׉?ׁB!בCטFFu׉׉ 7cassandra://PW3dnzWuidISprJ_tJHCmMTIQOvHdus4PDjdKFGZ9nsE`׉ 7cassandra://7OtBOVJ4f5qRL1gTSUk5SBibzXSS56ZTy4XwtU-MjII͎`h׉ 7cassandra://E9mALwWSIjPRWGkAP7aP81LZtRfwu_BaJ-Tu1tjrcWs0'`fuPr1fטFu׈}\׈EfuPr1f׉E%2 $ JULY 26, 2024 | VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 16 YOUR PURCHASE BENEFITS THE VENDORS. PLEASE BUY ONLY FROM BADGED VENDORS. MARK GIGAX #620 Who will be the new sheriff in town? Page 6. ASK YOUR VENDOR: WHAT ISSUE BRINGS YOU TO THE POLLS? GROUNDCOVER NEWS AND SOLUTIONS FROM THE GROUND UP | WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICH. MICHIGAN PRIMARY IS AUGUST 6, 2024. voter information inside THIS PAPER WAS BOUGHT FROM • Proposal: Housing-development accelerator • Charbonneau: Open your eyes to housing inequity. PAGE 4 @groundcovernews, include vendor name and vendor # ׉ 7cassandra://E9mALwWSIjPRWGkAP7aP81LZtRfwu_BaJ-Tu1tjrcWs0'`fuPr1ffuPr1f בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://ma8fzI9P-zuvLjPaBg8qNsQ7zVH5BDY2xvvSXRdo8j8+`I׉ 7cassandra://cnqYxsBXYgokWjCrXK8C7-wNiO8MFqqOVQa9sf8DJBA9`׉ 7cassandra://CIe-hd9CFOIuMvCUB2hTZlNvmcxctRdLBmblcPS_xz0P`fuQr1fĜנfuPr1f<Y̘9׉Hhttp://www.vote411.orgGׁ ׁ rנfuPr1f̗̪9׉Hhttp://Michigan.gov/VoteGׁ ׁ rנfuPr1f< o9׉H.http://my.lwv.org/michigan/washtenaw-county%20Gׁ ׁ rנfuPr1f9׉H!http://www.groundcovernews.org%20Gׁ ׁ rנfuPr1fÁ9׉H http://linktr.ee/groundcovernewsGׁ ׁ rנfuQr1f΁9ׁH http://linktr.ee/groundcovernewsׁ ׁ ЈנfuQr1f́9ׁHhttp://www.groundcovernews.orgׁ ׁ ЈנfuQr1f́ 9ׁH"mailto:contact@groundcovernews.comׁ ׁ ЈנfuQr1fˁF!9ׁH&mailto:submissions@groundcovernews.comׁ ׁ ЈנfuQr1fʁ<j9ׁH$http://my.lwv.org/michigan/washtenawׁ ׁ ЈנfuQr1fɁ̗̪9ׁHhttp://Michigan.gov/Voteׁ ׁ ЈנfuQr1fȁ<^̘9ׁHhttp://www.vote411.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉E-2 GROUNDCOVER NEWS GROUNDCOVER voting INFORMATION NEXT ELECTION Tuesday, August 6: Primary election — Federal, state and local candidates, proposals Tuesday, November 5: General election VIEW PERSONALIZED VOTING INFORMATION www.vote411.org • See what's on your ballot • Check your voter registration • Find your polling place • Discover upcoming debates in your area EARLY VOTING INFORMATION Michigan voters now have the right to vote early in-person during nine (9) full days prior to every major election. To do so, voters must visit one of the Early Voting sites assigned to the city or township they live in. All sites are open from the second Saturday through the Sunday immediately prior to every major election, including on the weekends. Wondering where and when you can vote early? Look up your voter record and early voting site information at Michigan.gov/Vote WATCH CANDIDATE FORUMS League of Women Voters - Washtenaw County organized and recorded all-candidate forums for the August Primary races, including the Board of Commissioners. my.lwv.org/michigan/washtenaw-county SAFER COMMUNITIES START WITH SUPPORTING PEOPLE, NOT POLICING THEM. Kat Layton’s approach to public safety goes beyond traditional policing models. With 44% of jailed individuals reporting at least one mental health condition, and jails disproportionately affecting people of color, we need systems that don't criminalize people of color, the poor, unhoused, or mentally ill. By investing in community programs that address the root causes of crime, like mental health services, harm reduction, affordable housing, and education, we can create safer and more resilient communities without relying on police. ACTION ITEMS KAT INTENDS TO FULFILL Realign Millage Funding: Determine the true allocation of funds from the Mental Health & Public Safety Millage and redirect spending to support its original purpose, addressing underfunded programs focused on root issues. Work towards prioritizing support services over law enforcement funding. Unarmed & Non-Police Crisis Response: Leverage county funding for an data-driven, unarmed crisis response program without police involvement, while working towards providing pre-arrest diversion and deflection programs. 