A new state-of-the-art recycling plant is under construction on Denton St., next to the county jail. The facility will recycle office products and light metals. It also means 40 to 50 new jobs will be created.

By Charles Sercombe

Recycling is coming to Hamtramck in a big way.

But not in the way you would think.

This isn’t about home recycling.

It’s about a huge plant that will sort out paper, plastics, Styrofoam and other office waste products, as well as light industrial metals, and turn them right around into more of the same.

The process produces very little waste product going back into Mother Earth. At least, this is what the people behind Hamtramck Recycling LCC say, and at this point there appears to be no reason to doubt them.

The plant is now being built on Denton just west of the Dickerson Wayne County Jail.

For those of you who have been here awhile, you might remember that cool looking all-glass factory building you could see while cruising down Hamtramck Dr., which is just south of Denton.

Well, that old glass building came down to make room for a new $7 million facility.

The promise of this plant and facility is that it’s not only contributing to the greening of America, it’s also adding jobs. About 40 to 50, says Jason Friedmann, the city’s Director of Community & Economic Development.

The jobs don’t pay much, but it’s a little better than minimum wage, around $8 to $14 an hour, Friedmann says.

Details about the expected property taxes that the city will collect were not immediately available. But the company is receiving a 50-percent tax abatement on property and personal taxes for the next 12 years.

Friedmann said considering the fact that the property previously wasn’t bringing in any tax dollars, it’s a “100 percent” growth deal for Hamtramck.

By about spring or summer, production should begin.

Lt. William Diamond said firefighters are concerned about what will happen to their department if a state-appointed emergency financial manager takes over Detroit or Highland Park.

By Charles Sercombe

As Pontiac firefighters marked the last day of the Pontiac Fire Department on Wednesday, Hamtramck firefighters had mixed feelings.

Actually, there seems to be confusion among firefighters over who to blame for the department’s closing: Pontiac Emergency Financial Manager Lou Schimmel or firefighters with Waterford Township, or Pontiac firefighters themselves?

Let’s back up a bit.

A few weeks ago, Pontiac firefighters voted in favor of combining their department with Waterford in order save their jobs.

By all accounts, it was an emotional vote and a decision that wasn’t made easy. One firefighter was quoted in the media saying it was like having a gun put to their head: Agree to the deal or risk losing their jobs.

Waterford firefighters also said they were told to accept the deal or that they, too, would be folded in with another city.

On Wednesday, Pontiac’s Fire Department was no more. Forty two Pontiac firefighters were hired on by Waterford.

In Hamtramck, the events that happened just 30 miles north did not go unnoticed. The firefighters posted several comments and news links on their Facebook site.

Some in the department criticized Waterford firefighters for forcing the issue.

Lt. William Diamond, the president of Hamtramck Firefighters’ union, Local 750, said it was about “one local (union) taking over another.”

“It wasn’t a merger,” he said. “It was a takeover.”

Pontiac EFM Lou Schimmel, who was once Hamtramck’s EFM, said he needed to close the department in order to save $3 million. Pontiac faces a multi-million dollar budget deficit.

Diamond said he fears what’s to come if an EFM were to be appointed to Detroit or Highland Park.

“Hamtramck as an entity would be gone,” Diamond said. “The state could make Hamtramck a neighborhood of Detroit. It’s not a good thing for unions in the state.”

Hamtramck firefighters have plenty of reason to be worried.

City officials are projecting a $3.4 million budget deficit by next June. The solutions to balance the budget are questionable at best.

But so far, there is talk of proposing to take over police and fire services in Highland Park.

Diamond said his union members are open to that, but it has to be “on our terms.”

Is Hamtramck in any position to dictate terms?

Well, two weeks ago we asked Highland Park Mayor DeAndre Windom what he thought of the proposal.

He rejected the idea of Hamtramck’s Police Department taking over patrols because it is a mostly white force that would be patrolling in a mostly African-American city.

However, Windom said he is open to discussing fire protection services.

Diamond has another suggestion.

He wants city officials to ask voters to approve a special tax millage dedicated to supporting police and fire services.

“That’s guaranteed money for public safety,” he said.

