LINH SONG

ANN ARBOR, MI — Ann Arbor is seeking public input on how to implement a new unarmed crisis response program. “I’m looking forward to this careful and compassionate conversation around how unarmed crisis response can serve our community,” City Council Member Linh Song, a member of the city’s police oversight commission, wrote on Twitter this week. Your participation is essential to the program’s success.”The survey seeks to gauge community support for creating an unarmed crisis response team for Ann Arbor and whether people think it would make the community safer and whether people would use the service in situations that aren’t violent or life threatening. It also seeks to gauge support for funding the program longterm through a new tax assessment, with the alternative being reallocating existing city funds. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:Ann Arbor Democrat and Grass Lake Republican differ on abortion, gunsDrawings give closer look at Ann Arbor’s SouthTown development proposalJoin the book brigade, the human chain moving books to new Ypsilanti-area libraryAnn Arbor spent $20K sending over 55,000 mailers about tax proposalAnn Arbor hires new director to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion

No: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Nelson, Radina, Song, Taylor. No: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Radina, Song, Taylor. No: Briggs, Disch, Grand, Griswold, Nelson. Directing staff to look into deer sterilization and resume vegetation studies — 5-6Yes: Disch, Grand, Griswold, Nelson, Song. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:Ann Arbor hasn’t had a Black council member in 15 years.

ANN ARBOR, MI — Ann Arbor council members were united this past month on selecting a new interim city administrator and supporting the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. No: Briggs, Disch, Grand, Hayner, Radina, Ramlawi. Revising ordinance so dogs can be labeled dangerous if they ‘provoke’ others — 6-5Yes: Disch, Eyer, Grand, Griswold, Hayner, Song. Postponing design contract for East Medical Center Drive bridge repair and widening — 9-2Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Griswold, Radina, Ramlawi, Song, Taylor. No: Briggs, Eyer, Griswold, Nelson, Radina, Song.

Local parents and elected officials will hold a discussion about the state of childcare in Washtenaw County on Oct. 29.

No: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Nelson, Radina, Song, Taylor. Putting emergency purchases proposal on November ballot — 9-2Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Griswold, Nelson, Radina, Song, Taylor. Putting proposal on November ballot to require fewer city contracts to go to council for approval — 7-4Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Griswold, Song, Taylor. Raise for City Attorney Stephen Postema — 9-1Yes: Disch, Eyer, Grand, Griswold, Nelson, Radina, Ramlawi, Song, Taylor. Street closures for Mayor’s Green Fair — 9-1Yes: Disch, Eyer, Grand, Griswold, Hayner, Nelson, Radina, Song, Taylor.

ANN ARBOR, MI — Using gay conversion therapy on minors to try to change their sexual orientation or gender identity is now officially banned in Ann Arbor. “So-called conversion therapy is, of course, an abomination,” Mayor Christopher Taylor said. It prohibits professional counseling providers from engaging in or attempting to engage in conversion therapy on a child. Violations can be reported directly to the Ann Arbor Police Department and will be treated as civil infractions punishable by fines up to $500 each day a violation occurs. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:‘This is yesterday’s business.’ Fur sales ban gets Ann Arbor’s 10-0 final OKMixed-use redevelopment proposed across from Ann Arbor’s Amtrak stationWashtenaw, Livingston among fastest growing Michigan counties in census updateThese are the mask plans for Washtenaw County schoolsIn-person learning, child care on minds of Ann Arbor parents in district survey

After reinstating before- and after-school care offerings at Community Day Care earlier in the week, AAPS had projected to offer 280 spots for after-school care at seven elementary schools. No private child care providers responded to the the request, he said. AAPS posted job openings for before- and after-school care on June 30. New postings for youth activity leaders through Rec & Ed have been posted with pay between $14 and $15 per hour. “I’m just trying to be creative as quickly as we can.”READ MORE:Child care among 7 programs Washtenaw County is targeting with $71M from fedsGrowing group seeks solutions to school-aged child care shortage in Ann ArborAs demand grows, Washtenaw County child care providers seek more staff

ANN ARBOR, MI — Concluding the city administrator’s employment for offensive remarks and approving new high-density zoning were two big issues that divided the Ann Arbor City Council in July. High-density zoning for transit corridors — 8-3Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Nelson, Radina, Song, Taylor. Placing ‘best value’ proposal on November ballot — 10-1Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Griswold, Nelson, Radina, Ramlawi, Song, Taylor. Setting a hearing to possibly reprimand Hayner for use of the n-word — 9-1Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Nelson, Radina, Ramlawi, Song, Taylor. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:9-page investigation report details allegations against Ann Arbor city administratorAnn Arbor administrator made plea to keep his job, but it wasn’t enough for councilOver 200 acres by Briarwood Mall may be rezoned for downtown-style developmentCatholic church fights Ann Arbor’s new EV parking requirements and winsBob Johnson, former Ann Arbor councilman and land preservationist, dies at 83

A group of local parents is trying to find a solution for families in need of childcare this upcoming school year.

ANN ARBOR, MI — Ann Arbor City Council members agreed on more things than they disagreed this month. 454-unit apartment development off South Main Street — 7-4Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Radina, Song, Taylor. 2021 Healthy Streets program deployment — 7-4Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Radina, Song, Taylor. $75K Ann Arbor SPARK contract — 9-2Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Nelson, Radina, Ramlawi, Song, Taylor. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:How they voted: Ann Arbor City Council vote breakdown for May 2021Neighbor promises lawsuit against Ann Arbor for approving $100M housing complexAnn Arbor adopts new comprehensive plan to make city streets saferPlans submitted for 561-unit housing development on Ann Arbor’s north sideIllustrator unveils conceptual design for downtown Ann Arbor central park

Dug and Linh Song have launched a new matching campaign to support Packard Health's work within the community.

