Women's Day protesters: Ann Arbor's spending on public art shows misplaced priorities
A group of about a dozen men and women in Ann Arbor celebrated International Women's Day on Thursday afternoon by protesting in front of city hall.
Standing in front of a public art sculpture the city recently had installed for $750,000, Ann Arbor resident Odile Hugonot-Haber held up a sign criticizing the expenditure.
"The city spent $1 million on phallic art: SafeHouse is underfunded," the sign read.
"They should think about the art and what it says," she said, adding she's not really offended that the sculpture, in her opinion, has a phallic appearance.
"It's the whole concept of spending so much money on something that is not really good looking in front of that ugly building."
Protesters in front of Ann Arbor's city hall hold up a sign with a reference to Lorena Bobbitt, the woman who gained international notoriety in 1993 when she severed her husband's penis with a knife.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Chelsea Bates, a University of Detroit Mercy biology student who has been working with Occupy Ann Arbor, held up a sign with a reference to Lorena Bobbitt, the woman who gained international notoriety in 1993 when she severed her husband's penis with a knife.
"We have people here who have been sexually assaulted and have been a victim to domestic violence, and what we're basically saying is cut it out or cut it off," Bates said.
Long-time political activist Alan Haber, husband of Odile Hugonot-Haber, said it's important that men stand by women on International Women's Day.
"This is a time particularly for men to realize this unjust system we live in, the patriarchy, and it's time to put our hearts with women and turn this around and make partnerships rather domination," he said, decrying what he believes to be an underfunding of community services.
"You call up SafeHouse, you're in an emergency, there's no room," he said. "And yet people see here's a $1 million piece of sculpture. Where are the priorities?"
Haber held up a a dove-shaped cardboard cutout painted white to symbolize peace. Other signs scatted on the ground nearby carried slogans like "Lock up abusers and rapists, not addicts," and "Never another battered woman."
Sgt. Paul Curtis of the Ann Arbor Police Department stepped outside the city's Justice Center and chatted with protesters at about 4 p.m. He removed several signs the protesters had tied to the public art sculpture, saying signs aren't allowed to be affixed to public property.
"I just gave them some general guidelines for what's permissible when you're out protesting and demonstrating," Curtis told AnnArbor.com. "They're all friendly. No issues."
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
Esperanza Orozco
Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 6:26 p.m.
http://annarborchronicle.com/2012/03/08/fifth-huron-20/ Another related article
Esperanza Orozco
Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 6:23 p.m.
http://www.damnarbor.com/2012/03/international-women-day.html?spref=fb Something that looks related.
Esperanza Orozco
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 10:33 p.m.
The wind on that banner almost knocked me over! The fact is, that in all the organizing we did in the feminist working group, the protest was quite rewarding but this is not the end of our is not here. As the feminist working group of occupy A2 continues to organize you can expect to see more of us!
A2James
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 12:33 a.m.
Lol...so Annarbor.com can post an article that indirectly glorifies male genital mutilation, but I had a simple comment on a protester's apperance get deleted? If only you fixed typos as fast as you moderated comments...
kk
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 4:38 p.m.
Not only vital projects like Safehouse are underfunded, but also shelter for people living in their cars or on the streets are critical needs that should take precedence over such ostentatious shows of wealth. It is the city's responsibility to stand for what it values and make clear to potential donors what its priorities are and where such monies will be gratefully accepted. The city should have the moral courage to "just say no" to these misplaced gifts, signaling its intention to live by its ethics to help first the least among us.
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 10:36 a.m.