Ah, but that comes at a steep price. Public safety eats up about $8 million in the city’s budget. Each additional mill placed on the property tax would generate $200,000, said Finance Director Nevrus Nazarko.

At $8 million, it would require voters to approve an extra 40 mills. That increase is not something property owners could afford. Instead, it will take a drastic overhaul of union contracts, said Finance Director Nevrus Nazarko.

“You need to change,” said Nazarko. “It’s not like the 1990s.”

Mac Saleh, left, of the state PTA goes over some organizational information with a parent at Holbrook Elementary School where 30 parents met to form a local PTA.

By Charles Sercombe

The word is getting out.

School is the place to be.

For parents.

A new group of parents have formed a Parent Teacher Association in the public and charter schools, and are seeking to get more parents involved.

So far, 50 members have joined. Leaders of the new group recently met with the Hamtramck Public School Board to announce their effort.

The Review spoke with one of the organizers, Fateh Obaid, who said so far the group is composed of mostly Bangladeshi and Arab-American parents. But Obaid said he wants a bigger cross-section of the city to join.

He said the group formed to help students succeed in school and be able to move on to college.

“The bottom line is making our kids successful,” Obaid said. “Without education, you’re locking them out of jobs.”

Obaid concedes that it will be a challenge to get more parents involved because of their work schedules.
“It’s hard to find free time,” he said. “Some parents work 12-15 hours a day.”

On Wednesday afternoon, a group of 30 parents met at Holbrook Elementary School to elect officers of the PTA formed at the school, and to get some direction from a representative of the Michigan PTA.

Mac Saleh, of the state’s PTA, said the local PTA is “the voice of the parents.” He said parents have a keen interest in their children’s education.

“They feel that parents are not represented, have no voice in their children’s education,” Saleh said.

School Principal Russell Robinson welcomed the parents’ involvement.

“This is really exciting,” he said.

(Want to get involved? To join or form a PTA, call Fateh Obaid at 313-213-4139.)

Hamtramck’s finances look really good.

Well, for the fiscal year of 2011 — which ended last June 30 — that is.

That was the word from the city’s audit company, Alan C. Young & Associates. Jay Wilds, who represented the company, met with the city council Tuesday night and gave a brief overview of last year’s city budget.

It was one of the few years that the city received a spotless audit. And it’s a year that city officials will sorely miss by the end of this fiscal year on June 30.

That’s because there is a $3.4 million budget deficit looming ahead, and so far, there is no clear way to dig out of that financial hole.

But back to 2011.

The city finished the year with a $2.7 million surplus, which in government jargon is called a “fund balance.”

That surplus was made possible by a one-time only event. The city settled its dispute with Detroit officials over a tax revenue sharing plan involving the GM Poletown plant.

If you look deeper into the audit, the city was actually not doing all that well. It finished the year spending $300,000 more than it took in.

The bulk of the budget, 67 percent, was spent on police and fire service, which also included all of the pensioners from those two departments.

Most of the revenue, 52 percent, came from property taxes.

In total, the city collected $17.3 million in revenue, and spent $17.6 million in 2011.

Savor the moment, city officials.

This year we once again get to look forward to the “Hamtramck Blowout” which takes place this March.

By Charles Sercombe

We are now three weeks into the New Year, and it’s time to polish our crystal ball and take a look into the year ahead.

What do we have to look forward to in 2012?

Well, the big story of 2011 was new housing development, and that issue will still dominate the news this coming year.

Honestly, how do you not acknowledge a $15 million development plan as the lead story of the coming year?

We’ve already discussed details of the plan, but here’s a recap:

Dozens of new houses will be built, and then loaded with energy-efficient furnaces as well as top-of-the-line appliances. The single family houses will also be sold at super low prices, around $40,000 to $50,000.

Home buyers will also get financial assistance to pick up a house without laying down a huge wad of money.
While all of this is good, there is plenty of troubling financial news ahead.

By March, the city government might find itself without money on hand to meet payroll and bills. It’s estimated the city will by then face a $1.3 million budget deficit.

And by the end of June, that deficit could reach $3.4 million.

