Power out in Downtown Ypsilanti, UPS driver trapped inside truck

A driver from UPS/Overnite is trapped inside his truck after a powerline fell. This happened on South Huron next to Ypsilanti City Hall around 1:15p this afternnon. YpsiNews reporters saw a bright flash from a transformer behind City Hall. The damage resulted in a power line falling across the road and landing on the truck. The driver is OK, but Ypsilanti Fire Department has asked the driver to stay in the vehicle until crews from DTE can make sure the line is not energized.

Ypsilanti police have closed off South Huron at Ferris. The power outage has snarled traffic in every direction as drivers look for alternate routes. Traffic lights are out at Huron and Michigan Ave as well as Washington and Michigan Ave.

Power is out for businesses and residents in about a 6 block area.

Video: Future of the Autos and retraining in Michigan

Congressman John Dingell (D, Mi-15) hosted U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis for a round table meeting at Eastern Michigan University about the ‘autos’ and worker retraining. The meeting was timely given the announcement on Monday that GM was closing the Ypsilanti Township Willow Run transmission factory at the end of 2010.

Also present were local elected officials, EMU President Susan Martin, and representatives from AFL-CIO and the UAW.

Video: DTCDC Director speaks after HRC recommends name change for Ypsitucky event

Erik Dotzauer, Executive Director Depot Town Community Development Corporation, talks with reporters after the Ypsilanti Human Relations Commission meeting. The HRC had earlier passed a resolution suggesting the City Council meet with the DTCDC to change the name of the Ypsitucky Jamboree.

View letter to HRC from DTCDC from May 20, 2009.

Ypsilanti Human Relations Commission asks City Council to change name of Ypsitucky music event (Update1)

The Ypsilanti Human Relations Commission met on Thursday evening to discuss the Ypsitucky Jamboree. Citizens had complained to the HRC in April that the word “ypsitucky” was a pejorative and offensive. The HRC held a special meeting on May 18 to hear both sides of the issue.

The HRC convened a second special meeting 10 days later to discuss the matter.

The second meeting held on Thursday, May 28 in City Council chambers opened with audience participation. Unlike the first meeting, during this second meeting no one spoke in favor of the Ypsitucky name.

The commission did hear from a number of citizens and business owners opposed to the name. There were 19 people in the audience including three reporters from the Ann Arbor News, Ypsilanti Citizen, and YpsiNews.

CDC Executive Director Erik Dotzauer and CDC Attorney Cameron Getto were in attendance. Neither spoke during audience participation.

After hearing from the public, the HRC discussed the matter for nearly 45 minutes.

The HRC then passed a resolution asking the City Council to meet with the Depot Town Community Development Corporation and change the name of the Ypsitucky Jamboree scheduled in September 2009. The HRC passed the resolution on a 6-0 vote. Board Chair Clifford Larkins was not at the meeting.

The HRC also said if the DTCDC rejects the name change, the City Council should exercise their oversight powers under the contract with the CDC.

Read the complete HRC resolution.

Update1: June 3, 2009 Clarified story to indicate the HRC held two special meetings on the 18th and again on the 28th. At the second meeting, no one spoke in favor of the Ypsitucky name or event.

Ypsilanti DDA Director resigns

Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority Director Brian Vosburg resigned Thursday morning after a closed door session with DDA board members. The meeting was closed at the request of Vosburg.

Under Michigan law, an employee can request that a meeting to discuss personnel matters be closed to the public.

Vosburg was coming up on his third year anniversary in June and the DDA board had scheduled their annual performance review of the director.

Calls to Vosburg and the DDA office were not returned.

No reason was given for the resignation. The Ypsilanti Citizen reported on Thursday the resignation was effective immediately.

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