Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today sent a letter to the University of Michigan President Grasso following Thursday's open house, which failed to address concerns of the community, and instead further emphasized the ongoing lack of transparency and communication between the University of Michigan and Ypsilanti Township community.

"This letter is a follow up to last evening's open house regarding the proposed University of Michigan-Los Alamos data center," Dingell stated. "The format did not meet the needs of the community and did not substitute for the public town hall meeting. For months, Ypsilanti Township residents have been asking for clear and direct engagement as uncertainty around this data center has continued to grow."

"The community wants and should have a forum where questions are asked and answered publicly," Dingell continued. "Instead, the open house was structured as many residents described it as a show-and-tell rather than providing a forum for any meaningful dialogue. Without the opportunity for this dialogue, residents left without a clear understanding of the facts and without answers to their questions."

"Of deep concern to me is the miscommunication regarding site selection. On multiple occasions, including this week, I have been told by U-M that no site decisions had been made and that multiple locations were still under consideration. Last night, as I continued to say that to residents, a senior U-M official told a reporter that U-M is down to two sites: Willow Run and the Textile Road site along the Huron River in Ypsilanti Township. This is an example of the lack of transparency and poor communication that has existed between U-M and the community since the beginning of this project. I am extremely angry that the lack of communication last evening forced me to provide inaccurate information to my constituents. This is emblematic of the broader challenges that have frustrated the community," Dingell concluded. "What is needed now is a formal, public town hall in Ypsilanti Township that brings the experts together to answer communication in an open and collective setting. Residents have been asking for this for more than a year. The community needs clarity and accountability."

View the full text of the letter here.