I didn't realize just how big "Ann Arbor" actually is...

Was I sleeping? How come I didn't notice that Ann Arbor incorporated a small portion of Ypsilanti Township? I guess I gotta pay less attention to "American Idol" or the latest Anna Nicole news... Then I won't be clueless about an new "Ann Arbor" Business opening up-- Or at least just how far the "Ann Arbor area" (as many Realtors refer to Ypsi ) has actually expanded.

Seriously, this sort of thing irks me, (if you aren't able to tell, ;) )-- This is the sort of snubbing our area has long endured, and the most disturbing thing is that it is likely unrealized or unintentional on this entrepreneur's part. It's as if this area doesn't exist or "don't" matter. Let me put it this way: First off, (and my main 'bone' of contention) I'll assume this business owner meant nothing more than to associate his business which deals in the always hip, uber cool, and Italian fashion statement, The Vespa Scooter-- Where in our area, the market IS Ann Arbor, for such an item. They have the "wealth" to pursue these hip fads of the day. Now I get that. I truly do. What bothers me though, isn't that he named his business "Ann Arbor Vespa", but that he (she?) named it such, despite its located a good 8 miles or more east of where such a name fits best. Truthfully, being strictly area specific, "Ypsi-Canton Vespa" would be a better name, geographically. What bothers me, (ranting baby, ranting!) its as if the area where he placed his business hasn't any meaning at all-- To be ignored. "Ann Arbor" trumps all. "Ann Arbor Vespa" is in most likelihood here, because lets face it-- The rent on E. Michigan Ave is surely cheaper than anything that could be found on Stadium Blvd., back in Ann Arbor proper, where that name would fit right in. Here's my idea: Why not consider "Ypsilanti Vespa"? I can't believe that there is all that many Vespa dealers in the area, that he needed to hang "Ann Arbor" on it, as far as I know there isn't an "Ypsilanti Vespa" to cause confusion in the first place-- Name aside, since he built it, wouldn't they still come? To Ann Arbor or wherever for their "Vespa" needs? Of course, the owner could have just dubbed the place after his own moniker-- Thus stealing all the wind from my lil' ol' rant here, before I could even think of getting it off the ground.

As I said above, we in the Ypsilanti area are maybe a little to sensitive about perceived "snubs" to our area-- And our citizens for that matter-- I can't count the number of times our police blotter has fed the Ann Arbor news to titillate their readers with sordid tales of crime around here... In this vein of heightened sensibility, we've a local blogger who picks up on these bits of bias and posts them with a playful avatar featuring the water tower as an "YPSI ATTACK" his posts along this venue are mostly tongue-in-cheek-- But to a true Ypsilantian, there's some underlying pain too, with this negative snubbing; personal, politcal, commercial-- What have you.

We've seen it all: From St. Joseph's Hospital maintaining an Ann Arbor P.O. box (yes they're closer to Ypsi, technically Superior TWP.) so they wouldn't have their letterhead reflect where the hospital actually is; to that new Hyundai research facility also being "placed" in Ann Arbor-- Never mind the fact it is located east of Superior Rd in Superior Township, the nearest bit of Ann Arbor (actually being Ann Arbor Township)-- Would be a nice stiff, and long walk to the west, from the Hyundai grounds, which would land you in the Radrick Farms golf course-- But you'll probably need your whole lunch hour to do make that sort of hike...

Okay, to belabor my point ( "Beat on 'er some more Clem-- I ain't sure they git it yet!" ), a plea to business owners, present and future: Accept where you're located. Show local pride. Hire local people. Become part of this community at large, hell, consider living here-- And realize that naming something "Ann Arbor this" or "Ann Arbor that" far to the east of where such a name makes any actual sense, can be perceived as a slap to the face of the community that already exists here-- An area that has been settled a longer time historically (the euro-centric view, anyway), than that metropolis to Ypsilanti's immediate west. Those early Ann Arbor settlers had to come through here first, if you didn't know....

