Page 4-Sunday, April 2, 1978-The Michigan Daily
Here's how we're voting Monday:
V OTERS will have the opportun-
ity tomorrow to strengthen the
weak hand of renters in a housing
market where landlords call most of
the shots and set the prices. All it
will take is for them to vote 'yes' on
two tenants' rights proposals. The
Daily emphatically supports these
proposals.
The first referendum, the "Truth
in Renting Act," would prohibit lan-
dlords from including illegal and
unenforceable clauses in leases and
would rquire them to give tenants a
written notice informing them that
certain clauses they sign may be
illegal, and therefore unenforceable.
Yes'
on housing
The notice would also state that
tenants have specific rights and
obligations not described in their
leases.
One couldn't argue that such a law.
isn't needed in Ann Arbor. An Oc-
tober study by the Public Interest
Research Group of Michigan
(PIRGIM) revealed that of Ann Ar-
bor leases examined, all were found
to contain "illegal, unenforceable,
or abusive clauses."
The idea of outlawing clauses may
seem redundant, but as the PIRGIM
study reveals, many landlords insert
such clauses in their leases and
nothing can currently be done about
it.
The second referendum, entitled
"The Fair Rental Information Act,"
proposes that the city pay for a
tenant's rights booklet consisting of
pr oposals
three sections: one written by im-
partial authors selected by the
mayor, one written by pro-tenant at-
torneys, and one written by pro-
landlord attorneys. All city landlor-
ds would be required to distribute
the booklet to their tenants.
The city already has a tenants'
rights booklet which was revised by
City Council in December. But, the
booklet is far from adequate
because the Republican Council
majority substantially watered it
down.
Whether the three parts of the
booklet will be biased or not should
not negate their importance, as op-
ponents claim. If anything, the dif-
ferent viewpoints would help tenants
better understand the disadvan-
taged situation which they face.
Landlords are often able to take
advantage of the people who rent
from them simply because tenants
are unfamiliar with their rights.
Both proposals, A and B, would give
tenants a better idea of just what
their rights are. We vote yes on
them.
i
Mayor's rac
O N BALANCE, WE think Albert Wheeler
deserves another year as mayor of Ann Ar-
bor.
Wheeler's basic humanism and commitment
4o the needs of the disadvantaged and poor
recommend him for re-election. While he has not
been 100 percent effective in the mayor's chair,
the values he represents make him preferable to
his opponent, Fifth Ward City Councilman Louis
Belcher.
During his three years in office, Wheeler has
worked hard in the areas of human rights and
'social services. The Human Rights Ordinance
recently approved by City Council is one of the
most comprehensive civil rights bills in the
nation, protecting many groups not previously
covered by such laws.
Wheeler has continuously pushed for funding
of health care, day care, legal aid and other
social service programs serving low income Ann
Arborites.
He is active in both the National League of
Cities and in National Conference of Mayors and
has valuable connections in the federal gover-
nment. He is extremely knowledgeable about
U.S. urban prpgrams and knows how to get Ann
Arbor the largest amount of money for which it is
eligible.
,There are, however, some weaknesses in the
Wheeler record. One has been his inability to
communicate or cooperate with the Republican
majority on city Council. Sometimes, he has
used the lack of Democratic control of Council as
an excuse for lack of legislative initiative.,
* Wheeler has also displayed excessive caution
on some issues, particularly in the area of
housing development. In general, though, the
mayor's caution has been well-directed, and has
.Led to needed.changes. in development
proposals.
First Ward:
I N THE First Ward, with two less-than-exciting
major party candidates, our endorsement goes
o Democrat Susan Greenberg, but with some
reservations.
Greenberg will, we feel, do a much better job
on Council than incumbent Wendell Allen,
despite the vagueness of her plans for the job.
Despite promises of independence, Allen has
shown herself a near-perfect party line voter on
City council. He has filled Council meetings with
sound and fury of rhetoric, but offered few con-
structive ideas.
Write-in candidate Bruce Edwards, though he
has little chance of winning, has offered some in-
novative ideas and would be an asset to City
Council. He is running as a candidate of the
Socialist Party, USA.
. In the past, the presence of Human Rights Par-
ty members on the Council has helped push
through important progressive legislation, such
as social service funding, softer marijuana
penalties and gay rights legislation. A new third
party voice on Council could bring a breath of
fresh air to City Hall.
However, this year, the first priority should
be getting Allen out. Greenberg offers enough of
an alternative to the incumbent to justify our en-
dorsement and your vote. This is especially so
because she can win, and probably will win in the
Second Wa
HE DAILY supports Earl Greene in his
Council seat.
The soft-spoken Democrat has proven over his
last two years on Council to be a responsible and
effective legislator. He has, for the most part,
refrained from the petty bickering and name-
galling practiced by some of his colleagues.
Greene possesses a vivid understanding of the
often complex issues facing the city. He acts as a
buffer during meetings, bringing the rambling
Council back from insignificant partisan nit-
picking to the true issues at hand.
Although not one of the great innovators on
Council, Greene usually makes it his business to
thoroughly investigate the many proposals, at
!h.n ta ma a n ann in n et hnA nhi+ him I4fn'
e: Wheeler
Republican Louis Belcher has also shown a
strong commitment to the city and has some
good ideas, particularly on how to encourage
new housing development.
But Belcher has, at times, been too clever,
slightly shifting his emphasis before different
audiences without actually contradicting him-
self.
