While I’ve always been against the militarization of U.S. police forces, and in favor of more transparency, accountability and civilian oversight, I have to confess that I’ve never taken calls to “defund the police” very seriously. When, in the past, I’ve heard people say that we should abolish the police, I’ve thought that they were […]
We may not be a big city, like Philly, Houston, Chicago, or DC, but, for our size, Ypsilanti had one hell of a turnout today in support of Black Lives Matter. I’m incredibly proud of my home town right now, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Terril Cotton and the other organizers […]
Earlier this week, after an inquest jury essentially vindicated London police officers in the 2011 killing of 29 year old Mark Duggan, authorities announced that, henceforth, some number of London’s 2,300 firearms-carrying officers would begin wearing vest-mounted video cameras. And, as much as I consider myself a privacy advocate, and despise our ever expanding surveillance […]
Last night, the Ypsi City Council met to, among other things, determine a course of action relative to the proposed Ypsitucky bluegrass festival. As I’m sure most of you know, there’s been a little bit of a hubbub over the name, which was proposed by the Depot Town CDC. Some think, given that the word […]
I told you a few days ago why I felt it was fine to use the suffix “tucky” to promote a Bluegrass music festival here in Ypsilanti this summer. Now, in the spirit of open mindedness, I give you the other side of the debate. The following letter comes from my fellow Ypsi 2020 Task […]
