Some random thoughts on making the ‘Blowout’ better »
Once again, the Hamtramck Blowout was a smashing success.
Although the event is privately run by the Metro Times and they do a bang up job, we have a few ideas to make this music festival even more successful in the coming years.
We understand that the date of the Blowout, the first weekend of March, was [...]
In the case of Sterling Oil, safety must come first »
Patience.
That’s what we suggest the folks at Sterling Oil get used to while waiting for the city to sign off on their plan to install eight new fuel tanks.
By the way one of the owners reacted to the City Council’s wish to have the Fire Department look into installing a fire safety system, you’d think [...]
Council takes wasting time to a brand new level »
Enough already.
Hamtramck’s City Council has taken an inquiry into a $13,000 payment made to Acts 29 for work performed in 2009 to an absurd level. The council met in a special meeting last week, and also has a work session scheduled for next Monday and a special meeting next Thursday dedicated to this subject.
Good grief, [...]
A waste of time for City Council »
You could say that Councilmember Cathie Gordon has a point.
And that point is the city administration needs to run a tighter ship when it comes to keeping track of contractors and the work they bill the city for.
And the administration needs to make sure that if City Council authorization is first needed to hire a [...]
City Council drops the ball on watching out for taxpayers »
So much for the City Council being watchdogs of the public’s money.
On Monday, the City Council unanimously (except for Councilmember Shahab Ahmed, who was absent) voted during a special meeting to fire the city’s contractor who salts and plows the streets and hire the next lowest bidder.
The contractor, Independent Services Group of Warren, was fired [...]
Granholm administration has been a friend to Hamtramck »
Wednesday was a great day for Hamtramck.
That’s when the brand new state Department of Human Services building was officially opened. Although Gov. Jennifer Granholm couldn’t attend the grand opening, she has said that supporting Hamtramck development has been a priority for her administration.
It’s nice to have friends in high places.
The new office will be home [...]
Even in tough economic times tough decisions are required »
It may be counterintuitive to raise taxes or government fees in times of financial hardship, but a majority of Hamtramck’s City Councilmembers did the right thing recently.
The council, except for Councilmembers Cathie Gordon and Kazi Miah, approved a $3 monthly garbage collection fee for every housing unit in the city. The fee will offset the [...]
Letter from the Publisher… »
A Valuable Asset
In times of uncertainty, and with cities all facing the current economic downturn, it is especially important for cities, like businesses, to stay competitive, and to shift their attention toward a marketing campaign.
I cannot stress enough the importance of marketing. Let’s take Eve Doster Knepp, the city’s Events Coordinator, who is a valuable [...]
A welcome end to an ugly piece of history »
Hamtramck is starting the New Year with a bang.
Last week, Hamtramck learned it will receive $13.9 million in federal stimulus money to build or rehab 39 housing units.
The city is obligated to find a way to provide 39 more housing units to finish off a 40-year-old housing discrimination lawsuit. Once these units are completed, the [...]
New round of housing is a win-win for Hamtramck »
This Monday Hamtramck will celebrate a historic milestone.
Not only is it Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it’s the 40th anniversary of a settlement deal between the city and a group of African-American residents whose houses were targeted long ago in the 1960s for demolition under the guise of “urban renewal.”
It sounds funny to call [...]
