The 22,000-plus residents who populate Hamtrmack’s two square miles make it one of the most dense and diverse communities in America.
Likewise, its political dynamics are just as diverse.
The population, once known for its overwhelming Polish-American immigrant population, earning the city the nickname “Poletown,” is now leaning a different direction with the growing population of Bengalese-Americans, many who are Muslim, Yemeni and other Arab immigrants.
There are church bells chiming from Catholic churches, the Islamic “Call to Prayer” bellowing from mosques, Polish markets where customers speak the native tongue and Bengali stores that have signs written entirely in a foreign language.
People have clung to their culture in Hamtramck and that tendency appears to have spilled over into its politics.
Walking into Precinct 6 near Danforth and Joe Campau on election day, campaigners passed out “vote for” sheets with recommended candidates names. They were polar opposites.
Supporters did not know who was responsible for printing them.
One recommended voters select Abdul Algazali for mayor, and Mohammen Hassan, Rashad Almasmari, Showkat Chowdhury and Abu Musa for City Council.
The other sheet, handed out by supporters of incumbent Mayor Karen Majewski, recommended voters cast their ballots for her, Titus R. Walters, Susan Dunn, Andrea Karpinski and Ian Perrotta.
“All these and all these are long-time residents of Hamtramck.. there’s no separation... all of them are going to work for a better Hamtramck,” Nasser Kaid, a supporter of Algazali. “We have a lot of cultures in Hamtramck... almost from all over the world in this small square miles... It’s not culturally divided; we all get along really good.”
The poll locations catered to the various cultures. At Precinct 6 poll workers spoke Benagali, Arabic, Polish and English. They also has ballots printed in Bengali.
Kaid said it’s not a division but just human nature that people feel more comfortable voting for and trusting people who share their culture.
“If somebody’s name is Karpinski, most likely they’re going to vote for Majewski,” said Kaid. “If somebody’s name is Mohammed, he’s most likely going to vote for somebody whose name is Mohammed.”