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2 $ JANUARY 23, 2026 | VOLUME 17| ISSUE 3 KEN PARKS #490 YOUR PURCHASE BENEFITS THE VENDORS. PLEASE BUY ONLY FROM BADGED VENDORS. Vendor Appreciation Week is February 2-8, 2026! page 8 ASK YOUR VENDOR: WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 6 MONTHS? 15 YEARS OF NEWS AND SOLUTIONS FROM THE GROUND UP | WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICH. Trump's Monroe Doctrine. page 7 Electeds wobble, residents double-down: “Drop Peeler’s charges” page 10 WASHTENAW RISES UP! Michiganders fight AI data centers. page 4 THIS PAPER WAS BOUGHT FROM • Proposal: Housing-development accelerator • Charbonneau: Open your eyes to housing inequity. PAGE 4 @groundcovernews, include vendor name and vendor #

2 GROUNDCOVER NEWS GROUNDCOVER15 JANUARY 23, 2026 PROVIDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELFDETERMINED 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. Vendors are the main contributors to the paper, and are compensated to write and report. 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 Gray Connor — intern Anabel Sicko ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS Jud Branam Pedro Campos Marquetta "Q" Clements La Shawn Courtwright Annemarie Cuccia Cindy Gere Lauren Halperin Kimani Hamilton Mike Jones Ken Parks Will Shakespeare Denise Shearer Tommy Spaghetti The Confused Cloud PROOFREADERS Susan Beckett June Miller VOLUNTEERS Jessi Averill Sim Bose Jud Branam Libby Chambers Stephanie Dong Luiza Duarte Caetano Glenn Gates Jacob Fallman Robert Klingler Priya Kothari Harper Margolies Margaret Patston Mary Wisgerhof Max Wisgerhof Emilie Ziebarth BOARD of DIRECTORS Anna Gersh Greg Hoffman Jessi Averill Jacob Fallman Jack Edelstein 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 Glenn Gates Mike Jones Hailu Shitaye Shelley DeNeve Steve Borgsdorf CONTACT US 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 WAYS TO SUPPORT 1. Buy the paper, read the paper. 2. Get the word out — We rely on grassroots marketing. Talk to people about Groundcover and share us with your network. 3. Volunteer — You'll learn a lot about our vendors, the newspaper and your community. Interested in volunteering regularly? Fill out the form on our website. 4. Advertise your company, organization, event or resource — see rates below. 5. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram — promote our posts and share your favorite articles and vendor interactions. 6. Donate items — A seasonally appropiate list of items most needed at our office and on the street is available on our website. Drop off anytime we're open. 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

JANUARY 23, 2026 ON MY CORNER ASK YOUR VENDOR Where do you see yourself in six months? Selling my game, selling my books, doing more investigative reporting. Thank God! — Felicia Wilbert, #234 I see myself as a personal fitness trainer! — Mike Jones, #113 In a crib, with a new car. And the whole family on the beach! — Savon Salvador, #273 In my own place, maintaining Groundcover and working another job. Also working on going back to school. — Brian Hargrove, #158 A little warmer selling the paper. — Tony Schohl, #9 In the middle of the American revolution. — Ken Parks, #490 Out at the cottage! — Shelley DeNeve, #22 I hope to me in the Master's program at EMU in Communications. — David Mitchell, #661 Still selling Groundcover, hopefully still alive. — Pony Bush, #305 Devoting more of my time to my art work. And exploring new forms of art. — Cindy Gere, #279 I love kids' shows I love PBS kids’ shows and Christian kids’ shows. I love kids' shows so much because they are so beautiful. Some are animated cartoons and some are not. When you watch a kids’ show, it's like you’re reading a book but you don’t have to read the book because you are watching it. Kids’ shows on Christian TV are soothing and make you feel so good even as an adult. They remind you that Jesus loves you, and makes you want are relaxing and I love the music to those, too. They teach kids and adults artwork and how to make things. They are so fun and relaxing to watch, and safe to watch no matter how old we are. I especially miss Mister DENISE SHEARER Groundcover vendor No. 485 to live right and do right and love Jesus. The music is so great, too. Public TV kids’ shows Rogers. I like watching Daniel Tiger’s neighborhood. It is such an adorable show. He talks about things that are the facts of life and how to deal with them, and he knows how to have fun, too. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 3 When a laweless man makes the laws of the land, we are further away from the promised land TOMMY SPAGHETTI Groundcover vendor No. 669 I’m a conspiracy theorist for sure. Wondering why people are clamoring for Epstein Files but never uttered a word about the JFK Files or 9/11 Files? Or how about RFK files? Well the answer is: SEX SELLS. To this day, sex is the number one contributor to the population of children. Do you hate Trump? Are you frustrated about events happening on the other side of the world and don't know what to do about it? Are you upset about another endless war perpetrated by the oligarchs and billionaire oil corporations? Well, if you answered yes to any of the above questions, you might need a loving massage to keep you from going over the edge. Democracy is a myth. Since day number one, the horrible white race manifested its cancerous agenda on the free thinking people in North America. The founding fathers did not create equality among people in 1776; rather, it designated white male slave owners as the master race. They were an active part of the extermination of the people who had been living here for hundreds (if not thousands) of years. When Hitler was formulating his conquest of Europe he studied America’s wholesale slaughter of indigenous people circa 1800. It was his inspiration to slaughter six million Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals and Commies. Americans used guns, cannons, diseases and starvation to clear the West for capitalist doctrines. Germany used starvation, advanced weaponry, planes, tanks, U-boats and factories to murder millions of people. The eventual defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 merely sent the war machine back to the United States. 1950s — Iran for oil. 1960s — southeast Asia for rubber and opium. 1970s — Latin America for cocaine. 1980s — Palestine. 1990s — Afghanistan. 2000s — Iraq. Trump's rise to dictator mimics Hitler’s rise. If you ever wondered how the Nazis were capable of convincing an entire nation to follow their plan, just watch what is happening today. We all saw the endgame of the Third Reich. The murder of millions. Trump's endgame is the same. Millions of Black people are already in concentration camps: think PRISON. If you think Trump is gonna be voted out of office in 2026 you didn't watch Hitler close enough. Trump will abolish elections before that. Prepare yourself for Trump forever. The pig said to the chicken, “We should have breakfast together sometime.” “Okay,” said the chicken. “I’ll bring the eggs and you bring the bacon.” “Okay,” said the Pig. COVER PHOTOS, left to right: Participant at June 2025 Ann Arbor No Kings Rally, photo credit Jack Kenny. Hundreds gather in Liberty Plaza for a candlelight vigil for Renee Nicole Good on Friday, January 9, photo credit Lindsay Calka. Normal Park neighbors mobilize to Washtenaw Board of Commissioners meeting Jan. 7 to speak out, photo credit Emily Mills. Data center protest in downtown Saline, December 2025, photo submitted.

