No Reason To Ban Porch Couches

I recently reported that the city may vote on a law which would prohibit upholstered furniture on porches in the city. Although the proposal is allegedly for “fire safety” reasons, it’s actually a callow move by those in the city who, while enjoying the amenities of a college town made possible by a large student population, resent any expression of student culture which may have a negative impact on their property values.

Before I continue, I want to make this perfectly clear: the city council HAS NOT banned couches on porches! The matter is not even on their agenda, and although COULD take place before the end of the summer I believe such a proposal can be defeated by vocal and smart lobbying.

Overt anti-student sentiment should have no place in city politics. Ann Arbor is nearly 30% populated by students, and some city residents must understand the few remaining independent book, music, and coffee shops are made possibly the presence of the students whose SOLO cups and loud music they loath. If they desire the entire city to be perfectly neat, there are plenty of perfectly pretty and totally boring Michigan towns they could move to. If they like being able to go to a political protest or attend an unusual film, they must realize that means tolerating students.

Yes, students have a responsibility to be good neighbors, however couches on porches do no harm. The supporters of the ban view them as a fire danger, however I struggle to understand how a couch on a covered porch is more or less of a fire danger than a couch in a living room, frequently pushed up against a tangle of wires. (Most I suspect are too damp and moldy to burn, and none of the house fires in Ann Arbor I remember in the last four years started on the porch) Fires start in kitchens, because of faulty wiring, and because of lighting. Fires do not start on porches any more than any other room of the house where there might be furniture present. The supporters of a ban have also implied they should be banned because they have been burned during student riots in other cities (Ohio State and Michigan State University come to mind.) Although that is perhaps true, I have never heard of a couch being burned in the street in Ann Arbor in recent years. Furthermore, even if the couches were banned, the slumlords of the student neighborhoods leave enough flammable material around that a good bonfire wouldn’t be particularity difficult to fuel - with brush, scrap wood, and perhaps the old furniture jamming many a rental house basement and attic.

Finally, as much as Ann Arbor prides itself as being a “cool” city, actions like the one in question are decidedly uncool and are perhaps part of the reason local venture capitalists are short new businesses to fund: creative young people leave Ann Arbor in droves for other cities: Chicago, Washington D.C., New York, and Boston. [A disclaimer: I serve on Ann Arbor's Cool Cities Task Force, which will be issuing its report in the next two weeks.] Professor Richard Florida identifies three characteristics of a “cool” city in his widely acclaimed book, Rise of the Creative Class, which he calls the three “T”s: talent, technology, and tolerance. While Ann Arbor certainly has the first two, it is frequently lacking the last component. Being tolerant includes being tolerant of those with different lifestyles - and part of the lifestyle of many students involves upholstered furniture on the porch and, gasp, holding parties that last later than 10 PM at night. Yes, Ann Arbor has city laws which are much more tolerant of people of different backgrounds, races, and sexual orientations than most places in Michigan, however banning couches sends a loud and clear message to young people: YOU ARE NOT WANTED HERE. That’s not a message I think the city council either should send, or should want to send to their constituents.

In the end, this issue isn’t just about couches, its about a certain class of mostly wealthy property owners being overrepresented in city politics. This is the reason why Ann Arbor has rolled back its liberal pot laws by piling on court fees, has exorbitant fines for snow removal towing (they all have garages, after all!) and refused to accept an extremely limited ordinance which might allow a few graduate students and old people to live in “granny flats.” People who are willing to stand up for the interest of the city’s renters, students, the poor (that remain), and many other virtually unrepresented communities must involve themselves in city politics. The deadline to file to run for city council as an independent is in the end of July, and although city leaders have done their best to gerrymander students, it’s difficult to gerrymander 1/3 of the city! The November election should elicit high turnout, which I believe would work to the advantage of a candidate representing students. There’s discontent brewing, and I think the time is right to stage of coup in city hall.

Main Street Starbucks

The Ann Arbor News seems to think the opening of another Ann Arbor Starbucks at the corner of Liberty and Main a sign that Ann Arbor is “cool”:

“Sabrina Keeley, president of the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce, said Ann Arbor’s diverse population of students and creative entrepreneurs contributes to the coffee culture. “It’s a whole mix of people who are willing to try different things, not just sitting in a board room,” she said. “A lot of people do business in these coffee shops. It’s not just social.” …

“Nobody even comes close,” Ferguson said. “There’s not really a No. 2 in any practical sense.”

