What’s ‘IN’ and ‘OUT’ for the year? Read on

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@thethehamtramckreview.com.