SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

The economic
news is good,
but not
everyone
believes it.

30

Martin Haenick: In
the right place at
the right time.

n recent weeks, the headlines recent college graduate are
have blared the economic news an indication, some work still
in big, bold letters:
needs to be done.
For 15 years, Marc
"Michigan's Economy Sets A
Shindler and his father,
Hot Pace."
Lester, have been selling
"State Back On the Job."
"Consumer Confidence at jeans and T-shirts and out-
Four-Year High."
fitting the young Jewish com-
"Nation's Jobless Rate Falls in munity with camping goods
at Brody's, their West Bloom-
May."
"Economists Predict Best field store.
Although their business
Growth Spurt Since 1988."
Michigan's April unemploy- remains steady, Marc
ment rate was 5.7 percent, the Shindler said the economic
lowest since a 5.4 mark was reports aren't quite true.
"The new Michigan sales
recorded in January 1974, and
the figure stayed the same in tax is affecting us," Mr.
May. Through most of the first Shindler said, referring to the
half of the 1980s, the state's rate voter-mandated rise from 4
was in double digits, peaking at to 6 percent which took effect Martin Haenick: Happy to find a job in his field.
17.3 percent in December 1982. May 1. "We're holding our
The state's economy is expect- own, but there's so much
ed to grow by 6 percent this year, competition out there.
field Hills began working as a su-
"The problem in retail is that pervisor for Customized Trans-
twice the national rate.
Nationally, the unemployment everyone is cutting up too much portation Inc. in New Boston on
rate fell to 6.0 percent in May of the pie. There are too many May 23. The firm specializes in
from 6.4 percent in April. The stores, too many retailers."
inventory control.
May level was the lowest since
Bonnie Fishman, owner of
Mr. Haenick graduated from
November 1990 and the 0.4 per- Bonnie's Patisserie in Southfield, Western Michigan University
cent decline was the largest since agrees with Mr. Shindler.
with a degree in human resources
"We're doing well, but people in December. Because he wasn't
a fall from 9.2 to 8.8 in Septem-
ber and October 1983.
aren't spending like they did in
Has the economy really re- the 1980s. Even many of our up-
bounded from the 1990-91 reces- per-end customers have cut
sion? Han informal survey of local back," Ms. Fishman said about
Jewish business owners and one her pastry and catering business.
Over the past few years, Ms.
Fishman said, she has seen many
— Marc Shindler
of her customers become more
economical.
"I'm seeing a lot of piecing," she
said. "They're buying a few things
from me, but they're also making able to find a job in his field, he
things themselves."
worked as a waiter at a family
Morris Goodman, owner of eatery in Novi.
Sara's Glatt Kosher Deli in Oak
"I didn't mind waiting tables,
Park, says President Clinton's tax but that wasn't why I went to
laws have affected his business. school and earned a degree," he
"Business dropped about two said. 'They say the average time
years ago, and it hasn't gotten for college graduates to find a job
better," Mr. Goodman said. "I in their field is eight to 14
started to see a little bit of change, months, so I'm pretty happy
but once Clinton started with the about my job."
tax laws, things went back down."
Mr. Haenick said he had one
Of course, there are success previous job offer, but he turned
stories.
it down because it wouldn't have
Martin Haenick, 22, of Bloom- provided him the kind of experi-

"There are too
many stores."

PHOTO BY MAR SHA SUNDQUIST

DEBBIE SKLAR

ence he needed to move ahead in
his field.
"To find a job these days, it's
really a matter of who you know
and being in the right place at the
right time," he said. "You have
a big advantage if you know
someone in a particular business.
"I got my job through a friend's
father. They came into the
restaurant where I was working
one day and we started talking
about the job market and how I
was doing.
"I joked around and asked my
friend's father if he had any open-
ings. He told me to call him on
Monday and I did. I really like the
job. I get along well with every-
one."
Franklin Racquet Club in
Southfield reports its business is
going strong.
"I think more and more people
are investing in health-club mem-
berships because they want to
live longer," said member services
director Cynthia Best, who not-
ed that Franklin is in the process
of building two full-size basket-
ball courts, a full gymnasium and
a track.
'We're confident the economy
is on the up-and-up, so we decid-
ed to build," Ms. Best said. 0