MAY 29, 2026 VENDOR VOICES The Streets of America CINDY GERE Groundcover vendor No. 279 The streets of america the streets of america We see them dancing across the sidewalk. One by one two by two side step to the left Side step to the right jump skip out of the way Mystery who were they in their lifetimes dance Across our lips and every glance of theirs turns Into a rageful glare (don't you dare judge me) a Quickening pace of yours the street Children of america we ran away long ago. Then we remember beating hands on broken backs Beating hearts in broken homes beating souls Where no one saw or saved the child's cry aloud You never stopped the pain you saw on the street Of that little one that one was me we ran as fast As we could to the streets we did into the arms of Darkness that wrapped its soul around my Protection is forever the street children of america The wondering song of the alley you hear us in The distant void we stand like sentinels in the Silence of the day asking for pennies from the pocket. Blank stairs from cars the hush of the rush zip past No rings in the soul sand money falls in open palm Empty stomach of hunger sleep tonight The street children of america millions strong millions Gone in one day one can die in a million ways off the street Pole toke drunk snort junk pass the smash drift off to death Unremembered unremarkable unknown government sanctioned Victims around from the underground to the above ground The wandering zombies are real drugged up doped Up from past to present them off to dreamland they go The streetchildren of america who said? You said is homeless The nurse the janitor the teacher the hidden hand of Homeless working day in day out unseen unknown No one dared to speak of a new age of trumpville is real Right in the back alleys of america in their cars on The couch in the shanty they made in the woods They walk past you every single day standing There right there in plain sight the unspoken the Unheard working the streetchildren of america Your time comes shes here one voice ringing in your head I'm sorry kid I'm sorry sir I'm sorry man I'm sorry lady Here’s your pink slip your job is done we don't need you Anymore you step outside on the street its your turn now To be homeless to walk the endless streets to hear the cries To see the pain to know it is you today you thought you were Immune you thought you were better you thought you saved Enough you thought you trusted your friends your family Turned you away now you're one of us we slapped on A name. We gave you our last crust of bread a hug a tear Join the millions it’s your turn now stop that crying no one cries here We're a million strong the unidentified gathering power the unseen The unknown the anarchists street children of america ….. WATER STREET from page 8 Economic Development and Equity, and a lifelong community member. There are three council members: Mayor Nicole Brown, a lifelong resident; Council Member Desiraé Simmons (who moved here in 2014) — Ward 3; and Council Member Steve Wilcoxen (here since 1994) — Ward 2. While up to two non-city council committee members could have been non-residents, all eight are residents. Not only do the committee members cover the minimum composition requirements described in the resolution, they bring a strong spectrum of community values and needed project expertise. One committee member positively affirmed this initial impression by saying there was evidence of “a lot of investment in the community.” Committee members introduced themselves at the first Ad Hoc meeting: Lenore Aerial Ojibway-Gifford has been a resident since 2016 and works at U-M Hatcher Graduate Library; Edward Koryzno has lived in the community for decades and has experience with previous city projects; Chuck Bultman lives along a property line; Juanita House is a lifelong resident; Allison Kruger, resident since 2010, comes with previous Brownfield work experience and is an ecologist; Daron Weatherspoon Sr. is a business owner and lifelong resident; Dallas Ford, resident since 2017, Water Street was their intro to city politics; Diana Gonzales, resident since 2006, grew up in New York City and has a background in permaculture, community restoration and city repair. Redeveloping Water Street, according to numerous local newspaper articles located in the Ypsilanti Historical Society Archives, began in the late 1990s. The original articulated goal was addressing aging buildings and historical environmental hazards from previous industrial uses of the land. There were several buildings, remnants of industry, and residential buildings that have been cleared. The property is now a single parcel; however, at the end of the 20th Century, the parcel was still split into numerous properties, and was occupied by a mixture of residential and business structures. While most of the remains of the old structures have been removed, testing evidences contamination consistent with previous industrial uses. Some soil clean-up has reportedly been completed over the past three decades. The parcel is significant as it has the potential to again contribute a large amount of tax revenue, add space for residential expansion, increase the number of businesses and increase the enjoyment of the river. Property owners are still paying a Water Street millage, levied in 2017, to address budget shortfalls associated with the project’s high debt. Market fluctuations and environmental cleanup requirements have been cited as contributing significantly to previous failed redevelopment attempts. While many current local residents are hopeful about the potential outcome for the site, many long-time residents still recall GROUNDCOVER NEWS 13 some of the history of the area, including origins of toxic or industrial pollutants, which include evidence of the old railway used for servicing trains, removed since the turn of the century. Residents have had the privilege of observing the reemergence of some of the threatened and federally protected species still found in Ypsilanti’s portion of the Huron River. Members of the Ad Hoc Committee and residents have described the Water Street area and the park trail as one of Ypsilanti’s most valuable assets. While the immediate losses experienced by the displaced residents and business at the start of redevelopment have mirrored more recent displacements of the unhoused, the area has become loved and valued by the community in its current state. The Water Street area and its wildlife will be greatly impacted by upcoming redevelopment, as well as impacted by upstream projects such as the Pen Paper Dam removal. Water Street has historically been in the flood plain, and photos from multiple previous floods remain in the Ypsilanti Historical Society’s Archives. Many previous proposal plans included structures that would again run near the water’s edge. While many residents currently appreciate the way the park trail has begun reclaiming its natural beauty, current homeless residents of Ypsilanti’s river area regularly find themselves battling the reality of river level fluctuations. Previous Water Street Committee meetings from 2026 may be found on the City of Ypsilanti website under Water Street Redevelopment Area. Helpful 2025 presentations covering currently relevant topics, including environmental concerns, Brownfield redevelopment projects, and the history of Water Street area may be found there as well. Ad Hoc meetings to date have focused on introductions, reviewing available reports/ presentations, outlining procedural expectations and visioning. More detailed information about the Ad Hoc Committee, or access to live meetings online may be found via the aforementioned link. The next Water Street Ad Hoc Citizen Committee meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wed., June 24, at City Hall (1 S. Huron, Ypsilanti). The RFQ is expected to be made available to the public in August. It is possible, based on the City’s proposed tentative timeline, to have a potential development firm or firms in October. The committee may hold additional meetings beyond the six required, or extend beyond the minimum 180-day requirement. As of May 21, evidence of continued efforts to clean up and gather data about the property were observed. The higher portion of the fenced-in area, at the end of River Street, has been graded. An AKT Peerless Environmental Services trailer has been moved onto the property. A 21st Century Salvage BobCat and tractor trailer were observed working the site. Evidence of the Sculpture Garden still remains inside the fenced area.
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