Hamtramck Star

My wife and I are supporters of GLBT equality. We support same-sex marriage. We believe that human beings are born with their sexual identity and do not choose it. When the state or federal legislature votes on issues like same-sex partner benefits, and marriage, we write our representatives in support of equality for all Michigan residents.

On June 10th 2008, Hamtramck City Council passed an ordinance titled Ordinance Reaffirming the Natural Rights of Hamtramck Residents to Equal Treatment Under the Law. On it's face it seems similar to ordinaces passed in other communities, but this one differs in a couple of important ways.

The new bureaucratic mechanism intended to expose and address discrimination would fall largely on the shoulders of real-estate agents. Even though real estate agents are already required to attend discrimination training and register names of the buyers and sellers with the county, they'll also have to register each "for sale" sign with the city. This local permitting process seems like a bureaucratic nightmare in a city which can barely handle bicycle licenses.

III - 10. (c) All real estate signs posted in the city of Hamtramck by any real estate agent, broker, or agency offering real property for sale must be registered with the clerk's office, and shall bare a current registration sticker. A registration sticker shall expire when the real property is sold or if the property is withdrawn from the market. To obtain a registration sticker, the agent shall report the name, address, and phone number of agent, broker or agency. The registration fee shall be fully refundable at the time of sale, only, when the city clerk is notified of the buyer's name, address, and phone number as well as the price the property sold for.

Section VIII goes on to say that all complaints will be filed within 180 days after the alleged violation and shall be "verified". Then it outlines the formation of a discrimination committee of eleven people in the "housing field":

Housing complaints, which tend to be supported by evidence, after investigation by the City, may be referred to a hearing panel consisting of five (5) persons representing various interests in the housing field. The panel for each case shall be selected by the City Manager from a standing committee of eleven (11) members, including, if possible, representatives of all City organizations related to housing.

The new process outlined in this ordinance will be problematic in a city which already has difficulty keeping boards and commissions staffed. Hamtramck is ill-equipped to handle important issues like housing and employment discrimination, but this ordinance attempts to wade into that water while simultaneously turning the city into some kind of crazy moral battleground.

Ann Arbor's ordinance, to which this one is compared, doesn't have a sticker requirement and calls upon the Human Relations Commission to hear complaints rather than the City Manager who presumably has enough on his plate.

City government ought to maintain the roads, storm drains, and provide for the mutual benefit and welfare of it's citizens. As it's written, this new ordinance is ill-conceived and will swamp the City Clerk with duplicate paperwork and redundant bureaucracy.

I've received a few phone calls and e-mails that people are unable to get to our website. It appears that an unusually high amount of traffic is more than our current server is able to handle. Steven is currently working on an upgrade that should eliminate this problem.

The following is our recording of Hamtramck Police radio transmissions between 10 and 11 this morning.

After police responded to an assault on Danforth they were dispatched to "11693 Gallagher on a domestic", which is Councilman Shahab Ahmed's residence. The dispatcher added, "he's still supposed to be on scene".

The responding officer then asks for a supervisor, and indicates he's returning to the station with a suspect by saying, "J2 with one."

FOX 2 is reporting that Ahmed could be arrained as early as Sunday.

PRELIMINARY MATTERS

1. Call to order
2. Roll call
3. Pledge of allegiance to the flag
4. Proclamations/presentations/recognitions:
a. Weed and Seed Program update

5. Public comments concerning agenda items

SECTION I: PUBLIC HEARINGS - None

SECTION II: UNFINISHED BUSINESS--Ordinances scheduled for second reading and ordinances or resolutions previously postponed.

1. AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES This ordinance provides for a service charge in lieu of taxes for dwelling units for low income persons pursuant to the provisions of the State Housing Development Authority Act of 1966.

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This letter from Janusz Zurowski of Polonia restaurant was published in The Citizen last week. In related news, Polonia Restaurant is for sale.

Who will pay when our elected officials make mistakes?

June 27, 2008 rainstorm reminded Hamtramck residents who pays the price when city officials make mistakes. Some time ago, when the infrastructure for our city was planned, someone underestimated the drainage capacity for the city. What happens now when we get lots of rain - not surprising - water in our basements - standing water in the streets - and who pays for the damage - of course, we do.

Imagine now, what would happen if the ill conceived plan of putting 51 apartments over the Aldi store would realized. What would happen to the sewage from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors while the sewer lines are filled up. That sewage would have to go somewhere, and the only place it could go - is basements in the surrounding area. What a great idea - on part of the city officials - to take an already existing problem and add some raw sewage to it. Is this what we elected them for? I don't think so.

