Hamtramck Star

Algazali said that people complain about dirt being stored between the houses on Danforth Street on city lots. Crawford thought it might be topsoil for filling behind curbs.

Gordon said she received a call from Platinum Landscaping offering men and equipment for the city clean-up.

Stackpoole said that a farmer's market held last year had few vendors, and a Cities of Promise committee has decided to open booth availability to the public. It will now be called the Hamtramck International Bazaar, and anyone can have a table there for free if they sign up. It will be held on the 4th Saturday, May through September, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the city parking lot on Caniff at McDougall. Churches, Boy Scouts, artists and crafters, and anyone else who is interested should call her at 313-330-7076.

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Majewski announced that volunteers and supplies are needed for the Clean Sweep on May 17. Volunteers can register at Peoples Community Services on Danforth or ACTS 29 on Joseph Campau.

On May 24 at 8 p.m., Students Against Violence Everywhere will have a candlelight vigil in Zussman Park.

A ribbon cutting for a house built under the R-31 consent decree will take place at 11 a.m. on May 21 at 3868 Trowbridge. Jude Damon Keith will be there as a special guest.

Gordon said that an honors band from the middle school and high school will perform on the steps of the Capital in Lansing at 1 p.m..

Public comment

Bob Cisler(?), who has been working with a National group to support a bill sponsored by John Conyers (HR 676), has been going to unions and cities around the country asking for resolutions of support. HR 676 would create a single-payer system for health care by expanding the Medicare program. Cities and states are in financial trouble, and shifting the cost of health care to a national program would help. US Citizens currently pay $7000 per year on health care, and 47 million people are uninsured. Other industrialized countries spend less than $3000 per person and insure everyone. Our system of HMOs began under the Regan administration. In discussions recorded on the Nixon tapes, Nixon knew that the only way to profit from health care is to deny coverage. Profits make up 40% of the cost of health care. Another act passed in 1980 took research products from universities and others out of the public domain and allowed them to be patented. Now medication is a business. A suggested resolution was submitted to the city clerk. The bill would make it illegal to charge for necessary health care because Medicare would cover it.

Gabriel Alaziz said that HR 676, drafted by John Conyers, is being considered by the Congress. The United States is the only industrialized country without universal health care. As the leaders of the free world, we should be ashamed. As a former systems engineer at UNIVAC, he always asked what his competition is doing and what he could do better.

An upcoming parade in Highland Park celebrating the State of Michigan on May 17 will be the 87th edition. It was not held when the city was in receivership, but their situation has improved. Anyone in the state can show their banner advertising their city or business at no cost. It will begin at Oakland and Tennyson around 11 a.m.

Representive Bert Johnson thanks the council for putting him on the agenda. He wanted to tell people about a state of the community address at Pershing High School on May 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. where he will talk about important issues like health care, insurance, energy, and education. State leaders like the Speaker of the House and the Chair of the Appropriations Committee will be there.

Gordon asked what is happening with the anti-smoking bill. Johnson said the bill was debated in caucus, and the house doesn't have the bill yet. The current bill has no exemptions. He supports the ban, but has to look at businesses, revenue, and employment. Hamtramck bar owners say they are hurt by the strike at American Axle and the Michigan Business Tax, and a smoking ban would impact their business. Detroit casinos are ruled by state law, whereas tribal casinos are ruled by federal law, and an estimated 15-25% drop in market share by Detroit casinos would result in a drop in employment.

Algazali said insurance is the #1 issue in America, and asked what the state is doing to pressure the federal government. Johnson said they can pass resolutions, but he is not satisfied with what has been done on insurance in this term. He will make an announcement about house, health, and auto insurance at the event.

Alan Ferszt said that in regards to the contribution disclosure ordinance, it was mentioned that officials shouldn't have to jump through hoops, yet citizens have to go downtown to get the information. There's nothing wrong with requiring disclosure and making it more open. It's important for residents to know, and council should work together on a compromise if there are concerns.

Ferszt now works as a code enforcement officer in another city, and they consider informing residents their number one priority. There is a line on water bills for information, and it wouldn't cost the city anything to add messages about things like the bazaar and the clean-up.

Roberta Olko, President of the McDougall Street Block Club, was upset by attitudes regarding campaign disclosures. Council people stated that they've never been approached with questions about costs, but someone currently on the council offered her $100 not to run against him. When she refused, someone in Housing was asked if they knew her and if Olko could be influenced not to run against Ahmed for state rep for $150.

Olko asked why councilpersons and city employees were sent to the airport to pick up candidates for city manager, and said she is thankful that there is security at the airport because there are tapes. She is not afraid to testify to any of these things in court, and is tired of being offered bribes. CPI was given a bid for work that they were not the lowest bidder on because they gave a $1400 campaign donation. She has pulled campaign reports downtown, and says that a $3500 donation was not reported. The disclosure ordinance is needed.

Majewski said she is interested in seeing evidence of a $3500 donation that was never given, or tapes from the airport because she doesn't know what Olko is talking about. Olko asked if Majewski and Klein picked up a candidate from Massachusetts. Majewski said Nazarko picked him up, and they met the candidates on Saturday.

Ahmed said he was elected three times and it wouldn't be worth money to prevent Olko from running against him. Olko said the offers were made when he was running for State Representative, and "let's go to court". Majewski said it wouldn't be the first time that Olko had sued the city. Olko said that was right, and she wouldn't tolerated backhand deals. Majewski said it never happened.