4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS DATA CENTERS Southeast Michiganders fight AI data centers Data centers are dedicated computing facilities housing infrastructure for vast amounts of data and they are being built all over America. Southeast Michigan is now in the cross-hairs and concerned residents are speaking out. One year ago no one was talking about or even heard about data centers. Now, it’s the talk of the town in many American states, cities and townships. Proposed data centers in Michigan are heavily concentrated in Southeast Michigan, particularly around the Ann Arbor area in Saline, Ypsilanti, York Township and Van Buren Township, with major projects by Oracle/OpenAI and other developers. Significant proposals also exist in Lyon Township and Frenchtown Township, as well as potential sites in Benton Harbor, all aiming to leverage Michigan's energy grid for AI and high-performance computing. The Upper Peninsula isn't immune, with smaller-scale interest and discussions, especially around potential for renewable energy integration, though specific large projects like those in Kalkaska and Lowell (West Michigan) aren't drawing a lot of attention yet. Potential areas to watch in the U.P. involve university towns like Marquette or sites near existing power infrastructure. Key proposed locations: Southeast Michigan (Washtenaw/ Wayne Counties): The biggest focus area. • Saline Township: Proposed home to the major Oracle/OpenAI "Stargate" project and another large development proposed by Sansone Group on former Toyota land. • Ypsilanti Township: Site of a University of Michigan/Los Alamos National Lab high-performance computing center. • Van Buren Township (near Belleville): A large 280-acre proposal from Panattoni near I-94/I-275. • York Township: Another potential site near Milan, discussed for a large development. Oakland County: • Lyon Township: A large Verrus/ Google-backed "Project Flex" site approved for development, focusing on large-scale facilities. Monroe County: • Frenchtown Township: A proposed "Cherry Blossom" AI data center near I-75. Southwest Michigan: • Benton Harbor/Benton Township: A large AI data center on Yore Avenue has been proposed, awaiting state approval. MIKE JONES Groundcover vendor No. 113 Key players and drivers Hyperscalers (massive cloud computing providers): Companies like Oracle, OpenAI, and Google (via affiliates) are driving massive AI-focused projects. Energy & Water: Proximity to high-capacity power (DTE Energy) and water for cooling are major factors. Economic Boost: Developers promise significant tax revenue, jobs and investment in local communities. Community response Projects often face pushback from residents concerned about energy use, noise, environmental impact, and suitability for the area, leading to moratoriums in some areas such as Pittsfield Township, according to MLive. Residents in Washtenaw County are expressing their concerns over the University of Michigan trying to force their plan to construct a $1.25 billion data center in Ypsilanti Township at Bridge Road and Textile Road. This project is partially paid for with our tax dollars and without our say! Residents are concerned about the energy usage. At 110 megawatts, it would use almost four times as much energy as all Ypsilanti Township households combined, according to residents opposed to the data center. The proposed site is 100 acres near the Huron River. Some residents concerned about the project’s impact on water resources have called for the project to be relocated to land near the former General Motors assembly plant at Willow Run. The project is a partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), most known for creating the atomic bomb. LANL will use 80-90% of the data center for classified research. The University says the project will create 200 permanent research and technical jobs, 30-50 positions tied to operating the data center and 300 construction jobs. The University in a statement says those construction jobs will be union labor. Communities that live near data centers are seeing utility bills increase by over 250%, according to an analysis by Bloomberg News. There are risks to water resources, food security, natural habitat and recreation areas and concerns are being echoed across communities nationwide. The Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees has unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-23, formally opposing the data center, stating that they share the public’s concerns about the University of Michigan’s proposed project. “We are demanding that the University relocate the project to a more suitable site, one that does not pose risks to our residents, infrastructure or natural resources,” the Township resolution states. “We have recommended the American Center for Mobility (the former General Motors site) as a more appropriate alternative. We are also urging state and federal officials to support this effort.” The University is exempt from Township zoning laws. But Township officials said they will use “every available tool” to oppose the project at the current site. The board has also demanded that University officials meet with residents in a public forum. The Township has scheduled a public discussion of the project on Jan. 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Ypsilanti Township Civic Center at 7200 S. Huron Drive, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. Resident response David Sands, a schoolteacher who resides in Ypsilanti Township, opposes the building of a data center in his neighborhood. Sands became aware of the U-M data center project when he read the Groundcover News June 13, 2025, article titled “Ypsilanti residents are organizing to ‘Stop the Data Center.” The article inspired him to contact the UM Board of Regents and his state legislators, Senator Jeff Irwin and Representative Jimmie Wilson Jr. “As a local resident I am very concerned not just about the transparency issues around this, but the potential negative effects including pollution, higher energy rates, and destruction of the natural environment where I live,” Sands said. In a separate project, Texas-based Related Digital has proposed building a data center at the northwest side of US 12 between Case Road and Willow Road in Saline Township. The company is partnering with Oracle and OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. Unlike Ypsilanti Township, developers have the go-ahead to start building the Saline Township data center. The project is being built on 250 acres, with Data center protest in downtown Saline, December 2025. construction anticipated to start in early 2026, and developers claim it will create thousands of jobs and significant economic investment. This large hyperscale facility will power AI initiatives, and despite community concerns about rural impact, developers and officials promise that there will be benefits and environmental measures like water conservation. DTE said utility rates for existing customers will not be affected by the contracts to supply power to the Saline Township data center. But the Michigan Attorney General has demanded that the Public Service Commission have a new hearing on the Saline Township project. “The Commission imposed some conditions on DTE to supposedly hold ratepayers harmless, but these conditions and how they’ll be enforced remain unclear,” Nessel said in a statement. The United States has thousands of data centers, with recent estimates from late 2025 and early 2026 placing the number around 5,400 facilities according to C&C Wave-Tech, representing roughly 38-45% globally, leading the world by a large margin. This massive infrastructure supports the nation's tech sector, with a significant portion concentrated in states like Virginia, Texas and California, and continues to expand rapidly due to AI demand. Ready or not, AI data centers are moving to American neighborhoods swiftly. Get involved and to share your concerns: • For multiple resources/links: linktr.ee/stopthedata • Instagram: stopthedata • Join the Signal group chat: bit.ly/ SDCsignal • Check out the two Stop the Data Center events on page 5 • Contact your local and state politicians JANUARY 23, 2026

JANUARY 23, 2026 THINGS TO DO As I entered the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, I greeted a huge silver tree with the mind's eye of a child. I saw sparkling fairies dancing in the tree with a huge fairy door at the base of the tree. It was mesmerizing and captivating. The Hands-On Museum is a modern kaleidoscope of excitement and fun. It is a visual, tactile, sound and social learning location for young and old. I watched all ages taking part in a variety of activities. The very first activity is walking up to the first level; a wonderful happy sound emanates from each step you take on the stairs. With each step the sound of your own personal song is created by you. On the right side is a very fun interactive water world room called "H2Oh!" What fun with water! It consists of a series of pools with connecting channels that participants can interact with, though not immerse themselves in. This area shows the power of water in many ways — rushing rivers, tornado power and how water moves. Magnet fishing is all the rage for young kids. There are colorful balls that float on the water that are clearly the focus of activity in the huge mechanised water machine showing the power of water flow and movement. Kids use the mechanics to cause balls to flow from one area to the next. One spigot pushed the ball up into the waterpool and we watched the ball get sucked into the funnel down into a ladder to another location. It was very fun to watch. The next activity showed the power of light and solar power, with CINDY GERE Groundcover vendor No. 279 fun buttons to push that showed how light exists in our world today. In this area there is a rock climbing wall for the brave. I walked back to the music stairs and saw huge human teeth to walk through. As I walked through the teeth, I reflected on the importance of teeth. When I was a young kid, the dentist used to have a pirate treasure box with small toys. I remember my dentist told me good teeth are good health. Looking at the display with the drinks, the sugar content is a real wake-up call — clean water is truly clean health. They go hand in hand. So next time you want that cola or party drink, hit the water. It goes with long life. As I walked around I discovered that the All About You room is a reflection of the human power, body, mind, soul. The strength, the visual, the hearing, the heart, the mind and mobility are all part of the human experience. I watched a child climb into the back part of an ambulance just as a real one drove by blaring its siren outside. What fun. Another fun room was the preschool gallery. This room captivated the very young kids with colorful community EVENTS POSTCARDS FOR PEACE Saturday, January 24, 1-3 p.m. Bloodroot Herb Shop, 208 W. Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti Make postcards urging decision makers to stop the Los Alamos data center. (see previous page) NAMI WASHTENAW X EMU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Saturday, January 24, 1 p.m. George Gervin GameAbove Center, 799 N Hewitt Rd, Ypsilanti An exciting afternoon of basketball as the EMU Women's team takes on Northern Illinois University! For each ticket sold, $3 will be donated directly to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness Washtenaw County. $10. JULIA KEEFE and THE INDIGENOUS BIG BAND: RESILIENCE and BRILLIANCE in INDIGENOUS JAZZ Thursday, January 29, 5:30 p.m. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St. Free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Part of the U-M Penny Stamps Speaker Series. The band focuses on reimagined traditional melodies made famous by Indigenous jazz musicians from the past. STOP THE DATA CENTER ASSEMBLY Saturday, January 31, 2 p.m. food and information, 3 p.m. working groups. Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace Hall (16 S. Washington St). This is a space for brainstorming, connecting and taking action! ANN ARBOR HAPPY HOUR GROUNDCOVER FUNDRAISER Friday, February 6, 6:30-9 p.m. LIVE Nightclub, 102 S. First Street, Ann Arbor. Close out Vendor Appreciation Week with the Groundcover crew! Live music by Corndaddy and The Medicine Men. Groundcover merchandise for sale. Free. Submit an event to be featured in the next edition: submissions@groundcovernews. com round balls. It was so much fun watching them run after the balls on the conveyor belt equipped with air. All I heard was squeals of delight and there were happy faces as they collected the balls with buckets. My personal favorite fun was the magnetic black goo. Watching the power of magnetic connection on the black goo as it was mopped and connected to the magnet. It was so strange to see kids here discover the real outside world, but by way of interactivity in a very controlled environment. Each activity built more understanding of the greater world, and kids can discover the hows and whys in such a totally empowering education all in one place. The gift store is right next to the ticket desk and the amount of happy kids’ gifts is huge fun. It’s a great location to buy kids birthday and other holiday gifts. If you are into miniatures like me, I found a very small panda that I can keep in my pocket for a good luck charm. Another fun thing is my love for stuffed animals, and the selection is huge. By the time you walk out, you will have likely discovered one more thing you did not know before — such as the black goo that I had no idea was magnetic. So bring your friends, your family and your next door neighbor with you to the museum next time, for the best fun in Ann Arbor, Michigan. AAHOM offers discounted admission to individuals and families with an EBT card. The cost of discounted admission is $3 per adult or per child aged 2+. The discounted price can apply to up to 6 people per visit. GROUNDCOVER NEWS Fun fun fun at the Hands-On Museum What’s Happening at the Ann Arbor District Library Open 10am–8pm Daily Visit any of our five locations across town to browse books, magazines, newspapers, and more. Check out movies, CDs, art prints, musical instruments, or even home tools—you name it! Enjoy fast and free WiFi, study and meeting rooms, and plenty of comfortable spaces to relax or hang out. Unusual Stuff to Borrow There’s more to borrow at AADL than books, music, and movies. To name a few, there are games, telescopes, stories-to-go kits, and home tools. Check out these unusual yet handy items during your next library visit. Washtenaw Library for the Blind & Print Disabled at AADL This free service loans books, magazines, & videos in alternative formats (audiobooks, large print, braille books & magazines, and descriptive video) to individuals who are unable to read or use standard printed materials. Visit aadl.org/wlbpd/apply to apply. FEATURED EVENT 5 Sunday, February 8 • 10 AM–5 PM • Downtown Library The Ann Arbor Fiber Arts Expo is a fiber-filled day with a full slate of hands-on programs, demos, and a lobby full of local vendors! Learn about knitting, crocheting, weaving, and spinning. Try your hand at macrame, embroidery, and more! Explore aadl.org/aafax for a full schedule of events.

