
Ann Arbor housing mess. Rent con-
trol can help alleviate that situation.
Voe yes on the rent control amend-
ment.
HRP'S David Goodman helped form a group which
stopped County funding for the ERIM war research fa-
cility. He also organized a coalition which fought the
destruction of the historic Nickels house for a new
Mc Donalds restaurant. Goodman worked to set up a
committee which sought more community service funds
from federal revenue sharing money. A member of
HRP City Council committee for two years, Goodman
was formerly a technical employee in the U-M micro-
biology department, and currently is a student at the
University. David Goodman, twenty-two, has been a
resident of Ann Arbor since 1971.
A S THE HRP candidate in this ward, I represent the
only party in Ann Arbor which has consistently
worked for real alternatives in this city.
After the first Human Rights Party candidates were
elected to City Council three years ago, a series of
major changes occured: funding of community from
general federal revenue sharing funds, initiating an
anti-rape program, and broadening the Human Rights
Ordinance to protect women, students, and gays.
On April 7, you can again elect a Councilperson who
will actively work to reorient City Hall towards the
needs of people. I feel that I have already demonstrated
my ability to initiate change through my history of
community involvement.
The HRP and I have continually pushed for many
interests of first ward residents. We recently intro-
duced a resolution to prohibit police from using hollow-
point bullets, banned from international warfare.
WE ALSO WROTE and introduced ordinances to
eliminate victimless crimes and discrimination in hous-
ing for people on public assistance.
HRP is leading the fight to institute a community
control board with power to set police priorities and
practices. My Democratic opponent rejects the plan
and suggests "foot patrols" as the answer
HRP has placed two important issues on the ballot for
voters to enact. I am the only First Ward candidate
Ito support rent control and day care funding. My Demo-
cratic opponent asks voters to wait until that party
has a Council majority to get such changes.
You will not find the politicians of the other parties
organizing with the unions against large corporations,
with students against the University, or with tenants
against the big landlords.
HRP does this and more.
ON ELECTION DAY, consider which party has agi-
tated consistently for a new society based on meeting
people's needs. A vote for the Human Rights Party
will strengthen that movement.
Karen Graf, 29, holds a BS degree from Eastern
Michigan University. She taught school for seven years
in the Wayne-Westland school district, and is now a
resource teacher with Project Metric. She has lived
in Ann Arbor for ten years.
A S A RESIDENT of Ann Arbor, I have been most
impressed by the sound and responsible way our
city is being managed by Mayor Stephenson and our
Republican majority on council. The Community De-
velopment Revenue Sharing program places a great
responsibility on citizens and the leadership of our
city. We must spend this money wisely, through pro-
grams that will benefit the people and the city as
a whole. Our Republican majority on council have
demonstrated their ability to deal responsibly with fin-
ancial matters and, through well conceived programs,
are trying to bring about a better quality of life in
Ann Arbor. As your councilperson, I will continue to
represent sound spending and integrity in local govern-
ment.
THE FIRST WARD has upcoming projects that will
affect its citizens: a new community center; de-
velopment of Bird Hills and Barton Park; and a share
in the Community Revenue Program. Of concern to our
senior citizens is the placement of the Community.
Center and of parents in the community, when it will
be completed and what it will house. There are con-
cerns we need to work on together to arrive at the
best possible solutions for all. Again, we
come to the Community Development Revenue Sharing
program. The Citizens Committee on Community De-
velopment has suggested various ways of spending
this money. I feel we in the First Ward need a good
share of this money to spend in areas such as hous-
ing, community service, and public works. If elected,
I will strive for a justified distribution of money given
through this program.
WE HAVE LONG needed a managed growth policy
for our city as suggested by the city administrator.
Without such a tool we've experienced difficulty when
developers,want to build a project which meets zoning
designation, but is undesirable to local residents. I
would concur with Mr. Murray - a policy of this
nature is overdue. But it must be a policy which meets
community needs and offers community input.
Since this is my first endeavor in politics, I am
lacking in political experience. However, I feel I pos-
sess the ability and energy to represent the needs,
concerns, and the attitudes of the citizens of the First
Ward. I represent no special interests other than those
of concerned citizens.
Liz Taylor has just completed a two-year term of
office ds Washtenaw County Commissioner from the
15th district. She served as chairwoman of the Ways
and Means Committee, Budget Committee, the Grants
Subcommittee, and the Education and Social Services
Committee. She has a master's degree in social work
and is currently employed as a research associate at
the Institute for Social Research.
A NN ARBOR NEEDS effective r-t -otrrl We need
a rent control ordinance which can be readily
adjusted to meet 'the real needs of our community.
We need a rent control law that will protect the ten-
ant, not destroy the rental housing market upon which
the tenant depends.
