By BROOKE STEVENSON
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK — The City Council passed a resolution Tuesday to give preference to American workers and products for work done within the city.
The move was sparked by the economic downturn’s impact on Americans who are “struggling to maintain or find jobs in an increasingly difficult environment,” the resolution states.
It is meant to maximize the creation of American jobs to restore economic growth and opportunities in spending any economic recovery funds the city may receive on products and services.
“We will only purchase products and services that are made or performed in the United States of America whenever and wherever possible,” Mayor Gary Burtka said.
The resolution gives precedence to American workers and producers that identify themselves as providing American products and services. Officials say the idea is meant to maximize the success of the recovery program.
“What it boils down to is if we get any stimulus money, we’re going to spend it on U.S.-made products and U.S. workers,” Burtka said.
Councilman James Flynn thanked the mayor for bringing the resolution before the council.
“When we think ‘buy American,’ we think of big-ticket items,” he said. “(Our resources) are incrementally going 1 cent, 2 cents, $5 at a time into someone else’s economy.
“Globalization certainly means the lowest common denominator, so if we’re not careful, the lowest common denominator could be we’re all going to be living in mud huts as we spread the wealth past American borders.”
The ordinance was scheduled to be published on the city’s Web site by today.