6 GROUNDCOVER NEWS MLK DAY Civil rights struggles never end: When Dr. King accepted Albert Raby's invitation to join the Chicago Freedom Movement Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was closely involved in many noteworthy civil rights movements of the 1950s and 1960s. Among the significant contributions were the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 to 1956; The “I Have a Dream Rally” of August 28, 1963; The Civil Rights Act of 1964; the March From Selma to Montgomery of March 1965; and obviously, the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. After the two successful national civil rights policy achievements of 1964 and 1965, Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Council turned their attention to the struggles of school segregation, housing discrimination and employment discrimination which were pervasive in northern cities of the country. Chicago had long suffered from the indignity of racism and discrimination which got worse during and after the Great Black Migration. It is notable that a large white migration from the South to the North followed the Black migration. There was tension in south and west Chicago. In June 1965, the primary Chicago civil rights organization known as Coordinating Coalition of Community Organizations (CCCO), led by Albert Raby, peacefully demonstrated against housing discrimination and school segregation in Chicago’s South Side. Members of CCCO were beaten up, arrested and mistreated. Mr. Raby wanted a major civil rights intervention. CCCO invited Dr. King to come to Chicago and help the community solve their entrenched problems in these areas. In fact, Dr. King was invited to Chicago to help the people “make real the promises of American Democracy.” In July 1965, Dr. King and other representatives of SCLC went to Chicago to investigate the issues and see if their organization could help. They spent about three days of community mobilization in Chicago and debriefed about their findings. It was reported by some Chicago news outlets that Dr. King worked closely with Albert Raby from 1965 to 1967. King and members of SCLC returned to Chicago in January 1966 for a civil rights demonstration. One “Ebony Magazine” reporter asked King why he had chosen to come to Chicago. His answer was that he came to the city “mainly because of Al Raby. I had been watching for some time and I must have become enormously impressed WILL SHAKESPEARE Groundcover vendor No. 258 JANUARY 23, 2026 with his work and the sincerity of his commitment.” Chicago Freedom Movement Dr. King and his SCLC associates moved into Chicago on January 7, 1966. On January 26 of that year, King and his wife, Mrs. Corretta Scott King, rented an apartment in a West Side Chicago building which had substandard conditions. It was described by the residents as a slum building. After King settled down in Chicago, he and Albert Raby were named co-chairs of a new organization known as “The Chicago Freedom Movement.” According to Stanford University’s King Research and Education Institute, the Chicago Freedom Movement was a coalition of CCCO, SCLC and other Chicago civil rights organizations. For the whole year, 1966, “King and Raby collaborated on countless demonstrations, community gatherings and meetings with city officials while attempting to end racist education, housing and employment practices.” Some historians have noted that Raby was with King in the demonstration at Chicago’s Lawn and Gage Park when violent counter-demonstrators who were described by neighborhood residents as “segregationists” threw rocks at the peaceful civil rights marchers. Some of the rocks hit Dr. King’s face, causing blood to drip from his forehead. Online journal casamariatucson.org reported that after Dr. King was hit by a rock and knocked to the ground during a demonstration in Marquette Park on the Southwest side, he said, “I have never seen, even in Mississippi and Alabama, mobs as hateful as I’ve seen here in Chicago.” After about one year of demonstrations and perseverance, the Chicago Freedom Movement coalition had some of their key demands met by Left: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. civil rights leader and co-chair of the Chicago Freedom Movement. He is pictured above delivering his speech at Solider Field. Right: Co-founder of Chicago's Coordinating Coalition for Community Organizations and co-chair of the Chicago Freedom Movement, Albert Raby. Mayor Richard Daley Sr. and the real estate businessmen. The summit between movement leaders and the city leaders led to the Chicago Housing Authority building public housing in white middle-class neighborhoods. The Mortgage Bankers Association agreed to end the unfair lending practices and stop the scourge of redlining and disinvestment patterns in Black neighborhoods. The Chicago Freedom Movement led to additional civil rights legislation after Dr. King’s assassination — the Non-Discriminatory Fair Housing Act of 1968. Less than a decade later, Congress passed the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 making it easier for neglected poor neighborhoods in Chicago and across the nation which had suffered redlining and disinvestment to have access to home improvement loans and affordable mortgages. Today, houses with slum conditions are fewer in Chicago, and South Shore Bank is a major local community lender. Lessons, legacy and consequences Journalist Tanya Nunez wrote in casamariatuscon.org of January 12, 2022, that a key lesson from Dr. King’s civil rights movement, including the Chicago Freedom Movement, is that a lot of the issues of the 1960s exist today. Those issues include “poor housing conditions, slumlords, unfair lending practices and lack of affordable housing.” However, substantial progress was made in the city of Chicago. Stanford University’s King Research and Education Institute reported that the August 1966 summit agreement between the Chicago Freedom Movement and Mayor Daley, along with the real estate businessmen, led to several concessions in the area of housing. However, “the agreement fell short of achieving city-wide desegregation.” Dr. King and Raby continued to work collaboratively until 1967, when SCLC “shifted their priorities away from Chicago, leaving behind its Operation Breadbasket program under the leadership of Jesse Jackson.” Today, there is a large modern apartment building complex known as “Dr. King’s Legacy Building.” It is located on Chicago’s South Side, not too far away is the location of Barack Obama’s Presidential Center and Library. It is noteworthy that before Barack Obama attended Harvard Law School in 1988, he came to South Side Chicago in order to learn about grassroots community organizing and mobilization. He was also inspired by former Democratic Presidential Candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson’s concept of a “Rainbow Coalition” and the above-mentioned Al Raby’s Coordinating Coalition for Community Organizations. The Chicago Freedom Movement created a strong political coalition which helped Harold Washington from Chicago’s see MLK next page 