> AANews: “Ann Arbor filled to brim with coffee shops”
> Also, see an earlier post: “The Gentrification of Ann Arbor”

Former President Criticizes Athletic Department

Former U-M president James Duderstadt (1988-1996) has been a vocal and frequent critic of what he calls “big-time” college sports: football and basketball. (Pictured here with his wife Anne)

“During a 30-minute speech to the Ann Arbor North Rotary Club on Thursday afternoon, Duderstadt singled out Michigan’s new football season ticket policy as an example of what he believes are wrong with college athletics. The policy, which requires minimum donations for the right to purchase some season tickets, was criticized by Duderstadt as “extortion” and “insanity.”

Duderstadt played football for Yale and said he thinks college athletics shouldn’t be eliminated. But he proposed a variety of methods to overhaul the current system, including making freshmen ineligible, eliminating athletic scholarships, mainstreaming coach’s compensation with that of other university staff and preventing them from endorsing products, putting the faculty in control of athletic departments and subjecting those departments to public financial audits. … “

> AANews: “Duderstadt: Athletics, universities conflicting”

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Ann Arbor, Michigan until 5:00 PM this afternoon. The graphic is from the Weather Underground site, and shows the Detroit area at about 2:15 PM today. (Ann Arbor is marked with the target symbol)

> Ch 4: “Severe Weather Making Its Way Through Area”
> See Freep: “Officials warn more flooding likely as another storm nears”

Here’s a helpful “Public Information Statement” about what it means when the NWS issues “watches” and “warnings”:

“A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service in Michigan. In the interest of public safety the following safety rules are provided. Public and commercial broadcast stations serving the affected area are asked to frequently broadcast these messages while the watch is in effect.

Persons should stay indoors and away from areas with loose items that could become flying debris. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes so be prepared to move to an appropriate shelter should it become necessary. Lightning is one of
the worst killers… so stay indoors and avoid using electrical appliances. You should get out of open fields and off of farm or other types of heavy equipment. Avoid towers or tall trees. If on a boat or swimming… get out of the water and to shore as quickly as
possible. Also avoid areas subject to flash flooding.”

Washingtonienne Update

Here’s my first post on the matter. Some recent press:

> New York Daily News: “Washingtonienne week”
> The Inquirer (UK): “Washington Senate sex blogger silenced”
> AZ Central.com: “Senator undecided on firing aide over sex blog”
> Gannett: “DeWine staff member’s alleged sex journaling practice exposed”

And this op-ed, which sensibly states:

” … Tell it how you want, but people have illicit sex. There is surely no exception among the satin marble halls and penetratingly pointed monuments of Washington (despite what the conservative majority may have you believe). Clinton’s trial for lying about sex to his enemies was a revelation, not because of the oval office’s penchant for pretty things, but because his impeachment exposed a Washington that conservatives (and many liberals) hypnotically pretend they are not a part of. The many conservatives who prodded Clinton for more information about his sex life, like the witch thrusting her finger into Hansel’s rib to feel the girth of his meat, were exposed as adulterers themselves. …”

> Portland State University Vanguard: “Word up: blogged sex heats D.C.”

The latest, from the AP, posted on the LA Times:

“Assistant of Ore. Sen. DeWine Is Fired

“After investigating these allegations, our office has determined that there was an unacceptable use of Senate computers to post unsuitable and offensive material to an Internet Web log,” the senator’s office said in a statement.”

City May Consider Ban on Porch Couches

This website has recently learned that the city may vote to ban upholstered furniture on porches as soon as this summer, ostensibly for “fire safety” reasons.

The proposed changes are at least two weeks away since they have not made it to the city council, and are being considered as part of a package of revisions to the City Fire Code.

Other college towns, including East Lansing, have adopted similar measures, which occasionally include expensive tenant fines for litter on the grounds of rented property.

A small but vocal group of downtown property owners have long advocated measures to reduce the visual impact of the city’s student neighborhoods, such as banning couches and instituting a litter fine.

The couch ban has been the object of persistent rumors recently, particularly after the University administration sent an email about changes to the city’s bulk waste pick-up on April 22. As part of ongoing budget-tightening, the city now requires a fee for disposal of bulk items and has increased the fine for violation of the trash codes, but the message says nothing about porch furniture:

To: “UM Students living off campus”:;
From: “UM Director of Community Relations — Jim Kosteva “
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 18:26:02
Subject: Ann Arbor Move-out fees & regulations

http://www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us/SolidWaste/StudentGuide04.html or call 994-2807″

Summer Break-in Season …

Will be short one burglar this year, thanks to the vigilant eyes of a neighbor. I wonder if she was sitting on anything upholstered?

“Ann Arbor Police arrested a man suspected of committing at least one home break-in and of attempting to enter several other homes in the city Thursday.

A woman sitting on her couch in the 200 block of Ingalls Street called police after she saw a man trying to open her door, reports said. She said she watched him approached several other homes and try the doors, reports said. … “ (Police Beat)