24/7 Shelter and Resource Center: Establish a year-round warming and cooling center for our unhoused neighbors in collaboration with the county and community organizations, with the long-term goal of developing an emergency overnight shelter. VOTE AUGUST 6 JULY 26, 2024 KAT LAYTON EQUITY-CENTERED DEMOCRAT FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER PROVIDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-DETERMINED INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY POVERTY, PRODUCING A STREET NEWSPAPER THAT GIVES A PLATFORM TO UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES IN WASHTENAW COUNTY, PROMOTING AN ACTION TO BUILD A JUST, CARING AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETY. Groundcover News, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in April 2010 as a means to empower lowincome persons to make the transitions from homeless to housed, and from jobless to employed. Vendors purchase each copy of our regular editions of Groundcover News at our office for 50 cents. This money goes towards production costs. Vendors work selling the paper on the street for $2, keeping all income and tips from each sale. Street papers like Groundcover News exist in cities all over the United States, as well as in more than 40 other countries, in an effort to raise awareness of the plight of homeless people and combat the increase in poverty. Our paper is a proud member of the International Network of Street Papers. STAFF Lindsay Calka — publisher Cynthia Price — editor Hanan Husein — intern ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS Elizabeth Bauman Jim Clark Ramon Roberto Isla Caballero Mike Jones Jane Reilly Ken Parks Will Shakespeare Denise Shearer Wayne Sparks Philip Spink Buk'e Woyrm GROUNDCOVER NEWS ADVERTISING RATES Size 1/8 1/6 1/4 1/2 full page Black/White $110.00 $145.00 $200.00 $375.00 $650.00 Color $150.00 $200.00 $265.00 $500.00 $900.00 Dimensions (W x H in inches) 5 X 3 or 2.5 X 6.5 5 X 4 5 X 6.25 5 X 13 or 10.25 X 6.5 10.25 X 13 CONTACT US PROOFREADERS Kendall Artz Susan Beckett Elliot Cubit Zachary Dortzbach Anabel Sicko VOLUNTEERS Jessi Averill Sim Bose Luiza Duarte Caetano Glenn Gates Alexandra Granberg Jacob Fallman Robert Klingler Simone Masing Anthony McCormick Mary Wisgerhof Max Wisgerhof Story and photo submissions: submissions@groundcovernews.com Advertising and partnerships: contact@groundcovernews.com Office: 423 S. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor Mon-Sat, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Phone: 734-263-2098 @groundcover @groundcovernews DONATE, LISTEN TO OLD ISSUES + LEARN MORE www.groundcovernews.org linktr.ee/groundcovernews PACKAGE PRICING Three Months/Six Issues: 15% off Six Months/Twelve Issues: 25% off Full Year/Twenty-four Issues: 35% off Only run for two weeks/one issue: 40% off Additional 20% discount for money saving coupons exp. 01/31/2025 ׉ 7cassandra://CIe-hd9CFOIuMvCUB2hTZlNvmcxctRdLBmblcPS_xz0P`fuPr1f׉E JULY 26, 2024 ON MY CORNER ASK YOUR VENDOR What issue brings you to the polls? Affordable housing policy. — Mark Gigax, #620 Not issues but the elections themselves. Local elections — because local issues — are important to me. — Wayne Sparks, #615 Peace and freedom. — Ken Parks, #490 The border. — Tony Schohl, #9 People having good healthcare and housing and food and ending violence. — Denise Shearer, #485 Getting the first woman President! — Shawn Swoffer, #574 Defeating Donald Trump. — Cindy Gere, #279 Getting some sort of stability for people who have none. Not just people on the street, working families, everyone ...except the rich. — Michael Montagano, #640 While I don't think participating in America's governmental processes will yield any result that moves us towards a compassionate and evolved state, I will vote for my friends who are running because they are fighting the same fight just on a different front. — Jim Clark, #139 ICE is so racista RAMON ROBERTO ISLA CABALLERO Groundcover vendor No. 347 44 years ago, in the United States, a bastard in the state police in the state of Indiana in the county of Valparaíso used immigration control and an illegal immigrant lost all his rights when he signed a voluntary deportation. That immigrant was me. Since then, I spent many years working and now I don’t owe anything to anyone. Now I feel sick at 65 years, with no family, and the only thing I have is my job selling papers. I have no free time and own nothing; everything is given to me for free by the American government, thanks to the federal laws in this country. Still this is a racist country because of ICE. Now it’s even worse. I lost my Section 8 title because the waitlist closed and now have no more prospects for housing. If I was living in another state, and the police caught me sleeping outside, I would need to pay a $250 fine. Everyday, new, more discriminatory laws are passed. That’s why I don’t like this country anymore. Hace 44 años, en Estados