more stuff

AMTRAK COMMUTER TRAIN TO DETROIT

Unlike the proposal to start a train service to Brighton, which would encourage sprawl by making it more convenient for sprawlers to get to town, a train from Ann Arbor to Detroit would make living in town more attractive for those who work in Detroit. Even though the former commuter train service was stopped for lack of riders, things may have changed and the proposed train service might just work. If we can get a trial without spending a lot of money it would be worth a trial. Even if it doesn’t work there will be the benefit of bringing some dreamers back to reality.

TAX BREAKS FOR BIG COMPANIES

Bad idea. Even if it works. We have plenty of growth pressure without new companies. Ann Arbor has a lot of attractions. If a company wants to move in it should have the attitude of wanting to contribute to those attractions, not merely exploit them. If it creates jobs it will create school children and should want to contribute to the cost of educating them. It should want to contribute to the park system, not duck out of it by getting a tax break. We need a city council that will just say no to any tax breaks for business.