Ypsilanti Mayor Beth Bashert suggested recently that she had no choice but to support the reappointment of a black man to the city’s Human Relations Commission — despite absentee issues. The color of his skin, not his performance was the key factor, Bashert indicated. “Since I will be crucified if I vote against any black person on a commission, I’m going to vote yes,” Bashert said during a discussion on whether to reappoint Ka’Ron Gaines to the HRC at a June 16 public meeting on Zoom. The comment drew immediate criticism. Her colleagues said Bashert’s assertion wasn’t true, and said...