It's just amazing: how many uses the $1 million spent on that sculpture could be put to. Why, I imagine every one of those needs & causes might be funded to the extent of 99 bucks each if the total were spread equally. Really, people, this has gotten ridiculous. Why not go after Gov. Ri¢k $nyder's fund he set up to "pay for the expense of being governor"?? I bet it's more than a million dollars - what with supporters like Bill Martin chipping in $25,000 apiece. But we have a real NEEDY governor here! Have some sympathy, doggone it! It's disgraceful: to have any Michigan Republican facing ruin as a mere multimillionaire in a party of and for billionaires!! Well, I guess we can't take his "expense money" away after all. That would be MEAN and short sighted - instead we should melt the city hall sculpture down and sell the metal on the salvage market. Or: use it to stamp our own Ann Arbor coinage which we could spend on all those other more worthy causes! Yeah, that's the ticket! And yes, the sculpture IS phallic: which just means it's 40 or 50 feet TOO SHORT.
Jessie
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.
Great job ladies and gents :) At least someone in this town is standing up for something, not hiding behind a computer screen poking jabs at people who are standing up publicly for what they believe to be injustices!
alan haber
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 7:40 p.m.
the end of my last comment got cut off, maybe too many characters. "...the heart of the story." i do hope readers will give some greater thought to the problems of violence against women, domestic violence, and the frustration in a domination oriented society when people can't get their way, or whatever drives people to abuse others, especially men, who too often think its our right to be on top, and to abuse women, who should know their place. Our commons tasks need to be the creation of a culture of peace and non-violence, for the children of the world, Partnership, cooperation, caring and sharing and generosity are the virtues elevated on international women's day. And as for domestic violence, cut it out...
demistify
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 8:08 p.m.
Cut what out?
alan haber
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 7:14 p.m.
It seems many Ann Arborites lack a sense of humor, in the message from the feminist working group of Occupy Ann Arbor. Complex conjunctions can allow people to avoid the real questions and obsess on the incidental. It may be that women are more likely to see a phallic quality of this art, and it might be quite beautiful with water gushing out the top and flowing down over the blue lights. Myself, i haven't seen the beauty yet, and if i where spending a million for City Hall public art i would put in into the Ann Arbor arts community to produce something of our own creativity and strengthening art in Ann Arbor. But that is not the question. Nor was it the question that the money for this art should instead have gone to Safe House. The women organizing recognition of International Women's Day, knew well the ear-marked character of the funds. They were pointing to the ear-marked character of priorities. That there is violence against women, in Ann Arbor, and there are not adequate protective services. The phallus and its defense is so distracting, that most commenters were able to ignore the fact that brought these women to the front of City Hall. There is violence against women in our town and area and there are not adequate protective services. It is too bad that the article itself did not interview or quote the women organizers of the City Hall demonstration, or cover the main demonstration that continued on the bridge over Washtenaw, dealing with the violence against women in other wars of the world, and the violence of war itself. The reporter did not report the speeches, that the many questions local and global are connected and that "Patriarchy is a problem." "Meet Me on the Bridge" was a women's demonstration going on all over the world in solidarity with women in war torn countries, Congo, Uganda, Afghanistan, Syria, Palestine, Pakistan. The dove was everywhere present. Its a shame the reporter did not get the heart of th
Esperanza Orozco
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 9:18 p.m.
Thank you Alan!
Alan Goldsmith
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 3:54 p.m.
I'll repeat this again: I invite Gale Logan and all of those misinformed folks to call on the Mayor and the City Council to request a written legal opinion for the Ann Arbor City Attorney on the legality of the City Per Cent Art Program. Why won't the supporters of the giant urinal artwork ask for this?
BornNRaised
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:20 p.m.
Way to to ladies. Nice job taking a good message then being so ridiculously radical that you becoming a laughing stock.
BornNRaised
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 3:25 p.m.
Wow... reading that again I can see why you should never type while being distracted. Hey, at least I wasn't driving a car at the time! :)
bedrog
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:52 p.m.
ann arbor unfortunately has a number of individuals who have tainted / diminished quite legitimate messages with their personal over the top exhibitionism. 2 such names pop out of this article and suggest that being stuck in the 60's is a bit "old" ( literally) and unseemly. ( and i speak as a former 60's "semi-rad")
Gale Logan
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 1:43 p.m.