Furthermore, Belcher has spent much of his
time on council supporting programs with which
we disagree such as his pornography ordinance
and the spending of Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) money for street repair.
Nothing in his campaign has led us to believe
that he would not, if elected, still work for these
things.
So while we don't feel we can say Wheeler has
done a truly great job in his, three years, his per-
formance has generally been good. We feel he'
deserves your vote.
If he gets the backing of a Democratic
majority on Council, then Al Wheeler will have a
better change to develop programs on which he
has been stymied for his first three years.
Third Ward: Mitchell
D EMOCRAT PATRICK Mitchell and Repub-
lican Clifford Sheldon are about as close as
two candidates from different parties can be on
many of the issues that will effect their Third
Ward constituency. Voters in the large, solidly
Republican, east side ward will have to base
their decision Monday on the few specific
questions over which the candidates have split:
Support for the much needed housing referenda,
road improvement, and parking structures for
the downtown area.
Democrat Mitchell has shown a more respon-
sible attitude in his stand on these and other
issues he has addressed. He has offered several
new proposals in the areas of funding for road
along with his opponent, a more constructive
Council in which compromise might more often
accomplish goals.
Mitchell's positions on several other important
issues are more logical and humanistic than
those of his opponents. Mitchell supports the two
housing referenda unequivocally; Sheldon does
not want the city charter to "become less clean."
Mitchell would not pull funds from other
programs indiscriminately for- road repair and
offers several creative initiatives for possible
funding sourQes; Sheldon would support some
Fourth War
T HIS ELECTION marks the return of an
old, experienced and very capable friend
to city politics - LeRoy Cappaert. Cappaert's
record and present positions on a wide range of
crucial city issues makes him the-strongest can-
didate on the ballot.
It is experience that distinguishes his well-
thought out plan for city management from the
vague and impractical administrative policy of
his Republican opponent David Fisher. While
Fisher expresses a genuine concern for the
people of the city one must ask who he defines as
"the people," since he favors neither ballot
referenda and advocates the use if the CDBG
revenue for parking facilities.
Cappaert on the other hand, served on council
from 1964 to 1970. He managed Albert Wheeler's
campaigns for mayor in 1975 and 1977 and would
probably work well with the mayor on Council.
Cappaert's tireless struggle for the rights of
the City's populace was reflected by efforts that
were instrumental in getting the city's open
housing policy law passed in the mid-60's.
Cappaert has also acknowledged the need for
improvement in many of the social services of-
fered by the city. He feels the easing of human
pain should logically have priority over the con-
struction of downtown parking structures or con-
structing new roads.
F1f Ward
shifts in funding which would deprive social ser-
vices programs of there already. minimal
revenue. Mitchell is a staunch advocate of
perimeter parking with improved transit to
bring downtown employes into the area; Sheldon
supports construction downtown to park more
cars. Sheldon's position on downtown parking
would further constipate the already bloated
traffic flow downtown.
Of the two, Mitchell deserves your vote.
'd: Cappaert
Greenberg-
But what is most encouraging about Cappaert
is his candor and his ability to contemplate one
step at a time toward achieving goals like
repairing the city's streets. He offers no gran-
doise political rhetoric because experience has
taught him grandoise schemes are not feas-
ible in tight economic times.
Cappaert's program is humanistic. Yet it is
founded in the economic realities of the time. We
find him a very strong candidate and deserving
of your vote tomorrow.
predominantly liberal ward.
Goldberg has shown the desire to deal with
the big issues that affect the First Ward -
housing, social service needs and transporation.
Her priorities reflect the ward's and the city's
real needs.
Her past experience with the League of
Women voters and other community groups
demonstrates her commitment to Ann Arbor.
While Greenberg still has some homework to do,
we feel she will make a good City Council mem-
ber.
rd: Greene
.
"
Goldberg
T HE DAILY endorses Democratic candidate
Joel Goldberg over Republican candidate
James Cmejrek for City 'Council in the heavily-
Republican Fifth Ward.
Not only do we agree with Goldberg's stands
on housing, streets and parking, but we feel that
he would also make an effective legislator on a
council that desperately needs strong voices in
the Democratic camp.
Goldberg is well informed on the issues and of-
fers concrete solutions to pressing city problems.
He has continually voiced his support for
moderate-income housing on the' city-owned
Packard-Beakes land. Specific stands such as
this illustrate Goldberg's ability to transplant
ideas into legislative proposals.
Goldberg's opponent James Cmejrek is
business oriented, stressing the need for more
parking structures in the downtown and the use
of federal CDBG funds for street repairs. We do
not feel these stands are in the best interest of the
people of Ann Arbor.
Although both Goldberg and Cmejrek are new-
comers to city politics, we feel Goldberg's strong
emphasis on human services and support for
moderate and low income housing programs is
commendable. Cmejrek, too, has said that he
favors human services, but his priorities lie with
streets and parking.
Cmejrek is the only Republican candidate who
supports both ballot proposals - although with
Although Cmejrek is a moderate Republican and
could possibly be counted on not to simply vote
straight party lines, we cannot agree with his
pro-business ideology at the expense of
humanistic needs.
Few students) populate the Fifth Ward, but
Goldberg's vote on City Council would establish
student interests in public policy.
Goldberg's chances of winning in Lou
Belcher's home ground are admittedly slight,
but we urge Fifth Ward voters to vote for him.
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