Allowing existing short-term rentals in neighborhoods to continue — 7-4Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Radina, Song, Taylor. New rule about conduct unbecoming of a council member — 7-4Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Radina, Song, Taylor. $300K for transportation plan implementation study and “quick-build” safety projects — 7-4Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Radina, Song, Taylor. $40K for Center of the City downtown park initiative — 8-3Yes: Briggs, Disch, Griswold, Hayner, Nelson, Radina, Ramlawi, Taylor. $75K for city attorney succession planning — 10-1Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Griswold, Nelson, Radina, Ramlawi, Song, Taylor.

Reducing first-time penalty fine for sidewalk snow removal violations — 10-1Yes: Disch, Eyer, Grand, Griswold, Hayner, Nelson, Radina, Ramlawi, Song, Taylor. No: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Griswold, Hayner, Nelson, Radina, Song, Taylor. $100K for increased bike lane maintenance — 9-2Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Griswold, Nelson, Radina, Song, Taylor. Postponing first reading of rezoning for Valhalla apartment development off South Main Street — 4-7Yes: Griswold, Hayner, Nelson, Ramlawi. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:Ann Arbor councilman stripped of committee assignments for homophobic slurUniversity of Michigan warns it may ‘seek recourse’ against Ann Arbor developmentAnn Arbor sets sights on developing affordable housing at three more locationsProposal would allow over 22,000 homes in Ann Arbor to add accessory apartmentsAnn Arbor homeowner’s $12K sewer backup claim denied in 8-3 council vote

The resolution also condemned white terrorism and white supremacism in all forms, and encourages Asians and Asian Americans in Ann Arbor to report hate crimes and incidents. “It says, ‘we condemn white terrorism and white supremacism in all forms,’” Hayner said. “And I think it can be acknowledged without too much argument that any Asian hate crimes cross all racial and ethnic lines. White terrorism and white supremacism. “To condemn anti-Asian hate, to condemn white supremacy and terrorism, is not to condemn white people,” Song said.

St. Patrick’s Day closure of Main Street for Conor O’Neill’s — 7-4Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Radina, Song, Taylor. Eliminating new council rule that gives council members two minutes to respond to personal attacks (first vote) — 3-8Yes: Hayner, Nelson, Ramlawi. Adoption of full set of amended council rules (first vote) — 10-1Yes: Briggs, Eyer, Disch, Grand, Griswold, Nelson, Radina, Ramlawi, Song, Taylor. Postponing study of cost of supplemental snow and ice removal for pedestrians — 6-5Yes: Eyer, Griswold, Hayner, Nelson, Ramlawi, Taylor. Referring exploration of extra downtown snow and ice removal to Transportation Commission — 7-4Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Radina, Song, Taylor.

ANN ARBOR, MI — The United Way of Washtenaw County has received a $100,000 gift from the Song Foundation, the nonprofit announced in a press release Monday, Dec. 28. The funds from the Song Foundation, which Duo Security co-founder Dug Song and his wife Linh Song founded in 2019, will provide a program so that any year-end donation will be matched for the United Way’s Community Impact Fund. “We are proud to invest in the United Way Community Impact Fund, and encourage others to join the United Way’s efforts to help the helpers, and protect our community at this critical time,” Dug Song said in a statement. Nonprofit agencies and community groups have weathered a surge in neighborhood needs, service requests, increased staffing requirements and operating reserve needs, the United Way said. READ MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:Duo Security founder donates $1M to Washtenaw County small business fundSuspect in Christmas Eve road rage incident found dead inside home, police sayWashtenaw County reports 12 homicides in 2020

First reading of rezoning for Lockwood senior housing development — 10-0Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Griswold, Nelson, Radina, Ramlawi, Song, Taylor. Directing staff to come up with rules to allow continued operation of preexisting short-term rentals — 7-4Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Radina, Song, Taylor. First reading of water rate increases for 2021 — 7-4Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Radina, Song, Taylor. Final approval of water rate increases for 2021 — 8-3Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Griswold, Radina, Song, Taylor. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:How they voted: Ann Arbor City Council vote breakdown for November 2020Drama, censorship and racial slur punctuate last Ann Arbor council meeting of 2020Ann Arbor officials aim to address City Council’s bad reputation in community‘We’re in turbulent waters.’ Ann Arbor faces potential $9M budget shortfallNew Ann Arbor council looks for way to keep Airbnb houses in neighborhoods

ANN ARBOR, MI — November marked the final meeting of Ann Arbor’s old City Council and the first meeting of a new council with five new members. Allowing art commissioners to bid on public art contracts — 7-4Yes: Ackerman, Grand, Griswold, Nelson, Ramlawi, Smith, Taylor. New council committee appointments — 10-1Yes: Briggs, Disch, Eyer, Grand, Griswold, Nelson, Radina, Ramlawi, Song, Taylor. Hayner’s alternate resolution to prioritize transit-oriented development on State Street — 3-8Yes: Griswold, Hayner, Ramlawi. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:A historical look back at the times Ann Arbor mayors flexed their veto power5 new Ann Arbor council members sworn in, here’s what’s on their agendaAnn Arbor council power balance shifts, but latest meeting shows divisions remainHow they voted: Ann Arbor City Council vote breakdown for August 2020How they voted: Ann Arbor City Council vote breakdown for September 2020How they voted: Ann Arbor City Council vote breakdown for October 2020