On Aug. 4, voters will determine the Democratic nominee in the race for Ann Arbor mayor. Washtenaw County Commissioner Yousef Rabhi will face incumbent Mayor Christopher Taylor for the spot.
Rabhi was a state legislator for six years and has spent the last six years as a Washtenaw County Commissioner. He is running on a platform focused on deterring Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and creating a more affordable Ann Arbor. He is endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. Taylor has served as Ann Arbor mayor since Nov. 2014 and seeks to continue his implementation of progressive policy by building more housing and supporting Ann Arbor’s sustainability efforts. He received endorsements from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-MI.
After substantive interviews with both candidates, significant deliberation and a vote, this Editorial Board has decided to endorse Taylor for reelection. His proven track record as mayor, along with his policies focused on making Ann Arbor more affordable, position him as the reliable candidate to continue serving this community.
When asked his priorities are, Taylor was very clear:
“With respect to our local government, our job is to improve basic services and enhance quality of life… with respect to two major initiatives. Number one, housing and housing affordability. And number two, climate action” Taylor said.
Housing affordability is at the forefront of community concerns. With both Taylor and Rabhi championing highly progressive platforms, the deciding factor for this Editorial Board was Taylor’s housing plans. His plans appeared more tested and proven to stave off rising housing prices.
Taylor wants to build more housing across the board for community members at different income levels. He has invested millions of dollars in public housing already and plans to continue championing such policies. His Comprehensive Land Use Plan challenges current zoning restrictions by enabling people to build more housing all throughout Ann Arbor. Rabhi, on the other hand, promotes policies aimed at controlling the rent to combat the housing crisis. The mayor emphasized that rent control — which is prohibited by the state — is not an actionable solution. This Editorial Board agrees.
Another main tenet of Taylor’s platform is climate policy. His A2Zero action plan aims for city-wide carbon neutrality by 2030. Taylor worked to expand funding for this project, after it has already increased renewable energy usage and electric vehicles for the government. It has also created carbon-neutral, low-income housing — a rarity anywhere in the country.
This Editorial Board also prioritized policy agenda feasibility. While Rabhi and Taylor both have lofty goals, Taylor has already demonstrated an ability to work with city councillors. Relationships with city councillors will be key in helping the incoming mayor achieve their aims, and Taylor has proven effective at maintaining those relationships. We believe that such ability will be crucial in further implementing A2Zero, as well as the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
Both Rabhi and Taylor are excellent candidates who love Ann Arbor and have commendable and comprehensive platforms. However, Taylor’s vision is backed by easily implementable policy goals as well as the experience necessary to do so. He has a track record of working to make life better in Ann Arbor and building a sustainable, more affordable future for students and community members alike.
This editorial represents the opinion of The Michigan Daily’s Editorial Board. If you are interested in submitting an Op-Ed or Letter to the Editor, please send your submission to tothedaily@michigandaily.com.
