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Borders Group death rattle?

Since the Chronicle’s comment policy rather perversely prevents them from allowing comments on articles like this which are of obvious local interest, let me say here, thank you Borders Group, for your efforts in destroying 96% of your market capitalization in the last year.

If there is a way to save Borders, surely it is to cut out all the CDs, to cut out all the ancillary products, to cut out international operations, and to focus on being a full-service bookstore in the US. Amazingly, Foresee results still list Borders and Barnes and Noble as global leaders in customer satisfaction, and Borders still has great bookstore locations in most major US cities. Build on what you have.

The Ann Arbor Chronicle » A2: Borders Group
… a press release from Borders Group that announces a new CEO and other management changes at the beleaguered Ann Arbor-based bookstore chain. Ron Marshall, founder of the private equity firm Wildridge Capital Management, has replaced George Jones as president and CEO. Jones had been in that job since July 2006. In a statement, Borders board chairman Larry Pollock says: “Progress has been made by Borders Group over recent quarters within the challenging economy to reduce debt, improve cash flow, cut expenses, enhance inventory productivity and improve margins, but it is imperative that the company more aggressively attack these initiatives to address its long-term future.” Borders also reported a double-digit sales decline for the holiday period ending Jan. 3

Welcome to “Ann Arbor for Better or Worse”

After spending too much time posting grouchy comments to ArborUpdate and the Ann Arbor Chronicle, I am moving some of my Ann Arbor commentary here, in the hope that this will prove a better venue for contrarian thinking about the city that is, for better or worse, my lifelong home.

Snow Removal Fans 16, Fred 0

Where I weigh in on the need for a more hardy midwestern attitude towards snow removal.

The Ann Arbor Chronicle » Column: Ann Arbor Now 0-16

“Cabal” Pushing Ann Arbor City Income Tax

Important thread over at ArborUpdate as a cabal* of tax-and-spend advocates are working to lay the ground work for an Ann Arbor city income tax as a replacement for the property tax from the Pfizer facility recently bought by the untaxed plutocrats at U of M.

An ill-timed attempt to broaden the city tax base, this will likely be divisive and, in the end, either ineffective (it won’t be passed) or counterproductive (it will be passed, but will drive new job creation out of Ann Arbor to the townships.

*Irony alert: while there is plainly some behind-the-scenes politicking and organization among the advocates in this thread, the term “cabal” is, of course, a joking exaggeration.