Mayor Majewski has plenty to be proud of

What can one say about Mayor Karen Majewski’s 16 years in office?
It’s been an amazing run, and Majewski has a lot to be proud of her time in office. She restored integrity to the job when it was sorely needed, and represented Hamtramck so well in the public.
She also had to chair a number of city council meetings where past members completely went off the rails, sometimes for no apparent reason. She managed to weather those storms well.
Folks, it’s not easy chairing those meetings.
It’s a shame that she’s not leaving office on her own terms.
It’s also a shame that she was smeared with lies and distortions. Majewski did not deserve that treatment.
Instead of hearing solid and specific plans on how things can be done better, voters were presented with vague promises of “change” by her challenger.
We have no idea what such “change” means, other than, we suspect, there are no plans or ideas. Instead, it’s likely change for the sake of change, which sometimes is what voters want.
Nonetheless, we are rooting for Hamtramck and its future. We wish the new mayor all the success in the world because if he is successful, Hamtramck will be better for it.
To Mayor Majewski, we say thank you for making Hamtramck a better place in which to live, and thank you for the countless other things that you did behind the scenes.
Under her tenure, Hamtramck has made significant progress in: replacing the city’s aging water and sewer lines; rebuilding key roads; repaving alleys; replacing hundreds of lead water service lines; improving our parks; keeping the community informed each week about the Covid pandemic’s effect on the city, and the many programs created to help residents financially through this trying time; and streamlining city government.
We could go on. It’s a shame, though, that her record of steady leadership was not fully appreciated by voters.
Hamtramck is now likely poised to get a piece of the federal infrastructure funding that was recently passed by Congress — which the city desperately needs.
Being mayor is oftentimes a thankless job. And, sometimes, the longer one stays in elected office, the more enemies than friends one ends up making. It takes a special kind of strength to handle the job. Majewski surpassed those expectations.
We wish her the best of luck in her new chapter in life – and know that she will be missed.
Posted Nov. 12, 2021

6 Responses to Mayor Majewski has plenty to be proud of

  1. Moveed Hassan

    November 14, 2021 at 10:45 am

    She’s a wonderful person

  2. Mark M. Koroi

    November 14, 2021 at 2:15 pm

    Having attended a number of raucous City Council meetings, I would agree that Karen should be commended for her command of parliamentary procedure and her ability to control members of City Council and the public who have been out of order and disruptive.

    If one viewed the award-winning Hamtramck USA documentary, one would likely be impressed with her genial demeanor with members of the public – but her accomplishments likely stop there.

    Karen – and City Council in general – largely ignored legitimate citizens concerns over dysfunction in the Hamtramck Police Department that manifested itself in NAACP and local civic leaders support since 2009 for a civilian police oversight board.

    At a Hamtramck Community Initiative meeting in 2017, more questions were posited to political candidates from the public on the establishment of a civilian police oversight board than any other issue other than economic development – and while candidates – including Karen – agreed police dysfunction was a serious issue and the idea of an oversight body was worth checking into, there was no follow-up by the Mayor or City Council at anytime thereafter on this important public issue.

    The City of Hamtramck has faced ongoing federal rights litigation to this day and made large cash settlements arising out of the operation of the COBRA auto theft unit and also recently saw an HPD officer sentenced in federal court to three years in prison for civil rights violations against minority Hamtramck motorists during traffic stops. Despite these events, little or no public comments were made by city officials.

    Political candidates Amer Ghaleb and Amanda Jaczkowski, made establishment of a civilian police oversight board a part of the campaign platforms. Amanda Jaczkowski expressed a detailed and informed knowledge of the relevant issues and an intent to “hit the ground running” in creating such a board, and promoting re-allocation of funds from the HPD a centerpiece of her platform as a City Council member.

    Local civic leaders are excited in seeing Dr. Ghaleb and these new City Council members assume office and exhibit an activist stance in promoting swift and effective change in municipal operations.

    The “change in demographics” that some attribute Karen Majewski’s landslide loss do not explain why Amanda Jaczkowski – another Polish-American – had an impressive victory in the same election and drew impressive vote totals across all demographic segments. Amanda has exhibited impressive leadership qualities – Karen has not.

    The same electorate that has welcomed Amanda is content to see Karen fade off into the sunset.

  3. Jolanta

    November 18, 2021 at 4:19 pm

    Amer Ghalib will be an improvement.

    Karen Majewski’s own support base was crumbling.

    It is a wonder she stayed in office for 16 years.

    Working together for a better Hamtramck.

  4. Mark M Koroi

    November 19, 2021 at 10:31 pm

    A proposed resolution to censure Mayor Karen Majewski has been placed on the City Council Agenda for 11/23.

    Does anyone know anything about this?

  5. Bill Meyer

    November 20, 2021 at 10:21 am

    Mark Koroi is a soap opera comment cop who loves to interject himself into Hamtramck politics

  6. Resident

    November 21, 2021 at 10:34 pm

    This resident appreciates and enjoys Mr. Koroi’s post. Hopes Mr. Koroi doesn’t let up.

    -Resident 🙂

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