Hamtramck has already cut its budget to the bone. The only thing to do, say some city officials, is to reinvent our police and fire departments.

One scenario goes is to combine both departments into one “Public Safety Department,” which means cops would also act as firefighters.

It’s a concept other communities have turned to, but it’s also one with mixed results.

The other option would be to turn the Fire Department into a volunteer force, where there are 10 or so core fulltime firefighters who are aided by dozens of on-call volunteers who get paid something like $10 or $15 an hour with no benefits.

Or, the city could simply close down the police and fire departments and contract those services out to Detroit.

In late-breaking news, there is now a possibility of Hamtramck police officers taking over patrol duties for Highland Park.

Whew! Talk about topsy-turvy. There’s certainly a lot going on with the future of public safety.
The big question is, how fast can the city make any of this happen, and how much will it cost to make any changes?

In the public schools, there is also talk of merging some services with another district, but details of who, where and how are being kept top secret, at least for the moment.

This week there was also talk of Hamtramck taking over Highland Park’s school district, which was largely a media invention. Hamtramck Superintendent Tom Niczay said no one from the state or Highland Park approached him about this.

Even if they had, Niczay said he can’t possibly handle an additional 1,000 students over here.

But to take over administration of that district? That’s something he might consider. However, no one is making that offer.

Hamtramck’s school district has plenty on its own plate this year. The district is facing a $4.9 million budget deficit, and is on the state’s “watched” list of troubled districts.

Niczay said more cuts are going to be needed, but just where has not been identified yet.

The good news is that the school district attracted more students this year instead of facing a drop in enrollment, and subsequently received a boost in state financial aid that’s attached to each new student.

In other topics, let’s take a quick glance:

Hamtramck politics won’t be on the radar. There are no local elections this year, so all of you political junkies will have to wait one more year. However, this is a presidential election year, and as you can imagine this election is going to be extremely interesting.

A presidential Primary Election will be held on Feb. 28 for both the Republican and Democratic parties. (Guess who’s running for the Democratic nomination?)

There is one sort of local election coming up in August and November, and that’s for the State Rep. race.
For the strictly local elections, we have to wait for 2013, which at that time will feature the mayoral election plus three seats on city council.

The question buzzing around is, will Mayor Karen Majewski seek a third term? So far, she’s not saying. Without a doubt, there are plenty of other interested parties: Councilmembers Cathie Gordon? Tom Jankowski? Abdul Algazali? Mohhamed Hassan?

Speaking of Hassan, he is also rumored to be interested in the seat of State Rep.

In arts and culture, we still have Planet Ant Theatre alive and kicking. We look forward to attending some of its Monday comedy improv nights, which is perhaps one of the most underrated and cheap date nights around Detroit.

Our live music clubs appear to be holding on, although in this tough economy, it’s hand to mouth for some.

Of course, the largest economic boost our clubs enjoy is the annual “Hamtramck Blowout,” which is once again returning this March.

This is a rare chance to see, oh, let’s see, a couple hundred bands for dirt cheap. Hamtramck never sounds so sweet. Without this event, a couple of our favorite watering holes wouldn’t survive the year – that’s how big of a financial boost this festival is.

And, a big thanks goes out to much-missed former resident Eve Doster Knepp who still organizes the festival.

Next drink is on us, Eve.

For the foodies out there, we are still drooling over the thought of Ootie’s opening up on Jos. Campau. We’ve been waiting several months now for the opening.

Please … hurry up.

And when will Hamtramck’s first exclusively soul food restaurant, Flavor, open? C’mon Titus, get it going.

In the meantime, check out the soul food offerings at the newly revamped Leka’s Clock (formerly known as The Clock Restaurant). It’s a small selection, but it’s a beginning.

We also hear there might be some new about Maria’s Comida this coming year. The Pronko family has been expanding into the salsa market, and plenty of good things have been happening for them.

We’re sending Marie, Al and Fred good vibes.

And Nick and Mario at Mainestreet Restaurant, we love you man. Keep up the good work.

And John, over at Polonia Restaurant, please, please, hold more special events in your upstairs hall. So nice. Up there.

