Violin Monster

success is not final, failure is not fatal. it is the courage to continue that counts. - winston churchill

@UMPublicAffairs @UMich why are your contract negotiators falling asleep at the meetings, though? do you know you are not winning this pr battle? pay them a living wage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While @UMich has offered to meet for 18 sessions throughout May for full days of contract negotiations, GEO has committed to only two sessions for the remainder of the month. The union’s prior contract with U-M expired May 3. myumi.ch/NkemV

@JeffMIrwin @MaryforMichigan @rosemarybayer @JasonMorganMI @Conlinforstate my theory is that they operate like hedge funds. they get money from federal/state and invest it. they are slow and inefficient on purpose so they can maximize their investments.

@ViolinMonster @MaryforMichigan @rosemarybayer @JasonMorganMI @Conlinforstate Thank you for the specific suggestion/comment. I'm looking into these housing agents now and I'm surprised that many are for-profit rather than NFP companies. It seems to incentivize serving the easiest-to-house clients.

I'm working to prevent discrimination against renters, especially those with housing vouchers. I'm proud to work with @MaryforMichigan @rosemarybayer @JasonMorganMI @Conlinforstate to protect people from discrimination based on their source of income. freep.com/story/opinion/…

@JeffMIrwin @MaryforMichigan @rosemarybayer @JasonMorganMI @Conlinforstate they just said, "you have to get a landlord to agree. good luck!" thank you for your attention to these matters. rpi has been non responsive to my landlord as well, sometimes taking weeks to reply. i almost lost my housing because they were slow to approve a $50 rent increase.

@JeffMIrwin @MaryforMichigan @rosemarybayer @JasonMorganMI @Conlinforstate i've had such a frustrating experience with my housing voucher. i am grateful to get the assistance, but it's been a nightmare to get it and keep it. rpi management didn't even tell us that ann arbor has source of income non discrimination law.

@MDOT_A2 these pedestrians need to be carrying pedestrian safety bricks with them at all times as well, you forgot to mention. because we all know you aren't interested in designing roads to prevent injury and death.

Did you know that when walking, pedestrians must face traffic and stay as far to the left as possible if traveling on the road? Pedestrians should always use sidewalks when available, wear highly visible clothing & stay alert. #SafetySaturday #TZD #MDOTSafety #PedSafety

@JordanAckerMI why even suggest this when you, sir, are actively engaged in union busting? i'm ashamed for you.

This is a really interesting proposal by @senjeffirwin. mlive.com/news/2023/04/c…

@peterbdna0 @meddiss hey peter! yes, i'm in ann arbor. hoping to come to new orleans for a visit next winter. will keep you posted!

@meddiss @ViolinMonster No, darn it! I think he has settled (and performing). I'm sure he's back in his home State/City up North! pcb

@meddiss i'm still around! i just check twitter much less frequently now. about to enjoy this beautiful day with a little performing. :)

@jessicaletaw @JohnBauters @lsong @jenncornell @EmeryvilleCA gif of the actor paul rudd slowly peeking into a room from behind a wall with a curious expression and raised eyebrow

@jessicaletaw @JohnBauters @lsong @jenncornell @EmeryvilleCA

@jessicaletaw @Lyalj @A2CouncilMemes @no_face @mmacging @JohnBauters @lsong @jenncornell @EmeryvilleCA does anyone know if there's a way to change the alt text that comes with gifs?

@Lyalj @A2CouncilMemes @no_face @mmacging @ViolinMonster @JohnBauters @lsong @jenncornell @EmeryvilleCA Yes, thank you for the reminder. The four preceding gifs and photos are of individuals peeking over a wall, around a wall, through blinds, and through a window.

@jeanhenrya2 @JasonMorganMI i think jennifer hall has been doing the best she can, i don't think there's been enough funding for new low income housing until now. i hadn't considered the market rate conversions, thanks for that. i assumed it was due to increasing rents and what is calculated as affordable.

@ViolinMonster @JasonMorganMI Yes I’ve seen that number. We have been bleeding affordable units for years now due to market rate conversions of formerly section 8 apartments. This is a problem with a lag time. We should have been certifying more units all along to prepare.

hey @cmtysolutions! i was formerly unhoused in washtenaw county, which signed your pledge to end homelessness in 2015. @WashtenawBOC supposedly achieved real time quality by-name data for chronic and veteran homelessness in 2017, and got those milestones in your database.

@jeanhenrya2 @JasonMorganMI i just learned yesterday from a jennifer hall presentation that we've added something like 100 total affordable units in the last 10 years, but 900 previously affordable dwellings are no longer affordable.

@jeanhenrya2 @JasonMorganMI there's still a lot i need to learn about the situation, but i'll work on a good analysis and get it out there somehow. thanks for the interest! community awareness is so important.

@jessicaletaw @cmtysolutions i'm trying to figure out as much as i can about the mess that is our social services system right now. i'm afraid @WashtenawBOC has little to no idea what they are doing with regards to these issues.

@jessicaletaw hi jess! loved your damn arbor article, thank you for explaining some exciting policy ideas. :) i recently learned that washtenaw county pledged to end homelessness in 2015 with @cmtysolutions, but i can't even find annual reports more recent than 2019, or any real time data.

If Ann Arbor doesn't directly address our rising affordability crisis, we're going to have to decide how to engage encampments beyond the largely out-of-the-way places they are now. I hope we're more humane to those harmed later by us avoiding our responsibility now. #a2housing

the result is that the system we have is strained, underfunded, and increasingly siloed. tagging my current rep @JasonMorganMI. y'all will be hearing from me next wednesday.

the reality on the ground for unhoused people here is far worse than the local politicians would like to believe or admit. our existing services are held together by scotch tape and elmers paste, and @WashtenawBOC has been tinkering with different funding models.