Sometimes I hate being "right"

Recently I posted about the weather damage and/or suspected (on my part) vandalism of the revamped fountain adjacent to the Library's downtown branch. Weather, indeed, did play apart in the loss of some of the decorative tiles, not surprisingly, as we had that three week stretch where we didn't get above the freezing mark. As to vandalism? Alas, that seems to have occurred as well, as this email sent to me from Jill Morey seems to sadly concur with my original suspicions:


Dear Robert,

Your email message was forwarded to me. On Friday, I met with our landscape architect regarding the disappointing loose tiles on YDL’s Park Plaza fountain and “river of life.” We had experienced occasional tile loss on the “river” earlier and asked our contractor to work on the joints. This has not helped and we are brainstorming another solution to try when warmer weather arrives. The loss of tile on the fountain is even more troublesome, since it is the work of vandals. We will make necessary repairs in the spring and are considering what additional “weather resistant” methods can be used. Sadly, we have also adjusted our exterior security cameras to track the fountain area. I’m pleased to hear you are enjoying our mini-park. It’s a wonderful venue for expanded library programs (from concerts to Harriet Tubman re-enactments to ice sculpting).
Thank you for your interest in YDL.
Jill Morey, Library Director

Damn my spider-sense premonitional fore and hindsight! I'd rather be disappointed over weather or workmanship issues. Seeing that vandalism is to blame (at least in part), just pisses me off, and saddens me as well. After all, what's more sad than a public library needing to worry about security cameras in the first place? Sad enough that in this day and age, one needs to mention "Library and security camera" in a sentence to begin with.

PS. Thanks to Jill for responding to me so quickly-- I don't think even 48 hours had passed between my questioning email, and her answering one.

Old Ninja Dudes...

This past tuesday I was walking about downtown, just like many other folks, enjoying the nice weather. Shortly after I turned the corner from Michigan avenue and headed northbound on Huron street, I espied an old gentleman stumble, slip and fall to one knee, sending his cane flying, as he prepared to cross Huron street. I quickened my pace to see if I could be of any assistance, as he was slow to get up.

He grunted as he waved off my aid, mumbling something I didn't quite catch and preceded to gather up his cane from where it had fallen. I couldn't help but notice the glint of steel as he shoved his cane "back together" as apparently it was a "sword cane" and had come apart slightly when it hit the concrete. Yipes. That's one old dude that I shant mess with (not that I'm in the habit of doing so) out on the streets of Ypsilanti! Shades of colonial Bombay, what-what?

That old Ypsi one-two act...

On Thursday, the first of March, while stopping in for a quick coffee at Bombadill's I noticed that several dozen tiles had been pried off ( I might post pics, stay tuned) the newly revamped fountain next to the library by someone(s).
Typical low-life bastard sort of thing, that is a little too common 'round here. Frankly I'm surprised that the Winnie-the-Pooh ice sculpture is still standing too, though of course, in a much melted form now-- But then again, that one had "video protection" along with a warning sign about the same, posted on the chain barrier protecting his Poohness. Apparently the more permanent fountain needed the same, though one would think being in full view of busy Michigan Ave would be enough. I guess not. It only takes one asshole to ruin something- We all know this, and we see this shit-ass behavior a little too much as I said above.
I remember some patrons in Bombadills shortly after the little mini-park opened, scoffing that this cutesy park was too akin to Ann Arbor- styled gentrification. So what. I've posted and even smirked at some of Ann Arbor's quirky fads myself, like the Chocolate and Oxygen bars for example-- And still do. Silly Manhattan wannabees, or LA copycatting if you ask me.
My point (if there is one) is that while Ann Arbor has an over-abundance of cutesy-gentrified thingamabobs scattered around the city, and really don't need anymore, I feel Ypsi, at any rate, could well do with more-- Much more. Especially in and around Michigan Ave. Now there's been some nice progress here and there around this old town (the cheese-grater's gone, Yay!), especially over by Depot Town, where the biker gangs who once tossed their empty liquor bottles at our family station wagon as we passed by, are now, thankfully, long gone themselves ('sides it takes really $$$ to own a hog these days-- Low-lifes are hard pressed to live up to that bad-boy image, now!). Frankly the Depot area could be plopped anywhere downtown A-Squared and it would fit right in, no problem.
Yet with the local economics being the way they are right now-- I don't see much 'new' progress happening for a while, with the Water Street mess looming over us all, and such, so that's why this bone-headed vandalism of the fountain pisses me off-- The typical one step forward, two back -- Been Ypsi's song for far too long-- Sad.
Now, for the asshat that thought it cute to pry off those tiles: Grow up. Show some pride, first in yourself, then your community-- Or as my neighbor says, "Push on down the Ave., to Inkster!" (With apologies to Inkster-- It really is what my neighbor says! :) )