Along with article submissions from the community, What’s Left periodically receives messages of support from readers. If you’d like to submit a story idea, inquiry, or send a message you can reach issue 5 co-editors Amber and Desiraé at contact@whatsleftypsi.com or here. 7/5/2020 Hello, I…
On June 20th, Ayanna Bennett organized a Black Lives Matter demonstration in downtown Ypsilanti and highlighted that “#BLM is not a moment—its a movement.” What’s Left captured moments from the action and interviewed demonstrators in the street asking, “can you imagine an Ypsi without police?”…
I would be willing to bet you hate your job. You probably work too many hours, for terrible wages, and live one paycheck away from desperation. You might even be like me and have two or more jobs—that is if you’re lucky enough to have…
Ypsilanti, Michigan Mayor Beth Bashert made national news on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, after video surfaced of her comment from the previous night’s City Council meeting (full video here). During a vote to reinstate Ka’Ron Gaines as a Human Relations Commissioner, Bashert states “since I…
Ypsilanti City Council voted on June 4, 2019 to appoint Annie Somerville to the vacant City Council seat in Ward 3. City Council’s process lacked transparency and did not reflect public constituent input. In-person interviews of candidates to fill the Ypsilanti Ward 3 City Council…
Racial Equity and Representation Since her inauguration on November 12, 2018, Ypsilanti Mayor Beth Bashert has decided not to reinstate two Black city commissioners to their respective commissions. A Freedom of Information Act request revealed that Mayor Bashert has not nominated a single non-white Ypsilanti…
In Ypsilanti, the mayor has the sole power to nominate people to the city’s commissions. City commissions are government bodies made up of volunteers who make decisions that affect Ypsilanti. Some commissions merely advise City Council; others actually have the final decision-making power over city…
June 6th was a hot day in Ypsilanti; a day when over a thousand people took to the streets in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and to protest domestic terrorism from the police. Upon entering downtown Ypsilanti it was difficult to miss the…
It’s Saturday at Beautiful Gate Church in Ypsilanti. Families and individuals are lined up outside, coming in two-to-three at a time, to get groceries for the week. Many of the folks know one another––they may be neighbors, friends, or just people who see each other…
City Boards and Commissions During discussion of a Human Relations Commission recommendation to increase diversity in board and commission appointments on Nov 5, Councilmember Somerville suggests creating a report of demographic information from city commissioners through a voluntary survey of commissioners. In a 3-to-3 decision…
A major concern for the at-risk community and homelessness-relief advocates is affordable housing. Access to shelter is extremely important for survival, especially in Michigan winters, and our county resources do a good job with the resources they have. The actual shelter itself may only help…
Privatization hasn’t been spoken about much this year at EMU, at least in public. The administration, going from Housing and Residence Life staff all the way up to the Board of Regents, don’t even use the term. Instead, they prefer the term “partnership.” That way,…
Despite the cold of late January, we hit the streets on a couple evenings to talk to folks who were out and about in Ypsilanti. Question 1: What will Ypsi look like in 2030? Question 2: Last Saturday, people gathered across the country for National…
Alize Asberry Payne is the first Washtenaw County Equity Officer. She started in her position in July 2019. Given the racial inequities between the 48197 & 48198 zip codes and the rest of the county, I wanted to learn more about how she will approach…
How many ways do I have to see The hate you give? How many examples are enough So I may simply live? When can I cry uncle and you’ll agree I’ve paid a high enough price to finally be Free? Where can I feel safe?…
What’s that wet, willing, wistful wind that’s dancing in the air? It’s Pisces! The season of empathy, fluidity, and bringing the symphony that we’ve been composing since last year’s Spring Equinox to a wonderful heart-wrenching climax. It’s fitting that this season is the realm that…
Barbara Mahase Rodman (July 15, 1927 – November 22, 2019) “left the Fair” peacefully surrounded by family in her final days. She used to have a dream many years ago that she spoke of often. She was at the fair and her son, Davey (1959-1977),…
The Catholic Worker Movement began in May 1933 when a journalist named Dorothy Day and a philosopher teamed up to publish and distribute a radical newspaper called “The Catholic Worker.” Grounded in the belief in the dignity of every person their movement committed itself to…
We may be approaching a sweet holiday season. I say this cautiously because I don’t want you to get too excited. Keep your expectations low, and stay grateful. Because last time I said Autumn would be amazing and….I dunno. Its kinda like predicting the weather…
Members of the Ypsilanti community often struggle to meet their community’s standards for lawn maintenance. One renter described to me how her landlord had given her a lawnmower but refused to provide any other equipment, like a weed-whipper or hedge trimmer. So, she was forced…
Washtenaw County’s current judicial climate has been rocked by the news that 14A District Judge Richard Conlin decided to resign before his term would end next year, due to his Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis. The 2020 race for his seat has now been thrown into limbo…
During public meetings of the Ypsi City Council and Commissions, there are various points at which members of the public are invited to speak. Individuals are typically allotted 3 minutes to speak near the beginning and end of the meeting. Audience Participation is a space…
