As I’ve mentioned in the past, members of our community, over the past several years, have been working diligently to raise enough money to rebuild our City’s public pool, which was decommissioned in 2011, after 40 years of service. Well, yesterday, having successfully raised over $1 million, we officially broke ground. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to the effort, from John Weiss, Lisa Wozniak, and the other members of the tenacious “friends” group that made it happen, to the neighborhood kids who donated the proceeds of their lemonade stands to the effort, and the foundations that eventually stepped in to put us over the top. It was truly a community achievement, and everyone who played a role should be proud.
As for the quote above, I really did offer it when being interviewed before the groundbreaking ceremony, but the reporter, I suspect, knew I was just being an asshole who’d taken it upon himself to fill in for the Tea Party patriots that, anticipating the “diversity” of the crowd, had chosen to stay cowering in their homes, listening to Glenn Beck, and reading their large-print, cartoon editions of the Turner Diaries.
29 Comments
A better investment of our money would have been a simple sign saying, “If you want to swim, dig a hole and wait for rain.” Or, better yet, “If you want to swim, start a company, get rich, buy a pool of your own.”
Awesome work, Ypsilanti. This is an incredible milestone, and speaks so powerfully to the perseverance of our community.
Is there really a large-print, cartoon edition of the Turner Diaries? Please tell me there’s not. I don’t want to search for it myself as I think the NSA might flag me.
Speaking of the Tea Party, did you read this new Rasmussen poll?
“26% of Obama Supporters View Tea Party as Nation’s Top Terror Threat”
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/june_2013/26_of_obama_supporters_view_tea_party_as_nation_s_top_terror_threat
Doesn’t the River feel left out in all of this? She wants people to be inside of her too, but she feels no one cares enough to brush her hair and has pretty much let herself go….
Is she too old and dirty to spend money and energy on? Is Ypsi going through his midlife crisis? Moving on to a young, new, chemically managed cool off spot is much easier than dealing with the old hag who has always been there for you?
I care about you Mighty Huron and I will let you cool me off for free anytime!
Maybe, when our local slumlords stop dumping raw sewage into the river, things will begin to turn around, YesSheSaid.
http://ypsicitydesk.blogspot.com/2008/10/environmental-nightmare-landlord-david.html
As I am an eighteenth and nineteenth century statesman, or rather the ghost of one, I am not precisely sure, Mr Maynard, what you mean by “socialism”, but I assure you that none of your nation’s Founding Fathers had any inclination to support such wild expenditures of private or public money as there seems to be happening in Ypsilanti with this new swimming pool. Seems a bit to democratic and popular for my taste. Nonetheless, there is nothing in my Constitution — or yours — to prevent such public expenditures. But this rebuilt swimming pool will not, will it, entail public funds? The one it is replacing did involve public expenditures. I understand that in your present, 2013, the main purpose of public spending is to prop up the wealth and power of the already wealthy and power.
Silly me — in 1787, I was fearful of creating a framework of government that might allow the poor majority of citizens too much power, enough to vote out the power of the elite. My constitution was too much concerned with that, and too concerned about the intelligent actions of the many citizens acting for their own interests.
Who wants to swim in waters common with the unwashed masses? Nobody of significance from my day would have wanted such a thing — but, if Ypsilanti is celebrating this accomplishment, I celebrate with them. Though I agree with Mr Maynard’s wise statement.
On the one hand, I’m very proud to be part of a community that pulled off a community pool!
One million dollars. That sounds like one heck of a of pool. Or a pool for every backyard … I know, apples to oranges.
As much as the pool will be loved and swam in, I like “YesSheSaid’s” perspective.
I’ve been a bit heavy handed, I know, but … “WE HAVE A FUCKING RIVER THAT PEOPLE SWIM IN 20 MILES NORTH OF US!!!”
So … we should enjoy Rutherford and delight in the community success … but, can we hope, plan and work for a day when we can simply splash in the clean waters of the Huron … sans chemicals?
People pay to swim in the Huron 20 miles north of us. Are those twenty miles, really, a lost cause? Does anyone know at which mile marker the Huron becomes toxic, to us in Ypsi?
Am I completely off base? Is it too far fetched to think that I could walk to, and swim in, the same river I drive to and swim in?
Or, is the Huron as good as it looks, and I should just swim?
I’m sorry the Huron has been unfit for humans since we built the first paper mill along it and started dumping dioxins in it. I would not even canoe in the river at Gallup park if you have any kind of open wound or cut. The run off from agriculture and Ann Arbor streets contains all manner of material dangerous to humans. I don’t even recommend wadding in the river. I can’t wait till I can walk around the corner and cool off in my community pool again.
The Asian carp in the river are about 40 pounds apiece. They could de-flesh a kid’s leg in 15 seconds.
Even though the City no longer provides funding for the pool, the taxpayers in the Township continue to fund this, as well as most other recreational programs for City residents.
The city of Ypsilanti does provide funding for Rutherford Pool. In addition to providing annual operations funding of one-half of utilities, the city has also providing 25k$ out of the general fund towards the 1M$ pool renovation. This is in addition to staff time working very closely with the Friends.
The city has been and will continue to be a partner with the Friends of Rutherford Pool.
Paul Schreiber
734-277-5446
How does the township fund the pool?
EOS, until you prove your statement, I call shenanigans on you.
If, by “shenanigans,” you mean “bullshit.”
The Township makes a lump sum payment each year. I don’t know if this has continued while the pool is not open, but we have historically. You can call the township and ask if you believe I am wrong. Or Mayor Schreiber can verify this if he chooses.
I do apologize for making the incorrect statement that the City no longer provides any funds for the pool. It was based on Pres. Madison’s post and as I look back at what he wrote, he was questioning, not stating a fact.
No, EOS, you make the call and prove what you wrote. How much, what years, and from what fund did the money come from?
The township traditionally contributed money to the pool. It is expenditure line item 882-004 in the ytown.com publsihed budget. It was last paid in 2011, at $10,000
and it comes from the Bike, Sidewalk, Rec, and Roads fund
Thanks Dan!
I don’t have facts to support this analysis, but city dwellers are parasites on the bloated patriotic carcasses of me and my fellow Township citizens. I don’t need evidence. I can feel the sucking. And I can see the pool. And I know that 1+1=2.
Rutherford Pool is just one example of collaboration between the city of Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township. The Reimagine Washtenaw effort, YCUA, the A3TA expansion, the Urban County, and fire and police mutual aid are all examples of regional collaboration between Ypsilanti city and township. In addition, many Ypsilanti Township residents frequent downtown Ypsilanti and Depot Town. City residents take their families to Rolling Hills or other parks and attractions in Ypsilanti Township. We are all in the eastern side of Washtenaw County. Let’s recognize that our city and township has strengths and advantages that we can all benefit from.
Paul Schreiber
734-277-5446
Translation: shut the fuck off.
Paul,
“victory has 100 fathers and defeat is an orphan”
Mayor Schreiber,
The A3TA expansion is an agreement between the two cities, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, and does not involve the Township, nor will it, if the township residents get an opportunity to vote on it.
10k probably pays for the township folks who use the pool – its not like the township is all south of 94 like its leadership
anony,
So how much should we charge the city for allowing its residents to enroll in our recreation programs? Our buildings, our staff…
Any person that uses the pool is required to purchase a pass.
The Township wants its residents to vote to raise three separate millage rates this August, yet we can afford to loan money at no interest to the City so that they can fix their roads.