BY DOMINICK SOKOTOFF AND SHANNON STOCKING
November 22, 2021
HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK! We hope you have a restful holiday, and for those looking for free Thanksgiving meals, MLive has compiled a list of local, carry-out meal options.
Michigan football had a blowout 59-18 win against Maryland on the road on Saturday. The victory sets the stage for an exciting game day in Ann Arbor this weekend, with the highly anticipated matchup against Ohio State.
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Community members gathered for a ‘Hustle for Housing’ rally organized by the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County in Liberty Plaza Saturday morning. Lila Turner/Daily. Buy this photo.
RESTROOM REQUIREMENT: Ann Arbor became the first city in the country to require free menstrual products in all public restrooms, after City Council passed a resolution Tuesday. The ordinance will go into effect on Jan. 1, requiring sanitation products to be supplied in all men’s, women’s and gender neutral public restrooms, with the exception of places of worship.
If businesses fail to adhere to the ordinance, they will face a maximum fine of $100. Earlier this month, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer repealed the statewide value-added tax on menstrual products.
EXTENDED BREAK: Ann Arbor Public Schools will be closed today and tomorrow over concerns of rising COVID-19 cases among students and staff. The closure extends the typical Thanksgiving holiday that usually begins the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
AAPS has recently closed schools due to staff shortages, with the most recent closure on Nov. 1. Many parents have voiced concerns about the repeated closures.
OFFICER INOCULATIONS: On Wednesday, the Ann Arbor Police Officers Association’s motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the city of Ann Arbor’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate from being enforced was denied in Washtenaw County Circuit Court, according to MLive.
At question is the city’s policy that employees who haven’t been vaccinated by last Friday will face a 30-day unpaid suspension and be terminated if they still haven’t received the vaccine by the end of their suspension, according to Michigan Radio.
HOUSING RALLY: On Saturday morning, Ann Arbor community members gathered at a ‘Hustle for Housing’ rally in Liberty Plaza, organized by the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, to call for affordable housing and additional resources for unhoused individuals.
Councilmembers Kathy Griswold, D-Ward 2, and Elizabeth Nelson, D-Ward 4, were among those in attendance, and Griswold said she is in preliminary talks with the University of Michigan to focus on additional workforce housing on North Campus.
TURKEY TROT TRAFFIC: The Ann Arbor Turkey Trot 5K is coming up this week, meaning that many brave souls will take on Michigan’s frigid weather and some streets will be closed down for the event. Most notably, Main St, Liberty St. and Hill St. will all have significant closures.
SPREAD SPIKE: University of Michigan Health reported “extremely high” occupancy rates over the past week, following an increase in COVID-19 cases around the state, according to All About Ann Arbor. As of Friday, the health system is treating 75 adult COVID-19 cases.
LSA senior Job Mayhue addresses a crowd of several dozen students outside of University President Mark Schlissel’s house during a rally organized by Black UMich in solidarity with the survivors of Dr. Robert Anderson Friday night. Jeremy Weine/Daily. Buy this photo.
“‘I knew we would never be treated as human beings’: Black UMich hosts Hail to the Victims rally” … The Michigan Daily
“Students raise concerns about housing waitlists, other loopholes to Early Leasing Ordinance” … The Michigan Daily
“Photo Essay: A morning at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market” … The Michigan Daily
“Dioxane discovered in three more AA wells, Debbie Dingell calls on EPA to act” … The Michigan Daily
“Michigan regulators investigating Ypsilanti-area industrial plant over toxic air pollution” … MLive
“Washtenaw County residents discuss allocation of COVID-19 economic relief funds” … The Michigan Daily
“Citizens express opinions on redistricting maps, Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to vote on maps in December” … The Michigan Daily
“Three local Facebook pages promote political discussion among Ann Arbor residents” … The Michigan Daily
“Biden visits Detroit to promote infrastructure bill and impact on Michigan economy” … The Michigan Daily
“Hyperion Coffee Co. expands to Ann Arbor with grand opening of West Liberty location” … The Michigan Daily
“Public Policy students walk out of class to protest admission of master’s student found guilty of Title IX violations” … The Michigan Daily
“Students walk out of class, strike with activists for climate and sexual misconduct accountability” … The Michigan Daily
“10 Black voices featured in latest edition of Ann Arbor-area oral history project” … MLive
“Not all Ann Arborites think city’s new limits on holiday lights are a bright idea” … MLive
Washtenaw County reported 240 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours and 2,047 cases in the past two weeks. 75.6% of Washtenaw County residents aged 16 and over and 25.7% 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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