Hamtramck Star

Four years ago today, Steve and I packed a futon into our VW and headed out to sign the papers on our new house in Hamtramck.

I love our house. Watching the interaction of beer trucks, AT&T workers, local characters, and lost strangers is a constant source of amusement. Besides painting the woodwork 20 times, selling all the fixtures, and repairing everything with silicon, the previous owners didn't do much with the living space. As a result, we're able to make it ours, customizing the spaces to suit our tastes and needs. This year, we plan to implement the design plans by Design 99.

Our neighborhood is the best. I was a little worried when we moved in that we would be too far from the center of town, but all the best things are here on the North end. There are grocery stores in every direction, stocked with exotic ingredients and locally-made specialty foods. We could eat at a different restaurant or bar every night for a month within walking distance of the house. I hesitate to post this now for fear of attracting attention to our secret hideout, but the former corner stores, Disneyland, studio space at the former brewery, and the Detroit Zen Center are all neighborhood fixtures that people don't always associate with our area, or even know about. Our neighbors appreciate these sorts of things.

Some people have an aversion to living so close to Detroit, and my neighbors don't try to convince them otherwise. Almost universally, they have an appreciation for history, old things and preservation, recycling antennae into trellis and broken toys into art. Yet, everyone has a unique story to tell, and people are keenly interested in where you're from and getting your perspective on events. Regular folks have radical social ideas and think nothing of it. People are organizing things, making things, and eating sliders in the middle of the night. I know it is a form of pollution, but coming from a place where the night is totally pitch black, I love the glow of the city.

Probably the best thing about Hamtramck is the quality of public life. Ad agencies fail at reproducing the word-of-mouth communication here. I could try to write something about the value of chance meetings in bakeries and restaurants, but I wouldn't come up with anything that wasn't said in this post by Murph. Hamtramck has a personal network so closely knit that every sub-group of people feels like they know everyone in town.

On the national level, our country is headed into some terrific times, and I predict a resurgence in shopping locally, public transit, gardening, and DIY in general. Hamtramck is either on the cutting edge or behind the times, as these things never went out of style. Being able to walk to stores and ride a bicycle Downtown Detroit is going to be an invaluable asset. I'm optimistic about our future here.

A pedestrian was hit on the Commor overpass at Nagel at around 4:30 a.m. yesterday. The police are asking for your help in finding the hit-and-run driver who killed the 22-year-old Hamtramckan. Witnesses said the victim was struck by a smaller, dark-colored four-door vehicle with tinted windows. He was pinned under the vehicle and dragged several hundred feet North on Dequindre where he died. Police say the suspect vehicle should have extensive front end damage. Anyone with information should call the Hamtramck Police Department at (313) 876-7800.

The victim was reportedly employed as a security guard by a Hamtramck elementary school.

via The Detroit News

We spent the better part of the last year trying to stop the city from making a huge mistake at Shoppers World. We were convinced that the city would deface the building with a bulldozer or bulkhead the sewer behind Polonia before all was said and done, but it looks like the project is dead. The only thing we've lost so far is around $100,000 in studies and legal expenses and one year of city employees neglecting the Hamtramck investment community. Let's hope that Polish Village Cafe and Polonia do not follow through on discussions rumored to be taking place with officials in Sterling Heights.

The council ousted the city manager when he didn't support their development plans, and some council members went on a bullying campaign against anyone who dared say so in public. His replacement, Mr. Cooper, was appointed prematurely.

Mr. Crawford tried to give the citizens a parting gift by hiring a new city attorney, but the council had other plans.

The city council gave money to the MetroTimes Blowout, assumed bills for the Labor Day Festival for the first time in history, spent city money on a celebration of their own honorary designation, hired an events coordinator to take over other community-organized events, spent $20,000 on landscaping in front of City Hall, and sold the police station to HATCH for $1. The city also spent money on signs for Bangladesh Avenue, and extra signs apparently for Councilman Ahmed's personal use.

