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Posted on Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 5:57 a.m.

Q&A with Angela Barbash: Winning back Ypsilanti Township's West Willow neighborhood

By Lucy Ann Lance

Plagued with shootings and distrust of police, Ypsilanti Township’s West Willow neighborhood is fighting back to save its community. Last summer resident Angela Barbash started a Citizens Patrol to keep watch, and new entryway signs were erected to greet visitors. The New West Willow Neighborhood Association (Barbash is the president) was formed and a comprehensive strategic plan was created.

Located in the north part of Ypsilanti Township directly west of Willow Run Airport, the neighborhood is bounded by a triangle of I-94, US-12, and Wiard Road - all limited access roads - which tends to isolate the community from the greater Ypsilanti area. West Willow neighbors are taking a novel approach to the rejuvenation of their community. We talked with Barbash, a driving force in these initiatives, on 1290 WLBY this past week.

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Angela Barbash, president of the New West Willow Neighborhood Association.

Barbash: Back in June of 2010, we had a really high profile shooting on my street and I actually witnessed it. It was a party that got out of hand, there were lots of shots fired, and we had to literally hit the ground. When you go through an experience like that it radicalizes you. It gets you motivated to do something. So, we got into talks with the Sheriff’s Department right away, and one of the things that came out of that was a Citizen’s Patrol Team. That was something that we had kicked around for a couple of years after writing a strategic plan in 2006, but it had never been implemented. There are about a half dozen residents that got together, and we use our own vehicles, we put some vehicle magnets on the cars, and that has now grown to about 15 to 20 residents. It’s to the point now where residents have become so motivated that they really do it on their own. We go out in marked and unmarked cars and put the neighborhood on watch to let the good residents know that we’re there and to get them involved, and also to let the residents that are doing nefarious activities know that they’re being watched.

Lucy Ann: About how many residents live there?

Barbash: We have about 3,000 residents according to the 2010 Census records. We’re the largest neighborhood in Ypsilanti Township.

Lucy Ann: Do most of the people that live there have a lot of history there?

Barbash: I’d say about half the neighborhood (is represented by) original residents. The neighborhood was built in the ‘40s for the Bomber Plant employees and then after World War II, GM employees worked there. So, quite a few residents have been there for 40, 50 years.

Lucy Ann: When is the first time that the neighborhood started experiencing crime waves?

Barbash: Yeah, there’s a story. Back in the mid-‘90s, there was quite a bit of gang activities. There were some instances where gangs were having shootouts with the police in the streets and it got to the point where the local authorities called in the federal authorities and they caught up about 25 people under the RICO Act, which involves drug activities. They brought in the ATF and the FBI and the State Police, and that scared a lot of residents, a lot of good people. They kept to themselves and disconnected from their community. It also created a lot of hesitancy between the residents and the Sheriff’s Department at the time. We’re several administrations removed from that, but you can still see the effects of that.

Lucy Ann: You’re taking back your neighborhood. How are you doing that?

Barbash: We’re doing that by getting people involved and communicating with people through a lot of outreach. We’ve gone door-to-door letting people know that we have a Citizen Patrol team; that we have two deputies now who are dedicated to our neighborhood this summer as a result of our advocacy work with the Sheriff’s Department; and we’re being persistent with the township getting ordinances to get the neighborhood cleaned up. We’re also reaching out to the landlords. Two years ago we were 20 percent rentals and today we’re almost 45 percent rentals. This economy has had a drastic demographic change (on the neighborhood.) We’re reaching out to the landlords and getting them involved because they own huge sections of our community.

Lucy Ann: Five surveillance cameras will be installed in the West Willow community at the end of the month.

Barbash: That was an idea that came out of discussions with the township, the Sheriff’s Department and us. The township has offered to purchase and install the cameras. It’s going to cost around $30,000, which has been a controversial issue in itself, but we thought we would go ahead and pilot it. West Willow is often the neighborhood that gets things piloted because of the work we do at the township We’re going to put the cameras in at the entrances and exits. There’s only five ways to get in and out of our neighborhood so we can control how people are coming in and going out, and the point is really to get a look at the vehicles. When we had that high profile shooting last year, when we’ve had other incidents like that since then, everybody scatters, nobody wants to talk, nobody talks to the Sheriff’s Department, and residents clam up. At least if we know what cars are coming in and out then we can backtrack and try to talk to those people and see if they at least will give up who did the shooting and what happened.

