http://www.svnelson.com Your Voice, Your Ann Arbor Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:57:53 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en If tomorrow is like previous election years we will have a hard time getting 30% of the registered voters to get out and vote.   If I had my way it would cost each voter $50 if they missed an election.  There is no excuse for not voting. http://www.svnelson.com/2010/08/02/dont-forget-to-vote-tomorrow-on-aug-2nd/ There is a finite amount of irresponsibility that can exist in a family and if one family member hogs it all the rest of the family members will become more responsible to balance the equation. http://www.svnelson.com/2010/02/28/irresposibilty/ Have you listened carefully to any young professional answer questions  lately?  It used to be that when a speaker paused to catch their breath or gather their thoughts the most popular expression was---"Umm--I am glad you asked that question, Stew!"  Now days, we are most like to  hear--"So--I am glad ... http://www.svnelson.com/2010/02/27/so-the-new-umm/ After losing my campaign for Ann Arbor City Council in 2008 (by a landslide) I started looking around for other ways that I could become more involved in my community.   In addition to joining Ann Arbor Rotary and working with three local non-profit organizations that I deeply admire, I have ... http://www.svnelson.com/2009/12/13/the-reward-of-giving-goes-to-the-giver/ I listened carefully to NPR Commentator, award winning journalist and educator--Jack Lessenberry's speech to my Rotary Club on Wednesday.   With witty and sometimes snarky language,  Mr. Lessenbery lamented the demise of the print editions in the Newspaper Industry and the lack of substance for the online "free" versions of our ... http://www.svnelson.com/2009/11/27/democracy/ Amazing!  The headlines of the Ann Arbor News broke the bad news today about how the losses in the AA City Retirement Pension Fund may force cuts in services over the next three years.  The worst case scenario that Mr Crawford outlined to the reporter is another example of how disingenuous City ... http://www.svnelson.com/2009/03/18/service-cut-backs-at-city-hall/ I felt like calling the airline pilot that wrote the column in the Other Voices Column in the Ann Arbor News (Friday, March 13). Sol Castell complained about spending money to add 800 ft to the runway.  The pilot while I am sure that he had good intentions, had no ... http://www.svnelson.com/2009/03/13/ann-arbor-airport-runway-extension/ My 21 years in the the Air Force taught me that "Good People" make up for "Bad Equipment" everyday.  The advantage one achieves by having the best of equipment is always fleeting if you don't have the best people using it, so given the choice I will always choose the best ... http://www.svnelson.com/2009/03/08/good-people-or-good-equipment/ I was deeply saddened to see Judy McGovern's column yesterday that broke the news on the proposed layoffs in the Police Department.  During my campaign I asked Police Chief Jones if he could guarantee that when the new building opened he would guarantee that there would not be any layoffs ... http://www.svnelson.com/2009/03/08/police-layoff/ I am sure it will come as no surprise to you that I am here tonight to speak against the proposed police court renovation at Larcom.  I would like to go on record with my concerns about the continuation of this large and mostly unnecessary expenditure.  Let me preface my ... http://www.svnelson.com/2009/02/07/city-council-speech-222009/