Well, the 2010 Census numbers have been released and record population losses were recorded for Detroit and Michigan. There has been a lot of hand-wringing and Detroit-basing going on. There have been a lot of comparisons with the 1900 Detroit population numbers and the 1950 Detroit population numbers. Well, a lot of things have changed in the last several decades so what's the point of comparisons?

There are, fortunately, those who realize that good can come from change. Instead of highlighting the negatives, many are using the new Census numbers to affect postive outcomes. Things won't turn around overnight, but the population decline didn't happen overnight, either.

If you are one of the people who is pragmatic and realistic about the present, yet still positive about the future, the following famous song by the late, great Sammy Davis, Jr. will get you pumped. Learn from the past, but don't stay there. Understand the present, but don't wallow in it. Design the future you want, then work for it.

This is a re-post in honor of one of my favorite holidays, "Paczki Day" in Hamtramck Michigan!

Update: One of these delectable treats is called a "paczek" [POON-check]; 

"paczki" [POONCH-kee] is already plural.

Hamtramck is truly unique: a "city within a city". Hamtramck is completely surrounded by the City of Detroit; so "suburb" is not a proper term. Except for a very small borderline with Highland Park, Michigan, Hamtramck is bordered by Detroit, including the I-94 and I-75 freeways.

Contrary to popular opinion, "Hamtramck" is a French name, not Polish. Although the city has been known as a "Polish" city for decades, the City is named for a French Revolutionary war hero, Colonel Jean Francois Hamtramck (1756-1803). In the late 1700s, Wayne County was divided into four townships: Detroit, Mackinaw, Segeant, and Hamtramck; of which only Detroit and Hamtramck survive. In the early 1900s, Hamtramck was populated mostly by German-American immigrants; it wasn't until the Dodge Brothers opened the Dodge Motor Company plant in 1914 that an influx of Polish immigrants came to Hamtramck. In 1922, Hamtramck incorporated itself as a city, in order to stave off being annexed to Detroit.

Hamtramck is Michigan's most internationally diverse city: although the Polish population has shrunk from 90% to 20%, the Middle Eastern population has increased, with immigrants from Yemen and Bangladesh helping to make up the almost 42% immigrant population (as of the 2000 Census). Schoolchildren in Hamtramck speak at least 26 different languages besides English.

Mitch Ryder

Several famous people are natives of Hamtramck, including Rudy Tomjanovich, Jr. ("Rudy T"), basketball player for the San Diego/Houston Rockets; Mitch Ryder (William S. Levise, Jr.), musician; Jane "Peaches" Bartkowicz, championship tennis player; Gail Kobe, actress and producer ("Twilight Zone", "Mannix", "Peyton Place"); Tom Tyler (Vincent Markowski), actor; John Hodiak, actor; and the Honorable al-Imam Warith Deen Muhammad (Wallace D. Muhammad), son of Elijah Muhammad, head of the Nation of Islam.

Paczkis with various fillings

The most famous holiday in Hamtramck is "Paczki Day". Paczki (roughly pronounced "poonch-kee") are traditional Polish doughnuts: deep-fried dough flattened and filled with fruit or sweet creams and covered with glaze or powdered sugar. On "Fat Tuesday", or the day before Lent, everyone in Detroit is "Polish" and "Paczki Day" is a day to forget about the diet and just enjoy Paczkis with friends, family, and co-workers. Luckily, "Paczki Day" lasts only one day, as Paczki have about 700 calories or more each! Although many stores around Detroit sell Paczki for Paczki Day, it is traditional to travel to one of the "real" Polish bakeries in Hamtramck on Conant or Joseph Campeau Streets, stand in line starting at 5 a.m., and purchase several dozen Paczki in white boxes tied with string.

The late Bob Bennett, an award-winning veteran TV reporter for WDIV/WWJ (Channel 4) in Detroit, has been credited with increasing the recognition and celebration of Paczki Day in Detroit; reporting every year from various Hamtramck Polish bakeries until his retirement in 2000.