Lucy Ann: Is it your impression that most of that activity is from outside of the area?

Barbash: We’re getting a lot of activity from Wayne County. We’re right on the border so a lot of Wayne County activity is coming into the neighborhood.

Lucy Ann: Your neighborhood actually came up with a strategic plan that you have now put into place.

Barbash: We had some great help from Washtenaw County and Ypsilanti Township. We wrote a strategic plan with the help of about 60 people and we’re now implementing that. Two great successes that have come out of that are our entry signs which look beautiful. They make us feel established, and now you know what neighborhood you’re entering. We also (started) a community garden with the help of Growing Hope. I like them so much that I decided to join their board. Lucy Ann: You didn’t grow up in West Willow. You chose to live there, and you still choose to live there. Why?

Barbash: We were looking for a great starter home. Seven years ago we had come to the area to study at Eastern (Michigian University) and the neighborhood looked really nice; neighbors seemed to take care of their properties, which was a good indicator for us. To be honest, we really only planned to stay for five years and then move out to the country. Then the economy happened. We couldn’t sell our house, so we’ve decided to stay. We actually had our house on the market and we’ve taken it off the market. We’ve stayed, and we like the neighborhood.

***

There are concerns that the surveillance cameras might be targets for vandalism, but Barbash says the same was said for the new entryway signs into West Willow. She points out that they remain unblemished. Perhaps that is a small beacon of hope signaling a community taking pride and shaping itself for a better future. Visit the New West Willow Neighborhood Association online at http://www.nwwna.blogspot.com.

Lucy Ann Lance co-owns Lance & Erskine Communications, which produces “The Lucy Ann Lance Business Insider” (M-F, 8 a.m.-11 a.m.) and “The Lucy Ann Lance Show” (Saturdays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.) on 1290 WLBY. The programs are live streamed at www.1290WLBY.com, and podcast on www.lucyannlance.com. The above interview is a condensed version of a longer conversation that is edited for clarity. The complete audio interview is posted online at www.lucyannlance.com.

Comments

Ypsi Foolish

Tue, Jun 21, 2011 : 4:24 p.m.

take it from someone who has lived in almost EVERY part of Ypsi throughout his whole life. no matter how many "neighborhood watches" and "radio interviews" you do,,,you will NEVER get the crime out of West Willow,,,,this is Ypsi- not Livonia, once you get the trouble out, it moves to another neighborhood, and when you think its clear, the trouble will come right back to West Willow. Better move to Westland or Romulus if you;re looking for a cause.

pseudo

Sun, Jun 19, 2011 : 12:51 p.m.

Good luck to Angela and her neighbors. I wish you success. That being said, I think Zeke has a point although his choice of words wasn't optimal. Saying that it was bad in the mid-90s and FBI/State/Local law enforcement rounded up 25 people and that the remainder of the trouble is kind of mostly from Wayne County doesn't jive with what I know of the area. I arrived in Ypsi in the early 80s and West Willow was one of the places that EMU students from out of state were told to strictly avoid - "bad neighborhood". That was the early 80s. We were told it had been a 'bad area' awhile. So a mid-90s may not jive with what people know about the neighborhood. (or think they know) I love the work she is doing but it might be helpful to get a longer version of the story because it may help achieve Ms. Barbash's goal of a united, low-crime, neighborhood. When a neighborhood has been in trouble for this long, unity is difficult to come by unless those you are trying to unify can identify. If 1/2 the neighborhood is from the 40 and 50s...then they should probably be reminded of their time and when they felt it was a good neighborhood. Some might say that was way farther back in time from the mid 90s. I have been told it was late 50s through the 60s. Last thought: I would be interested in other census numbers - of the housing units there, how many are occupied by the same people for more than 50 - 70 years? If so, how is West Willow planning to help the glut (1500?) of elderly people who are still in their homes from that time? I am asking because if 1/2 the community dates back from the 40s and 50s then 1500 people are at least 80 years old. If 1/2 the housing units are owned by elderly people then the neighborhood needs a ton of help with upkeep for seniors. Those are hugely unifying projects and might be fun. Good Luck to you all.

joe golder

Sun, Jun 19, 2011 : 3:19 p.m.

Drive over and attend a nwwna meeting. I'm sure there will be people young and wiser you can ask questions to directly. Putting the past behind and moving forward is the message.

E. Daniel Ayres

Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 10:03 p.m.

