Snyder’s financial policies are setting up cities for failure
This past week, Gov. Rick Snyder unveiled his plan to turnaround failing schools. It’s an ambitious plan, but ultimately, it’s awfully vague. For example, Snyder is seeking to have more…
Hamtramck’s police force is long overdue for a makeover
Hamtramck has a chance of taking a small step toward diversifying the ethnic makeup of the Police Department. The department currently has two African-American officers on the force out of…
Education cuts are aimed at busting teachers’ union
In a way, the contract concessions that Hamtramck Public School teachers agreed to was inevitable. That’s because Gov. Rick Snyder and his fellow Republican legislators are about to impose similar…
Crime wave brings community together
Periodically, Hamtramck experiences a crime wave of sorts. At the last City Council meeting, councilmembers complained about a rash of street muggings and young men and teens hanging out at…
For many, tax hike will hardly be noticed
We’ve said it before, but we’ll repeat it again. The Hamtramck City Council did the right thing on Tuesday by officially raising the city’s property tax rate to its legal…
Beware of candidates promising to cut taxes
This year’s field of candidates vying for three seats on City Council offers some hope for the future. We see some worthy candidates, but at the same time we see…
Tax increase gives city time to plan
We’re not going to say “Hooray” about this. That’s because no one likes to pay more taxes. But the City Council (except for councilmembers Mohammed Hassan and Kazi Miah) did…
Tax increase is what’s needed to avoid a takeover
It’s far from a done deal, but it looks like city officials will increase property taxes by 2.3 mills. Before your britches get all pinched up over that, consider this:…
To save our city, it’s time for voters to take a stand
The cost of stabilizing Hamtramck’s financial picture is going to be steep, if some or all of the solutions outlined by the city manager is any indication. And the people…
A good way to promote the city and the DDA
There’s an idea being considered around town to have the Downtown Development Authority take over the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival. We’re not sure where the proposal is going, but at…