Yes those of us interested in public art followed the conversation you quote, note the word "could". So a small amount of the $$ that used to go for art "could" have come from general fund. This newspaper felt that was small enough to say in an editorial that the general fund was not a factor. After that, council changed the ordinance so that no general fund $$ can go to art, none, ever. So your touting something that "could" have, might have happened but will not ever happen again. h As for the accounting rules set down by the state, that is iron clad. No $$ collected for a special purpose like water and sewer or parks can go for general fund expenses. But the art is part of the project, a concept that is used in over 20 states and many, many cities.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 12:19 a.m.
@Gale Logan: I was at the city council meeting when this happened. It was clear that $50,000 *did* come from the General Fund and there wasn't any doubt about it, nor was anyone hedging. Facts are facts. You asserted wrongly in a post that NO money was spent on public art from the General Fund and got at least 74 people to vote for it by misleading them. Instead of admitting you were wrong, you launch into a defense as to why $50,000 is a "small" amount of money. The city is talented in diverting money away from one of the 59 special purpose funds ("buckets") to have it flow where they want it to go. This is done via "overhead" charges. So much is charged per email account, computer, vehicle replacement, public art, etc. Often these numbers are made too high relative to the actual costs being used and I have learned of several instances over the years where this is true.
MIKE
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 3:51 p.m.
This "newspaper"?
xmo
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
Come on! "This is a time particularly for men to realize this unjust system we live in"
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 1:33 p.m.
Just curious if AA.commie would take so kindly males advocating for violence and indeed mutilation of females like these lovely ladys are doing here? Also, aren't calls for a "specific punishment" ie: cutting off a penis, agains aa.coms rules, or is it OK if it is against males? Are there two sets of books here?
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 12:59 p.m.
@Gale Logan: you are asserting repeatedly so forcefully something which is completely untrue! "During deliberations, city staff confirmed that at least a portion of the public art allocation required from the new municipal building (aka the police/courts building) could be associated with the general fund – about $50,000 out of the $250,000... [it] had [been] argued that general fund dollars were connected to supporting public art at the new municipal building – an idea that had been, until Monday's meeting, poo-pooed by some councilmembers, including mayor John Hieftje, who had said no general fund money had been used for the public art program." Read it, an weep, Ann Arbor. Quote from <a href="http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/11/25/initial-ok-less-art-money-bigger-greenbelt/" rel='nofollow'>http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/11/25/initial-ok-less-art-money-bigger-greenbelt/</a>
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 11:53 p.m.
@Gale Logan: In my world if $50,000 goes "missing", that's a big deal, but you think it's nit picking. Are you that rich? I was at the city council meeting when this happened. It was clear that $50,000 *did* come from the General Fund and there wasn't any doubt about it.
Gale Logan
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 7:18 p.m.
As above, your nit picking. $50,000 "could" have come from the general fund but not for sure. Anyway, it doesn't matter, the ordinance was changed to mandate that NO money from the general fund goes to art. Thus, it could absolutely not be used to pay for general fund expenses like police or fire or human services.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 1 p.m.
"an weep" should be "and weep". Sorry. Sigh.
motorcycleminer
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 12:47 p.m.
Nice big pair of cardboard scissors at the base of that joke might look nice.....
Carole
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 11:46 a.m.
Gale - in my opinion, it was stated that the city of Ann Arbor Council decided to take a small percentage of the art funds from all of the other funds, i.e. streets, etc. and that is how it was established. I am not aware of any state mandate that all cities have art funds -- if that is the case, the state can pay for the art.
Alan Goldsmith
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 9:55 a.m.