Yay Angela...keep up the good work!

Donald Wilson

Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 6:30 p.m.

What area are we talking about here? Lots of people in the Ypsi/Willow Run (and this is supported by the neighborhood signs that were put up) think West Willow is all south of Ecorse. If you look at the platt maps from the county however, you'll find that the area platted as "West Willow" goes up to Michigan Ave, and includes a lot of area that doesn't share the same issues of vacancy, crime, etc, as the area to the south. "The largest neighborhood" is probably true... if you include the entire platted area, as the Census will, not just the vernacularly named area.

Angela Barbash

Wed, Jun 22, 2011 : 4:48 a.m.

Actually the census bureau has now given the neighborhood its own area so the census stats are extremely helpful to us. If you pull out a map of the Ypsilanti area and find the 'triangle' that's formed by US-12, I-94 and Wiard Road with Tyler Road running down the middle of it. It doesn't include anything on Ecorse, Ford Blvd. or Michigan Ave.

joe golder

Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 4:32 p.m.

What a great group of people. The NWWNA has my respect and support.

sbbuilder

Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 2:33 p.m.

The ageing population of West Willow also means a number of residents on home care/hospice. The nurses called in to the neighborhood in the middle of the night to administer to the sick and dying fear for their lives. Some go through great lengths to ensure personal safety. But, when someone needs your help, you cannot not go.

oldblueypsi

Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 11:29 a.m.

Kudos to you and your neighbors for your efforts. But when discussing the history of your neighborhood, please check the records. The original plat and plan for "West Willow" was filed by Henry J. Kaiser. The development was designed to provide proximate and affordable housing for the employees of Kaiser-Frazer. immediately following WWII, Kaiser-Frazer utilized the "Bomber plant", located then at the end of the Detroit Industrial Freeway, for production of its vehciles until the early to mid-50's, at which time GM took over the production facility. For a look back into history, a view of attitudinal change and behavior pre and post WWII, and a good chuckle, take a look at the deed restrictions and rules for West Willow filed with the Washtenaw County Register of Deeds.

zeke56

Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 10:52 a.m.

wait, you are going to blame law enforcement for the neighborhood problems? you had some gang activity and a few shootouts and the police did something about it so its their fault? i humbly suggest that you do some real digging about why that community chose to isolate itself and why it went so far down hill. this story seems a little whitewashed to me.

Monica R-W

Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 3:01 p.m.

@Cash, totally correct in your reply. Also, it is plainly obvious that @Zeke was focused on the negative instead of reading the entire interview between Angela and Ms. Lance. For instance, he completely missed, ignored or didn't read this statement by Angela that was meant to assist with law enforcement/community relationships for the now and in the future: Barbash-&quot;We've gone door-to-door letting people know that we have a Citizen Patrol team; that we have two deputies now who are dedicated to our neighborhood this summer as a result of our advocacy work with the Sheriff's Department....&quot; @Zeke, that is called WORKING with the Sheriff Department to reduce crime in the neighborhood....i.e. &quot;Teamwork&quot;. Residents and law enforcement working together to prevent and assist with lessening crime situations. Were is your statement of &quot;blaming the sheriff''s department&quot; coming in, by Angela's statement above? Also, maybe if you (@Zeke) listened to the entire interview between Angela and Ms. Lance....you will LEARN more about the cooperative nature of the NWWNA, Residents and Law Enforcement working together to improve the West Willow Community. Here's a link for you.....maybe you should listen to it... <a href="http://lucyannlance.com/?p=9511" rel='nofollow'>http://lucyannlance.com/?p=9511</a> Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the entire radio interview. Negatively @Zeke, doesn't solve anything.....just adds unnecessary gossip, mistrust and tension to a situation. By active communication between law enforcement/residents/NWWNA, we are taking our historical West Willow community back to a safe place to live, work and play! MonicaRW NWWNA-Advisory Board Member Ypsilanti Township Parks Commissioner

Cash

Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 2:12 p.m.

I'm not sure Angela is blaming the law enforcement community. I think she is saying that the sudden onset of FBI etc scared residents and created isolation of many residents....fear of everything around them. It sounds to me like she's saying everyone learned some lessons...COMMUNICATION is key. Law enforcement, residents, governing agents....all communicating with each other can create some trust. No trust, no peace.

Cash

Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 10:51 a.m.

Really interesting interview. Angela, the best of luck to you and your neighbors.