Outreach Notebook for Sunday May 1, 2022

Hello everyone and welcome back to another outreach notebook for Sunday May 1, 2022. The past week was a bit more [actual live and in-person] outreach-focused for yours truly including 74 doors for a local candidate, connecting with Survivors Speak for some upcoming #A2Council advocacy for black-owned businesses, a visit with Alex Thomas from What’s Left Ypsi to the Fletcher Forum, and finally connecting with Jeannine Palms for a No Mow May sign for our #eastannarbor front yard.

But first, today we recognize May 1 as a day for a multitude of celebrations:

• Batman Day
• Beltane
• Couple Appreciation Day
• CSS Reboot Day
• Executive Coaching Day
• Frequent Flyer Day
• Global Love Day
• International Baby Lost Mother's Day - May 1, 2022 (First Sunday in May)
• International Bereaved Mothers Day - May 1, 2022 (First Sunday in May)
• International Permaculture Day - May 1, 2022 (First Sunday in May)
• International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day
• International Worker's Day
• Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Day
• Law Day
• Lei Day (U.S. State of Hawaii)
• Lemonade Day - May 1, 2022 (First Sunday in May)
• Loyalty Day
• May Day
• Mayday for Mutts - May 1, 2022 (First Sunday in May)
• Mother Goose Day
• Motorcycle Mass and Blessings of the Bike - May 1, 2022 (First Sunday in May)
• National Chocolate Parfait Day
• National Infertility Survival Day - May 1, 2022 (First Sunday in May)
• National Purebred Dog Day
• New Homeowners Day
• Phone in Sick Day
• Rural Life Sunday - May 1, 2022 (First Sunday in May)
• Save the Rhino Day
• School Principals' Day
• Silver Star Service Banner Day
• Therapeutic Massage Awareness Day
• World Laughter Day - May 1, 2022 (First Sunday in May)
• Worthy Wage Day

With all these ways to celebrate today, there really is something for everyone!

In recent years though, we have grappled with the meaning of May 1st in terms of the fight for the 8-hour day and the Haymarket rebellion that spawned the movement for workers’ rights in the US.

In 2012, Peter Linebaugh published a free chapbook-style treatise on May Day titled Ypsilanti Vampire May Day.  In it he documents the many forms of human agency that has spawned from the holiday which for some is a “first day of summer” kind of holiday. For others, it is a remembrance of those who fought for the abbreviated freedoms we live with today. He also makes note of the source of advancement and progress in the US: chattel slavery.

Look for a forthcoming #eastannarbor special issue on the commons in Ann Arbor. We will grapple with the current fight for the open space in the downtown next to the A2 District Library.

This week, the #A2Council meeting is on Thursday May 5 at 7pm instead of its usual day and time [1st and 3rd Mondays at 7pm] due to spring elections. Of note on the agenda are B-1 and DC-3. B-1 is a second reading of an ordinance co-sponsored by CMs Nelson and Radina along with Mayor Taylor. The ordinance includes definition fixes for Gender Identity and Gender Expression to align with the Conversion Therapy Ban ordinance.  DC-3 is a resolution co-sponsored by Elizabeth Nelson and Travis Radina supporting the passage of Michigan House Bill 5931 that would remove the 2019 Auto Insurance No Fault law that has gutted the entire system of care for many in our state who live with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries and other chronic, debilitating conditions. #eastannarbor supports each of these measures on the agenda for Thursday May 5, 2022

What do you think?

There are also a series of eight [8] public hearings, one of which is regarding the introduction of the FY 2023 Budget. This week we will be joining Survivors Speak activists in the call for material financial support for black businesses in Ann Arbor. This type of practice would serve, in part, to help the city begin a program of reparations to black residents in our community with a focus on those who are American Descentants of Slaves/Freedmen [ADOS/F]. More on this in weeks to come.

As usual, you will likely see an #A2Council preview over on Damn Arbor which you can use to quickly get ready for the meeting.

This week we will also be joining the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners for their meetings about the county budget with a focus on public safety. Let’s take a look at the outreach notebook from a couple weeks ago when the meetings were cancelled due an unspecified safety incident. We will be helping introduce the community an commissioners to the participatory budgeting process we hope to begin with them this year as well as a focus on the sheriff’s budget and the fate of his surplus monies.

See this link for more details and ways you can help us!

Finally this week we want to make y’all aware that today is the start of the No Mow May project being facilitated by the city and volunteers from different parts of the community. Yours truly picked up a homemade sign with the poster at the top of this newsletter. We also signed up to help track what we notice as the month goes on with this iNaturalist group specifically for the Ann Arbor No Mow May project.

Alongside this, we received a note from #eastannarbor reader Ed who informed us that an East Ann Arbor area park is having a wildflower nurturing cleanup. Here is the text of the email with a link to registration and instructions for the activity.

Please join us Sunday to nurture the wildflowers in the new section of Mary Beth Doyle Park!

As you may know, the wooded property at 3300 Cardinal Ave. is now part of Mary Beth Doyle Park. Wildflowers are blooming, and here's an opportunity to help them thrive and spread.On Sunday (May 1, 2022) at 1:00 PM, all are welcome to help spruce up the new area. We'll remove trash and weeds to help restore the woodland ecosystem. It looks like the weather will be great!After working for a while, we'll take some time to admire the bloodroot and trout lilies that are blooming. We'll see trillium, jack-in-the pulpit and mayapples are coming in.  Bring your camera.We'll meet at the corner of Cardinal Ave and Sharon Drive, where a trail enters the new parkland.  Please wear long pants, closed-toed shoes, and gardening gloves. All minors should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Tools and know-how provided. Register here (http://tinyurl.com/MBD050122).

That’s it for this week. Reach out if you would like to talk and think about any of the events or issues outlined above.

We wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t been there. See you next week!