News
Sterling Heights may buy former school property to use as a park
Talk of the city buying the Fillmore property has been an on-again, off-again topic for the past decade, Langlois said.
Councilman Michael Radtke said the city’s southern section near 15 Mile and Van Dyke area is under-served by the city’s parks system.
“This is the best thing for the neighborhood,” Radtke said. “Otherwise, I guarantee that Warren Con will sell the school for housing.”
- Macomb Daily, March 21, 2022
“Councilman Michael Radtke said he thinks the trail would be excellent. He said he believes the city would be responsible for maintaining the trail, and if people are causing problems or littering there, “we’re going to deal with it.”
“Radtke asked Burton whether the county could set aside parking at Freedom Hill for trail users, but Burton said he didn’t know, though he added that the county would be responsible for maintaining the trail portion closest to Freedom Hill.
Radtke added that it would be a new amenity that’s not in northern Sterling Heights.
“When I went door to door before this campaign, knocked on over 3,000 doors in this city, one thing people told me in the south end especially is that they feel excluded from a lot of the amenities being added here,” he said.
- Sterling Heights Sentry, February 9, 2022
City survey results reveal mostly high satisfaction levels
“Councilman Michael Radtke pointed out that only 25 respondents identified as Arab or Middle Eastern, or about 5% of respondents, while internally the city believes that around 25% of residents are Middle Eastern.
“I’m wondering how the survey can be accurate if it’s not engaging with what would be a quarter of our population,” Radtke said. “I’m just curious, because 77% white Caucasian makes sense because that rightly correlates with our numbers, and maybe people are identifying themselves as white instead of Arab/Middle Eastern.
“But it would strike me that if you go to the west side of our city, anything west of Mound Road, you’re going to be in a very large Chaldean enclave. And if they’re not represented in this survey, I have to wonder about its accuracy.”
- Sterling Heights Sentry, October 1, 2021
Sterling Heights City Council race attracts 15 candidates
“Further improving public safety is my first priority. Some candidates have advocated for a volunteer fire department, and further cuts to our police. Not me. I know how important it is to protect and expand our award-winning police and fire departments…Cuts would harm response times and endanger public safety.”
- Macomb Daily, August 1, 2021
Sterling Heights City Council August 3 Primary Candidate Guide
“I’m running for reelection to continue to build on all the work I have done to make Sterling Heights a thriving, vibrant, welcoming city. In the coming term, I hope to continue to improve public safety, hire more city employees, reform the way we pay for sidewalk replacement, and advocate for new parks and trails in our city, including the building of a Southern Recreation Center.”
- WDET 101.9FM, July 21, 2021
New Sterling Heights group will combat hatred and support Asian Americans
“Also supporting the group and possibly serving as one of its advisors is Sterling Heights City Councilman Michael Radtke…”
- Macomb Daily, April 7, 2021
”Councilman Michael Radtke said he is interested in an equitable billing system…”
- Sterling Heights Sentry, March 17, 2021
Sterling council roots for tree canopy rules
Councilman Michael Radtke clarified that the new amendment doesn’t apply to owner-occupied homes, but new developments, particularly commercial developments and vacant land: “I think it’s going to be wonderful. We’ve talked about increasing the tree canopy for some time. This is just another tool in the city’s toolbox to make that happen.”
- Macomb Daily, March 22, 2021
Vaccine strategies injected into Sterling Heights
“Sterling Heights has moved as fast as we possibly can to help our residents reach vaccines,” Radtke said. “Rest assured, everyone at home: We are working as quickly as possible to get the vaccine out to as many people as possible,” he said.
- Sterling Heights Sentry, March 5, 2021
Councilman Mike Radtke said it’d be “tone deaf” and “hypocritical” to give the proposed raise at this time. “During a pandemic when so many people are (unemployed), businesses are closed, it’s almost a slap in the face for us to give our highest-paid employee a $38,000 raise, which would equate to almost 23% from his prior salary,” he said.
- Sterling Heights Sentry, January 11, 2021
Sterling Heights has allocated $25,000 to fund return postage on its residents' absentee ballots this fall. The city also plans to set up secure boxes at fire stations so people can drop off their absentee ballots without having to mail them.
Sterling Heights Councilman Mike Radtke championed the budget amendment that allocated $25,000 to pay for return postage this fall. City officials estimated it would cost 71 cents per ballot for postage, according to meeting minutes. The amendment passed in a 5-2 vote.
"To me, voting is a fundamental constitutional right," said Radtke, who also works as a political consultant. "Anything we can do to make voting safer is something everyone should do."
- Detroit News, June 28, 2020
"I am proud of the city and Sears working together for the betterment of the entire community,” said City Councilman Michael Radtke. “I think we are leading the way in helping our residents, and the entire community, access the vaccine.”
- Spartan Newsroom, March 18, 2021
Councilman Michael Radtke said he thinks the project is great, in part because “we’re getting more park, and we’re getting a better park.”
- Sterling Heights Sentry, December 17, 2020
Council rejects diversity commission plan
“During the Aug. 18 Sterling Heights City Council meeting, the council voted 5-2 to reject the proposal. Mayor Michael Taylor and Councilman Michael Radtke were the two yes votes… Councilman Michael Radtke said he didn’t think that his idea was controversial, “If we want to move into the 21st century, we need to start doing things and thinking about things a little bit different.”
- Sterling Heights Sentry, September 3, 2020
“Inclusivity starts with us,” Radtke said. “It’s on the council to go out and find candidates for these positions … and then to put them on boards. In a city of 133,000 people, 51 percent which is women, it shocks me that we can’t have or find a female candidate for one of our major boards.”
“I think a lot of these arguments are disingenuous,” Radtke said. “At the end of the day, my sole focus is two-fold. One is to dismantle the ‘good-old-boy’ networks that operates insidiously — people don’t even realize they’re operating. But more than that, I simply want the committees in Sterling Heights to reflect the diversity I see when I walk outside of my house every day.”
- Pride Source, July 19, 2020
Michigan GOP cuts ties with Macomb House candidate Paul Smith with 'crazy' theories
Smith has drawn fire for a 2009 YouTube video showing him with signs illustrated with President Barack Obama's head impaled on a stake and then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm with a noose around her neck. Smith said the video was shot during a tea party rally in Sterling Heights, and that the U.S. Secret Service has visited him three times to question him about the video — visits he chalks up to "political harassment" by his opponents.
Sterling Heights Council Member Michael Radtke Jr., was incredulous Monday that the Michigan GOP only now cut ties with Smith. "Why didn't they cut ties before this? I'm glad the speaker has realized that Paul Smith is unfit for office," Radtke said. "If he were elected, he would be a national embarrassment."
- Detroit News, October 13, 2020
Delegation from the Philippines visit their sister city of Sterling Heights
“We're living in a global economy and one of the biggest things that we have is trade,” Radtke said. "We are leaders in manufacturing and areas of technology and this is an opportunity to show our sister city what we do.”
- Macomb Daily, September 19, 2019