http://www.svnelson.com Your Voice, Your Ann Arbor Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:37:53 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en   Ann Arbor, October 10, 2008.  Speaking at the Global Urban Symposium, GUS, on the topic of “Macro-Sustainability and Walkable Urbanism,” Christopher B. Leinberger, University of Michigan professor and noted author of “The Option of Urbanism, Investing in  a New American Dream”  declared that urban sprawl caused by unsustainable real estate ... http://www.svnelson.com/2008/10/15/%e2%80%9c700-billion-bailout-last-gasp-of-urban-sprawl%e2%80%9d-christopher-b-leinberger/ Good Evening Mayor Hieftje and Council, My name is Stewart Nelson and I live at 2975 Hickory Lane in Ward 2.        I am here this evening to offer my thanks to Councilmember Rapundalo for his work behind the scenes to modify the developer's plans for 601 Forest. This new plan has ... http://www.svnelson.com/2008/10/07/speech-to-city-council-10-6-2008/ I would like to speak tonight to the possible impact of the mortgage crisis on municipal finance.  In case you have been off the planet for the past two weeks, you no doubt have your fill of the details of the meltdown on Wall Street in the residential mortgage and ... http://www.svnelson.com/2008/10/07/caucus-speech-during-public-hearing-time-10-5-2008/ The Planning Commission tabled the A2D2 code amendments in May 2008 to consider public comments.  Since then, the A2D2 Steering Committee and the Planning Commission have met several times with staff to revise the proposal.  The revised amendments are now available for review (see below).  Changes to ... http://www.svnelson.com/2008/08/27/do-we-need-a-conference-center-downtown-ann-arbor/ I attended City Council  last night.  I relished seeing the expression on the surprised council majority as I walked up to the podium to weigh in on the 25-story building now referred to as 601 South Forest.   I am sure The Council Clique thought I would be off "licking my ... http://www.svnelson.com/2008/08/08/080808-good-luck-to-all/ The "hangover" will probably last a few weeks.... but I know this too will pass. The emotions that you experience losing an election run the gamut from sorrow to anger to jealousy to relief.  I will let go of the negative emotions very quickly as they are "cancerous" and sap your ... http://www.svnelson.com/2008/08/06/the-day-after/ Wow...Up at 5:00 without an alarm!  Then, my wife Jan and I made a mad dash to get  my signs pulled up from around the Ward and distributed out to the 9 polling places.   Nothing to do now but wait.  Sort of like watching paint dry but I can get ... http://www.svnelson.com/2008/08/05/election-day/ I slept pretty well last night.  I guess my personal promise to introduce myself to each resident of the ward has had an added benefit or two.   I have lost 5 pounds and I am sleeping  better despite the nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I ... http://www.svnelson.com/2008/08/04/the-day-before-the-election/ There is no doubt my opponent is running on his resume.  His campaign material shouts it out.  What he won't address is why the Mayor and the Council majority are working so hard to get him elected? Hmmm?  I have been walking all over the ward this last week and ... http://www.svnelson.com/2008/08/02/productivity-perfomance-v-status-credentials/ STRONG   “UN” endorsement ! Some of you will have already seen the AA News endorsement of my opponent in the Editorial Section of the AA News today.  Aside from a poor choice of words, I think that the Editorial staff did a pretty good job of assessing what I stand for ... http://www.svnelson.com/2008/07/24/strong-un-endorsement/