JANUARY 23, 2026 IMPERIALISM Trump's Monroe Doctrine KEN PARKS Groundcover vendor No. 490 The original Monroe Doctrine, which stated that all of the Americas was a U.S. sphere of influence, was declared in an address to Congress in 1823. This was still during the Colonial era and all major world powers were expanding. United States expansion was replacing European expansion and in conflict with multiple forces, especially with Spain and France in the Caribbean. Alaska was Russian and Czarist Russia was going down the Pacific coast. Jefferson had already stated that Cuba would fall to the United States when the time was right. The Monroe Doctrine laid the foundation for Manifest Destiny, which became essential to the U.S. view of itself. The Haitian Revolution defeated the French, then a 20,000-man British expedition, as they ended slavery. Haiti had the best military in the Americas and U.S. plantation owners feared a Haitian invasion. Haiti declared they had no intention of invading the states; for one, they had no navy. Their leader, Toussaint Louverture, was kidnapped from the negotiating table and died in prison. Haiti agreed to pay the French 150 million francs to secure their independence. The Monroe Doctrine was intended to establish the Americas as a U.S. sphere of influence and any European interventions would be viewed as a hostile act. The colonial era lasted throughout the 19th century as capitalism exploited the working class of all countries to amass wealth. It included the robber barons mentioned in some textbooks. The Mexican War, Indian wars and the Spanish American War brought many territories into the states. Neither Cuba, the Philippines nor Puerto Rico became states. The Cuban Revolution of 1959 established Cuban sovereignty decisively and has never been forgiven by the ruling class of the United States. France and the United States collaborated to keep Haiti a poor third world investment opportunity. Anyone my age remembers Papa Doc and Baby Doc, two of the most ruthless U.S. supported dictators in that long list. (Baseballs are big business in Haiti; most of the baseballs in the United States come from Haiti.) Study Jean Bertrand Aristide to get a better picture of Haiti and U.S. policy. He was the first democratically elected president who was quickly overthrown in a coup, reinstated and later reelected despite imperialist opposition. He was kidnapped and got a U.S. Marine escort to a CIA spot in Africa. Congresswoman Maxine Waters led the successful search and free campaign in 2004. The colonial era evolved into imperialism as industrial capital and financial capital merged into a new expression of supremacism and the right to rule the world. World War I was the first imperialist war. Vladimir Illich Lenin wrote the definitive analysis, “Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism.” As financial capital grew and learned to dominate industrial capital it became what is now called neoliberal imperialism. This phase took a sharp turn as Reaganomics, which Bush the First called voodoo economics, became the new model. Reagan’s vow to end the Vietnam syndrome led to the invasion of Grenada, one of the smallest countries in the world. The claim of rescuing medical students was exposed when those students told of taking shelter in bathtubs because so many bullets were coming through the walls. Leveraging debt into new forms of investments was the context of the 2007-08 financial crisis. The financialization of everything views your time as their commodity in the free market system. The system feels entitled to measure you in dollars. Financial supremacy is ready to destroy everything in its quest to control reality. The belief that reality can be controlled is the grand illusion of  MLK from last page South Side win the city’s mayoral election of 1983. He became the first Black mayor of Chicago. Attorney Carol Mosley Braun, who graduated from the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago Law School, won the Illinois 1992 senatorial election. She became the first Black woman Senator of the United States of America. In 2008, Barack Obama was elected the first Black President of the United States. First Lady Michelle Obama grew up on the South Side. In the year 2026, when we reflect on the nation’s 250-year anniversary, let us be mindful of the social changes that have taken place due to peaceful non-violent direct actions. We must be grateful to the “Radical Republicans” who brought us the reconstructions of the 1860s and beyond. We must be grateful to everyone involved in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Hundreds gather in Liberty Plaza for a candlelight vigil for Renee Nicole Good on Friday, January 9. neoliberal imperialism. Trumpism, in its idolatry of wealth and power, fosters a narcissism that wants no border on its right to act in its belief of their supremacy. The bombing of Venezuela and kidnapping of Maduro abroad and the murder of Renee Nicole Good are an expression of this reckless will to power. Multiple demonstrations are taking place, especially to honor Renee and protest the extreme violence that is condoned by the Trump administration. The United States is looking ugly to the world. It ramps up the targeting of China as the excuse to use sanctions, tariffs and interventions to support the MAGA agenda. You could say MAGA is short for the maggots that are feeding on the carcass of a dying empire. I accepted an invitation to the State Theater for the screening of “The Earth’s Greatest Enemy.” The damage caused by the U.S. military includes their own personnel on polluted bases that have so many stillborn babies that the cemetery has a Baby Heaven section. Please look at that documentary. The building of new bases and alliances, including provocative military maneuvers, is in the plan as they prepare for war with China. The Pentagon is full of planners whose job is to prepare for Venezuelan rule and prepare to take down Cuba to teach everyone a lesson in abuse of power and their right to do this. Supremacism has wealthy supporters who flood their forces with money. I hear that Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who shot Renee in the face, has a lucrative Some historians have described the 1960s as America’s “Second Reconstruction.” Dr. King wants us to remember him as “A Drum-Maker for Social Justice.” Albert Raby, who was a graduate of the University of Chicago, is remembered for social justice and community empowerment in Chicago and across the world. Raby was selected by President Jimmy Carter to become the Peace Corps Director in Ghana. The hope of American people still GoFundMe site. There are signs that the people are waking up. The memorial vigil for Renee at Liberty Plaza on the Friday after her murder was a large assembly with a powerful energy field. Many thanks to those who organized it and the hundreds of people who came out. When we bring democracy into the workplace we will begin preparing for a general strike. This could be the time and space for people’s assemblies to organize the completion of the American revolution. Keep your eyes open for a workshop on Revolutionary Food as we learn to prepare health-promoting food for ourselves and have the energy to engage in the work that benefits all beings without exception. We will rid ourselves of biological and social parasites and train our minds to discover who we are and experience the sacred nature of this moment, with past, present and future in harmony with timeless time. Self and other dissolve in the All Good Expanse of Primordial Purity. Now is a good time to be alive! An important intellectual worker of the 20th century is Hannah Arendt who covered the Eichmann trial in Jerusalem and wrote landmark books like “The Banality of Evil” and “The Origins of Totalitarianism.” If Groundcover could work with the students who did the Venezuela teach-in at Mason Hall, maybe we could do a workshop on supremacy and totalitarian government. Maybe the Revolutionary Food group could provide food. The revolution needs us. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 7 lives and the dream shall never die. HAPPY 97TH BIRTHDAY TO DR. KING! Author's note: On January 13, 2026, Civil Rights Pioneer Claudette Clovin passed away at the age of 86. She was the fifteen-year-old student who refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery before the Rosa Parks incident in 1955. May her soul rest in peace.

8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS VENDOR WEEK WEDNESDAY 2/4 ALL WEEK JANUARY 23, 2026 february 2-8, 2026 VENDOR APPRECIATION WEEK MONDAY 2/2 10 a.m.: Radio interview about Groundcover News on the Lucy Ann Lance Show. Listen at 1290 WLBY or online at www.1290wlby.com/ 7 p.m.: Ann Arbor City Council Declaration of Vendor Appreciation Week 2026 TUESDAY 2/3 celebrity selling Some familiar faces will be selling with Groundcover vendors around downtown A2 during the morning and afternoon! • People's Food Co-op • Main and Liberty • North U and State Street • 4th Ave and Liberty Street • Argus Farm Stop • YMCA 10 a.m.: Vendors speak on U-M campus 11:30 a.m.: Catered lunch at Groundcover office 1 p.m.: Vendors speak on U-M campus THURSDAY 2/5 Massages for vendors at the office 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. provided by Julia from Eclipse Massage FRIDAY 2/6 10 a.m. Special breakfast and Vendor Meeting, new paper delivery. 6:30 p.m.: LIVE dance party (see right) all proceeds go to Groundcover! If you would like to sell the paper with a Groundcover vendor on Tuesday (you don't have to be a celebrity!) or support any of the Vendor Appreciation Week activities, email lindsay@groundcovernews.com. Read more about what this experience entails below. Follow along on social media for updates! Customers are invited to: post about Groundcover on social media; talk to friends, family and coworkers about the paper; tip your vendor; bring your vendor coffee/hot chocolate and hand warmers, and MORE! GROUNDCOVER NEWS HAPPY HOUR DANCE PARTY @ LIVE, 6:30-9PM Vendor Week lesson: "It was very cold out" LAUREN HALPERIN Groundcover contributor International Street Paper Vendor Week was February 4-10 [2014]. The Groundcover student group decided that to celebrate this time of the year, each student would shadow a vendor for a day to help him or her sell, get them coffee, and really just give them some company. I had the pleasure of working with Michael, vendor #163. I met Michael in front of the Groundcover office. We started our journey on Main Street near Starbucks, went in to get some hot coffee, and then walked a couple blocks after a small altercation over territory with another vendor. Once we ventured those couple of blocks, we stopped where the sunlight could still reach us between the buildings. Sun was a very sought-after commodity on this cold February afternoon. The cold weather presents myriad issues for vendors. People will walk out of an establishment, put their hood on, earphones in, and scarf up to their eyes, determined to get to their next destination as quickly and warmly as possible. This leaves no time to stop and inquire about a $1 donation for a newspaper for which this person is then going to have to sacrifice a hand out of their pocket to hold on the way home. However, Michael was determined. With a smile on his face, he inquired of every person walking by, “Have you read the new issue of Groundcover?” He was informed about the stories inside, which enabled him to use that as a selling point to potential customers. He would even playfully use me as a way to gain the attention of passing crowds saying, “She writes for them! She’s a great writer!” A smart move, if I do say so myself. Going into Vendor Week, I was expecting to write about the trials of a Groundcover vendor, the harsh winters and even harsher rejections. After selling with Michael that day, however, I realized a lesson that I truly have tried to apply to my own stresses and hardships: it’s all about the attitude. The faces you see selling Groundcover newspapers are happy to be out there; they understand that when they hear a “No, thank you,” that person may have somewhere else to be and would love to stop but simply does not have the time. As Michael pointed out to me after standing out in the cold for hours with 30 newspapers under his arm and not going home until he had sold all of them, “Not everyone has time to stop and chat, and it IS very cold out today.” Originally published in the May 2014 edition of Groundcover News.