This is the Motor City

and this is what we do.

We here in Detroit are ecstatic about the Chrysler 200 SuperBowl Commercial about Detroit starring Detroit native and

multiple-Grammy-winning

Eminem

also known as

Marshall Mathers

also known as

Slim Shady!

We are very proud of our City, and we know what is special about us and our contributions to the world.

We are especially proud that our Democratic former governor, Jennifer Granholm,

Democratic President Barack Obama, 

the Democratic Congresspeople from Michigan and the Democratic Party 

believed in the U.S. auto companies in 2009 and approved the 

necessary loans for Chrysler and GM to enable them to save and add tens of thousands 

of direct and indirect jobs right here in America when the other political party 

wanted to auto industry to just roll over and die.

The American auto industry is BACK, and the best cars are IMPORTED FROM DETROIT!

Detroit rules!

Best commercial of the SuperBowl (for Detroit and the world)!

Congrats to our midwest neighbors, SuperBowl Champions the Green Bay Packers.

Even the Detroit Lions won some games this season!

Detroit rocks!

This is the Motor City

and this is what we do.

Information from the American Banking News Website:

 JPMorgan Chase has decided to send loan advisors to set up shop in Detroit for three days, trying to help struggling homeowners find the best solution. The efforts are aimed at homeowners with Chase mortgages, and the customers that attend will have access to (1) Initial counseling to apply for a mortgage modification, (2) Counseling for those who are current on their mortgage but are struggling, (3) Short-sale assistance for those who cannot afford their home or don’t want to stay in it, and (4) Document signing and drop off for modifications.

In total, the effort will include forty Chase loan counselors, between Saturday, November 13^th and Monday, November 15^th during the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It will be held at the Doubletree Detroit/Dearborn, which is located at 5801 Southfield Expressway at Ford Road, Detroit. The firm’s statement has indicated that no appointments are necessary, and expects to sit down with most borrowers within 15 minutes of their arrival.

35 years ago, 29 crew members were lost in Lake Superior, Michigan on November 10 1975.

A famous tribute song to the Edmund Fitzgerald was written and performed by singer Gordon Lightfoot.

Every year at the Mariner's Church on the Detroit River, the bell is rung twenty-nine times in honor of each lost crew member. The memorial service also reminds people of the beauty and power of Lake Superior.

Photo Courtesy: Reuters

Did you watch? Was it what you expected? Will you continue to watch?

Will you recommend it?

Let us know in the "Comments Section"...

Available for viewing on Tuesdays @ 10pm ET; online at ABC.com

We can't continue to operate as in the past.

We don't have 2,000,000 in population anymore.

Detroit is already "downsized".

We cannot afford to stretch our 1st Responder services to almost empty areas.

20th century attitudes won't help in the 21st century.

Fewer but more populated and vibrant neighborhoods is a good thing.

We can and should "re-purpose" nearly vacant areas.

Add to the discussion in the "Comments" Area.

Photo Credit: Detroit Free Press

Quickens Loans, owned by Dan Gilbert who also owns the Cleveland Cavaliers, is moving its 1700 employees downtown throughout the remainder of August. The new offices will be located in the Compuware Building adjacent to Campus Martius. The deal and the decision to move the company was completed a few years ago before the current recession, but is going ahead as planned.

The additional employees from Quicken Loans working in the heart of downtown Detroit will be welcome as more and more companies join them in moving their employees and their company headquarters back to the City.

I said it yesterday, and I am repeating today:

Your vote is your #1 right as an American citizen. It is a shame that less than 20% of registered voters in Detroit are expected to exercise their power in the August primary. You can even still vote absentee today if you contact the Detroit City Clerk's office.

Only 1 in 5 registered voters will show up? What are the other four doing that they can't take an hour or less to vote? Really, are you THAT busy? What are you teaching your children?

Your vote does matter, your voice can be heard. But only if you show up and vote. Period. The polls open at 7am and close at 8pm; polling places and poll workers are paid for by your tax dollars for you to speak your mind about who will run in the general election in November.