BY SHANNON STOCKING
February 7, 2022
GOOD MORNING and happy Monday, Ann Arbor. If you couldn’t tell by the glistening snow and sounds of plows, Southeast Michigan was greeted with an impressive snowstorm last week that moved classes and city proceedings online for the end of the chilly week.
As for this week, many businesses reported the struggles of staffing shortages across the country, and we’re here to remind everyone that a little kindness goes a long way for all employees in the service industry.
Spread some kindness this week (especially as we’re soon approaching Valentine’s Day), and as always, if you’re enjoying A2 Outlook, share this link with others to subscribe!
Ann Arbor was coated in heavy snow from a winter storm Thursday. Gabby Ceritano/Daily. Buy this photo.
GROUNDS FOR UNIONIZATION: Five Ann Arbor Starbucks locations announced that they will be unionizing in protest of the company’s lack of COVID-19 safety protocols and the end of hazard pay. The local unionizations come after several locations around the country initiated plans to unionize.
Ann Arbor Starbucks employees reported that staffing shortages are adding another layer of stress in the workplace, leaving workers feeling exhausted and overworked.
STALLED ROUTES: Ann Arbor community members took to social media to discuss changes made to the AAPS bus schedule after the district announced that 20 bus routes would be temporarily suspended in light of staff shortages.
Additionally, the district is experiencing higher-than-normal absences with around 10% -15% of absences among teacher and counselor teams throughout the week, according to AAPS Superintendent Jeanice Swift.
ARTISTIC EXPANSION: The Ann Arbor Art Center announced plans to expand, add staff and reactivate programs after receiving a federal stimulus for $100,000, according to MLive. The grant was one of over 500 community arts organizations across the country that have received federal funding in an effort to revive art programs.
CURDLED JUSTICE: Ann Arbor brewery Grizzly Peak re-opened in early January after two-weeks of renovations to the historic building, welcoming a revamped dining experience and a new menu, but no cheese curds. The iconic dish was quickly missed after a customer complained to waitstaff about the missing item the day of the reopening, according to MLive.
The discourse inspired the restaurant to launch a petition to bring back the cheese curds, which has already earned over 400 signatures but needs to reach 500 for the restaurant to reinstate the popular menu item.
“Michigan Medicine nurses discuss SCOTUS decision to uphold vaccine mandate” … The Michigan Daily
“Students and faculty talk Black joy at opening ceremony of Black History Month” … The Michigan Daily
“Three environmental bills to watch in the Michigan legislature” … The Michigan Daily
“‘Tell them what you allowed to happen to us’: Sexual assault survivors of former U-M professor Bruce Conforth take legal action against the University” … The Michigan Daily
“‘The main priority is a safer campus’: Anderson survivors say they are not done with protest following settlement agreement” … The Michigan Daily
“Ann Arbor pours money into green affordable housing. Will others follow?” … Bridge Michigan
“How to report a violation of Ann Arbor’s new tampon law” … MLive
“Small Biz Saturday: Collaborations at YORK lift up small businesses amid pandemic” … All About Ann Arbor
Washtenaw County reported 303 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours and 7,784 cases in the past two weeks. 79.9% of Washtenaw County residents aged 16 and over and 54.3% of residents aged 5 to 11 have received at least one vaccine dose.
News tips? Comments? Questions?
A2 Outlook editors Dominick Sokotoff and Shannon Stocking can be reached at sokotoff@umich.edu and sstockin@umich.edu, respectively.
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