hamtramck

Hamtramck is no stranger to hardship, according to a city native

Stateside Staff — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:37:24 +0000

One of the cities that has been in the headlines of late is Hamtramck. The 2.1 square mile city within the city of Detroit is facing a financial emergency and the prospect of once again being under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager.

But facing tough times is nothing new to this tiny but tough enclave. And, starting from its beginning as a home for Polish immigrants, Hamtramck continues to be one of the most diverse communities in the entire state.

We wanted to find out more about the unique history of Hamtramck, and so we turned to someone who was born in Hamtramck.

Greg Kowalski’s family roots in the city go back to when his grandfather first arrived, and he's the chairman of the Hamtramck Historical Commission. He joined us today to discuss Hamtramck’s unique past.

Listen to the full interview above.

Stateside for Wednesday, June 12th, 2013

Stateside Staff — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:59:49 +0000

On today's show, we found out why baby boomers seem to be key for the auto industry.

And, the author of the new book, "The Great American Jet Pack: The Quest for the Ultimate Individual Lift Device" joined us to take a look at the history of individual flight.

Also, we took a look into the ethics of technology and engineering with the help of Dr. Cynthia Finelli.

First on the show, one of the cities that has been in the headlines of late is Hamtramck.

Governor Snyder has declared that the 2.1 square mile city within Detroit is under a financial emergency and could come under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager.

But facing tough financial times is nothing new for Hamtramck. And, starting from its beginning as a home for Polish immigrants, the city continues to be one of the most diverse communities in the state.

We wanted to find out more about the unique history of Hamtramck, so we turn to someone who was born in Hamtramck. His family’s roots in the city go back to when his grandfather first arrived.

Greg Kowalski is chairman of the Hamtramck Historical Commission and he joined us today in the studio.

This week in Michigan politics: No Medicaid expansion, Terri Lynn Land, Hamtramck emergency

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:50:40 +0000

This week in Michigan politics, Kyle Norris and Jack Lessenberry talk about Republican opposition to Medicaid expansion, former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land’s candidacy for the U.S. Senate, and the financial emergency in the city of Hamtramck.

In this morning’s news: Hamtramck's financial emergency, Land's Senate bid, Indian mascot complaint

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 11:01:21 +0000

City of Hamtramck facing a financial emergency

Following a state review, Governor Snyder has confirmed that the city of Hamtramck faces a financial emergency.

“In 2010, city officials asked to file for bankruptcy. And they asked for this state review, too — which found the city is still running continuous deficits, and can’t make pension payments on time…. The city could get an emergency manager. But Hamtramck officials potentially have other options, including a consent agreement or mediation,” reports Michigan Radio’s Sarah Cwiek.

Terry Lynn Land to run for U.S. Senate

“Former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land is the first Republican to announce she’s running for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat. Land is also a Republican National Committeewoman. There could be other candidates waiting in the wings. But Land says the eventual Republican nominee will need the next two summers to raise money, and get out a winning message,” Rick Pluta reports.

Feds dismiss complaint against American Indian mascots

“The U.S. Department of Education has dismissed a complaint from the Michigan Department of Civil Rights over schools’ use of American Indian mascots. The civil rights department had argued that the images hurt Native American students’ academic performance, and create an unequal learning environment. But federal education officials say opponents of Indian mascots and logos need to prove that they create a hostile environment for Native American students,” Michigan Radio’s Sarah Hulett reports.

Governor confirms financial emergency in Hamtramck

Sarah Cwiek — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 01:06:08 +0000

As expected, Governor Snyder has confirmed that Hamtramck faces a financial emergency.

Now, the question is what to do about it.

Hamtramck’s financial problems are nothing new. The city was in state receivership from 2000-2007. And in 2010, city officials asked to file for bankruptcy.

And they asked for this state review, too—which found the city is still running continuous deficits, and can’t make pension payments on time.

City of Hamtramck in another 'financial emergency' according to state

Mark Brush — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:35:20 +0000

It's a familiar story in Michigan: cities and school systems in "financial emergencies."

Hamtramck now joins the list as Gov. Rick Snyder declared today that the city is in a financial emergency.

What Snyder doesn't know, according to the Mayor of Hamtramck

Stateside Staff — Wed, 29 May 2013 20:45:41 +0000

The number of school districts and cities in Michigan that are in a state of financial emergency are rising.

Now, as many of them are handing over control to a state-appointed manager, it's important to ask: how effective is state oversight?

The City of Hamtramck is in a state of financial emergency six years after it emerged from state oversight.

An independent review team reported that Hamtramck isn't able to make its monthly pension payments and that the city's general fund deficit is expected to reach $3.3 million by the end of June. A structural operating deficit has existed in the city's general fund throughout the city's last three fiscal years.

In this morning’s news: Orr eyes DIA art as city asset, Hamtramck finances, prom shooting in Saginaw

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:57:50 +0000

Detroit looking to sell art from the DIA?

Detroit’s emergency manager, Kevyn Orr, is considering whether the collection at the Detroit Institute of Arts should be counted as a city asset. If so, it could be sold to help cover the city's $15 billion debt.

The DIA Executive Vice President Annmarie Erickson has hired a bankruptcy attorney to help advise how to protect the collection. However, as The Detroit Free Press reports, liquidating the art to help pay the debt would be incredibly complicated and controversial.

Hamtramck faces financial turmoil

According to a state-appointed review team, the City of Hamtramck faces a financial emergency.