Unidos, un desgraciado de la policía estatal en el estado de Indiana en el condado de Valparaíso usó el control de imigración y un ilegal perdió todos sus derechos al firmar una deportación voluntaria. Ese ilegal era yo. Después, he pasado muchos años trabajando y no tengo que darle cuenta a nadie. Ahora me siento enfermo con 65 años de edad, sin familia, y lo único que tengo es mi trabajo de vendedor de periódicos. No tengo un día libre y sin nada, todo me lo da grátis el gobierno americano. Gracias a las leyes federales de este país. Sin embargo, este es un país racista. Ahora es mucho peor. Ya no tengo mi vale de Sección 8 porque la lista de espera se cerró y así no tengo más vivienda. Si yo viviera en otro estado y la policía me atrapara durmiendo en la calle, tendría que pagar una multa de 250 dólares. A cada día, nueves leyes más discriminatorias son aprobadas. Por eso no me gusta más este país. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 3 I'll miss June and July June and July are two of my favorite months to celebrate holidays. In June, there’s Juneteenth celebrating how God and Jesus helped people be free. People also barbecue and have good food and get togethers for Juneteenth. I also like to celebrate Christmas any month I can, including the summer months. June and July are two good months to barbecue and have celebrations and have fun. I also like to send cards and get and give Christmas presents in June and July too. I like to go to places where my friends are, like Growing Hope and FedUp Ministries in Ypsilanti. I like to hang around downtown Ypsilanti and go to the church where my friends are. I like going to Bethlehem DENISE SHEARER Groundcover vendor No. 485 United Church of Christ where Groundcover is and a lot of my friends are there, too. I like to celebrate the holidays by doing artwork for my friends, too. The Ann Arbor Art Fair is in July So long, Joe! WAYNE S. Groundcover vendor No. 615 In this time of political turmoil, it is refreshing to see that there are still people around who will put their personal wants aside and will do what's best for the people! Yeah, remember us? Now with his example and heartfelt and every July I get happy and excited and try my best to make it there. The Art Fair has any type of artwork you want to see. I like the nonprofit booths where you can get things for free. I like to get food from the Art Fair and just walk around and look at the beautiful scenery and maybe see some of my friends, or maybe make some new friends if I can. One of my favorite things to do is get something cold to drink because most of the time it be so hot. The Art Fair is very fun and beautiful and relaxing. There’s a lot of interesting people and artwork. Those are the ways I like to celebrate June and July. decision we have a true patriot who showed us he didn't just talk the talk, but walked the walk. Now it is time for us to come together. We have a moment in time where we can change the narrative, where we can run political campaigns on our accomplishments, not on our opponents' failures. It's time for us to take a quick breath and take a good look at both candidates, not have them just attack one another. A time to find who has the integrity to have the light shine on them and not come up wanting. So we are saying goodbye to a person who has spent most of his adult life serving the people: Joe Biden. It would be so easy to take pot shots at both parties. I’ll follow the President of the United States — Joe Biden's — lead and see if this novel idea of doing what's best for the people resonates and catches on! fuPr1ffuPr1f בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://AurMo_SS9RMvmMvjL1StRvAiol80kHeCu-gBvsduLwM *`I׉ 7cassandra://mceLabopsW5F0CxsBMBVvXFYouiFMpM6SX-WpnI6GM84`׉ 7cassandra://tuAwoDRSstkuN9rSre-JDIUbXzCp6LEWlRMOsx0EKJgS`fuQr1fϒנfuQr1fǁK̩9׉Hhttp://www.linktr.ee/ypsibigGׁ ׁ rנfuRr1fցbF9ׁHhttp://soaw.