Slinging the mud toward the election

By Charles Sercombe
Hamtramck’s mayoral election is heating up.
How can we tell?
It’s getting dirty.
As in any competitive campaign in Hamtramck, that’s bound to happen.
Slurs, smears, sign stealing, and outright lies are the norm here, where politics is considered a blood sport.
The target, so far, is Mayor Karen Majewski, who is facing three challengers.
Supporters of other mayoral candidates have taken to social media to bash Majewski.
The lowest blow so far is from a poster on a Facebook page called Hamtramck Square.
A person named Hasan Rahman, which may or may not be an alias, said that the mayor, who is in her 60s, is too old and is past menopause.
Yes, that person went there.
He was complaining about the ongoing flooding issue, and how the mayor has failed, in 16 years, to come up with a solution, adding:
“What can she do when she has passed menopause? It should be referred to retirement and leave the opportunity for new blood to heal the wound and fix what can be repaired.”
On her own Facebook page, Majewski had this simple reply:
“Ageist. Sexist. And typical.”
Nasr Hussain, a former Hamtramck School Boardmember and the owner of a Hamtramck print shop called Nahshal Graphics, has also been active on the Hamtramck Square page, attacking the mayor of a wide variety of failings and shortcomings. He has accused her of being incompetent, corrupt; of dealing special favors to friends; and a whole host of other crimes and misdemeanors.
Former Councilmember Cathie Gordon, who has been a vocal critic of the mayor, surprisingly came to her support on Facebook and yelling in capital letters said to Hussain:
“What exactly would you want Karen to do??? SHE HAS NO POWER. Sadly, this city is what it is because of your council, which you put in place. READ her job description in the charter, then MAYBE you’ll get it!”
There is a little over a week to go before the Aug. 3 primary, so the mud is bound to get thicker.
Out of the four mayoral candidates, the two-top vote-getters from the primary will advance to the November election.
Posted July 23, 2021

9 Responses to Slinging the mud toward the election

  1. Mark M Koroi

    July 26, 2021 at 1:54 am

    The City of Hamtramck is facing serious problems – and there has been a palpable absence of leadership to address these problems.

    No serious dialogue exists about pension funding shortfalls, ongoing litigation resulting from police misconduct allegations, and how to increase municipal revenues via income tax hikes, property tax assessment increases and parking and traffic enforcement fine collection. Not to mention vacant downtown storefronts and an increase in crime.

    This inaction is why the city has sunk to the low point it now finds itself in. No leadership and no hope for the future.

    What has Karen Majewski done for the City of Hamtramck as mayor? What do her mayoral opponents have to offer as plans on addressing the real issues the city faces?

    One person complained that the city was deficient in notifying residents about making claims under Public Act 222 for flooding damage. Water damage is the type of issue resident wish to hear solutions about.

  2. Mark M Koroi

    July 26, 2021 at 3:01 am

    The campaign finance disclosures are in for the mayoral race and they show that Karen Majewski has received major funding from persons not living in the city:

    Louay Hussein of Nationwide Recovery donated $1,000.00 to her campaign as did Julia Hussein – both of Northville, MI

    Also donating to her campaign is former mayor Thomas Jankowski – who lives in Hamtramck and owns Empire Disposal – he gave $500.00.

  3. Nasr Hussain

    July 26, 2021 at 4:46 pm

    @Mark
    Where can we view these reports online?

  4. csercombe

    July 26, 2021 at 6:37 pm

    what reports? cs

  5. Mark M Koroi

    July 26, 2021 at 10:19 pm

    @Nasr and Chip:

    Dearborn mayoral candidate Gary Woronchak has at http://www.gary4dearborn.com/blog a weblog that contains a helpful article with a step-by-step instruction on how to access Wayne County Clerk campaign finance disclosure reports that have been filed in this election cycle:

    http://www.gary4dearborn.com/post/here-is-how-to-view-campaign-reports-that-show-most-expensive-dearborn-mayor-primary-ever

    Karen Majewski has only raised about $9,000 so far in this election cycle for her re-election quest.

    Hamtramck City Attorney James Allen has not made any donation to Majewski thus far – but has contributed $1,000.00 to the election committee of Susan Dabaja in her run for Dearborn mayor. Dabaja has raised $163,000 so far this election cycle – but lags behind her primary opponent Abdullah Hammoud who has collected $267,000 so far this election cycle. There are seven candidates running for mayor in Dearborn in the August primary – who have collectively raised well over $650,000.

  6. Mark M. Koroi

    July 28, 2021 at 3:37 pm

    I am flabbergasted that Mayor Karen Majewski has not been visible to take the lead on flooding problems that have damaged the property of hundreds of residents and created tremendous stress and grief for these.

    Has she emphasized the availability of the Public Act 222 claims process and ensured forms are available so that residents can submit claims within the 45-day statutory period? Is she imparting knowledge of the possibility of future FEMA relief for these unfortunate residents whose lives have been ravaged by flooding problems?

    Karen has instead been fixated on the ZBA process of an aromatherapy business trying to get a zoning variance.

    Can Karen continue to lead the City of Hamtramck during the turmoil its citizens have sustained?

  7. csercombe

    July 28, 2021 at 3:49 pm

    just to set the record straight, karen has been addressing the flooding issue in her weekly facebook talk with the community every monday morning. you can watch those chats on the city’s facebook page or on karen’s.

  8. Mark M Koroi

    July 29, 2021 at 2:13 pm

    @Chip:

    The City of Dearborn had in-person town hall meetings and step-by-step instructions imparted on how to file a Public Act 222 claim form within 45 days with the city to address the floding damage victims plight.

    A lot of Hamtramck residents are not Facebook subscribers nor do not even have a computer – or even speak English fluently.

    At a One Hamtramck post-Council meeting one resident blasted the city for not imparting to residents citizen rights to present Public Act 222 claims with the City of Hamtramck – that resident worked for a sewer contractor and was aware of those issues. That resident noted that Public 222 claim information WAS NOT on the City of Hamtramck website. Karen’s personal Facebook page is NOT the ideal medium to disseminate flooding information on.

    Bill Meyer invites all City Council participants to his post_council meetings and Carrie Beth Lasley is the ONLY elected official who regularly attends – maybe Karen should attend as well to hear frustrated individuals venting about the flooding situation.

    If you love aromatherapy however, Karen is your choice for re-election!

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