One of the city fire trucks broke down on the way to a fatal house fire.

The fire chief was ousted by a judge in May, and still hasn't been replaced to my knowledge. Somehow, he was allowed to work for the city until August when the boiler was stolen.

The police chief's last day was December 17. The city didn't learn a previous lesson, and in addition to misspending money set aside for community policing, he was allowed to violate the city charter and purchase ordinances when he arranged the purchase of a detective's van with money from the drug forfeiture fund.

Unless I am reading the documents wrong, the city entered into a new agreement with the retirees that will cost the city $1.3 million plus $350 per month per retiree, in addition to the $8.25 million paid in 2003.

The Whittie lawsuit cost the city $615,000, plus the cost of city attorneys. The city council is not bound by any non-disclosure agreement, but still has not explained nor disclosed the settlement to the public.

Including the latest Whittie suit for "Recovery of Overpayment and Enforcement of Judgment" filed this month, the City of Hamtramck is currently named in four lawsuits on the docket in Eastern District Federal Court, including two civil rights suits and a second wrongful termination suit by police officer Ron Dupuis. No suit has been filed in regards to another alledged incident during the Labor Day Festival.

A HUD newsletter in May of last year indicates that it is a conflict of interest for Shulgon to serve on both the city council and housing commission, yet he continues to serve.

A bidding scandal was swept under the rug. The city council's attempt to illegally force the ZBA to reconsider curb-cuts for a businessman who gave donations to a Majewski fundraiser failed.

Flooding that the city has made no effort to address caused a class-action lawsuit, a huge payout, and subsequent termination of the city's insurance policies.

Nearly every volunteer in the city spent the summer arguing about gay rights instead of working together on common issues.

Councilman Ahmed was arrested for domestic violence, but wouldn't fight Susan Dunn.

The city council established a commission rather than a recycling program.

The city website is still useless.

The auto plants are struggling, many people are having trouble paying their mortgages, and Hamtramck bars, restaurants, and retailers are suffering as a result.

Not everything was terrible.

The council finally passed an ethics ordinance after discussing it for more than three years.

We had to call the police several times in the last year, but weren't injured.

The statue at Pope Park was finally repaired.

Street signs were installed on the North side of the city, and fire lanes are finally being marked and enforced.

Hamtramck received a $400,000 grant to test up to 16 sites in for Environmental contamination, received a Safe Routes to School infrastructure grant, and continued to received federal Weed and Seed money.

And as one neighbor reminds me when things are at their worst, at least the garbage men don't carry guns anymore.

We'll be having our bonenkai at the Painted Lady tonight. Stop in and have a drink with us if you can.

>> More photos

>> More photos

Also obtained through a FOIA request, here is the settlement agreement between the City of Hamtramck and Dennis Whittie:

Confidential settlement agreement and release of all claims

Some highlights:

• Scottsdale, the city's insurance company, paid Dennis Whittie $300,000 to settle all claims.
• The city paid $315,000 from the general fund to Whittie's lawyer for legal representation.
• The city agreed to purge Whittie's employment file and allow him access for verification.
• The "CONFIDENTIALITY" section prohibits Whittie from discussing the settlement and sets a $10,000 fine for non-compliance. "Hamtramck" and Whittie also agreed not to make disparaging remarks about each other.
• The agreement was signed by Dennis Whittie, Don Crawford, James Doyle, Scott Klein, Melvin Turner, and Louis Schimmel.

Just last week, a new complaint was filed by Dennis Whittie, demanding a jury trial. He seeks "declaratory, equitable, and other relief", including specific performance of the agreement. It appears that the parties accused of not living up to the bargain are "the CITY and/or DOYLE".

Recently, I heard the city had entered into an agreement with the Plaintiffs on the Kulhavi case. I was curious enough to file a FOIA, and as a result, I received the following consent judgment, along with the original judgment from 2003.

