The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-05-07

506 Elm ST. fpsilanti,
MAY 6. 1912.
Dear Sir.
Tuesday evening ! attended the
meeting OF the Ypsilanti City Coun-
ell called for the purpose OF protest
ing the government plan TO put a
defense housing project N the out
skirts of Ypsilanti. After hearing
statement OF objections to the
plan as set forth in a letter from
the city engineer of Ann Arbor
10 the head OF the Huron.Clinton
Parkway project and after hearing
a statement from a preventative
OF the Ford Motor Company, who
stated that Mr.. Ford had expected
that all the small towns around
the bomber plant would benefit
from the influx of workers coming
10 their communities and that ths
proposed development o, a defense
workers town would be definitely
undesirable for a number OF rea-
sons; and after hearing a little ad-
ditional discussion. the Council un
animously adopted a prepared reso.
luton against the project.
! know that the groups who OPP
pose the building of the government
project feel that lime is short.
know too that groups in the city
have been meeting during the win
ter and studying the problems
which Ypsilanti faces as a result
Of the location OF the Ford plant
on the outskirts of the town. so
that members of the Council have
had opportunity to think through
the effects OF various proposals for
providing housing, and that they
were not making an unconsidered
judgment last night. But. would il
not have been a more American
and democratic procedure to have
arranged some sort of public meet
ing at which both side OF the ar
gument might have been heard, be-
fore our representatives sent off in
our names protest I'M which,
feel confident, a number OF Ypsi-
lanti citizens would not concur?
Criticism OF the federal govern
ment for failure to act more quick
" to relieve the housing problem
has appeared in the news stories of
the Ypsilanti Daily Press on sew
eral occasions-criticisrl of study
commissions which came through
town, asked questions. and went
away to be heard from no more.
Apparently this arrangement for a
planned community OF defense
workers was the result OF the study
OF those government experts. and,
as such. deserved full publicity and
the opportunity for public discus
sion before condemnation
There was one phase OF Tuesday
evenings meeting that was ex-
tremely disheartening to one who
believes in Christian principles and
practices. That was the absence
of any mention of the effect OF the
present housing situation on the
workers. The people who are com.
ing TO work for the Ford Company
are American citizens just as much
as the residents of Washtenaw
County. They are coming to help
produce the materials necessary
and vitality necessary ever yone who
is following the course of the fight
ing agrees that they are-to the
successful prosecution OF the war.
Their well-being, mental and ply.
steal. is essential 10 their efficiency.
Tuesday nights meeting empha.
sized only the effect OF the proposed
community on us-the settled citi-
rens. This is a time which de-
mands unselfshness and whole.
hearted effort from all the Ameri-
can people.
] have been following the various
proposals as set forth in the pa
pers with much interest and with
close study. and It seems TO me
that the proposal for use Of vacant
property already serviced with uti.
Mites. which the Council urged as
an alternative to the new communi.
ty. is now approved by the federal
authorities through provision OF
r II. A. funds for building on such