Hamtramck block clubs, keep your fingers crossed. Your host unit, Hamtramck Community Initiative (AKA Weed and Seed), is seeking another grant to last at least one more year. Our fingers are crossed.

Speed trap lovers, keep your denial. It helps bring in $600,000 a year. And to Channel 7 Investigator Scott Lewis, thanks for shedding light on what we exposed over a year ago.

We’re sure there is plenty more to look forward to this year, but that’s it for now. And remember Hamtramck, we’re rooting for you.

Hamtramck’s financial survival may depend on two key things: Providing police and fire services to Highland Park, and getting retired public employees to agree to a less expensive health insurance and/or kick in co-pays.

Those topics were among several options and issues raised in a budget work session for city council on Tuesday evening.

The meeting was also the first budget session held in several months, and it also served to bring two new councilmembers, Abdul Algazali and Robert Zwolak, up to date on finances.

What’s clear from Tuesday’s meeting is that city officials have their work cut out for them.

This could be Hamtramck’s most challenging time since the closing of the Dodge Main plant in 1980, which at that time was the city’s largest employer and taxpayer, and — to stretch back further — the Great Depression of the 1930s.

To put it simply: The city is spending much more than it is taking in from tax collections.

Consider the following statistics:

With the collapse of the housing market, the city has experienced a decrease in property tax collection amounting to $500,000.

The drop in property values has also resulted in collecting only $900,000 from the GM Poletown plant instead of an expected $1.7 million.

The cost of public safety, and that includes retirees, has gone from $7.2 million in 2002 to $11.8 million in 2011.
The state cut $500,000 from the city’s state revenue sharing last year.

The closing of American Axle & Manufacturing a few years ago lead to the loss of $1.7 million a year in tax collection.

By the end of next June, the city will likely be staring at a $3.4 million budget deficit with little to no room to find new revenue streams or places to make cuts in the budget.

But before that date arrives, the city is also looking at a cash-flow problem that could hit in March.

In the not too distant future, the city may find there is not enough money to make employee payroll, or cover any number of other expenses.

But there are glimmers of hope. It’s just going to take time, however, time is not on the city’s side.

On top of the list of things to do immediately is: Talk with Hamtramck’s police and firefighter unions about expanding services into Highland Park. At the same time, the city has to start negotiations with Highland Park officials.

City officials also must sit down with retirees and explain that if health cuts aren’t agreed to, the city could very well enter bankruptcy and those pensioners could find themselves without health insurance as well as even a pension.

(Pensioners will no doubt say their pensions are protected by law.)

As for Hamtramck stepping in to take over police and fire services in Highland Park, the mayor of Highland Park, DeAndre Windom, said in a telephone interview with The Review that he’s open to discuss fire services but not so much about taking over police services.

“We might be able to talk about shared fire services,” Windom said.

He said he has reservations about Hamtramck taking over police patrols because it is largely an all-white force that would be patrolling a majority African-American community.

Hamtramck City Attorney Jim Allen seemed optimistic in getting talks going.

He said that if a plan can be worked out, it could be a model for other communities in the state.

“If it works for us, it’ll work for others,” he said.

Mayor Karen Majewski said that the Michigan Municipal League, of which she is president, is also willing to help, free of charge, to come up with a plan to provide services to both communities.

Enjoy the New Year because this may be our last one! At least that's what the ancient Mayans predicted.

By Charles Sercombe and Alan R. Madeleine

Let’s all kiss the year 2011 good-bye and say good riddance.

It’s now a new year that’s worthy of a new attitude. In with sunny optimism, and out with cranky cynicism.

Yes, it’s time once again to take a look at what to welcome in and what to sweep out.

OK, maybe we’re joking around a little bit, but here goes with our annual list of what’s In and Out for the year.

IN
All right, a New Year!

OUT
Enjoy every day because this might be the last year of existence. At least, that’s what the ancient Mayans predicted.

IN
A new city council that takes 30 minutes to decide what the public can talk about when speaking to the council at council meetings.

OUT
Those gosh awful Solidarity slate city councilmembers who made “easy” decisions, you know, look easy by being in general agreement of things. Don’t you hate it when people get along?