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉Ee4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS VOTING I remember the first time I voted and became a part of the democratic process … but why? Black Men here in the United States of America, a lot of us feel our vote doesn't matter or won’t have no-real effect on our situation here in America; in short, we are totally detached and have no faith in the democratic process. But it is projected that there will be 34.4 million eligible Black voters by election time in November 2024. Black voter turnout rates are projected to be higher than Hispanics and Asians. The first time I voted was when Barack Obama first won the presidency in 2008. The reason I voted for him was simply because of his skin color. Not because he was a Democrat or his ideas and values were in line with my own; I never thought about what type of policies he might administer. How naive I was then. Now, seventeen years later, I am much wiser. Still, I have to mention his skin color caught my attention and put me in the game of the democratic process. During Barack Obama’s presidency I started becoming detached and decided not to participate in the 2012 election.Then Trump came along in 2016 and swept the nation by storm, with it at times. This upcoming election I will be casting my vote and hope others will do the same. I met a brother in the downtown Ann Arbor area named Todd Wilson, the Michigan lead organizer and consultant of Black Men Vote. As we talked, he let me know that MIKE JONES Groundcover vendor No. 113 catching everybody's attention. He turned ordinary news stations into political entertainment narcotics; people became hooked on Trump news. Now, I must mention that Trump news got me back into the game of the process of democracy again. Both Obama and Trump caught the attention of the masses, including those people who would have never paid attention to politics. Sometimes it takes extreme figures and/or situations to get people's attention and to get them involved. Ever since 2016, I have been back in the game, being a part of the democratic process, even though I struggle Frank White, known as former President Barack Obama’s top fundraiser, started BMV in January 2024. BMV is currently partnered with “Shop Talk,” the flagship of the campaign currently operating in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. The goal is to get 55-60 barbershops, beauty salons and barber schools involved with helping to get Black Men registered and participating in the democratic process.” As he continued, he informed why he decided to get involved and engage in Black Men voter mobilization and voter registration. “Because I noticed a voter deficit, if we look at the polls, our voter turnout rate was the lowest nationally; only 12 percent of Black registered voters came out to vote in the last Michigan Primary election. Shop Talk is geared towards changing that trajectory, by mobilizing Black Men to get them engaged or reengaged into the JULY 26, 2024 Black Men Vote mobilizes voters in barber shops democratic process. As men, we are looked-up to in the household and in our communities. People watch us; therefore, we can lead by example, and we can change the trajectory, when it comes to our vote as a whole, in our community. Black Men being involved allows for Black Men to be more informed on issues, and allows us as Black Men to have a voice in the political arena on issues that matter to us.” Then I asked him about the types of responses that have been received since the start of BMV. He said, “Voter mobilization; people are really getting behind it and getting involved. We also look to partner with various organizations and with state and local governments soon; things have been going well.” I had one last question for Todd: How can people register to vote and get involved with BMV? He said, “If you want to get more information on Black Men Vote, you can go to our website blackmenvote.org and you can register to vote on our website and also get valuable information needed for the upcoming election.” So, there you have it folks, exercise your right and vote! Three City of Ypsilanti ballot initiatives to look for during November election LINDSAY CALKA Publisher Ypsilanti Ballot Initiative Group (Ypsi BIG) is a newly formed group of organizers in Ypsilanti that has nearly collected 900 signatures on three separate ballot petitions aimed at amending the Ypsilanti City Charter. The group includes members from Ypsilanti Tenants Union, What’s Left Ypsi, Eastern Michigan University, and former members of Defend Affordable Ypsi. Ypsi BIG began planning for the petitioning process early in 2024, drawing inspiration from an unsuccessful effort by Defend Affordable Ypsi in 2020, which attempted to instate rent control through a ballot petition process. Ypsi BIG surveyed a number of local grassroots organizations, considering over 10 possible charter amendments before deciding on three. A ballot initiative is a proposed law — in this case, a change to the City