Despite all you hear to the contrary, rent control
by itself will not solve all our housing problems. Other
measures apart from rent control must be used. As
a member of a Democratic majority on City Council I
will vote to pass a fair rental practices ordinance. Such
an ordinance would contain rent control provisions, but
it wouldn't stop there.
PUBLIC UTILITIES which provide important com-
munity services should be controlled by the public. Un-
der private ownership cable TV service has steadily
eroded until it now seems likely that it will be taken
over by a West Coastconglomerate. The city should
acquire the cable system and operate it as a public
utility.
I support carrying out a feasibility study to deter-
mine whether municipal ownership of electrical utili-
ties is a practical alternative for Ann Arbor. Municipal
utility companies have a long history in this country,
and they have traditionally provided power at cheaper
rates than commercial utilities.
POLICE-COMMUNITY relations must be based on
mutual trust and understanding. This cannot be ac-
complished by setting up a new bureaucratic review
board, which will be only one more barrier between
the police and the community. Police officers should
be put on foot patrols, especially in the central city
area. Their physical presence helps to prevent many
of the street crimes which now occur in those areas.
When the community and the police come to know
one another through personal contact rather than
through the windshield of a prowl car, they begin to
respect and understand one another. This is the only
atmosphere in which real community control of the
police can occur.
Dsay Care:
The spirit is willing, 1but...
AY CARE IS an important con-
cern - one which should receive
the city's responsibile attention and
support. But that element of respon-
sibility is lacking in the well-intend-
ed, though poorly drafted, City Char-
ter Amendment calling for municipal
funding of local, non-profit day care
centers.
The Daily cannot endorse the pro-
posal because of its grossly ambigu-
ous wording and lack of stringent
safeguards with respect to the disper-
sal of funds.
However, should this measure be
voted down, as we hope it will, City
Council must move expeditiously to
enact an effective plan to financial-
ly support the worthwhile projects
carried on by the centers,
The amendment calls for alloca-
tion of at least 1.7 per cent of all city
revenues to child care. Because the
wording is sloppy, this could mean
that as much as $565,000 would be
spent on day care - more than twice
what was originally intended.
While this figure may well be equit-
able, fixing budget allocations via a
charter amendment is a poor prece-
dent to establish - leaving the door
open to similarly rigid funding for
such agencies as the police depart-
ment, which might not be deserving
of the suggested monies.
. Likewise, skimming the 1.7 per
cent off the top of all city income
creates mounds of bureaucratic red
tape, especially with regard to state
and federal grants which generally
must be used in their entirety for
very specific purposes other than day
care. Thus, compliance with the
amendment would require diversion
of funds from other projects to day
care in an amount equivalent to 1.7
per cent of those grants.
Aside from this jumble of paper-
work ,a most disturbing aspect of the
proposal is its insufficient control
over the money once it has been dis-
pursed. There are few guarantees the
funds will be spent either wisely or
efficiently by the day care center ad-
ministrators.
No one within city hall - neither
members of the administration or
City Council - will be able to moni-
tor the use of the nearly $600,000
that would be provided if the amend-
ment passes.
In summation, the day care
amendment is a case of righteous in-
tent obscuring faulty implementa-
tion. While action in and of itself is
important, that alone is not enough
-the effort must be viable and ac-
countable.
Second Ward
Carol
Jones:
Democrat
Robert
McDonoug h
Republican
Frank
Shoichet:
HRP
Door-to-Door:
Uneaging the electorate
THE REPUBLICAN - DOMINATED
City Council, by drastically cut-
ting back the number of student vot-
er registration sites, has proven the
urgent need for the success of the
door-to-door voter registration ballot
issues
GOP council members, in a fit of
vengeance after discovering few Uni-
versity students vote Republican,
knocked the Fishbowl and the Public
Health Library out of commission as
registration sites.
The Daily strongly endorses the
voter registration proposal and urges
anyone in favor of citizen participa-
tion in the democratic process to vote
for it.
The ballot issue, if passed, would
require the city clerk to appoint up
to two per cent of the voters in the
last mayoral election -some 670 neo-
ple -- as volunteer deputy registrars
who could then set up voter registra-
tion sites anywhere in the city and
conduct door-to-door registration.
OREGON AND CANADA HAVE reg-
istration systems similar to the
charter proposal and have proven
the system viable and free of "elec-
tion fraud," which local opponents
charge would happen under door-to-
door.
The entire system would be under
careful examination by the city clerk
and in no way could be "conducive to
election fraud," as Attorney General
Frank Kelley claims.