Where is the insight of long term planning? Where is the study of what the infrastructure can support? Where is the study of traffic patterns? Where is the study of quality of life for the dwellers of the new apartments? Will they put their lawn chairs on the Campau sidewalk during hot summer days? Where would their kids play - in the Campau traffic or the garbage filled alleys? Perhaps they would play on the parking lot between the parked cars? Who will pay for the higher level of city services that are always needed for low income housing? After all - the apartments would be allowed to pay a fee in lieu of taxes that would amount from 0 to 10 percent what Hamtramck homeowners pay. Someone would have to pay the difference. Why none of the city officials can answer these questions? Have they failed to plan? Do they lack the insight? Do they plan to stick the taxpayers with millions of dollars of new taxes for infrastructure that will be required after the apartments are built?

How inept are the city officials in making plans - at the expense of the taxpayers? One example of this is the sprinkler system installed on Campau and Evaline-Yemans parking lot. Water has been running there since June 27, and no one cares enough to shut off the valve. After all, the city officials will not pay the water bill - it will be paid by the Hamtramck tax payers.

If the city officials do not care what residents need, nor have the insight to do the studies and consult the electorate on major plans that will effect drastically people already residing the community - then they are missing the point what public service is. We need to hear the truth before decisions are made. Hush, hush, backroom deals is not what we expect from our elected representatives. If the citizens are not allowed to decide on the future of their city - then the only option left is change in city government.

Janusz Zurowski, Yemans Street

Klein asked for a resolution congratulating Robert Cornwell who was given the Pilgrim Degree of Merit by the National Order of Mooses. The resolution passed unanimously.

Algazali asked to recognize the Bangladesh Association for the community event held the previous weekend. The resolution passed unanimously.

Public comment

Bob Zwolak said he had a question about the resolution to ask the ZBA to reconsider a curb cut. Zwolak thought the ZBA had resolved the issue. Majewski interrupted him to say that they would deal with it when it came up on the agenda, and that he should ask his question. Zwolak asked if council could do it. Majewski said they would discuss the answer to his question later.

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EDC/BRA appointment: Majewski's appointment of Melanie Piana of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance was confirmed by unanimous vote.

Codification: Chapters regarding water, animals, dangerous and abandoned buildings, streets and sidewalks, trees and shrubs, and the construction code were being amended to remove unnecessary provisions. The ordinance was given to the council just before the meeting. Stackpoole wanted to involve the new city manager in the codification process.

Cooper had contacted the city attorney, Allen was not aware of the changes until that evening. He asked the council to postpone it so he and the city attorney could go through the changes. Council voted to do so.

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PRELIMINARY MATTERS

1. Call to order
2. Roll call
3. Pledge of allegiance to the flag
4. Proclamations/presentations/recognitions
5. Public comments concerning agenda items

SECTION I: PUBLIC HEARINGS

1.AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES This ordinance provides for a service charge in lieu of taxes for dwelling units for low income persons pursuant to the provisions of the State Housing Development Authority Act of 1966.

Read more...

New business

Alley vacation: The resolution was to hold a public hearing about vacation of the alley behind Shoppers World on July 8. The resolution passed unanimously without discussion.

Development agreement: Klein asked Gebarowski for a presentation. Gebarowski had no formal presentation, but offered to answer questions. She said the development agreement before the council was the correct agreement, and a version sent out via e-mail was wrong. Gebarowski initially said that there was a "typo" on page 2 that was changed to read that "the developer and the city shall agree that real property taxes paid on the first floor retail portion beginning in 2010 or first complete year of operation will equal $2 per square foot." The agreement previously stated that they would agree to an SEV of $2 per square foot, and that was wrong.

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Public hearing

Steven Cherry asked what tests have been performed at the Shoppers World site to determine the level of contamination, who performed the assessments, and if the results of these tests are available to the public. Without proper oversight, designating the Shoppers World site as a brownfield is a misuse of MDEQ and EPA brownfield programs. A number of sites within our borders are polluted and need our attention: the BASF site, Sherwin Williams, Mother Waddles, and Michigan Industrial Finishes, just to name a few.

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Rain ended the celebration prematurely this evening, but there is still tomorrow for music, food and friendship at the Bangladesh American festival. Admission is $1 this year. It usually starts at about 6 p.m., though the entertainment is best around 8 or 9.

If you like spicy food, be sure to stop by the very last tent and ask for some chat poti. That's what I think they call it anyway. It's basically a bowl of dal (chickpea soup) with fried onions, cucumber, chilies, ginger, lime, and some other things on top. I'm still thinking about how good it was three hours later.