The results of the investigation were released on Thursday. Six years ago, Hamtramck emerged from state oversight. Now its more than $3 million in debt. Michigan Radio’s Lindsey Smith reports, if Governor Rick Snyder agrees with what the review team found, city leaders could opt for an emergency manager.

Pre-prom shooting in Saginaw

A 17-year old female died as a result of a shooting at a Saginaw High School pre-prom party.

Three other women were also injured during the shooting and are receiving treatment. According to an MLive report by Jessica Fleischman, the incident occurred in the parking lot of the Florence Event Hall. Officials have not revealed whether the 17-year old was a Saginaw student or if suspects have been identified.

Lawsuit next week to challenge Michigan's emergency manager law

The Associated Press — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:55:00 +0000

DETROIT (AP) - Leaders of the Detroit branch of the NAACP say they'll file a lawsuit next week challenging Michigan's emergency manager law.

The law has allowed Gov. Rick Snyder to put managers in Detroit and other struggling cities and school districts. Critics plan to talk Monday outside the federal courthouse in Detroit.

Other legal challenges have not been successful. An Ingham County judge in April threw out a lawsuit that claimed lawmakers violated the Open Meetings Act when it approved the bill in December.

Governor Snyder appoints state review team for Hamtramck

Sarah Cwiek — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:49:27 +0000

Hamtramck could be the next Michigan city to get an emergency manager.

Governor Snyder appointed a state review team to examine the city’s finances Wednesday.

Hamtramck city officials actually asked for the state review. The tiny enclave within Detroit has struggled financially for many years.

In this morning's Michigan news headlines. . .

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:23:59 +0000

Lower lake levels-- the good and bad news

General Motors to add 2,500 jobs at Detroit-area factory

The Associated Press — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:14:20 +0000

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - General Motors Co. will add 2,500 jobs at a Detroit-area factory that now makes electric cars, investing $69 million so the plant can make two new Chevrolet sedans.

The factory, which straddles the border between Detroit and the small enclave of Hamtramck, now makes the Chevrolet Volt and its European counterpart, the Opel Ampera.

But GM announced on Wednesday that it will upgrade the factory so that it can run around the clock making the new Malibu midsize car and a revamped version of the aging Impala large sedan.

About 1,200 of the jobs will be new hires, since GM still has to recall about 1,300 laid-off workers in the U.S.

But in Michigan, which has among the highest unemployment rates in the nation, 1,200 new jobs is big news.

GM announced on May 10 that it would create or keep about 4,000 jobs by investing $2 billion in 17 factories in eight states.

The Detroit-Hamtramck announcement adds to previous expansion announcements in Bowling Green, Ky.; Toledo, Ohio; and Flint and Bay City, Mich.

"Filling this plant with new work is very satisfying because GM is dedicated to helping rebuild this city," Mark Reuss, the company's North American president, said in a statement.

GM said last week it would shut the plant down for four weeks starting in June, reconfiguring it to increase Volt and Ampera production from 16,000 cars per year to 60,000 next year in order to meet strong demand.

The shutdown also will let GM add equipment to build the 2013 Malibu midsize sedan at the plant starting next year. The car also will be built in Kansas City, Kansas.

In addition, GM said it will build a long-overdue new version of the Impala at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant.

GM will stop producing two other big cars at the factory, the Cadillac DTS and Buick Lucerne, later this year.

Detroit gets ready to gorge on paczki

Sarah Cwiek — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:35:24 +0000

This Tuesday is Fat Tuesday, the last day before the 40 days of sacrifice that come with the Christian season of Lent.

But in Metro Detroit and other communities with large Polish populations, the day is better known as “Paczki Day.”

Sandy Bakic has spent her whole life making the fried, doughy pastries at the Martha Washington Bakery in Hamtramck. That small enclave is the historic center of Detroit’s Polish community.

Bakic says the day has become a festival for everyone in Hamtramck, regardless of race or religion.

“It’s going to be festive. It’s gonna be a happy time. There’s paczki parties all over town. There’s paczki eating contests still going on. The Paczki Cup is in our window on display right now.”

Bakic says she and other employees have been making the sweet treats since midnight Monday. The bakery will stay open all night to serve paczki-seekers from all over southeast Michigan.

Hamtramck also celebrates with a Paczki Day parade, lots of free entertainment, and a generally party-like atmosphere.

Hamtramck ballpark seeks historic designation

Sarah Hulett — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 16:54:19 +0000

Baseball lovers and preservation advocates are working to win historic designation for a Hamtramck ballpark that was home to Negro League games in the 1930s.

The Detroit Stars played at Hamtramck Stadium between 1930 and 1937.

Gary Gillette is a baseball writer and and editor of the ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia. He says Hamtramck Stadium is one of only five Negro League sites that have survived.

Hamtramck ratchets up bankruptcy debate

Sarah Hulett — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 18:00:36 +0000

The city of Hamtramck is ratcheting up the pressure on the state to allow it to file for bankruptcy.

Hamtramck’s city attorney has sent a letter to Governor Granholm urging her to issue an executive order allowing the city to seek federal bankruptcy protection. The letter also says appointing an emergency financial manager would not give the city the tools it needs to correct its financial problems.

Hamtramck asks state to file for bankruptcy

Sarah Hulett — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 02:42:16 +0000

The city of Hamtramck says it will run out of money at the end of January, and officials have taken the unprecedented step of asking the state for permission to file for bankruptcy.

Bill Cooper is the city manager of Hamtramck.