Charter — initiated by the electorate instead of by those in elected office. In order to get the proposed legislation on the ballot, a certain number of signatures must be collected and approved by a deadline. In addition to the standard tactic of door knocking and street canvassing at public events such as Ypsi Pride, First Fridays and Juneteenth, Ypsi BIG marketed the ballot initiatives on social media and directed interested signers to show up at a central location — Vertex Cafe, Sundays 1-4 p.m. — throughout June and July. Due to their efforts, close to 900 Ypsilanti residents have signed in favor of these changes and if the remainder of the signatures are collected and approved by the City Clerk by July 30, the measures will be up for general vote in the November 5 election. Read up on what each of the initiatives aim to do so you can make an informed decision on election day. 1. Public Control of Police Budget: Requires that any changes to the Ypsilanti Police Department budget be voted on as a stand-alone issue by the general public during a regular November election. 2. Non-partisan Local Elections: Would eliminate partisan voting for Mayor and City Council positions, Show up to Vertex Cafe Sunday, July 28 1-4 p.m. to sign and support the initiatives! which would mean that straight-ticket voting would not apply to those seats. This would also eliminate City Council and mayoral primary elections, which would effectively create more competitive races in November. 3. Tenant Rights: Would result in three big changes: 1) A ban on rental application fees, 2) A requirement for landlords to follow a Right of First Refusal law, and 3) A requirement for landlords to register all of their properties with the City on an accessible online database. There would be substantial financial penalties for landlords should they not follow this, and holding them accountable will be the job of City Council. Right of First Refusal mandates that landlords, if selling their rental properties, first offer to sell the property at market rate to the tenant(s) who live there. If you are interested in supporting the campaign for these initiatives, contact Ypsi BIG by visiting their website www.linktr.ee/ypsibig or messaging on Instagram @ypsi.big ׉ 7cassandra://tuAwoDRSstkuN9rSre-JDIUbXzCp6LEWlRMOsx0EKJgS`fuPr1f׉EZJULY 26, 2024 MAKING CHANGE Where is the revolution? KEN PARKS Groundcover vendor No. 490 It is often said, “You can kill the revolutionary but you can’t kill the revolution.” On the 4th of July, independence is tainted with a military flavor that usually promotes the military-industrial-financial complex that Eisenhower warned us about. Freedom of expression is limited by the idolatry of flag worship. Fireworks are a magical display that distract from the bombs that are regularly falling on someone in the world. The aspiration for freedom is born with the first breath of every baby. The potential for love and creativity which we recognize in a newborn is the human heritage we all embody. The real question may be, “Where is your inner child?” NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) did a study on genius, creativity and imagination and discovered that nearly all fiveyear-olds scored high. The rate declined with age and was down to 2% for adults. Google can teach us a lot but it is up to us to work with what we have. This means recognizing the plight of our inner child and doing the healing so that inner child and adult learn to communicate. I proposed a workshop at Crazy Wisdom with Joya D’Cruz on this theme and hope to have an announcement soon. Joya was mentored by Eugene Gendlin who wrote “Focusing,” an important book on mental health. Facing reality is a revolutionary act and can inspire you to become an active participant in your life. The dialectic of theory and practice is a lively one as the rhythm of joy appears. Today, July 1, is the anniversary of the jazz standard “Take Five,” the 5/4 rhythm that brightens our life. Search that when you are ready for a treat! Maybe we will play it on October 8 as the theme of my 82nd birthday. I was born just before the baby boomers who once said “Don’t trust anyone over 30.” There is some form of youth rebellion with every generation and the Gray Panthers slogan “Youth and Age Together” is one to remember. We can empower each other to follow through until the job is done. We will know when peace and justice replace compliance with the chain of command. