vote early vote often
Keep Ypsi Rollin’ Announces Election Changed
Ypsilanti voters will have two chances this year to demonstrate their support for public transit as a critical service to the city. Keep Ypsi Rollin’ has learned that the “Charter Amendment for Public Transit” appearing on the City’s August 3rd primary ballot will not count due to a technicality, and will reappear on the ballot on November 2, 2010.
Under State law, a charter amendment may not be decided on a primary election ballot. Since the City of Ypsilanti’s ballots for the August primary have already been printed including the Charter Amendment for Public Transit, voters will see the measure on August 3, but the vote will not count. The measure will reappear on the November general election ballot for an actual decision.
Keep Ypsi Rollin’ encourages all supporters of public transit to vote YES in both August and November.
“Ypsilanti understands the importance of public transit,” said Richard Murphy of Keep Ypsi Rollin’. “We are disappointed that the August vote will not count, but we see this as an opportunity to let even more people know that they have the chance to support transit service.”
The Charter Amendment would provide secure, dedicated funding for the City of Ypsilanti’s contract for bus service via AATA. This service has been threatened by budget cuts over the past several years, and City and AATA officials have indicated that a “no” vote on this Charter Amendment would probably result in drastic cuts or complete elimination of Ypsilanti’s bus service. Over 600,000 riders board AATA buses every year in the City of Ypsilanti, using The Ride to get to work or school, to get to the doctor, or to buy groceries. Losing bus service would strand these riders, hurting Ypsilanti’s tax base and local economy.
The Ypsilanti City Council has expressed its support of the Charter Amendment. Mayor Paul Schreiber says, “Between now and November let’s get the message out: The transportation charter amendment will ensure AATA bus service in Ypsilanti and provide a foundation to improve bus and rail transportation throughout Washtenaw County. Vote for the transportation amendment on August 3 and November 2!”
Keep Ypsi Rollin’ (KYR) is a ballot question committee formed to pass this important measure. KYR will hold events, educate voters and raise funds for the purpose of helping Ypsilanti protect long term public transit for its citizens, businesses and future!
News release from Keep Ypsi Rollin (KYR) committee
endorsing candidates & issues
Advance Ypsilanti is engaging in a candidate and issue endorsement process. We are contacting all the candidates currently announced for the Mayoral and City Council races. All candidates will receive a 4-part questionnaire from us including the following issues:
- Water Street
- Budget Concerns
- Thompson Block
- Public Transit
AY PAC may also meet with candidates. Meetings will enhance information candidates provide to us through our questionnaire. Our questionnaires will be distributed through email and ‘snail’ mail processes, depending on how each candidate is available.
AY PAC has already made a statement supporting the Charter Amendment for Public Transit. Our endorsements will include that issue as well. We will make endorsements based on candidates and issues being aligned with our stated AY PAC objectives and principles (as noted under “We Deserve Better”.)
If anyone has any questions about our endorsement process, AY PAC can be contacted through our website.