IN
New housing!

OUT
Old housing holding its value. Sorry, we’re still on the skids when it comes to getting a good price on your house.

IN
(Medical) reefer madness!

OUT
Pro-reefer laws, if Republican lawmakers continue to have their way.

IN
Value World

OUT
A world with no values.

IN
Soul Food

OUT
Standard Clock food

IN
A plan to save Hamtramck’s Catholic churches from closing.

OUT
Actual parishioners.

IN
A new county jail in downtown Detroit that will save taxpayers millions of dollars.

OUT
Sixty million bucks wasted to construct a county jail in Hamtramck just 21 years ago.

IN
A new health plan for cops.

OUT
A new health plan that cops can actually afford.

IN
A new, modern look for the old Shoppers World building.

OUT
Over-the-top opposition to a new, modern look for Shoppers World. Or maybe not.

Well, that’s it for this year, unless you, dear readers, have some suggestions for what’s in and out. If you do have something to add, call us at (313) 874-2100 or better yet, e-mail us at news@thehamtramckreview.com.

Hamtramck police officers may be the first group of Michigan public employees to challenge a new state law.

Officers here got a Wayne County Circuit Court injunction, from Judge Robert Ziolkowski, to temporarily halt a city health insurance plan.

The new plan calls for officers to carry most of the weight of their insurance coverage, ranging from $3,900 for individual coverage to $11,000 for family coverage.

According to a new state law (Public Act 152), there is a cap on how much municipalities can pay for public employees’ benefits once their employment contract expires by Jan. 1.

The two unions representing police officers in Hamtramck say the law technically says that requirement only applies when their current insurance contract expires, which has five months to go.

The injunction will be heard Jan. 17, a day before the first paycheck deductions were supposed to take place.

The city insists the law is clear — the state law takes effect once the employment contract expires.

In the meantime, the Hamtramck City Council took a second look at the insurance deal it agreed on at its Dec. 27 meeting. Since that meeting, two new councilmembers have come on board.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, over a dozen officers and their spouses and children packed the chambers.

Despite the outpour, the council refused to overturn the previous decision. In the vote to rescind the new health insurance plan, the council split in a 3-3 tie, meaning it failed.

Mayor Karen Majewski was absent from the meeting because she was out of town. Had she been there, the tie-breaking vote would have come down to her.

Before the vote, there was a heated debate on council in what to do.

You can read more about what was said in City Hall Insider.

Police officer Jon Bondra, a union representative, said officers were “surprised and shocked” that the council refused to go with an alternative health plan that would have resulted in greater savings to the city.

The officers’ union had an initial agreement with the city on a health package that would have produced an additional $200,000 a year in savings. Bondra said that deal was abruptly withdrawn.

“It seems that they want to get more out of us,” Bondra said.

What is our City Council up to these days? We have the highlights of the latest council meeting.

By Charles Sercombe
The city council met on Jan. 10 with only Mayor Karen Majewski absent. The meeting ran for two hours.

Councilmember Abdul Algazali took over chairing the meeting until the council agreed on a mayor pro tem to be the second in charge of running meetings.

As it turned out, Algazali was chosen, but it took a long time before council came to that agreement.
First things first, though.

State Sen. Bert Johnson gave a brief overview of the last year in the state capital. He characterized the year, at least for Democrats, as being “rough.” He also said cities took a “huge hit” in cuts to state revenue sharing.

Democratic lawmakers, he said, “have been fighting that mindset” to reduce financial aid to cities, the low-income and children.

“We saw a lot of folks put on the chopping block,” he said.

He urged residents to “petition your government” and let lawmakers know you are upset with cuts to public services.

Councilmember Cathie Gordon asked Johnson what the plan is to help low-income cities. Johnson said it’s likely that Detroit will be taken over by an emergency financial manager, but he doubts the state has the resources to take over many cities in the state.

Instead, he said, it’s likely the state will empower local governments to make the changes they need to balance their budgets.

“We’re in a quandary like we’ve never seen before,” Johnson said of the challenges facing communities.

