Land O Links

"The understanding of art depends finally upon one's willingness to extend one's humanity and one's knowledge of human life" -- Ralph Ellison, 20th century American author.

* The Downtown Development Authority in Kalamazoo is looking to cut off funding for a police officer for the downtown area because it needs money to repay a $700,000 loan. Bridge recently reported on the financial challenges of tax increment financing authorities around Michigan:

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2012/08/kalamazoo_dda_downtown_communi.html

* "Despite being warned of major cracks in the line at least five years before the accident, the company (Enbridge) had done nothing.":

http://domemagazine.com/lessenberry/jl082412

* The politics behind the upcoming electoral battle over Michigan’s emergency manager law:

http://www.pewstates.org/projects/stateline/headlines/michigans-emergency-managers-seen-as-major-threat-by-labor-85899413926

* A cautionary – and frustrating – tale about the nature of bipartisanship on Capitol Hill, and in the country at large:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/27/opinion/keller-the-last-bipartisan.html?pagewanted=all

* The city of Saginaw’s general fund cash reserve is almost gone. With public safety work taking up about 2/3 of the city’s budget, cuts in those areas are expected:

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2012/08/city_of_saginaw_officials_say.html