I invite Gale Logan and all of those misinformed folks to call on the Mayor and the City Council to request a written legal opinion for the Ann Arbor City Attorney on the legality of the City Per Cent Art Program. Repeatedly, the Mayor and Council have dodged this request and one can't help but think it's because they already know the answer they'll get from informal, under the table verbal requests already. I know, two hundred people showed up for the phallic 'dedication' where the Mayor, unreported by AnnArbor.com babbled about 'haters'. Sounds like he is the one who hates legal opinions, hates anyone who disagrees with him (see his failure to reappoint some people to the DDA who aren't in lock step with his views) and would hate to confirm legal questions about the program because he already knows. Enough of the 'buckets' myth!
shepard145
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 3:47 a.m.
When is Men's day? LOL
Usual Suspect
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
In April when the new Three Stooges movie comes out.
MIKE
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 5:29 a.m.
Didn't you hear?, Every day is Mens Day!!
Gale Logan
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:53 a.m.
Except...The accounting rules set up by the state mandate that none of the money that goes toward art could legally be spent on Safe House or the shelter or the police or the fire department because none if it came from the general fund. The money in the art fund came from dedicated funds like water and sewer fees. The city would be breaking the law if they spent it on something not related to the project and fund from which it came. Yes, it could have been used to build a little longer sewer line (less than 1% longer because it's1% up to a max of $250,000) but again, not for a general fund expense. Believe it or not, there are people who love it. About 200 showed up at the dedication, a very happy event.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 12:32 a.m.
@Gale Logan: I was at the city council meeting when this was discussed and the truth finally came out. From what was said that night it was clear that $50,000 *did* come from the General Fund and there wasn't any doubt about it. In my world if $50,000 goes "missing", that's a big deal, but you think it's "nit picking". I was a scholarship student and my family struggled to find the money to keep me in college between what I could earn and what they could give me. I understand how much money $50,000 is. As a bank CEO I have literally turned people's lives around with a $1,000 gift and a $2,500 loan. Are you that rich that this amount of money doesn't register as being important to you?
Gale Logan
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:38 p.m.
Seems like you are nit picking. Some general fund $$ "could" have been mixed in. But after that was discovered, the ordinance was changed so that absolutely NO general fund $$ go to art. Even this newspaper felt that was negligible in an editorial. Note my post further down the main thread.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 12:22 p.m.
"an weep" should be "and weep". Sorry. Sigh.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 11:48 a.m.
@Gale Logan: you are asserting repeatedly so forcefully something which is completely untrue! "During deliberations, city staff confirmed that at least a portion of the public art allocation required from the new municipal building (aka the police/courts building) could be associated with the general fund – about $50,000 out of the $250,000... [it] had [been] argued that general fund dollars were connected to supporting public art at the new municipal building – an idea that had been, until Monday's meeting, poo-pooed by some councilmembers, including mayor John Hieftje, who had said no general fund money had been used for the public art program." Read it, an weep, Ann Arbor. Quote from <a href="http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/11/25/initial-ok-less-art-money-bigger-greenbelt/" rel='nofollow'>http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/11/25/initial-ok-less-art-money-bigger-greenbelt/</a>
Steve Hendel
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 11:37 a.m.
...which raises the question: if it is wrong, legally, to use the dedicated art funds to put an extra cop on the street, then WHY is it ok to use dedicated (say) sewer funds to erect a sculpture at City Hall?
Gale Logan
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 4:25 a.m.
I probably would pay for a stuffed moose. I hunt myself although I have never gone after anything that big.
jcj
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 4:16 a.m.
OK we get it! You are all for art no matter how mundane! "Believe it or not, there are people who love it." Well believe it or not there are people that love hunting! But we don't ask you to pay for a stuffed moose.
halflight
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:51 a.m.
