Ypsi recall election puts all eyes on Dez 10 GROUNDCOVER NEWS POLITICS Ypsilanti City Council woman Desiraé Simmons faces a recall election. Ypsilanti Forward, as known as Love Ypsi, started a petition in Ypsilanti’s third ward to get enough signatures to have a recall election to have Council Member Desiraé Simmons removed from Ypsilanti City Council. The recall group got enough signatures to force a recall election, and Rod Johnson has filed to run for the Ward 3 council seat and attempt to unseat Council Member Simmons. Love Ypsi initially targeted three members of council; Mayor Nicole Brown, Council Member Jennifer Symanns of Ward 2 and Simmons because of their votes in November 2023 to approve the purchase of a $3.7 million industrial building to replace the old site for the Department of Public Services, among a list of other grievances. Brown has since had a change of mind on the approval of the purchase of the building, and during a re-vote on the purchase on December 5, 2023, voted against it. Simmons abstained. Jennifer Symmans had already announced her resignation. As a result, the recall group withdrew their campaign against Brown on Dec 6, leaving all eyes on Simmons. I got a chance to interview Council Member Desiraé Simmons and I had two questions: 1. What do you think is Ypsilanti Forward’s main misunderstanding with you? 2. Why should you be re-elected in the recall election? She responded, “I think their main misunderstanding of me is that they believe I do not consider a full picture, and an understanding of interest that includes them, too. In other words, they feel left out, and [feel] that I don’t consider their interests in my decision making. But I believe the decisions I make benefit them as well and my goal is for everybody to benefit as opposed to some people getting to benefit. I see them as part of everybody, and I don’t think they should be the only people able to benefit while other people don’t.” To the second question, she MIKE JONES Groundcover vendor No. 113 responded, “There are two things I want to say. One, I want to make clear that the voters don’t have to re-elect me; they can just stop my removal. I’m still in office, they just have to say no to the recall to allow me to continue the term they elected in the first place. And why I should be allowed to continue is because my record and the roles I played on council speaks [sic] for itself. You can tune in to any meeting and see my involvement in the community; you can ask for a meeting one on one, or even call me. I am bringing forward the values I hold which are community engagement and collaborative leadership. I believe the government can be used to address real needs, like: housing, safety and thinking about the ways we are in public space together and how to make decisions. So, I have been able to make some progress around these areas and just getting started setting ground-work on these issues that APRIL 5, 2024 needs [sic] more time and attention than one year in office. And I believe that I will be able to continue to deliver for the residents of Ward 3 and for the fullness of Ypsilanti and the surrounding area.” Then I asked her if there was anything else she would like to add. She said, “Yes, I think local elections matter a lot. These local elections impact people's everyday lives. So, I encourage people who might not yet be registered to vote to know that Michigan’s laws allow you to register when you go to vote. That is, the day of the election at the City Clerk's office. If you care about issues like affordable housing and public safety get involved and vote for me on May 7.” The election will be held on Tuesday, May 7, and absentee ballots start in April; the winner will serve the remainder of the term through 2026. Rod Johnson declined an interview with Groundcover News. Ypsilanti Forward could not be reached for comment.
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