What’s ‘IN’ and ‘OUT’ this year? Read on

By Charles Sercombe

We don’t know about you, but for many folks the year 2010 just flat out sucked.

The economy was still in the crapper, more people lost their jobs or homes, we lost too many good friends and if summer got just a degree hotter it would have made Hades look like a vacation.

Can we collectively say “Good Riddance” to the last 12 months?

Unfortunately, the year 2011 isn’t looking like an improvement, but we are going to remain optimistic. At least until the end of next week.

So with that in mind, let’s see what’s “IN” and what’s “OUT” for the coming 12 months. And remember we are totally being smart ass.

“IN”
The Hamtramck Labor Day Festival rocks with local, volunteer organizers and wide community support.

“OUT”
Those same local volunteers after being dissed by City Councilmember Cathie Gordon. Uh … anyone out there who wants to work endless hours and all Labor Day weekend long for no pay? The line forms over .. oh never mind.

“IN”
Hamtramck’s good old political in-fighting that has endured despite endless promises from elected officials to “work together” and other clichés too numerous to mention.

“OUT”
Those gushy and over-the-top promises of “working together” and being there for the people from some – and we mean just some – of the folks holding elected office. C’mon, who were you kidding?

“IN”
That steady drum beat of fiscal doom beating ever louder for the public schools. Will the leadership of the teachers’ union wake up and accept contract concessions? Will the so-called leader(s) even tell his/their membership what is being offered?

“OUT”
Teachers and other employees who will be out of a job if contract concessions aren’t in the works soon … very soon.

“IN”
New housing for those who suffered from housing discrimination from city officials some 40 years ago.

“OUT”
The housing market, which is still sinking. Good luck trying to sell those houses. Hamtramck’s hard luck, eh?

“IN”
Brand new, hi-tech traffic lights up and down Caniff that can time their lights based on traffic flow.

“OUT”
Any hope that this so-called improvement is going to make traffic flow smoother. In fact, it’s worse – especially in front of the fire station.

“IN”
A first for Hamtramck – its very own historical museum located in the former PLAV Post 1on Holbrook.

“OUT”
A few bucks from your bank account because you care enough to donate a little dough to whip this building into proper shape. Come on folks, let’s see some pride in our rich legacy and have a proper place to showcase it.

“IN”
Hamtramck’s new official population count from the Census bureau.

“OUT”
From what we have heard from the Census people, a few thousand former Hamtramckans. Yes, the count will likely reveal we lost people during the past 10 years.
Why?
It’s a good guess the 400 vacant houses lost to foreclosure in the last few years is the main culprit.

“IN”
The Bengali voter tiger. In the last few elections, Hamtramck’s Bangladeshi community has proven it is now the top player when it comes to determining who’s going to win elected office.

“OUT”
The Bengali voter tiger? As it turns out, a cross check of voters after the 2009 election with those who filed income taxes here has shown hundreds of folks who have failed to pay taxes.
Hamtramck’s next local election is going to be … let’s say, interesting.

“IN”
Continuing property tax reductions because of the ongoing slide in housing values. Yea!

“OUT”
Thousands and thousands of dollars the city annually collects and depends on to function as a city. Good luck trying to put out your neighbor’s house fire with a garden hose.

“IN”
A comprehensive study to determine what the proper speeding limits should be in our city streets – which is required by state law.

“OUT”
Ha-ha-ha. Although you, dear readers, are expected to follow the law, the city has other plans. If the city didn’t have speed traps, how could the city collect hundreds of thousands of dollars from traffic tickets?

“IN”
Medical marijuana growing facilities that will generate thousands of dollars in needed tax revenues.

“OUT”
Hamtramck’s silly “moratorium” on allowing such facilities. Talk about a buzz killer.

“IN”
A new Review “cover girl” to replace last year’s reoccurring Kasia Maziarz. We lost track of how many times her photo was taken at various events and conveniently found their way into our pages.

“OUT”
Just kidding. We mean, honestly, take a look at her.

“IN”
Continued hope that American Axle & Manufacturing will restart its plant and hire workers.

“OUT”
Hope that those jobs will ever pay decent wages since the company managed to get the UAW to agree to $14-an-hour wages. Heck, you can probably forget about those jobs being union.

“IN”
Another year in which we at The Review have the privilege of serving Hamtramck.

“OUT”
Cynical wisecracks from Review writers.
Not a chance.