Preserving housing stock is the city’s responsibility
Sometimes in Hamtramck it’s two steps forward and one step back. Such was the case a couple of weeks ago when a toughened up ordinance was presented…
Despite likelihood of state takeover, candidates come out
The election is now off and running, and the good news is that there are a number of worthy candidates. The last few city elections have…
The yin and yang of dealing with the city’s budget crisis
Micromanage, or step away from solving the city’s financial problems? That seemed to be the two conflicting thoughts influencing the city counci During a two-hour council work session…
Finding fault for city’s financial crisis ignores the core problem
The blame game. That’s what some folks in town played when a state financial review team visited here last week. The community was able to…
Splitting ‘Hamtramck Blowout’ may work for Ferndale, but not Hamtramck
Now that the annual Metro Times Hamtramck Blowout has come and gone, it’s time to take stock. Bar and hall owners say that this year’s…
Elected officials fail to see big picture in business development
Maybe we have beaten this issue to death, but it bears repeating once more, just in case any city official is reading this. At Tuesday’s meeting the…
Sometimes a little caution goes a long way in development
City Councilmember Robert Zwolak has every right to be concerned about a recent influx of recycling facilities opening here or proposing to do so. He’s been around long…
City skirts by payless payday but financial crisis is far from over
City employees dodged a bullet last week, but we don’t blame them if they remain skeptical. It was announced last week that it was likely that employees…
Keep religious centers out of commercial and industrial zones
Next week, the City Council will decide whether to rezone an industrial section of St. Aubin St., across from the former American Axle plant. The city’s Plan Commission, whose members…
Hamtramck’s generous labor contracts finally catch up
In last week’s issue, we published a story about how much some retirees earn each year. For 51 pensioners, they get at least $45,000 a year, which is twice as…
