Ann Arbor's "Drinking Problem": A Possible Diagnosis

[_earthshine_]

I'm writing a rare public post in the hopes that it might get some attention from the larger audience of folks interested in analyzing and shaping the downtown and campus areas of Ann Arbor. At the very least, it might kick off some discussions about the nature of the issues at hand.

My post is inspired by a recent article pertaining to the

Comments

It takes two for a dysfunctional relationship

[redmomoko]

The University's attitudes towards A2 don't help either. In a lot of ways the U acts like a well-heeled abuser. Take parking. The daily influx of tons of cars to the streets around the U is a huge problem for the people who live on those streets. It sucks to live someplace and not be able to park your car there because the entire street is filled with the cars of staff and students. Thus the push for neighborhood stickers on cars to limit who can park where. From what I hear, in talks with non-U groups about the parking problems the U has consistently had the attitude of "So?" and steadfastly refused to discuss the problem. The U knows that A2 would be just another Saline without it so it apparently thinks that everyone else in A2 can just lump it.

This sort of attitude doesn't make A2 want to give an inch to the U in other areas.

Also I think that a lot of students are just richer than we were when we were there. There seem to be tons of students with the newest iPods/cells/laptops/cars/clothes etc. The high cost of eating near campus doesn't seem to affect them as much. Maybe it because they all have credit cards (something I certainly didn't have at the time).

Re: It takes two for a dysfunctional relationship

[_earthshine_]

This is a fair point, and one i can't speak to very well. If there really is a push-pull love-hate relationship betweent the City and U, then that situation needs to be remedied. Perhaps A2C3 is seen as the spearhead of that effort, or perhaps it's a token effort doomed to failure for that very reason... Only the folks in the know can say, but i think you've brought up a key "human reality" factor that plays in here and needs to be addressed.

Also I think that a lot of students are just richer than we were when we were there.

Hrm... maybe. I guess by some metrics, they'd have to be. I don't know how the U's tuition and cost hikes rate relative to other comparable universities nationwide, but i can tell you that -- especially as an out-of-stater -- i was witness to some hefty bills and constant aggressive increases during my time there.

If the U demographic is changing as you suggest, that'd be another thing to look at -- who the key sub-populations involved are, and how we must account for them in our solution.