WITH REGISTRATION sites open
only from nine to five working
people find it difficult to leave their
jobs in order to register; the elderly
and invalid can hardly be exoected
to maka their wav to snm ristant
Carol Jones is 21 years old and a life-long resident
of Ann Arbor. She received her B.A. in Urban Studies
last August from the U-M Residential College and is
presently working towards a Masters Degree in Public
Policy.
I'M OFTEN asked why I'm a Democrat instead of
HRP. The answer is simple. I believe the. Demo-
cratic Party in Ann Arbor has done more, and is
able to do more for the people of this city than either
of the other two parties.
Democrats produced the Human Rights Ordinance
and the Human Rights Department, a stronger Housing
Code with daily fines for violations, the Ann Arbor
Transportation Authority bus system, the first mari-
juana ordinance.
Democrats began city funding for child care on May
5, 1969, barely four weeks after taking control of the
city for the first time in 40 years.
FOR MONTHS, HRP had been telling us that the Day
Care Charter Amendment would cost $300,000. Now
we find it's closer to $600,000 because Frank Shoichet
blew the wording. I used to think the amendment would
pass, and I still hope it does, but HRP and Shoichet's
ineptness may have killed its chances.
What has HRP done for tenants? Two charter amend-
ments. Correction, two charter amendment proposals.
If HRP really wanted to enact rent control, as I do,
they wouldn't have done it in this partisan way. That's
what I mean when I say HRP chooses issues for their
political exploitability.
. ANOTHER ISSUE where Democrats have led is
voter registration. It was a Democratic-sponsored law-
suit that gave students the right to vote where they
go to school. Democrats initiated door-to-door registra-
tion in 1971. Meanwhile, HRP was writing another pub-
Bob McDonough is a graduate student in the Business
School. He has resided in Ann Arbor for five years,
during which time he has been active in University and
Community service. He is a Resident Advisor at Couz-
ens Hall.
SpHE APRIL 7 election .will decide the course of gov-
ernment in the City of Ann Arbor during the last
half of this decade. The question at hand for the
second ward voters is whether they will choose as their
city councilperson a member of the Democratic Party,
a party currently scandalized by its recent attempt
to subvert the electoral process in the second ward
with its own brand of political dirty trickery, a repre-
sentative of the HRP, a party which seems unable to
muster support even within its own ranks with its
headline grabbing radical rhetoric, or this candidate,
a newcomer to city politics who has had his fill of the
irresponsible shenanigans of the Democratic and hu-
man Rights parties in the second ward.
IT IS TIME for a change in the second ward. While
my opponents, if elected, will be working toward the
furtherance of their own partisan ambitions, I will be
pushing for what I consider vital changes in the focus
of services provided by the City of Ann Arbor for its
people. The City must demonstrate effective support
for the consumer. To this end we must enact measures
which will give a break to the consumer at the super-
market, at the auto repair shop, when buying or
renting a home, when fighting a public utility, or trying
to convince a giant corporation that consumer sov-
ereignty is not just a concept on the pages of econ-
omics textbooks, but is a viable force in the market
place. The City should encourage and lend aid to
the consumer who wishes to establish consumer co-
operatives so as to be better able to confront those
who would otherwise be able to take advantage of the
unsuspecting individual.
IT IS ALSO time that Ann Arbor establishes itself
.. Frank Shoichet, 25, of 633 Church Street, IERP's
Second Ward candidate, wil graduate in May from
the University of Michigan Law School. A past Mich-
igan Democratic Party Political Reform Commission
member, he wrote this years Day Care and Rent con-
trol funding ballot proposals, and has authored several
other human service oriented proposals over the past
three years. In 1973, he was narrowly defeated in a bid
for the Second ward seat.
AS A SECOND WARD candidate, housing is my first
concern. In America today, 90 per cent of new
residential construction is beyond the price range of
64 per cent of the people. Even in 'prosperous' Ann
Arbor the 'free enterprise' system has failed.
To protect the immediate interests of tenants, HRP
has placed an improvemed rent control program on the
ballot. It meets many of the criticisms levelled at last
year's plan, while toughening restrictions on landlord
abuses. It deserves support.
The most important step we can all take is to
work with the new group revitalizing the Tenants' Un-
ion. Only organized tenant militancy has the political
power to force substantial changes in city and Univer-
sity policy. Mobilizing that power is the most import-
ant element of a rent control strategy.
THE HRP DAY-CARE funding proposal (1.7 per cent
of the city budget) appearing on the April ballot can
be an important step in giving priority to human needs.
The 993 Ann Arbor day care spaces do not meet the
needs of the 2400 young people in single-parent famil-
ies, the 2100 women in the labor force with children
under six, and the people in the 1500 Northwood apart-
ment units that have no day care facility at all.
Manipulating such rules of the game as voter
registration has long been a favorite tactic of those
in nowenre necinll with suc h ritical vonte a rent