4F -Fall 2014

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

4F -Fall 2014 A nn A rbor The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom

Iconic 'Hash
Bash' descends
on Ann Arbor

A ceremonial ribbon at the grand opening of the Blake Transit Center on Fifth Ave. The ribbon was broken by an AAATA bus following a ceremony that featured Rep.
John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Ann Arbor mayor John Hieftje.
Blake Transit Center reopens

Transportation
services aim to serve
as model for state
By ALLANA AKHTAR
Summer Daily News Editor
JULY 9, 2014 - Monday
morning, Ann Arbor residents
joined federal and local
legislators to commemorate the
grand opening of the new Blake
Transit Center on Fifth Avenue.
The Ann Arbor Area
Transportation Authority's
$8.1 million project included
demolition of the previously
existing transit center to build
a 12,019 square-foot facility that
lawmakers and contractors hope
will become a social hub in the
downtown area. In addition,
architects employed sustainable
and eco-friendly initiatives and
designs for the new building.
The center is the first
step in the AAATA's plans to
modernize and increase public
transportation in the area. Ann
Arbor and Ypsilanti passed a
millage early May to include
more night and weekend
bus routes; extend routes
to Ypsilanti and offer more
services for elderly and disabled
passengers.
"Today's grand opening
ushers in a new era for public
transportation in Ann Arbor,"
AAATA CEO Michael Ford
said. "The new Blake Transit
Center represents a unique
opportunity to promote Ann
Arbor as the home of one of

Michigan's effective, efficient,
environmentally-friendly public
transportation services."
The building received
the LEED Gold certification
from the U.S. Green Building
Council for its environmental
excellence, and it also complies
with guidelines required under
the Americans with Disabilities
Act
Some of the environmentally-
friendly features of the building
include the use of storm water
collected from the roof in public
restrooms,heated driveways and
sidewalks to decrease snow-salt
usage and the reuse of materials
from the former transit building
in the new facility.
Contractors and managers
of the center also partnered
with small Ann Arbor-based
and Detroit-based businesses in
excavating and facilitating the
building. Managers chose these
companies under the guidelines
of federal programs devoted
to fostering growth in local
economies and helping minority
individuals and women run
businesses. The center received
$7 million in federal funds
towards the renovation project.
Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.)
spoke at the event on the
importance of mass transit
to help move communities
forward. He said though he loved
to see American automobiles on
the road, mass transit is critical
in helping those that can't afford
their own vehicle.
Dingell also congratulated
the Ann Arbor community for its
achievement, and noted that this

Matt Dubriel holds up a legalize marijuana sign at the 43rd Annual Hash Bash
on the Diag on April 5, 2014.
Despite police penalties for individuals caught
in possession of marijuana, the
promise to uphold University Police adhere to
state laws, even during Hash
state laws, 8,000 Bash.
But interactions were gener-
partcipate in event ally civil on Saturday. Univer-
sity Police made only one arrest
By MAX RADWIN while attendees enjoyed ven-
Daily StaffReporter dors and live music.
This year's Hash Bash, now
APRIL 6, 2014 - Ah, spring in its 43rd year, is not the same
is in the air ... As was something event it was in 1972. Activists
else on Saturday. are fighting the same cause
This year's Hash Bash, an with different tools.
annual celebration of all things "The Internet has democ-
hemp and marijuana, took place ratized the media for us and
on the Diag and Monroe Street. given us tools with which to
Around 8,000 people attended organize," Gholson said. "It's
this year's event, a significant an absolute flood of change
increase over other recent right now. There's no stopping
bashes. it. Legalization is a forgone con-
The number of attendees at clusion."
Hash Bash has increased every Rick Thompson, a contribu-
year since the use of medi- tor to pro-marijuana publi-
cal marijuana was legalized in cations like The American
2009. In 2010 and 2011, nearly Cultivator, The Burn Magazine
5,000 and 6,000 were in atten- and The Compassion Chroni-
dance, respectively. ces, encouraged attendees to
Since 1972, individuals in take pictures with their phones
possession of marijuana in Ani and post the pictures on social
Arbor have only been charged media platforms.
with a small civil-infraction "We're all going to take pho-
fine. But according to Charmie tos of what's going on at Hash
Gholson, the founder of Michi- Bash - areyouready?"he asked
gan Moms United to End the the crowd. "But that's only part
War on Drugs, the rally for total one. Now we Facebook those
legalization remains relevant. photos."
"The direction that this rally Law student Reid Murdoch,
has taken is dramatic," Gholson executive director of Law Stu-
said. "It's always been a smoke- dents for Sensible Drug Policy,
in, it's always been a rally of the collected signatures for state
people, by the people and for Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor)
the people. At this point, we're and 2016 cannabis legalization
no longer strictly on the menu efforts.
regarding our lives and how our "It's a beautiful event," Mur-
legislation impacts it. We're at doch said. "It's the longest-run-
the table. We have our place at ning drug policy event in the
the table." country. I'm just really honored
Thoughthe cityofAnnArbor to be a part of it. It's a cultural
has some of the most lenient tradition."

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) speaks about the importance of transit for the city
of Ann Arbor at the opening of the center on July 9,.2014.

is one step of many to improve
quality of life in the city.
Quoting Churchill, he said,
"It is not the beginning of the
end, it is perhaps the end of the
beginning. More needs to be
done and has to be done quickly."
Ann Arbor Mayor John
Hieftje echoed Dingell's
observations, speaking on the
affordability of public transit
for citizens. He also brought up
the federal funds the AAATA
received to build a new train
station in Ann Arbor.
"I think that this is one of the
best things that we can do for
our city in the future, it helps
everyone, it lifts all boats,"

Hieftje said.
Larry Krieg, Ypsilanti
representative on the AAATA's
board of directors, was in
attendance at the event. He said
'he was excited to see the center
.transform into asocial gathering
site over the next few years and
was proud of the eco-friendly
and user-friendly features of the
building.
"The whole thing is so
accessible to mobility challenges,
that's a very important thing,"
Krieg said. "People say that
if a system, a building or a
transportation system, works
well for disabled people, it'll
work better for everyone else."

I

FOLLOW THE DAILY ON TWITTER: @MICHIGANDAILY

K E R. R Y T O W N
BOOIQ7E ST
Michigan Students:
Want to be a writer or an illustrator?
Start at the 12th Kenytown BookFest
Sunday, September 7
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Ann Arbor Farmers Market
Listen to and meet more than
40 authors and illustrators
in a casual setting
www kenytownbookfestorg

216 N. FOURTH AVENUE
C .4 PEOPLE'S ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN
VERVE FOOD CO-OP ,PHNE (734) 994-9174
-.PEOPLESFOOD.COOPstonetge.ther

I