Comments for A2Politico: Ann Arbor Politics Grilled To Perfection http://www.a2politico.com Ann Arbor politics grilled to perfection. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:48:07 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on The Politics of Boondoggles: “Creating More Job Announcements Than Real Jobs” by Married to Jobseeker http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4229&cpage=1#comment-7338 Married to Jobseeker Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:48:07 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4229#comment-7338 This is a small nitpick, but it's made me a little more skeptical of SPARK: If you read their website as a job seeker you will see things like "Check out our Career Counseling services if you would like career advice or your resume reviewed." That certainly led me to believe that they were devoting some of their resources to helping individuals looking for high-tech opportunities. But if you inquire about these services, they will just refer you to a list of outside companies who will do career counseling for a fee. All they do is maintain a list of resume writing services and career coaches. SPARK apparently doesn't have ANY career counseling services like this. I'm not denying that referrals can be helpful. But the way it's written, I feel like they're overstating their role and the kinds of services they offer. This is a small nitpick, but it’s made me a little more skeptical of SPARK: If you read their website as a job seeker you will see things like “Check out our Career Counseling services if you would like career advice or your resume reviewed.” That certainly led me to believe that they were devoting some of their resources to helping individuals looking for high-tech opportunities. But if you inquire about these services, they will just refer you to a list of outside companies who will do career counseling for a fee. All they do is maintain a list of resume writing services and career coaches. SPARK apparently doesn’t have ANY career counseling services like this.

I’m not denying that referrals can be helpful. But the way it’s written, I feel like they’re overstating their role and the kinds of services they offer.

]]> Comment on The Politics of Boondoggles: “Creating More Job Announcements Than Real Jobs” by A2 Politico http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4229&cpage=1#comment-7332 A2 Politico Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:11:43 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4229#comment-7332 @Karen if SPARK doesn't keep track of its own "job creation," how can the MEDC keep track of it for them? Furthermore, if they're not keeping track, how are they able to insert the "job creation" and "job retention" numbers into their annual reports and 990 filings? The Mackinaw Center pointed out that the MEDC is "a highly secretive organization that in recent years has become even less transparent." Dr. Larry Summers, when he visited Michigan and met with Granholm and staff (including her Economic Advisor Ned Staebler), called the MEDC model crony capitalism. At a candidate event in July, Jeff Irwin referred to SPARK as "corporate welfare." @Karen if SPARK doesn’t keep track of its own “job creation,” how can the MEDC keep track of it for them? Furthermore, if they’re not keeping track, how are they able to insert the “job creation” and “job retention” numbers into their annual reports and 990 filings? The Mackinaw Center pointed out that the MEDC is “a highly secretive organization that in recent years has become even less transparent.” Dr. Larry Summers, when he visited Michigan and met with Granholm and staff (including her Economic Advisor Ned Staebler), called the MEDC model crony capitalism. At a candidate event in July, Jeff Irwin referred to SPARK as “corporate welfare.”

]]> Comment on The Politics of Boondoggles: “Creating More Job Announcements Than Real Jobs” by karen sidney http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4229&cpage=1#comment-7331 karen sidney Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:57:37 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4229#comment-7331 I spoke to SPARK staff when I contacted them about obtaining the most recent form 990. I asked if they were keeping statistics on job creation for the companies that received grants and loans. . I said that the information I would find useful is the number of employees when the company applied for the subsidy and the number of employees on each subsequent anniversary. SPARK staff said they did not have the staff to keep track of that information. Keeping track of that information was the job of the MEDC. Many of the companies that get SPARK subsidies also get a tax abatement from the City of Ann Arbor. Council could ask for actual job creation statistics for the companies that get abatements. It's easy to document the claims from the quartely wage reports filed with the state. I spoke to SPARK staff when I contacted them about obtaining the most recent form 990. I asked if they were keeping statistics on job creation for the companies that received grants and loans. . I said that the information I would find useful is the number of employees when the company applied for the subsidy and the number of employees on each subsequent anniversary. SPARK staff said they did not have the staff to keep track of that information. Keeping track of that information was the job of the MEDC.

Many of the companies that get SPARK subsidies also get a tax abatement from the City of Ann Arbor. Council could ask for actual job creation statistics for the companies that get abatements. It’s easy to document the claims from the quartely wage reports filed with the state.

]]> Comment on A2P Grillin’ the Media: AA.com ‘Dog Bites Man’ Campaign Finance Coverage by Sam Kirkpatrick http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4222&cpage=1#comment-7322 Sam Kirkpatrick Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:03:55 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4222#comment-7322 Yes! We have achieved Godwin's Law! Yes! We have achieved Godwin’s Law!

