Cookies for tomorrow’s election poll workers. Recipe with my kid’s annotations.

On this day 7 years ago I asked neighborhood kids to write to their councilmembers in response to proposed crosswalk changes and one CM admitting she doesn’t always yield to pedestrians. Cards and drawings were emailed to all CMs so that they could be on the record, forever. #a2council

Primary election party pickles! I’ve made about 15 pounds and another 50 pounds of Korean soy sauce pickles 장아찌 to distribute.

#a2council, please tell me Ann Arbor is at least ahead of Columbus on this? Buckeyes already have us beat on growth, affordability, and diversity.

Harvey J. Miller@mobileharv.bsky.social · last wk.

Over two miles in length! Woot! It’s a start…

Incredible coming home across the new Gordie Howe International Bridge. Thanks, Canada!

Detroit Chinatown Block Party!

Ann Arbor historically responds to growth. In 1852, UM President Bannister moved students out of dorms and into community, leading to a boom building rooming houses that still stand today. This house was a boarding house, then SFH, duplex, currently rental apartments. #a2council

I asked our housing commission director if it's possible to build new public housing with 100% public funding? #a2council candidates who attended heard the same answer and are lying on the doors when they argue it's the preferable approach. youtu.be/OZBJ6iHbUus?...

How does Ann Arbor build affordable housing? - Jennifer Hall, Ann Arbor Housing Commission

YouTube video by Neighbors for More Neighbors A2

youtu.be

Ann Arbor vibes for decades, with the distinct honor of sharing activist Alan Haber’s efforts stopping developments in both Ann Arbor and Berkeley, protesting from his summer home in France. #a2council

Clara Jeffery@clarajeffery.bsky.social · 3w ago

I wrote about these fauxgressives a few years back www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

NYC’s Bastille Day, celebrating the unity of French people, abolishment of feudalism, and this dog costume parade a block or so from Trump Tower. 10/10

Aaah, shared and safe streets with active retail and restaurants. New York City does not mess around!

Excellent overview on how adding “luxury,” market rate housing also brings an increase in lower rent apartments via filtering, touching on debt service and how more supply is not the same as high supply. #a2council xcancel.com/jayparsons/s...

not really fourth of july content but i found thus explanation of affordable housing financing in DC very informative.

Why affordable housing can’t pay for itself

Understand development costs, the financing needed to meet them, and the ever-present “gap.” This is the first in an ongoing series about how affordable housing works.

ggwash.org

Something #a2council candidates should consider as we map out how to finance affordable housing. Construction costs won’t decrease anytime soon, public projects are not exempt from from market costs. open.substack.com/pub/housingi...

The $546,000 Door

Build America, Buy America has the right goal. For affordable housing, it raises costs deals can’t absorb and stalls the homes America needs. Here’s the fix.

open.substack.com

This is amazing work by @justineunderhill.bsky.social: "It turns out when people have to pay the true cost of suburban sprawl themselves, they don't think it's worth it." www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1G3...

This Dirt Road Explains the 'American Dream' Scam

YouTube video by Justine Underhill

youtube.com

Showing up for LGBTQ+ families means you rally electeds and pay for catering. Stay hydrated, eat your greens and proteins. Fortify yourselves for the fight ahead.

I give annual donations to AAPS social work offices. 25% of students qualify for free-reduced lunches, same stat for decades. Redlined families need help avoiding evictions to car repairs. Denying a housing crisis means you haven’t spoken to a social worker for awhile. www.cbpp.org/research/hou...

Nearly 3.7 Million People at Risk of Losing Needed Rental Assistance to Harsh Time Limit and Work Requirement Proposal

As many as 3.7 million people would be at risk of losing their rental assistance under the proposed rule. Many of them could face eviction and homelessness as a result.

cbpp.org

So proud of my other half for this recognition. www.detroitnews.com/videos/news/...

Dug Song, Michiganian of the Year honoree

Dug Song is a champion of funding equity and inclusion causes.

detroitnews.com

Skillman Foundation’s board retreat in Lansing, in our state capitol, where I could finally share how the architect also built Denver and Austin’s capitols.

Time to check in on housing agencies struggling with new HUD guidelines that are a departure from the Housing First model AND explicitly erases LGBTQ communities. This puts 40% of CoC funding at risk. #a2council candidates should know this like their own muni budgets. nn4youth.org/2026/06/09/a...

Act Now: Oppose Changes to HUD’s Equal Access Rule

Earmarks are a way that U.S. Members of Congress can request federal funding to be directed specifically to fund projects in their state/district. These funds can bolster and expand our capacity to pr...

nn4youth.org

Thanks to Skillman Foundation for hosting a governance workshop with foundation leaders and board chairs. Song Foundation’s President Khalilah Burt Gaston, was thrilled to work with Carol Goss again. Legend!

Denial is not a river in Egypt. It’s here with #a2council candidates claiming that public housing should only be financed with magical, uncommitted tax dollars. Why pick a fight with our housing commission and all the work they do? www.a2gov.org/media/0ztjtz...

My kid was so excited to spot this poster at school. This was my #a2council priority with ARPA funding. It was a fight, with critics insisting “no one asks for something like this.” Pandemic recovery dollars to those most impacted was the right choice regardless of whether they gave public comments.

A heads up to #a2council candidates insisting on housing policies based on progressive vibes instead of market and financing realities.

Max Dubler 🏳️‍🌈@maxdubler.com · 3mo ago

Follow these six simple steps to turn Chicago into San Francisco:

Delighted to have moderated this panel at a statewide housing conference, BMCC. This is what you get with a Piston’s player’s mortgage program, policy reformer, developer, capacity builder, and philanthropist at the table. www.linkedin.com/posts/michig...

#affordablehousing #michigan #housingsolutions #publicprivatepartnership #buildingmichigancommunitiesconference | Michigan Community Capital

What does it take to build public-private partnerships that actually delivered affordable housing? Leaders from philanthropy, capital, advocacy, and the nonprofit sector shared real-world models and r...

linkedin.com

Philly priorities but alas, no time to stop by the SEPTA museum and gift shop as I usually do.

@joelrash.bsky.social, Flint’s punk legend has hosted youth shows for decades. Show them some love and please join me in thanking Joel.

Heading to Philly for a meeting with family foundations and excited to check out the Southeast Asian weekend market, Maker’s Faire, and a Black-Asian solidarity film festival. Truly the City of Brotherly Love.

Billy Penn at WHYY@billy-penn.bsky.social · 4mo ago

The weekend's just getting started in Philly and we have a list of local events to check out in this gorgeous weather, from film screenings to street festivals and craft experiments and more! billypenn.com/2026/04/13/p...

One of my favorite facts when Ann Arbor residents complain, with confidence, that UM takes up a majority of city land and doesn’t pay taxes. They do pay taxes AND own less than 10% of land in the city, roughly the same square footage as our parks. #a2council govrel.umich.edu/impact-land-...

Impact: Land / Municipality - Government Relations

Community Impact: ~$95 million/year in student discretionary spending 59% of visitors to Ann Arbor come for a reason associated with the University of Michigan ~$28 million in visitor spending per fo...

govrel.umich.edu

My son pays $960/month for a room in a 6 bed, 2 bath student rental with 5 friends. Annual rent is $69.6K, owner pays $15K a year in taxes, updates are lacking, house built before 1978. What again about PE and out-of-state developers? Tin foil hats, tin foil windows. youtube.com/shorts/wrBq1...

Ann Arbor student rental

YouTube video by Linh Song

youtube.com