JANUARY 23, 2026 VENDOR WEEK dear GROUNDCOVER VENDORS, To all vendors: Carry on! You inform, add to, engage, enliven, the communities in which you work — from the ground up. Namaste, Ken :) Thank you for all the ways you remind me to carry hope in my heart and to live with gratitude. I learn something new every time I talk to you. Felicia, your abundant creativity is impressive and your love and work ethic shine in your many endeavors! presence is a pleasure to see at the office on Mondays. Wayne, you remind us to think about the bigger picture and ask more questions. Cindy, thank you for sharing your creative gifts and great conversations with me. Brian, thank you for taking the time to let the people around you know how much you appreciate them. Denise, you're a good listener. I love to hear you laugh. Stephanie (Dent), it is always a joy to cross paths with your sweet self! I'm not surprised you have found success selling Groundcover. The weekends are better because Lonnie is selling Groundcover! My favorite time of day is running into you in town — on the street or in a store — it's always nice to see Pony. Schillington, I appreciate your generosity. B-Man, my favorite t-shirt of all time has your face on it lol! Terri, I am always glad to see you when you are around the office and I am consistently impressed by your determination and commitment. We can't wait for summer karaoke! Jim, thank you for writing your "People In the Neighborhood" articles and feature people in our community we all should get to know better. La Shawn, you are always close to my heart. Shelley, we appreciate your willingness to take on new roles at Groundcover. Hailu, you're the wind beneath our wings! You keep us centered on our paper's purpose. Your articles are getting richer and more interesting all the time, Mike. Welcome back to selling with Groundcover, Peggy! I admire your confidence on stage, Amanda — whenever I hear you sing I can see your joy. Stephanie (Duncan), your calming Groundcover Vendor Code While Groundcover is a non-profit, and paper vendors are self-employed contractors, we still have expectations of how vendors should conduct themselves while selling and representing the paper. The following is our Vendor Code of Conduct, which every vendor reads and signs before receiving a badge and papers. We request that if you discover a vendor violating any tenets of the Code, please contact us and provide as many details as possible. Our paper and our vendors should be positively impacting our County. • Groundcover will be distributed for a voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for more than the cover price or solicit donations by any other means. • When selling Groundcover, I will always have the current biweekly issue of Groundcover available for customer purchase. • I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling the paper or to panhandle, including panhandling with only one paper or selling an issue more than 4 weeks old. • I will wear and display my badge when selling papers and refrain from wearing it or other Groundcover gear when engaged in other activities. • I will only purchase the paper from Groundcover Staff and will not Marius, I admire your positive outlook and motivation to "find or try something new" when making a plan. Shawn (Swoffer), the hard work you've put in to become the vendor you are today shows. I see you showing up and making it work — keep going! Larzell, I hope you're achieving what you're reaching for — you got this! Pedro, I hope you get a book deal someday soon. You are an impressive writer and poet! love, YOUR CUSTOMERS sell to or buy papers from other Groundcover vendors, especially vendors who have been suspended or terminated. • I agree to treat all customers, staff, and other vendors respectfully. I will not “hard sell,” threaten, harass or pressure customers, staff, or other vendors verbally or physically. • I will not sell Groundcover under the influence of drugs or alcohol. • I understand that I am not a legal employee of Groundcover but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. • I understand that my badge is property of Groundcover and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers. • I agree to stay off private property when selling Groundcover. • I understand to refrain from selling on public buses, federal property or stores unless there is permission from the owner. • I agree to stay at least one block away from another vendor in downtown areas. I will also abide by the Vendor Corner Policy. • I understand that Groundcover strives to be a paper that covers topics of homelessness and poverty while providing sources of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. If you would like to report a violation of the Vendor Code or leave positive review of a Vendor experience please email contact@ groundcovernews.com or fill out the contact form on our website. Joe, you have a good heart and sense of humor. Glen, you're one of my favorite people to reminisce about past pop culture with. Great TV and music recommendations too! Will, thank you for sharing both your impressive written and spoken voice with the community through Groundcover. I'm grateful to benefit from your wisdom and your friendship. Wayne, you're a guy I'm happy to call my friend. Your generous heart and the way you keep focused on making things better for the future are admirable. Tony, we are so happy you're up and at 'em again! You were missed at Old Town and in the office. David — youre positive attitude and warm spirit always brighten the room! GROUNDCOVER NEWS 9

10 GROUNDCOVER NEWS YPSILANTI Electeds wobble, residents double-down: “Drop Peeler’s charges” LINDSAY CALKA Publisher JUD BRANAM Groundcover contributor Two weeks after the Jan. 4 standoff in Ypsilanti that left a mentally unstable resident in the hospital, facing felony charges, and with his home rendered unlivable by the tactics used to extract him, little is known. Ruben Peeler, 53, is still hospitalized and in custody two weeks after he brandished a sword during a mental health episode and refused to leave his home, not responding to demands from area law enforcement. During more than 30 hours of a military-style standoff, the front porch was ripped from the house, a hole knocked in the upstairs and the interior flooded with a fire hose. The multiunit rental house was rendered unlivable and sits boarded up at W. Cross Street. Peeler faces eight felony charges from the incident. On January 7 the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners published a statement urging law enforcement officials to drop the charges in favor of rehabilitation and counseling for Peeler. The county commissioners’ letter stated, "People in mental health crisis should be met first and foremost with care, de-escalation and compassion. Instead, this individual was met with tactics that escalated fear and exacerbated an already fragile situation." What the charges are for is still unknown. Peeler’s arraignment scheduled for Saturday, January 10, was rescheduled to Sunday January 11, and then indefinitely delayed due to his declining health. The lack of information about Peeler’s charges contributed to Ypsilanti City Council refusing to move on Resolution 2026-18 “A resolution condemning the militarized police siege on West Cross Street, calling for all charges to be dropped, and demanding immediate systemic reform,” introduced by Councilmember Amber Fellows (Ward 3). On Tuesday, January 20, more than 20 Ypsilanti community members spoke in support of the resolution in public comment. Some speakers also demanded more than what the resolution put forward — more accountability, transparency — and questioned why Council was not taking responsibility for the actions of the [police] department they determine the budget for. Others connected this incident to the lack of resources for emergency shelter, unarmed crisis response, eviction prevention and mental health support. Council did not vote on the resolution, citing the potential City liability in the face of unknown charges and lack of information about the incident. Ypsi changes rules for public comment, BOC create ICE-free zones GROUNDCOVER STAFF Tuesday, January 20, Ypsilanti City Council unanimously passed a resolution changing the rules for public comment. The changes extend the public commenting period from 45 to 60 minutes; speakers will also alternate between in-person and zoom attendees in 10-speaker increments. Those who sign-up to speak and do not get a turn are the only commenters allowed to speak at the end of the meeting during the second comment period. These adjustments are intended to expand democratic participation and make commenting more equitable to residents who need to attend online. Wednesday, January 21 Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution moving that “Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers shall not be permitted to enter, remain in, or conduct civil immigration enforcement activities within any Washtenaw County– owned, leased, or operated building, facility, or property (including parking - Sign held up at January 20 Ypsilanti City Council. Fellows then moved to have the City Manager FOIA documents and body camera footage from the Ypsilanti Police lethal shooting of an unarmed man on January 6. This motion failed. Many agencies have put out official statements since January 5. Washtenaw County Metro Dispatch defended protocol. Washtenaw County Community Mental Health shared, and encouraged the use of, their resources. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office stated they need more time to provide details of the incident. While County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer has acknowledged that the end result of the situation was not ideal, she pointed out that keeping Peeler alive was a top concern that was achieved. "Once it reaches a point where someone is confronting people with a sword, trying to stab police officers, the options become very limited. The number one concern at that point is making sure this person survives. It shouldn't get to that point, so we have to collectively do better on the front end," Dyer told CBS News Detroit. Ypsilanti Police Chief Tim Anderson acknowledged the widespread concern over the response, but said that the situation — a resident brandishing a weapon — dictated a strong response from police. “Based on the information, I think that that was pretty much a textbook in terms of law enforcement callout,” Anderson told WEMU radio. “He was armed with a sword. And information received, I think officers were acting in good faith.” Washtenaw County and the City of Ypsilanti have both begun an independent investigation of the incident. A pair of online fundraisers have raised more than $9,000 to support Peeler’s legal fees and other costs of rebuilding his life. Find your Commissioner and contact information at www.washtenaw. org/202/Board-of-Commissioners Contact Ypsilanti City Councilmembers at cityofypsilanti.com/323/ Elected-Officials Contact Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office sheriffinfo@washtenaw.org, 734-971-8400 JANUARY 23, 2026 areas) unless required by law or pursuant to a valid judicial warrant or court order” and that County employees shall not cooperate with ICE. Further, the resolution urges other institutions to do the same.

