So my curiosity got the better of me . . . .

So my curiosity got the better of me this afternoon. I walked over to the Downtown DDA and asked to see the file on the meetings preceding 2002's election. I obtained my own copies of the October 24, 2002 minutes, plus other material from the file. I confirmed that the YCFE letter is indeed inaccurate and illegitimately smears Pierce and his campaign. First, let's turn to the minutes. They state that DDA Members Campbell, Farmer, Heater, Nelson, Pierce and Williams were present for the meeting. DDA Members Kinley, McEachern, and Moss were not. The only staff present was Jennifer Goulet, DDA Director. Under heading "V. Ypsilanti Campaign for Equality," the minutes state (and this is the entry in its entirety): Campaign Co-Chair Lisa Zuber provided a presentation on the upcoming ballot issue proposing to modify the City's human rights ordinance and requested that the Board consider endorsing the YCFE position calling for a "no" vote. The members thanked Zuber for her presentation but no action was taken as the Board discussed concerns that such an edorsement was outside of its jurisdiction as an Authority. This is the only mention of the issue in the minutes. At the next meeting on November 21, 2002, according to the minutes I obtained, the minutes of the October 24 meeting were approved unanimously. I also obtained a copy of the official Agenda with what appears to be the DDA Director's handwritten notes on it. There is no handwritten indication, nor any other indication of any further discussion on the issue. I also obtained a copy of the Director's handwritten notes. Under the heading YCFE Presentation in the notes, it states (in its entirety): Lisa Zuber (see handouts) - request for endorsement. There is no other mention in the file of the DDA Board's discussion on this issue. Please take special note that there are members of the DDA who were present at the DDA meeting who are supporters of the other candidate. I don't see anybody questioning their commitment to civil rights, and it's obvious that's because nobody should. The DDA (as a group and as an entity) had questionable authority to endorse a ballot issue -- nothing more, nothing less. Put another way, the DDA wanted to act ethically and legally, and since it (as an entity) wasn't convinced that it actually could ethically and legally issue an endorsement, it didn't. To characterize this as a "refusal" is plainly outrageous and unsupportable. I call upon those who issued the endorsement, as well the campaign of the other candidate who paid for it to issue a correction and an apology. Nothing less will do. So when you hear that the YCFE co-chairs are out shooting their mouths off telling people that "Pierce refused to endorse us," and that the other candidate is the "only person who has demonstrated his commitment to protect these rights," don't believe the hype. And keep in mind that the Ypsilanti Housing Commission, of which the other candidate was a member at the time, didn't endorse the campaign, either. Instead, use the opportunity to set the record straight. Tell people the truth, that: Pierce did indeed endorse the campaign. Pierce did indeed donate web hosting service to the campaign. Pierce did indeed put a lawn sign out in his yard. Pierce did indeed vote to preserve human rights at the ballot box. The other candidate is claiming exclusive moral ground that doesn't belong to him. Update: The supporting documentation has been scanned and uploaded. All you have to do is click on the text above, and you can view the actual documents. Thanks to Rod for scanning them for me.