The Michigan Daily-Tuesday,May 1 , -
Council
nixes
storm
windows
By DAN OBERDORFER
City Council voted six to five last
night to defeat a motion which would
have forced landlords to equip rental
units with storm windows during the
winter months.
Councilwoman Leslie Morris (D-
Second Ward), who introduced the
motion, said the action was designed
primarily asa conservation measure.
"IT IS MOST homeowners' intent to
put in storm windows. On the other
hand, there are some landlords who do
not put them in because they do not
have to pay the heat bills--those are
passed on to the tenants," Morris said.
However, Councilman David Fischer
(R-Fifti Ward) argued that forcing
landlords to install the energy-saving
devices would restrict their economic
freedom. He argued that some landlor-
ds might want to hang heavy draperies
for the same purpose.
"I think if we're going to impose lan-
dlords on the people of Ann Arbor," he
said, "they're going to have to be
reasonable. This measure solely states:
'Thous shalt impose storm windows."'
Of the five votes in support of the
measure, four were cast by Democrats.
Mayor Pro Temn Gerald Hell (R-Fifth
Ward) was the only Republican voting
in favor of the motion.
IN OTHER action, Council passed a
resolution to increase sewer rates from
72 to 77 cents per hundred cubic feet of
sludge. Council was also expected to
vote along party lines to adopt a city-
wide punch card voting system which
would replace the lever machines now
in use.
, iiyrn o ooyr' t "SKL
Rainy days and Mondays
From a curbside a pair of umbrellas protect these two as they pause and reflect on the rain: is it ever going to end? Probably
not, as the forecast for tomorrow calls for more of the same.
House to vote on violence bill
By MICHAEL ARKUSH
The Michigan House of Representa-
tives will vote today on whether to
pass a series of bills designed to give
police and the courts greater power to
deal with domestic violence. .
The bills, introduced last September
by Rep. Connie Binsfeld (R-Maple
City), have undergone several amen-
dments during three readings before
the House. Most sources close to the
legislature expect the House to over-
whelmingly pass the bills and im-
mediately send them to the Senate.
"IEXPECT we will easily pass these
bills because they present a better
method to use when dealing with
domestic violence," said Rep. Perry
Bullard (D-Ann Arbor).
Domestic violence is violence com-
mitted by one sex against a peson of the
opposite sex, wither while they are
living together in the same residence or
sometime after they are separated.
Binsfeld claims more police officers
are -injured and kiled while comating
domestic violence than any other
crime.
The seven bills deal differently with
various problems encountered in trying
to stop domestic violence.
ONE BILL would enable police to
arrest suspected perpetrators of
domestic violence without acquiring a
search warrant. This would empower
police officers to arrest anyone who
they believe is initiating the violence
when there is "probable cause that
beatings occurred or an imminent
danger that physical assault will hap-
Spen." Binsfeld explained that this bill
See HOUSE; Page 6
today
A hedonist's haven
Plato's Retreat, a New York club "for couples
only," may be opening in Washtenaw County. Larry
Levenson, owner of the club for "free thinking, free
living" people, says he's negotiating witha
Washtenaw real estate company to open a franchise
in the Ann Arbor area. The Manhattan retreat of-
fers disco dancing, a pool, and "The Mat Room"-a
room carpeted with thin mattresses and restricted'
to couples. Maybe City Council would consider ren-
ting the old fire station to Levenson.
Happenings.. ..
... if you're a little kid, or just a kid at heart,
head over to the Youth Deportment of the public
lbraryat 2 pm. for readings and song from Hansel
and Gretel.
Who turned out the lights?
They say you can't fight City Hall, but electrical
contractor Thomas Oles of Baltimore, Maryland
begs to differ. When the city refused to pay him the
$6,400 he claims he is owed, he removed the street
lights beipstalled, and is holding them for ransom.
Oles says he has a practice of repossessing his
wares when customers don't pay their bills, and he
won't change his policy for.the city. "I did it out or
pure, utter frustration with our glorious 'charm
city,' " he said. "If the city honors its committmen-
ts we can put the lights back in half a day." The city
claims is it being overcharged, and remains
adamant about not paying, so the streets will, for
the time being, remain lightless.
'Open reft wide and say ahhh'
How do you operate on a 400-pound gorilla with a
toothache? Quickly, and while he's under
anesthesia, as Dr. John Schulte has learned. Schulte
spent 45 minutes looking between. the pried-open
jaws of Hathri, a 15-year-old gorilla at the Cincin-
nati Zoo who had broken off a portion of his tooth
while romping in the zoo's new gorilla exhibit. "I
was OK, until he started coming out of the
anesthesia," Schulte, a second-year dental resident
at the Children's Hospital said. "Since you're
talking abeut a 400-500-pound gorilla, naturally I
became a little apprehensive. It certainly was a
unique experience." The gorilla reached out and
grabbed a zoo attendant, but he was still too
groggy to do any harm.
On the outside ...
Today's weather should surprise you-rm again.
Skies will be mostly cloudy, and we can expect rain
in the morning and dank drizzle the rest of the day.
Tonight's low will be 50, and Wednesday will feature
more of this same depressing weather. P.S. I don't
know what it means, but yesterday on my way, to
work I saw an old guy, surrounded by all kinds of
animals, building a ship.