JANUARY 23, 2026 MENTAL HEALTH Deinstitutionalization of insane asylums: good or bad? THE CONFUSED CLOUD Groundcover contributor Let me begin this article by saying I’m biased. Having lived with a severe mental illness most of my adult life I am very grateful for the deinstitutionalization of insane asylums and/or long-term mental hospitals. I have never been confined to a hospital for more than three weeks. Only once do I remember being continually hungry. The place I was at had three meals a day but they were small meals and I was twenty-three years old. I was only at that place for less than a week. Every other hospital I have had, had very good meals and some places had 24-hour access to food. I always had access to a bathroom and shower. I never felt too hot or too cold. I always had either clean hospital clothes or my own clothes. I always had a bed and never had more than one roommate. I have never been hit, much less beaten, by staff. The medications can have bad side effects and can be difficult to get used to. But overall they have been very helpful and much less tortuous than classic treatments. I have never been forced into a chair and spun until I threw up or passed out (Rotational therapy). I have never been forced into an ice bath for several hours to the point of hypothermia (Hydro-therapy). I have not been castrated. I have never had a great deal of my blood drained (Bloodletting). I have never been forced to take insulin until I went into a coma on a daily basis (Insulin Coma Therapy). And I have not had an icepick shoved into my eye socket and swished around to scramble my brain. (About 50,000 lobotomies were performed in the US, 10,000 of which were icepick lobotomies.) I am kind of leaving out electroshock therapy on this list because it is still infrequently performed. Unlike the past, now it is used as a last resort, with the addition of muscle relaxants and anesthesia, and only with the patient's or their guardian’s consent. It wasn't just the stopping of these barbaric treatments that made me in favor of deinstitutionalization. Medications, beginning with thorazine, rapidly started to replace them in the 1950s. The asylums and long term mental hospitals were terrible nightmares for their patients/victims. The hospitals were overcrowded. There was nowhere near enough toilets, beds, or places to bathe. Patients slept on cold floors sometimes in bedless rooms, and were often covered in filth. Poor hygiene led to disease outbreaks. Then, there was the food. Nellie Bly, an investigative journalist who went undercover in 1887 for ten days in Blackwells Island, a lunatic asylum in New York City, said the food was rotten meat and bread so hard it would chip your teeth. She also said patients who complained were beaten. Many victims starved to death in the old long-term hospitals. Because of all these factors I was shocked to hear that there are people against deinstitutionalization. When I search for it on Google or YouTube, it is usually referred to as a failure. The primary reason is that many severely mentally ill people cycle in and out of jails and prisons while others swell the ranks of chronically homeless. My gratitude comes from a positive experience with the community mental health system and the fact that I have been housed for over twenty-three years. I am not an anomaly. I know many people, some who I am very close to, that are in the CMH system and have been housed for years in the same place. They have also either never been to jail or prison or haven't been there for years. I know CMH clients who work part time. I also know people who graduated from the CMH system. Several work as peer supports for CMH. When long term mental health hospitals were open there were whistleblowers and several attempts at reform. Besides Nellie Bly who I mentioned there was Dorthea Dix, Albert Deutsch, Mary Jane Ward and several others. I consider all the whistleblowers and reformers personal heroes. I owe them and every victim of the old hospitals my freedom. To all the victims of Danvers Lunatic Asylum, Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, and every victim of the old asylums and long-term hospitals who, often covered in filth, screamed endlessly — I wish I could tell you that your screams weren't in vain. I am free today because of their suffering. I can go to the movies, drink soda, visit friends and family, walk in the park, read any book I want in the library, sleep in my own bed, shower daily, write for and read Groundcover, and many more things the victims of the old asylums could only dream of. To people who want to lock us up again long-term, without due process, including President Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, my question is: Why? Do you really want to help us or do we make you feel uncomfortable in public? Do you want us out of sight out of mind? To do this would probably require overturning court decisions. On June 26, 1975, the Supreme Court ruled in O’Connor vs Donaldson that keeping people committed requires that they are a danger to themselves and/or others. Before this case people could be committed involuntarily for a variety of reasons by a doctor and a family or community member, such as acting weird or having weird beliefs or being socially eccentric. If we got rid of the precedent that in order to commit someone they must be a danger to themselves or others, from what I can see, it puts anyone seeking mental health help in danger of being committed, possibly long-term. In my opinion we could reinstate a phase where it’s dangerous to complain of mental health symptoms. I want to, in a crisis, be able to go to a psych ER for help, and not be in danger of losing my freedom for years or the rest of my life. People advocating for more long term facilities say this time will be better. I’m thinking of a video by Micah Caldwell on the You-Tube channel that he shares with his wife called "Neuro Transmission.” It’s titled “Bring Back Asylums … But Better.” Here’s the thing. After President John F. Kennedy signed the CMH Act in 1963, only half of the promised CMH centers were built. With heroin and cocaine in the 1970s. Then crack, meth and the opioid epidemic in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s took their toll and our country's mental health became much worse. Continued wars, economic changes contribute to this. With the shrinking middle class, September 11 terrorist attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic and the polarization of social media isolating us, statistics show our country's mental health has become worse than ever since the CMH act was signed. President Ronald Reagan and more recently President Trump with “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act” in 2025 have made more cuts to mental health funding. Also, there are many other reasons for the increased incarceration rate and homelessness in the United States. So, if we can't fund the current community mental health system, why would the government be able to fund much more expensive long term care hospitals without bringing back the over crowded horrible nightmares of the past? When the old insane asylums were GROUNDCOVER NEWS 11 "If we can't fund the current community mental health system as is, why would the government be able to fund much more expensive long term care hospitals without bringing back the over crowded horrible nightmares of the past?" open, every attempt at reform was short lived. So for people who say, “Let’s try again to commit many people long term” and who really believe this time it will be done "right" and "really help" us mentally ill. I’d like to remind you of a classic definition of sanity — insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.