As for emergency financial managers, Johnson pointed out that no manager has been successful in financially turning around a community. He said Highland Park has been under the control of an EFM for several years and is still not fiscally sound.

He said those communities that have turned around did so because of local officials in charge.

As for the possibility that he will succeed in unseating John Conyers in Congress, Johnson said Hamtramck will always remain special to him.

“This is the most diverse region in the state,” he said.

From the public, Jon Bondra, the vice president of the police officers’ union, asked why the council forced police officers to pay thousands of dollars for health insurance.

He urged the council to vote “yes” in overturning the council’s previous resolution forcing officers to pay for a costly health insurance program.

Later in the meeting the council took up the issue. The vote to rescind council’s previous resolution failed in a 3-3 split vote (Councilmembers Cathie Gordon, Robert Zwolak and Anam Miah voted in favor of overturning the requirement).

Councilmember Zwolak said that if he had been on council when the vote was taken (on Dec. 27), he would have voted against forcing officers to pay for practically all of their health insurance.

He said it was unfair to force this deal on only one group of city employees, and that it was the result of a “failure” to negotiate.

“This is not going to work when we have public safety at stake,” Zwolak said.

Zwolak also said he is concerned about public safety in Hamtramck when there is a call by some community activists for civil disobedience in Detroit. He said the city needs to go back to the negotiation table with the police officers.

(Editor’s note: Bob, stop being an alarmist. This isn’t 1967. It wasn’t a call for a riot to take place.)

Councilmember Tom Jankowski said the officers’ union has failed to make concessions. He also pointed out that officers made $500,000 from working overtime.

(Editor’s note: It was later pointed out that much of that overtime was earned on the city’s traffic patrol program, which also brought in $800,000 in fines.)

Jankowski says he has nothing against officers, but noted the union has “failed to act in the best interests of the city.”

Councilmember Anam Miah said the city can’t “burn one department with a sledge hammer.”

(Editor’s note: Warning, mixed metaphor.)

He said the city had one health plan that the officers’ union agreed to on the negotiation table, but the city abruptly pulled it away.

Miah said the city needs to negotiate in good faith.

Councilmember Mohammed Hassan said the city simply doesn’t have money to cover health insurance costs. He said if the city continues to spend money it doesn’t have it will end up like Highland Park, which he added can’t afford to pay for street lights.

Councilmember Gordon said there was a previous health insurance plan that the firefighters also agreed to that would have saved the city another $200,000.

“I question the motives here” Gordon said in regard to some of her colleagues who voted for the more costly insurance plan.

Councilmember Jankowski noted that the city’s hands are tied because a new state law puts a cap on how much the city can contribute to public employees’ benefits.

He said if the officers’ health insurance plan is rescinded, it would mean the city is violating state law, which he said could lead to a loss of state revenue.

Mayor Pro Tem Algazali said the council has to keep the city financially solvent. He reminded his colleagues they have to vote for what’s in the best interest of residents.

Times are tough, he noted, and many people are out of work.

The vote to rescind the council’s resolution on the officers’ new health insurance plan failed in a 3-3 split. Councilmembers Miah, Zwolak and Gordon voted in favor of rescinding the vote, while Councilmembers Hassan, Jankowski and Algazali voted against it.

And now, back to how the council came to choose a mayor pro tem. It wasn’t pretty, but then again, very little in government is.

The selection process began with Councilmember Jankowski, who was nominated by Councilmember Hassan. Hassan said of Jankowski: “I know he’s very smart.”

And he’s “studious.”

Speaking on behalf of himself, Jankowski said he has 16 years experience in one position or another in city government, and that he has served for a variety of officials.

“All in all, I’m familiar with how things work,” Jankowski said.

Councilmember Zwolak said that, because the mayor is frequently busy with work or with being president of the Michigan Municipal League, the position of mayor pro tem is important. He said the councilmember selected for this position has to be ready “24/7” to fill in for the mayor.

Zwolak said there are only two councilmembers who can do that.

(Editor’s note: Presumably Zwolak doesn’t think it’s Jankowski.)

In the vote to appoint Jankowski, the motion failed in a 3-3 tie. Those in favor were: Jankowski, Hassan and Algazali. Those opposed were Gordon, Miah and (surprise!) Zwolak.