"The city spent $1 million on phallic art: SafeHouse is underfunded," the sign read. I bet the sign didn't explain WHY SafeHouse is underfunded. "A federal lawsuit was brought against SafeHouse Center, a Washtenaw County shelter for sexual abuse and domestic violence victims, alleging that the facility violated federal laws related to its financial disclosures. The suit claimed money from federal grants that were channeled through the state and given to SafeHouse between 1992 and 2003 to provide services to its clients. The suit stated that the nonprofit agency did not have proper documentation of the funds. Sources claimed that in 2005, Susan McGee, the former director of SafeHouse, admitted in federal court that she filed a false audit in 2001 to hide that the agency was behind in paying its payroll taxes. McGee pleaded guilty to filing a false report. In court two years ago, McGee said no other certified public accountant had audited the agency's statements since 1991. As part of a settlement reached, Barbara Niess, current director of SafeHouse, stated that the organization will repay $483,856 over 25 years to the state to settle the case." <a href="http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/settlements/10310/fund-documentation.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/settlements/10310/fund-documentation.html</a> If you mismanage federal funds for years, and end up with a half million dollar judgment agianst you, people are not so quick to give you money. You may not like the public art, but at least they can tell you how they spend the money.
Barbara Niess May
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 3:31 p.m.
In addition to this, SafeHouse Center would like to also state that since the incident caused by the previous executive director, completely new leadership (board and staff) has been in place which has made certain that all laws and regulations have been followed. We appreciate the support we receive from our local community and continually seek funding to enhance the programs for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. For more information, please see our website at <a href="http://www.safehousecenter.org" rel='nofollow'>www.safehousecenter.org</a>. Barbara Niess-May, MPA, MSW Executive Director SafeHouse Center
halflight
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:54 a.m.
Oh, and Ms. Hugonot-Haber and her sensibilities had better avoid Washtenaw Avenue in Ypsi. A monument to the Patriarchy!
smokeblwr
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:40 a.m.
What is their position on the giant hole in the ground for the underground parking garage. Probably for it. If you know what I mean.....
B2Pilot
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2 a.m.
I may not agree with all of the occupy protests but i do agree this is a symbol of arrogance. Don't be fooled by D behind their name. I got your back sis
paul
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 1:58 a.m.
If it turns out that the sculpture is a phallic symbol, they might have a better turnout on Pride Day.
Denise Heberle
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 9:24 p.m.
what? really - what are you trying to say?
antikvetch
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 1:45 a.m.
"A group of about a dozen...." "about"? I know it can be difficult to count the size of a LARGE crowd, but...
Goofus
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 1:23 a.m.
Nice angle for protests. A2's spending on public art are definitely misplaced and idiotic priorities.
jcj
Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 12:59 a.m.
While I agree the "art" is useless and safe house is probably underfunded. Their chosen way to protest will be as effective as occupy Ann Arbor was. More interested in drawing attention to themselves than a constructive plan.
grye
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 11:18 p.m.
I've been saying that ever since I saw the first picture of that hunk of metal. This is greatest "art erection" ever commissioned by the City of Ann Arbor.
Richard Wickboldt
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 11:11 p.m.
I wonder if there is an International Men's Day to make everybody aware that there are woman out there cutting off penises and we need to be protected :) Violence by anybody should not be tolerated! Hmm the sculpture " has a phallic appearance". I guess it is all in the eye of the beholder. I do find it a poor example of art and quite expensive. Maybe we should ask Lorena Bobbitt to visit AA for a Big House game and we will find the pathetic thing cut down. Just imagine how much money there would be to fund SafeHouse if we didn't have 15 Trillion dollars of debt in this country. Maybe we need to send Lorena over to Washington DC!
Esperanza Orozco
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 : 8:52 p.m.
Totally because you know men have been soooo systematically oppressed in society and have been dealt such great historical injustices for being men...
golfer
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 11:09 p.m.
they are so so so right. when we are hurting for police, street repairs, and yes lights for crosswalks. not a few but all of them. you have on commission that has 1.6mil in the banking account set aside ready to spend for ART? i may not be the smartest person in town. but art commission and the 1.6mil should be put aside for two years until we have money we do not need to make our town better.
smokeblwr
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 10:54 p.m.
Phallic art! I never thought of it that way, but now that she mentions it....