12 GROUNDCOVER NEWS INSP JANUARY 23, 2026 Working, homeless and hidden: a conversation with Brian Goldstone ANNEMARIE CUCCIA Street Sense Media Thousands of Americans have fulltime jobs and still can’t pay rent. They live in shelters, with their families, and in extended stay hotels that profit from their instability. Many are not included in the count of people experiencing homelessness because they do not fit the official definition. But they are a significant and revealing part of America’s homelessness crisis, argues journalist Brian Goldstone in his new book, "There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America." Goldstone follows five Atlanta families, detailing their journeys through housing instability. Through intimate portraits, he argues homelessness is not a personal failing or the result of joblessness, but of high housing prices, widespread gentrification, and an unwillingness to face the reality of the “hidden homeless.” He told Street Sense more. Street Sense: Your book focuses on a form of homelessness that we often don't see in our daily lives. Tell us about how you came to see this hidden homelessness and why you decided to write a book about it. Brian Goldstone: I came to this project through my wife. She was working at a community health center in Atlanta. She started telling me about this trend where one patient after another was working at an Amazon warehouse, driving for Uber and Lyft, or working as daycare workers or home health aides. When they finished work, they weren’t going home. They were going to a shelter, if there were any shelter beds available. They were crowding into apartments with others. They were sleeping in their cars with their kids, or increasingly, they were going to these extended stay hotels. I was shocked. I had never heard about this hidden universe of homelessness she was describing, where it was largely not on the street. That was the initial spark of curiosity for me. I was stunned to discover, as I then began to report, not only that the patients my wife was seeing were not some bizarre anomaly, but that they were representative of a staggering trend across the country. Anywhere I went, it was the same: people who were working not just one job, but sometimes multiple jobs, working and working and working some more, and it wasn’t enough to secure this most basic necessity. To pour salt on the wound, they were also invisible. Not just invisible in the sense that they didn't necessarily want people to know that they were experiencing homelessness, but they were rendered invisible. They were actively written out of the story that we as a nation have told ourselves about homelessness, about who becomes homeless and why. They were also locked out of crucial housing assistance because the way that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines “literally homeless” is either those who are in a shelter or on the street. They didn’t fit that definition. So they were triply invisible, and I began to see that this was not accidental. This was not just some oversight; it was a kind of engineered neglect. When you narrow the lens on homelessness so that it’s only getting a tiny little slice of the total population, you can tell yourself this comforting narrative about homelessness, that it’s about addiction, mental health issues. But when you widen the lens, then homelessness begins to look very different. Work also begins to look very different. America begins to look very different. You follow five families in the book. Can you walk us through the story of one of them, so that we can understand some of both the structural issues and the personal issues that these people are facing? I think Celeste captures a key argument in the book, which is that many of us will sometimes say, “Oh, so and so fell into homelessness,” and a big argument in the book is that people are not falling into homelessness; they’re being pushed. For Celeste, it begins in a really traumatic way when she’s driving home from her warehouse job, and her neighbor calls and says that her rental home is on fire. By the time she gets there, her house has been completely destroyed, and the only possessions that she and her kids have are a few loads of dirty laundry that she threw in the car that morning. She thought that she would have this relatively quick housing search. But the ground had shifted under her feet in the time she was renting, and neighborhoods in Atlanta that were once affordable had become unaffordable. So it turned into this protracted nightmare of a housing search, and she was sleeping with her kids in her car. And those nights were awful for her, because not only was she having to sleep in this Walmart parking lot and get her kids ready for school in the bathroom, but she was also terrified that the police would knock on her window, because in Georgia, over a quarter of kids put into the foster system are the direct result of what is categorized as inadequate housing. Finally, finally, she found a landlord. She applied. She prayed with the leasing agent. Then a few days later, she got a call. The leasing agent was no longer friendly. They were like, “Why didn’t you tell me about the eviction on your record?” And she’s like, “What are you talking about? There is no eviction.” Come to find out, when her house burned down, the landlord’s representative said to break the lease, you will have to pay not only the current month’s rent, but an additional month, and you will lose your security deposit. Celeste hung up in disgust. She thought that was the end of it. They filed an eviction against her, which she didn’t find out about until that call with the leasing agent. When Celeste drove to that house months later, in the mailbox, she found an eviction notice. She drove to the courthouse and found out that in her absence, a default judgment had been handed down, and her credit score had been tanked. And at that point, Celeste did what countless other families in her situation are doing, especially in places where there are no family shelters. She went to an extended stay hotel where she ended up in this tiny little room, paying more than double what she had been paying for her two-bedroom rental home, and she thus became imprisoned in what people call the hotel trap. All the families end up at some point staying in these extended stay hotels, where they’re paying far more than they would if they were paying monthly rent somewhere. Talk a little bit about that industry. Before I started this, I heard “extended stay hotel” and I would imagine places where business travelers might stay. The kind of extended stay hotels we’re talking about are at the very, very bottom end of the hotel spectrum. These are what I’ve come to refer to as extremely profitable homeless shelters with slum conditions. These hotels, they’re not cheap. They’re double, sometimes triple, what an apartment would cost. But they are filled with families, with working families, who have been pushed out of the formal housing market because they belong to this credit underclass from which it’s virtually impossible to climb out. I was stunned to discover that the same Wall Street investors, the same private equity firms that are buying up growing swaths of America’s rental housing, are also buying up the very places where people go once they lose their housing. It’s sort of flipping the James Baldwin line on its head about how, in America, it’s extremely expensive to be poor. Their stories demonstrate the flip side, which is how extremely lucrative all this insecurity has become for some. Homelessness has become big business. Can you talk about the process of getting to know the families? A lot of people have these ideas about what it means for someone to be homeless. How did you ensure that the portrayals of the people you were talking to were honest, without playing into those stereotypes? My goal was to immerse myself as much as humanly possible in the dayto-day lives of the people I was writing about, instead of approaching them like, “I’m doing a story about homelessness, and I’m wondering if I can talk to you.” It was this very long process. Consent was really important, because they had never worked with a journalist before. I checked in with see WORKING page 16 

JANUARY 23, 2026 COMMUNITY RESOURCES healthcare RESOURCE CORNER MEDICAID (HEALTHY MICHIGAN PLAN) Apply online: newmibridges.michigan.gov/ or go to 555 Towner Street, Ypsilanti / or call 734-5443030 for assistance. Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. HEALTH CLINICS Packard Health https://packardhealth.org/ Primary care for the whole family, including women’s health, prenatal care, chronic disease management, and nutritional therapy. Behavioral health, addiction treatment services. Insurance enrollment assistance. Food, medication, transportation services. Offering language and telehealth services. Packard Health Main 2650 Carpenter Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48108 734-971-1073 Mon- Fri: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Sun: Closed. Bus AATA: Route 5A, 5B Packard Health West 1915 Pauline Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-926-4900 Packard Health Ypsilanti 200 Arnet St., Ypsilanti, MI 48198 / 734-985-7200 Hope Clinic 518 Harriet St. , Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m.– 12 p.m. New patients, call 734-481-0111 Free primary care, even if you are uninsured or under-insured. We will work with you to get access to public insurance, if you are eligible. Appointment times available: Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday 12:30-4 p.m. Family Life Services 840 Maus Ave.,Ypsilanti MI 48198 / 734-434-3088 Monday, Wednesday-Friday: 12:30-4 p.m., Tuesday 3:30-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday: Closed —Pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, abortion/adoption information, prenatal vitamins —Community service referrals —Educational programs —Infant/maternity clothing, diapers, wipes and formula (when available) —For families, expecting mothers, mothers/fathers with children aged 0-4 Corner Health Center (ages 12-25 only) 47 N. Huron St., Ypsilanti, MI 48197 / 734-484-3600 APPOINTMENT ONLY Monday, Thursday, Friday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.,Wednesday 1-5 p.m. Provides health care, including physicals, immunizations, TB testing, short/long-term health problem coverage; sexual health care: birth control options, STI testing and treatment, HIV testing and counseling, pregnancy tests and mental health services. There is a pantry store (clients earn points for coming to their appointments that they can spend there), including items like food, hygiene, books, clothes, baby supplies, etc. Corner Health Center accepts some private insurance and uses a sliding scale fee for those without insurance; they will assist with applying for Medicaid. Young individuals can receive food from the pantry once per day. DENTAL CARE Community Dental Center 406 N.Ashley, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 / 734-998-9640 Full service dental office provides services to children and adults who live in Washtenaw County. www.dent.umich.edu/cdc/ Hope Dental Clinic 518 Harriet St., Ypsilanti MI 48198 / 734-480 -9575 www.thehopeclinic.org/dentalclinic Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Must be uninsured, have an income that is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of income, photo ID and your COVID-19 vaccination card will be required prior to scheduling an appointment. Unfortunately, we are unable to see you in the dental clinic if you have any form of dental insurance. University of Michigan School of Dentistry 1011 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 734-763-6933 Dental work done by students who are closely supervised by faculty members. www.dent.umich.edu/patients GROUNDCOVER NEWS 13

