{"id":4684,"date":"2021-02-04T19:45:33","date_gmt":"2021-02-04T23:45:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/?p=4684"},"modified":"2021-02-15T17:24:09","modified_gmt":"2021-02-15T21:24:09","slug":"the-issues-that-have-defined-hamtramcks-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/the-issues-that-have-defined-hamtramcks-new-year\/","title":{"rendered":"The Issues that Have Defined Hamtramck\u2019s New Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Simon Albaugh \u2013 Yemeni American News<\/p>\n

HAMTRAMCK, Mich. \u2013 With a lot of challenges carrying over from the years before, Hamtramck will be grappling with some of these major issues throughout 2021. First and foremost is Hamtramck\u2019s budget challenges, after a number of major institutions announced their closure with the tax revenue leaving with them.<\/p>\n

Approaching a close is Hamtramck\u2019s marijuana debate, with City Council finally deciding against its decision to opt-out of the marijuana industry after a number of challenges prevented the ban on the industry\u2019s presence. Along with that, the city has announced a number of new ballot proposals, with a few that will be in front of voters in May of this year.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hamtramck\u2019s Budget Challenges<\/p>\n

According to documents published by the City of Hamtramck, the deficiency in Hamtramck\u2019s revenues and expenditures has averaged about $2 million<\/a> for the past few years. This came to a head during City Council\u2019s annual Budget Calendar Approval last week.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe ended June 30th<\/sup> of 2020 with $6.2 million,\u201d said Kathleen Angerer, City Manager for Hamtramck. \u201cWhen we passed the budget for 2021, it takes us down to $2.9 million\u2026. When you look at these numbers, it\u2019s very plain to see that we will not be able to pass even the identical budget from last year if we did not have increases.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the meeting, the City Manager outlined the steps ahead, with City Councilmembers assigned Budget Workshop meetings. \u201cWhen you come to the budget table, we\u2019re really going to need you to put your thinking caps on, sharpen your pencils and be ready to work hard on this,\u201d Angerer said, speaking to City Council.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What\u2019s going on with pot in Hamtramck?<\/p>\n

The petition that challenged Hamtramck\u2019s opt-out ordinance successfully reached the required signatures, meaning that City Council was forced to reconsider the ordinance. Instead of pushing the question to a referendum, and risking more recreational dispensaries, the City Council decided to regulate the incoming industry, rather than opt-out of it.<\/p>\n

Hamtramck could never fully opt-out of the marijuana industry. The original vote to opt-out failed, leaving recreational marijuana businesses the opportunity to open. The new opt-out ordinance would\u2019ve only prevented new marijuana businesses from opening, while leaving the already existing ones completely unaffected \u2013 unless the city wanted to risk a lawsuit.<\/p>\n

As a result, the City Council has moved to a second reading an ordinance that would regulate the marijuana industry, similar to one that was presented by former Councilmember Andrea Karpinski.<\/p>\n

While the exact text of the marijuana regulation ordinance is not available until tomorrow, it\u2019s expected that the ordinance will limit the number of dispensaries, regulate their location in proximity to schools and religious institutions, as well as provide for a licensing fee to be paid to the City of Hamtramck. All of this is not confirmed yet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Voters will decide on a few things in May<\/p>\n

Even though Councilman Choudhury introduced a charter amendment proposal that would increase his pay, the councilmember removed the proposal. A Detroit Free Press Article highlighted the increase as a 400% raise for city councilmembers soon before the Council meeting.<\/p>\n

Rather than a pay increase or another attempt at restructuring the fire department, Councilmembers voted to approve two ballot proposals. The first, will ask Hamtramck\u2019s voters to consider a tax increase that would fund the Police and Firefighter Retirement System. This is constitutionally mandated, according to City Manager Kathleen Angerer, so this money would need to come from somewhere.<\/p>\n

City Council also approved new term limits and residency requirements. This ballot proposal would ask the City\u2019s voters to consider whether Hamtramck\u2019s elected officials should be limited to three terms, as well as whether these elected officials must live in Hamtramck for at least one year before running for office.<\/p>\n

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