Next up was Councilmember Gordon.

Speaking for herself, Gordon said she’s not after a title, but mentioned it is indeed about being available for service.

Zwolak said Gordon indeed has the time and the communication skills needed for the job.

Her nomination failed in another 3-3 split vote, with those voting in favor being: Miah, Zwolak and Gordon. Those voting against were: Hassan, Jankowski and Algazali.

Next.

Zwolak’s nomination was considered, with Zwolak speaking for himself and basically saying he has all the qualifications needed to do the job (surprise!).

Gordon pointed out that Zwolak has held a “litany” of public service jobs for the city. She also noted that Zwolak is a lifelong resident (not quite true, he lived out of state for a little while, driving a taxi).
And by lifelong resident, Gordon said, she meant that’s a “long time Bob.”

(Editor’s note: Hmmmm … is Gordon suggesting Zwolak is, you know, “old”?)

Hassan said that if Zwolak has so much experience, why is the city broke? He added that having enough time to do the job is not as important as being able to balance the budget.

Zwolak’s nomination failed in yet another 3-3 tie, with those voting in favor being Miah, Zwolak and Gordon.
Those opposed were Jankowski, Algazali and Hassan.
With that, Hassan nominated Algazali.

Zwolak asked Algazali to talk about why he thinks he is qualified for the job. Algazali said he would “gladly” talk. He said he has lived in the city all his life and has no agenda other than to “serve Hamtramck.”

Gordon pointedly asked Algazali exactly how he has served the city and what activities he has participated in.
Algazali called that question a personal attack. Gordon said Algazali is hardly available, has not served on city commissions and doesn’t know the rules in conducting a meeting.

Jankowski said too much has been made out over who has the time to take on the job.

Algazali got the job, with Miah, Algazali, Hassan and Jankowski voting in favor, and Zwolak and Gordon voting in opposition.

Here’s to a successful 2012!

Thanks to a $15 million federal grant, Hamtramck is able to demolish dilapidated housing and replace them with new housing units. A total of 78 houses will come down in the coming months.

By Charles Sercombe

The year 2011 is now old news.

But the year did produce one major story – albeit a story that’s been told before.

The year’s “Newsmaker of the Year” award (sorry, no drum roll this year, we had to cut back on costs) goes to Hamtramck’s $15 million housing redevelopment story.

Think about it: Fifteen million bucks given to the city. How many cities the size of Hamtramck can boast of snagging that kind of check?

We asked Jason Friedmann, the city’s Director of Community & Economic Development, that question since he was responsible for winning the grant.

As it turned out, Hamtramck lucked out because we teamed up with 11 other cities, including Detroit, Flint and Highland Park, to apply for the grant. The package deal was so successful, the 12 cities that partnered up were the only Michigan cities to win a grant, which technically came through the federal Housing and Urban Development Department.

“It’s a huge chunk of money,” Friedmann said of the grant. “The grant was the largest HUD has ever given out.”

So, what do we get for that kind of dough?

In the last couple of months, you probably noticed the demolition of dozens of dilapidated houses, housing that was so far gone it could not be remodeled.

But there were some homes that could be saved, and you’ve probably seen a scattering of them around town. In fact, there are 14 houses being rehabbed or about to be and 25 new units to be constructed.

In all, 78 houses will be torn down.

Although the real-estate market is still in the toilet, these new housing units are going to be priced to sell. Friedmann said there are several financial aid programs available that will bring down the final price for the houses to $40,000 to $50,000.

If you have a job and are still renting, now is the time to buy.

The grant also has a cherry to go on top. Part of the grant will be used to redevelop the Shoppers World building currently sitting empty in the middle of the Jos. Campau business district.

Although final design plans have not been announced yet, we got a mini-preview of the design, and all we can say is, prepare to be blown away.

When it’s all done and over with, you will not recognize it from the otherwise drab looking building it is today.

Prepare to be blown away.

So, while many metro communities remain stagnant development-wise, Hamtramck is marching ahead of the pack.

Break out the bubbly. Here’s to an even better 2012.