14 GROUNDCOVER NEWS PUZZLES WHAT'S THE DEAL? by Peter Collins JANUARY 23, 2026 ACROSS 1. Toddler's safety item 8. Science workshop 11. Hazardly start? 14. Tennis period since 1968 15. Wrath 16. Handy way to communicate, for short? 17. Legendary racehorse 18. Earl Grey product 19. Code-cracking org. 20. Accusation from Caesar 21. Prohibition hooch 24. Eighth Greek letter 26. Cry of delight 27. Theater section 28. Pink Floyd founder Barrett 29. Calif. school near the Mexican border 32. Check line 34. Barbarian 36. Stable diet? 37. Valentine sweets 39. Rum mixer 40. Twilled fabrics 41. N.Y.C. financial hub 43. When two hands meet 44. Angle or cycle starter 47. Singer Guthrie 48. 12/24 or 12/31 50. Constellation with a belt 52. Castle access 56. Yankee with more than 3,000 hits, familiarly 57. French ___ 58. Verb that sounds like its middle letter 59. Final stage of a chess match (and a hint as to what's found in the answers to 17-, 21-, 37-, or 52-Across) 61. "___ Miserables" 62. Word before or after "down" 63. Entered front-first 64. "... ___ he drove out of sight..." 65. Doubtfire title 66. Springsteen's ___ Band DOWN 1. Streakers in the dark? 2. Lack of interest 3. Paid a flat fee? 4. Pig's nose 5. "Gross!" 6. Part of U.A.E. 7. "Gone With the Wind" estate 8. Many an art print, for short 9. "Queen of Soul" Franklin 10. Lover boy 11. Favorite social spots 12. Gives, as homework 13. Mars or Venus 22. Made more strict 23. Puffs up 25. Yoga postures 30. VCR tape successor 31. States 33. Rita who won an Oscar for "West Side Story" 34. Unhealthily yellow 35. Architect Saarinen 37. Fall apart 38. Before now 39. Delta, for one 41. Walk like a penguin 42. Extreme fear 44. Diatribe 45. Dorm-mate 46. Set right? 49. Looks at 51. Wild party 53. Soothing stuff 54. Hereditary carrier 55. Adam's grandson 60. Summer clock setting: Abbr. PUZZLE SOLUTIONS January 9, 2025 edition

JANUARY 23, 2026 POETRY Before Love Learned Its Name Before love had a face it was temperature. A quiet warmth deciding atoms should stay together. It didn’t ask permission. It didn’t explain itself. It leaned — and the universe leaned back. We learned fear faster than love. Fear came with instructions. Love came naked. So we built words around it like fences around wind, and then wondered why it kept escaping. We tried to own it. Put it on trial. Measure it in promises, in rings, in days that didn’t last. But love never signed the contract. It just showed up as breath in another chest, as the unbearable urge to protect what can break. Love is what your body remembers before your mind interrupts. It lives in the pause between two heartbeats, in the moment your eyes close and something inside you says: yes … this. You don’t find love. You stop resisting it. You don’t give love. You allow it to pass through you like light through glass that forgets it’s solid. One day humanity will stop asking what love is for, stop demanding proof, stop mistaking intensity for truth. And then — quietly — without ceremonies or conclusions, everything we broke will remember how to return. Because love was never the lesson. Love was the origin. Love was the path. Love is the ending that keeps beginning. LA SHAWN COURTWRIGHT Groundcover writer Seems like I had looked to see The end of a year The end of former things Don't git it twisted at all My friends, family and all Does not postpone life Yet for some New, better beginnings Fresh starts simply A fart, a farce both escaped me Yet here I am A fresh start The end of old former things May this year offer, as well as grant me, and all a new and refreshed journey!!! PEDRO CAMPOS Groundcover vendor No. 652 Another Part of Me , Another Start Too! GROUNDCOVER NEWS 15 Free the chain gang #Flint MARQUETTA "Q" CLEMENTS Groundcover contributor This shit ain't normal Free Palestine It's hard to stay sane Got me feeling outta place Been hurt plenty times Just tryna numb the pain The drugs feel safeeeeee The drugs feel safe Eyes behind my head They tryna get me out the way My talent seems to rise The love tend to fade F* that fake shii I'll empty out this chamber I don't care for cops Holocaust detain us Free Palestine Trail of tears it get dangerous America we fallen Airborne rangers A song from a vet Green berets let em shoot Duck, duck, goose x2 I wear that Army Green Let's show em who we is We the biggest bullies Bully bullies let it r.i.p. Biggest gang get big Faith KIMANI HAMILTON Groundcover vendor No. 518 Will my faith get Me strength get me Far will my faith leave Me breathless. Will My faith leave me hopeless Or will my faith get Me further. In life Or will my faith leave Me to riches. All I know is my faith Keeps me focused. Choices KIMANI HAMILTON Why do I make the Choices I make Is it to please others Are my choices pleasing To my father in heaven Are my choices pleasing To my family Are my choices favorable To myself will my choices impact my future Will my choices leave Me hopeless all I know Is my choices won't get Me far

16 GROUNDCOVER NEWS FOOD Almond and jam scones LINDSAY CALKA Publisher Ingredients: 2 cups flour 3 tbsp sugar 1 tbsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 5 tsp butter, cold 1 cup heavy cream 2/3 cup almond paste Fruit jam, any flavor Directions: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, salt together in a medium sized bowl. Cut cold butter into 1/4 inch cubes. Pinch butter cubes with your fingers into the bowl of dry ingredients. When no butter pieces are larger than a pea, mix in heavy cream and incorporate fully into the loose dough. Rest dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes as you roll out the almond paste. Divide almond paste in two. Roll out one half to a 4×10" rectangle and  WORKING from page 12 them constantly, reminding them, “This is going to be read one day.” I told them from the beginning that at the end of this, we’re going to sit down and go through whatever I end up writing, and you’re going to tell me if you’re comfortable with this. And we did that at the end, and there were a lot of tears. It was heart-wrenching. I became convinced that it is just as cut length-wise into two equal pieces. Repeat with second portion of almond paste. Roll out the scone dough on a floured surface to about a 4×10" rectangle. Place a square of paste on the scone dough, flush with the bottom edge. Spread a thin layer of jam over the almond. Fold the dough over the almond and jam. Roll dough out to a 4×10" rectangle again and repeat with the remaining three squares of almond paste and jam. Cut dough into triangle shapes — they don't have to be perfect. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool and enjoy with tea or coffee! dehumanizing to people to present them as these angelic, flawless creatures who can do no wrong, who are just getting up in the morning and going to work, and they have grit. Like, it can be just as dehumanizing to do that as it is to pathologize people and blame them. It felt really important to show people in the fullness of who they are, stepping back and saying, here’s the larger system or whatever force that is giving this person the choice in front of them to begin with. These are systemic problems. You write a lot about gentrification and housing affordability. How do we create a system where people like Celeste can rent an apartment again? There are all kinds of immediate solutions, such as keeping people in the homes they already have. Policy, you know, what’s sometimes called ‘just cause’ eviction laws, that say you JANUARY 23, 2026 can’t lose your apartment just because your landlord decided that it’s the perfect time to sell. And then, of course, getting people into homes that they don’t yet have; building new, truly affordable housing that is safe and dignified and permanently affordable. But the foundation upon which any real way of tackling this crisis has to be built is to understand in our society, in the richest nation on the planet, how the hell has this happened? How have we allowed this essential thing that people need, like food, like medicine, just to be auctioned off to the highest bidder? We have millions and millions of people in this country who are extremely low-income, who are part of the labor force, and who are at imminent risk of homelessness. And we’ve flung all those people into what a case manager in the book refers to as the housing Hunger Games. Housing has become this thing that is so unattainable for so many and where so much money is being made, and people don't even have a home to go back to at the end of the night with their kids, and that is the shock that I’m hoping this book will initiate. Courtesy of Street Sense Media / INSP.ngo $5 OFF NATURAL FOODS MARKET 216 N. FOURTH AVENUE ANN ARBOR, MI PHONE (734) 994 - 9174 • PEOPLESFOOD.COOP ANY PURCHASE OF $30 OR MORE One coupon per transaction. Must present coupon at the time of purchase. Coupon good for in-store only. No other discounts or coop cards apply. Not valid for gift cards, case purchases, beer or wine. OFFER EXPIRES 11/13/2025 02/19/26

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