Top digital cities: Ann Arbor ranks No. 5 in the nation for cities its size

Why doesn't this translate into running a better city government for reduced cost? Machines cost less than people and do not need sick time, vacations, etc. Maybe we are not all that digital yet!

Many citizens have been using certain single-digit hand gestures to rate a2 City government performance of late. . .
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One is a downward-pointing thumb . . . the other is . . .
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Oh well!

The Ann Arbor IT department also won three of the seven statewide "Excellence in Technology" awards at the Michigan Digital Government Summit in October http://www.govtech.com/gt/731590

Once again we hear from the professional gripers who dominate this site. A2 has won 2 awards in just the last day. But never good enough.

Things are bad in Michigan for all governments (people too!). If you look around this state you see that Ann Arbor is doing better than anywhere in Michigan, lowest unemployment, a solid budget compared other cities, (look at Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo if you want to see problems not to mention Lansing or Ypsi, etc.) and the the millage rate has not gone up in 10 years. Get over it.

Ann Arbor is over rated and always has been! I'm not impressed.

I'll be doggone. Who would've ever have known? AWESOME.

Yes, that must be it, overrated. The clever people in Ann Arbor just fool all different agencies that give them awards for a dozen different quality of life measures.

Do you deny climate change too? Are you holding out against evolution?

BTW XMO, it looks like Ann Arbor does run a better government at reduced cost. Take a look at what is happening in Grand Rapids, Troy and Kalamazoo. BIG LAYOFFS AND CUT BACKS.

Yeah, here they call those "retirement packages." Remember the mass exodus of employees with the former City administrator Neal Berlin? He helped write some sweet deals, and then helped himself to the booty, retiring himself.

It looks like we're in one of those periods where being a curmudgeon is considered "smart" or "cool." Well, putting negativity first is a bad habit and reaps exactly the "rewards" it deserves.

It's easy to criticize, so maybe habitual critics are just lazy. When I see a self-identified perpetual critic actually DOING SOMETHING to improve what they're criticizing, then I'll be impressed.

Ann Arbor could be "better" in a lot of areas: but the point of the article is that (for the 2nd time in two days) Ann Arbor is listed among the best at something. Ann Arbor being at the top of so many 'top ten" or "top twenty five" lists is no coincidence: it's the result of a lot of efforts by a lot of smart, dedicated and successful people- over decades of time.

Some say, "Ann Arbor is overrated" -- which begs the question: Compared to WHAT? This statement is just another negative opinion on a culture which is now sooo in love with negativity.
These same people evidently love negative results too: they use it to justify their crappy attitude.

Thanksgiving is a national holiday: I think this year we should all do something (no matter how small or large) to express our thanks for the Big Lucky Break that IS Ann Arbor. We're lucky to have this city in the State of Michigan and those who live here are lucky to be here. If everyone sent in a $10 donation to help the school budget: that would count for something. If everyone sent in a donation equal to what they spend on entertainment in a year: that would be REALLY something. Lets make Thanksgiving for Ann Arbor part of our national holiday - that would put Ann Arbor at the top of the "Most Grateful Citizens List."

Oh-0h: TYPO!?

Top five list:
1. Santa Monica, Calif.
2. Arvada, Colo.
3. Roanoke, Va.
4. Richardson, Texas
4. West Palm Beach, Fla.
5. Ann Arbor, Mich

Eh, I didn't know there are TWO "4s" when counting in order! Do tell!

AND: We maybe should be finding out what these top 1 through 4 Plus 1 are doing to be ranked above Ann Arbor. I notice that cities in Virginia, Texas and (of all places!) Florida are listed ahead of Ann Arbor (and it's the only Michigan city on the list). Even if that was correct: it can't be allowed!

For example: Texas allows the G.W. Bush family to live there: that disqualifies Texas from claiming the title "top" anything! (But then, they also allow about a million illegal aliens to live there to do housekeeping and yard work.)

Dalouie and Tru2Blu76 critiquing the critics, complaining about the complainers, whatever. It's grand comedy.
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Too bad the infrastructure crumbles, the leaves do not get picked up, and the snow is being unplowed at a greater rate.
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In these scenarios, we can take solace that the City has a top rated website. Glad to see our tax dollars put to such great use.