Editorial: Things we’d like to see for Ann Arbor in 2010

Is that too much to ask for? We’d like to think not. In fact, we want more. Here is a mostly serious, but occasionally facetious list of things we’d like to see for Ann Arbor in 2010:

New East Stadium bridges need to be built in 2010. poll by twiigs.com

We’d like to see local government and school districts take a hard look at how they could save money and better serve the public by consolidating operations, and in some instances, by merging. The Lincoln and Ypsilanti school boards will meet next month to discuss the sharing of administrative services. That is one example, but barely scratches the surface. The Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Chambers of Commerce have led the way with their merger. Let the public sector follow suit.

We’d like to see some realization by the public that teacher-bashing won’t solve the school funding crisis, and some realization by teachers that complaining about not being respected isn’t helping either, but meaningful contract concessions would.

Speaking of school funding, we’d like to see state lawmakers provide meaningful reform on important issues like pension costs. We’d also like to see them develop a two-year budget cycle for education so that districts aren’t repeatedly hit with devastating mid-year budget cuts.

In Ann Arbor, we’d like to see city government regain the confidence of its citizens by showing that it’s not only capable of building municipal offices and underground parking decks that people aren’t sure they want or need, but also capable of addressing basic infrastructure needs that have gone neglected. A good start would be new East Stadium bridges and a long-overdue decision on what to do with the Argo Dam.

We’d like to see the City Council be less worried about banning plastic bags and cell phones in cars and bicycles on sidewalks until it’s successfully addressed far more serious issues.

We’d like to see neighbors who are affected by development proposals be given the consideration they deserve. But we’d also like to see neighbors understand that Ann Arbor cannot be hermetically sealed in its current form. Helping shape development is one thing. Reflexively opposing it is another.

We’d like to see the community continue to embrace the concept of shopping local and supporting local merchants.

We’d like to see a serious discussion about closing a portion of Main Street during the summer and turning it into a pedestrian area, similar to Boulder, Colo. We think it’s worth exploring.

We’d like to see genuine progress made this year on creating a true high-speed train service from Chicago to Detroit and on to Toronto with stops at Detroit Metro and Ann Arbor.

We’d like to see other progress in mass transit, including commuter service between Detroit and Ann Arbor, between Brighton and Ann Arbor, and movement on the intriguing idea of an intra-city rail, trolley or aerial tram system between the University of Michigan’s central and north campuses.

We’d like to see state and local government make it a higher priority to improve the condition of our roads in Michigan.

And speaking of roads, we’d like to see 2010 be the year that motorists figure out how to use traffic circles.

OK, that last one may be too much to hope for. But the rest seem reasonable, and progress on any or all of them would move Ann Arbor forward in important ways. Here’s to 2010. Let’s make it a good, productive year.