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas sang about it, “Dancing In The Street.” Another treat at your fingertips. We have a long history of victories that seem to crumble just as we want to rest on our laurels. After the war in Vietnam, the ruling class broke the so-called Vietnam Syndrome with Ken Parks at the Ann Arbor Coalition Against the War Art Fair Booth. war in Granada and then Panama. The School of the Americas became known as the School of the Assassins and renamed itself to continue the wars of counterinsurgency. Read soaw.org for updates as the popular struggles continue in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador in particular. The most recent victory in the global struggle for freedom is the release of Julian Assange. The popular movement in Australia gained enough momentum that politicians took notice and acted to release him after five years of prison which came on the heels of his controversial arrest at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he was in asylum for seven years. The bravery and persistence of Assange and his family and the struggle for freedom of the press is now legendary. Let’s follow through and support the whistleblowers in our midst. Water protectors — from Standing Rock in North Dakota to the Carrizo Comecrudo tribe of Texas, the original people of the Rio Grande — are active in exposing the extractive war on the environment. As Juan B. Mancias says, “Water is meant to unite, not divide.” I ordered a t-shirt with a striking photo of him and that quote. You can get one at the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas website. I am guilty of being active in both religion and politics, the two taboos of bourgeois culture. This French origin word refers to the capitalist class and sometimes middle class as people adjust to the geopolitical order of our time in history. The French and American Revolutions consolidated the end of feudalism and the deepening of the capitalist revolution which is ripening for the next step towards freedom. This is the responsibility we share as we learn that reality is a seamless whole, that awareness is the next step in our evolution to genuine revolution. James Boggs and Grace Lee Boggs are legendary in Detroit and beyond for their life of theory and practice that you can visit in the book “Evolution and Revolution in the 20th Century.” When your life’s purpose becomes a shared purpose with others, the power that arises is formidable. If your intention is to benefit all beings without exception, countless world systems will arise. When inner space and outer space come together, infinity takes a dive into the Clear Light of the Void. This is the moment when masters of mindful awareness will be welcomed into your inner circle of significant beings. Suffering becomes a force to seek the cure. When we discover that reality is a workable situation, the revolution of unconditional love will erase all the conceptual prisons that have enslaved us from beginningless time. Unimpeded awareness becomes a victory celebration. Imagine that! I must mention that July 26 is celebrated in Cuba as the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. Although the attack on the Moncada barracks was a failure, it marked the beginning of open resistance to the Batista dictatorship. I regularly ask my Cuban family “Where is the revolution?” and the response is always “Where is it?” We have unfinished revolutions in many places. Awareness with dignity and confidence will help us weave many local fabrics into a beautiful global quilt. “The Invention of Wings” is a wonderful book on quilts and freedom. The historic friendship of a slavemaster’s daughter and a slave girl is the inspiration for this book by Sue Monk Kidd, who many know from “The Secret Life of Bees.” This world is an amazing place when your curiosity comes out of the closet. The revolution begins here. Since no one can do everything, it is good to tune in to whatever speaks to you and know that anything you do is interrelated and that everyday life is the main stage. Daily mindful awareness practice is my recommendation on where to start. Your inner child is ready to play the game of life. Just as the sun rises everyday, raise yourself to a daily practice of engaged living. The revolution lives in your heart. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 5 fuPr1ffuPr1f בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://I1BgrjE0yYOJ1QVJX14LFTWfTbHBokN5F8ZA1hgwDCo