Both are now available online in one file.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005-2007 American Community Survey

Explanation of Symbols:
'***' - The median falls in the lowest interval or upper interval of an open-ended distribution. A statistical test is not appropriate.
'*****' - The estimate is controlled. A statistical test for sampling variability is not appropriate.
'N' - Data for this geographic area cannot be displayed because the number of sample cases is too small.
'(X)' - The value is not applicable or not available.

December 8, 2008
The NAACP launches new membership drive in Hamtramck

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, known also as the NAACP, is launching a membership drive in Hamtramck to reinstate its local branch. What makes this a timely issue is that the NAACP will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary just days after our first African American president is sworn into office on January 20th. The Hamtramck Human Relations Commission has joined forces with the NAACP to sign up new members in time to join in the celebration. Although many people think of the NAACP as an African American organization, people of all colors are members. Hamtramck’s rich diversity of people are invited to join as members to help advance the cause of social justice for everyone.

Read more »

PRELIMINARY MATTERS

1. Call to order
2. Roll call
3. Pledge of allegiance to the flag
4. Proclamations/presentations/recognitions
a. Presentation by Wayne County – Neighborhood Stabilization Program

5.Public comments concerning agenda items

SECTION I: PUBLIC HEARINGS - Public hearings on matters previously scheduled and noticed.

1. AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 2006 EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE. This ordinance adopts the 2006 edition of the International Fire Code as the fire prevention code of the City of Hamtramck.

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Hamtramck was mentioned in an article about Highland Park and a recent fatal fire there.

Fire damaged Shananigan’s on Carpenter.

A and R Packing, a pork processing plant on Lumpkin south of Holbrook, caught fire last Tuesday and burned through the night, "forcing firefighters to battle the blaze surrounded by pigs' feet and hocks".

>> More photos
>> video by Greg Manore

The Meatmen are playing with Chapstik at Small's the day after Christmas. The Callbacks put in a good word for Paycheck's. The Belmont was mentioned in Metromode.

An article about the auto industry was published by The Guardian. The Telegraph paints a similarly dismal picture. The kindest review of the city in the last month came from an AP reporter who wrote that Joseph Campau is a "ramshackle but vibrant little downtown".

A reporter from The Economist evidently visited Bridge Academy for an article about Islam in Southeast Michigan.

The show at Planet Ant now through December 27 is "A Very Ced-n-Teri X-mas". Hamtramckans can get a $5 discount on Fridays and a special 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, December 21.

Holiday lights downtown were provided by a Jackson, MI, company. The city hasn't had holiday lights on Joseph Campau in 15 years.

The auto companies and local politicians have been asking for government bridge loans for the industry. Federal officials do not understand the auto industry, or finance, or auto financing. The unions are talking about possible concessions. The Council of Baptist Pastors held a press conference at Corinthian Baptist Church urging assistance so suppliers can be paid. GM closed the Detroit/Hamtramck plant for a week in November due to low demand, and announced that they will lay off 500 workers there on December 23.

The city's new Community and Economic Development Director, Jason Friedmann, has been talking with media outlets.

The State Bar of Michigan commemorated the 1981 Poletown decision at PNA Hall. A permanent bronze plaque will be placed in Zussman Park at a future date.

The Goodfellows annual newspaper sale was last week, and the doll program expects to distribute 13,000 dolls to area girls.

Rape charges against Jamrul Hussain, the last person to see 2-year-old Tangena Begum, have been reduced to sex with a minor after inconsistent testimony by his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend. Kidnapping charges against the couple whose basement the girl was supposed to have been held in have also been dropped.

James Zogby of the Arab American Institute visited a Hamtramck Union Hall prior to the presidential election.

Tim Vulgar's Hamtramck flat was featured by Metro Times Motor City Cribs.

Polish Village Cafe was in the Metro Times as well.

The city received $947,000 through Safe Routes to Schools.

A decent writer visited some stores on Bangladesh Avenue.

A police impersonator claiming to be a Hamtramck police officer tried to swindle business owners on Joseph Campau.