]]> Comment on A2P Grillin’ the Media: AA.com ‘Dog Bites Man’ Campaign Finance Coverage by ChuckL http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4222&cpage=1#comment-7319 ChuckL Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:25:39 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4222#comment-7319 The info that Hitler had Jewish blood in him is well documented. Apparently, Hitler's grandmother was a maid to a wealthy Jewish businessman. Hitler's father was, apparently, the bastard child of this same businessman. If Hieftje can compare Pat to the Tea Party, why can't Pat compare Hieftje to Hitler? The info that Hitler had Jewish blood in him is well documented. Apparently, Hitler’s grandmother was a maid to a wealthy Jewish businessman. Hitler’s father was, apparently, the bastard child of this same businessman.

If Hieftje can compare Pat to the Tea Party, why can’t Pat compare Hieftje to Hitler?

]]> Comment on A2P Grillin’ the Media: AA.com ‘Dog Bites Man’ Campaign Finance Coverage by Phillip Farber http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4222&cpage=1#comment-7318 Phillip Farber Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:54:03 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4222#comment-7318 No, you're not comparing Hieftje to Hitler, you're just mentioning both Hieftje and Hitler in the same sentence. Please. Why not ask whether he's stopped beating his wife while you're at it? No, you’re not comparing Hieftje to Hitler, you’re just mentioning both Hieftje and Hitler in the same sentence. Please. Why not ask whether he’s stopped beating his wife while you’re at it?

]]> Comment on The Politics of Michigan: Old McDowell Had a Farm. M.O.N.E.Y. by James D'Amour http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4103&cpage=1#comment-7311 James D'Amour Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:55:37 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4103#comment-7311 Patricia, interesting first foray out into the world of politics outside of Ann Arbor. This is a rather interesting race, and one to watch in terms of the oft-mentioned "Tea Party" movement. This was widely considered to be a next stepping stone for term-limited state senator Jason Allen. I am acquainted with Mr. Allen, and his wife, Suzanne, a long-time operative for the Republican caucus in the legislature (can't remember off-hand if it is the House or the Senate currently). In a extremely close primary, Jason very narrowly lost his bid to face McDowell by Dan Benishek, who ran an insurgent campaign favored by the "Tea Party". Some interesting red meat by the very conservative "Red State" blog about Jason Allen can be found here (take it for what it's worth). http://www.redstate.com/e_pluribus_unum/2010/04/26/meet-jason-allen-unions-favorite-republican/ Perhaps Benishek will prevail in an environment that as I key this appears to heavily favor Republicans in the fall election. But with a "Tea Party" candidate now facing McDowell, perhaps it is now more a "horse race" (forgive the farm animal analogy :) ). It can be argued the Tea Party is a silver lining for Democrats nationally in an otherwise dismal political forecast. Patricia, interesting first foray out into the world of politics outside of Ann Arbor.

This is a rather interesting race, and one to watch in terms of the oft-mentioned “Tea Party” movement. This was widely considered to be a next stepping stone for term-limited state senator Jason Allen. I am acquainted with Mr. Allen, and his wife, Suzanne, a long-time operative for the Republican caucus in the legislature (can’t remember off-hand if it is the House or the Senate currently).

In a extremely close primary, Jason very narrowly lost his bid to face McDowell by Dan Benishek, who ran an insurgent campaign favored by the “Tea Party”. Some interesting red meat by the very conservative “Red State” blog about Jason Allen can be found here (take it for what it’s worth).

http://www.redstate.com/e_pluribus_unum/2010/04/26/meet-jason-allen-unions-favorite-republican/

Perhaps Benishek will prevail in an environment that as I key this appears to heavily favor Republicans in the fall election.

But with a “Tea Party” candidate now facing McDowell, perhaps it is now more a “horse race” (forgive the farm animal analogy :) ). It can be argued the Tea Party is a silver lining for Democrats nationally in an otherwise dismal political forecast.

]]> Comment on The Politics of Aging: A2Politico Turns One by A2 Politico http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4199&cpage=1#comment-7310 A2 Politico Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:50:36 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4199#comment-7310 @11 Thanks, James. @11 Thanks, James.

]]> Comment on The Politics of Aging: A2Politico Turns One by James D'Amour http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4199&cpage=1#comment-7309 James D'Amour Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:41:14 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4199#comment-7309 Congrats, and rock on, A2 Politico! Congrats, and rock on, A2 Politico!

]]> Comment on The Politics of Aging: A2Politico Turns One by rose http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4199&cpage=1#comment-7300 rose Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:17:56 +0000 http://www.a2politico.com/?p=4199#comment-7300 Clean is about how you say what you say, not just the content. Dirty politics or human nature, I say the latter. Still that's what the rules are for. Clean is about how you say what you say, not just the content. Dirty politics or human nature, I say the latter. Still that’s what the rules are for.

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