Ann Arbor AF

Ann Arbor AF
  • 5.0 (17)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Get informed. Get involved. It’s your city! A podcast for folks trying to figure out what’s going on in Ann Arbor politics. We discuss current events in local politics and policy, governance, and other civic good times.

  1. 1D AGO

    A2AF Live! Comprehensive Plan, Liberated Land Use, and Special Guest Yodit Mesfin Johnson

    This episode is a special one for a lot of reasons: On March 10th, along with my cohost Jess Letaw, we did our first-ever live recording, and it was so much fun. We were joined by friend of the pod and Jess’s frequent collaborator, Yodit Mesfin Johnson, and we were hosted by the University of Michigan’s Ginsberg Center, surrounded by our neighbors from Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, and the University. Many thanks to everyone who came out and everyone who helped make it possible. We talked about Ann Arbor’s current comprehensive land use plan update and the process that got us there; Jess and Yodit’s recent Liberated Land Use project, which they developed in direct response to the comprehensive plan process; and different ways for community members to get informed and get involved around local land use justice. If you missed this one, I think we’re all pretty convinced we want to do it again, so you will have other chances. In the meantime, here’s a recording of our first live episode.  Update Ann Arbor City Council adopted the new Comprehensive Land Use Plan at their March 16, 2026 meeting. Links Liberated Land Use series (YouTube / Audio)Justice InDeedFuture RootMovement Generation: Just TransitionSupport the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

    58 min

  2. FEB 19

    We're Baaaaack!

    After a quiet fall and winter…we’re baaaaaack! Today, we’re giving you a heads up on what to look forward to from Ann Arbor AF in 2026 (land use planning, library stuff, and ‘lections, plus a lot of other chats). We also take a moment to flash back to when we started the podcast in 2020, what hasn’t changed and what has in the city and for us on the pod. Given what we’re going to be talking about this year, we also recommended some past A2AF episodes as warmup, and we teed y’all up with a couple of calls to action at City Council and the Planning Commission. We also included some information on the current political moment and suggestions on how you can approach supporting our immigrant neighbors if you’re not sure where to dive in. And…we’re planning our very first Ann Arbor AF LIVE! You can find us at the Ginsberg Center on Tuesday, March 10th, at 11am, joined by special guest and absolute rockstar Yodit Mesfin Johnson to talk about housing justice, Liberated Land Use, and the comprehensive land use plan. Thanks so much to the Ginsberg Center for making this possible! Support the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (WICIR) Past episodes New Downtown Library with Eli Neiburger Deeper Dive: Boards & Commissions Deeper Dive: Master Plan & Zoning City Council Meeting: 22 February 2022 (where Jess & Molly talk about their favorite municipal reports) Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

    27 min

  3. 06/28/2025

    Library Lot 2: AADL Boogaloo (“the Squee episode”)

    Today we are talking about Proposals A & B, on the ballot this August 5th, which would authorize the city of Ann Arbor to transfer the air rights of the parking lot known as the Library Lot to the Ann Arbor District Library. Links supportaadl.com: volunteer, donate, get a lawn signYour Dream Library (see Molly's Dream Library on the Episode page)AADL Prop A & B Voting Information PageAADL Downtown Branch Feasibility study from 2019 Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

    29 min

  4. 06/09/2025

    New Downtown Library: Getting Informed with Eli Neiburger

    Today we are talking about proposals A and B on the August 5th ballot - yes, we have an August ballot! - and plans for a new downtown library. With us, we have Eli Neiburger, director of the Ann Arbor District Library, to answer our questions and talk all things factual about the ballot measures, as well as share the possibilities of a new downtown branch. Learn more at the Ann Arbor District Library Voting Information page and get involved at SupportAADL.com. Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

    48 min

  5. 05/07/2025

    [rerun] Civic Therapy: Library Lot with Dan Adams

    Learn more and get involved at SupportAADL.com Original Episode Notes In a continuation of our new miniseries, Civic Therapy, we are talking with Dan Adams about WTF, Library Lot. Dan is a corporate attorney, local housing activist, and long-time bike person. He has lived in Ann Arbor since 2008 and grew up down the road in Dexter. In November 2022 he published a long piece in Damn Arbor about the current status of the Library Lot, how we got to this place, and what we should do to get out of it. He’s here today to talk about that piece and about the Library Lot, Prop A, and all the big mad feelings. Referenced Articles Damn Arbor: Guest Opinion: Desolate and Uninviting—The Failure of 2018’s Proposal A and the Future of the Library Lot – Dan AdamsDamn Arbor: Guest article: New Council, Who Dis? A Policy Wishlist – Jessica LetawCome check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on BlueSky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no. Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

    1h 4m

  6. 09/24/2024

    Special General Election Episode

    Jess and Molly come out of hiatus to share our recommendations for local non-partisan races and ballot initiatives. Move the Needle signup: Zoom or Insta. Get a sample ballot (scroll down) Our list of recommendations (Reminder: These are only the contested races): JUSTICE OF SUPREME COURT 8 Year Term Kimberly Ann Thomas JUSTICE OF SUPREME COURT Incumbent Position Kyra Harris Bolden JUDGE OF CIRCUIT COURT 22ND CIRCUIT COURT Jinan Hamood JUDGE OF DISTRICT COURT 15TH DISTRICT COURT S. Kerene Moore COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBER WASHTENAW COMMUNITY COLLEGE Diana McKnight Morton Alex Milshteyn LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER ANN ARBOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS Megan Kanous Don Wilkerson Leslie Wilkins COUNTY PROPOSALS Renewal and restoration of the Enhanced Emergency Communications System Millage Yes Renewal and restoration of the Veteran’s Relief Millage Yes Establishing an Older Persons Services Millage Yes Renewal and restoration of the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health and Public Safety Preservation Millage Yes A2 CITY PROPOSALS Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Creation of a Sustainable Energy Utility Yes Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Authorizing Tax for Park Maintenance and Capital Improvements Yes Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Non-Partisan Elections No Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Fair Elections Fund No INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT Washtenaw Intermediate School District Special Education Millage Renewal Proposal Yes Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

    55 min

  7. 09/11/2023

    HouseParty Interlude

    Check out the week of events and updates at www.dogoodwork.org/houseparty Registration for Jess' panel: History to Present Day: Race and Housing in Ann Arbor Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Twitter and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no. Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

    6 min

  8. 08/31/2023

    Civic Therapy: WTF Community Engagement with Yodit Mesfin Johnson

    Today we talk to Yodit Mesfin Johnson about the problematic promises of community “engagement,” and what it could look like to pivot more towards community-driven planning.  Yodit is presently co-leading (with Jess and developer partners Avalon Housing and the Ann Arbor Housing Commission) a community-driven planning effort for the mixed-use affordable housing project at Fourth and Catherine, a historically Black business and residential area in downtown Ann Arbor.  Some programs we mentioned: The affordable housing development at 121 E. Catherine, including the first and second public sessionsNEW’s Champions for Change programCome check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Twitter and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no. Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with hosting, we wouldn't say no.

    1h 7m
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5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Get informed. Get involved. It’s your city! A podcast for folks trying to figure out what’s going on in Ann Arbor politics. We discuss current events in local politics and policy, governance, and other civic good times.

Information

  • Creator
    Ann Arbor AF
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    82
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ann Arbor AF
  • Show Website
    Ann Arbor AF

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