I’m Jeffrey Milk.
I’m running for City Council, in Ward 4 -- join me in working together for our future.
Ann Arbor is our home -- one that belongs to all of us, not just the elites.
Image provided by Public Wikipedia Archive, by user “JuwanGOAT” under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Priorities & Top Issues
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Ann Arbor is becoming more and more unaffordable because the city allows the system to work for developers and private equity↗ - not residents. Rents continue to rise faster than wages, longtime neighbors and residents are being pushed out, and new construction continues to build low-effort ‘luxury’ properties to extort residents who are just trying survive in our city.
“These are our homes, not just investments.”
People are not cash-cows↗ to be abused by the wealthy. We can allocate funding to purchase and build affordable housing. Funding by the city to private developers should hold equity in the companies building “affordable-housing,” - giving taxpayers equity. Eminent domain should be against greedy slumlords - regular homeowners to build university dormitories that increase prices even further and rip families apart.
LABOR & TENANT UNIONS
As the President of my own Tenant’s Union, I know how critical it is to have access to a bargaining unit to protect our common interests. Labor Unions should be protected and encouraged with the right to strike. Striking allows workers and tenants to leverage their economic power↗ to demand just and fair wages, compensation, rent price, and habitable conditions.
“The Right to Strike should never be infringed, and should be promoted.”
City Council does not spend time educating the public or giving them information regarding how and why to form unions. Unions are one of our strongest tools to force change↗ and promote our well-being. Many manual laborers in construction, landscaping, or other fields critical to infrastructure are denied the ability to unionize in here.
ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
Ann Arbor’s goal of zero emissions (A2Zero) by 2030 is critical not only for us, but leaders of the green movement across the globe. With our progressive action, we not only become responsible stewards of our own lands here in town, but also set a beacon and path for others to do the same. Renewable energies pollute far less than coal or oil plants, which destroy our air quality.
“Clean air, clean water, and clean lands belong to all Ann Arborites.”
While we continue to promote our parks and air quality, the 1,4-Dioxane by Gelman Sciences (now Danaher) still contaminates possible groundwater↗ used for drinking, and is a carcinogen. Danaher should be held accountable for their pollution of our water and lands to the highest degree, but the city must still take action to protect our health
PUBLIC
TRANSIT
Public transit should be frequent, reliable, and affordable, not an afterthought. Parking is expensive and growingly unaffordable in Ann arbor, and as such, our infrastructure needs to have consistent transportation available at low or no-cost to residents. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities and seniors are also critical to public infrastructure.
“Public Transport is critical to Ann Arbor, but it needs to be accessible.”
With a budget of over $70 million↗, continuing to develop the Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA/TheRide) will continue to not only improve our services, but public transportation has been shown to be a boon to local economies↗, providing better access to jobs, goods, and services that our local businesses have to offer us.
PUBLIC SAFETY & HUMAN RIGHTS
Public Safety is always a priority for me, but Public Safety does not just mean the increasing of a police force or surveillance - it also requires freedom from a dangerous or oppressive law enforcement agency. We’ve all seen the actions of Federal Enforcement, and to prevent such actions from being repeated in Ann Arbor, we need more extensive precautionary measures.
“Public Safety & Human Rights go hand-in-hand in Ann Arbor.”
Increasing our Independent Police Oversight Commission↗ in terms of powers and citizens is one way to ensure our rights are protected while enforcing our laws. I also support increasing assets and training in terms of mental health training for law enforcement, and diversion programs to prevent unneeded discipline.
UNIVERSITY OVERSIGHT
It’s no secret that the University of Michigan plays an import, and vital, role in Ann Arbor. However, that’s not to say it should go unchecked. It rarely answers to Ann Arbor voters, its growth puts pressure on housing, infrastructure, and city services - and its accountability remains limited. The University owns nearly 10% of Ann Arbor↗, and nearly 25% of downtown lands and buildings.
“The University should be symbiotic with Ann Arbor - not authoritative.”
Coupled with their ownership - the University was recently found to have been harassing and stalking people with opposing political views↗. The campus assets a police force - this is completely unacceptable. City Council has yet to revoke their seats on the independent police oversight commission, which is responsible to protect us from this. The University cannot be protected in an ‘academic bubble’ while they actively pose a threat to civil liberties.
COST OF LIVING & UTILITIES
Ann Arbor’s rising costs are squeezing workers and small businesses. Rent, electricity, and transportation costs continue to rise. With an essential monopoly on power in Ann Arbor, DTE continues to add junk-fees and increase rates. As electric bills continue to grow - so does their CEO’s paycheck, cashing in nearly $13 million a year, while others continue to be overcharged.
“Public utilities should be public, paying at-cost prices.”
I support the effort to publicize our utilities↗. Raising prices on electricity not only siphons money out of our residents into the hands of extortionate corporations, but raises the cost of retail and goods to reflect that. Our municipal water supply is strong - and it’s time to reflect our efforts to protect our residents pockets through this, too. Residents don’t deserve to be punished by the economic elites for their monopolies on necessary services.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION
Equity isn’t something that appears overnight, or just from good intentions alone - it requires our deliberate choice. I believe in furthering our equity impact assessments for any city or budgetary decisions, expanding language and inclusive public engagement/outreach for feedback on decisions, and furthering investments in historically underrepresented or undeserved areas.
“Equity is our choice, not a
back-burner thought.”
With federal crackdowns on equity and inclusion, it’s evermore important to come together as a community to promote it to protect our talent and economic well-being. Diversity is one of our strongest virtues here in Ann Arbor, with multiculturalism being at the center of our artistic talent and taste that makes our city so unique.
About Jeffrey Scott Milk
While my drive to serve the public is important, I also feel it’s critical that my neighbors and fellow Ann Arborites know who I am, and what my background is.
I fell in love with public service through volunteering in my teens. It was a privilege to be able to afford my time serving my community through food pantry collections and being able to assist our veterans. Today, I continue to serve my neighbors, as the President of my Tenant’s Union here in Ann Arbor.
Outside of public office, I have worked in a variety of areas, from Human Resources, to a city treasury. I have the skills to invest our funds and talents in meaningful, long-term solutions that become assets for everyday people.
In my free time, I’m an outspoken activist at University of Michigan and Washtenaw Community College to enact equity, and protect residents and students alike. Nobody fits into a perfect box, and I will never pretend like someone should.
Outside of activism, I love to bake, tour our parks (my favorite is Hunt Park - it’s a shame the amphitheater is decommissioned), figure skate, and read from our public libraries. I used to perform ballet, & participate in musical theater. I love to play tennis and stay fit.
Our home - Ann Arbor - isn’t some ‘business’ that needs to be operated to minimize all expenditures. Our city is here to serve the people of Ann Arbor, and not neglect them in favor of privatization or corporate developer interests. I believe our city is failing to uphold those standards, and am devoted to positive change for all of us Ann Arborites.
I don’t bring vague promises - I have actual ideas and solutions built from collaboration with our community members and neighbors. I’m not afraid to speak up when I think injustice is in play. Our community leaders should not be playing some political ‘game’ - these are our lives.
We, as residents, deserve action and serious debates by City Council who attend their meetings and meet with their constituents. We deserve a varied set of voices - not the same cherry-pick endorsed candidates who set up vanity projects.
City Council has failed to keep up with the cost of living, our unhoused crisis, extortionate corporations, blocking private equity, implementing checks on the University, and protecting private equality & equity.
Failure to act quickly and progressively is what led me to run as City Councilmember for Ward 4.