Labor Day Festival is too valuable to lose
At the time we went to print on Thursday, city officials were working to find a way out of a financial hole.
Hamtramck officials have known the city is facing a budget deficit. That fact hasn’t changed but what has is the severity. The city needs to find a way to plug a $2 million deficit by a combination of increased revenues and cuts.
On the plate is possibly canceling the annual Labor Day Festival. Hamtramck is not alone in making such a cut. The City of Troy recently canceled its historic city festival. The Cityfest in Detroit won’t take place this year.
The Arts, Beats and Eats festival has been moved from Pontiac to Royal Oak in an effort to scale back and attract more people.
Hamtramck needs to keep the Labor Day Festival going. For the last two years the festival has grown in quality and popularity. The city would take an awfully big step backwards if it cancels the festival while it’s on the verge of taking a major leap forward.
While there is indeed a financial crisis facing us, the city must still invest in itself, to promote itself in order to attract investors as well as provide community pride.
There is one funding source the city should consider to tap into: its people. Why not hold various fundraisers to help offset festival costs?
The city’s bars, for instance, could hold a bar crawl to attract visitors into town as well as raise money. The churches and mosques could also hold fundraisers.
During the festival there could be donation boxes installed throughout the festival grounds. It’s not unreasonable to ask visitors to pitch in a few dollars considering that admission is free.
The festival has a long connection with the city and considering the gloomy economic times, it will help boost the town’s spirits.
4 Responses to Labor Day Festival is too valuable to lose
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Guest
April 23, 2010 at 7:16 pm
I don’t think the mosques will support a festival where city sells Alcohol.
Guest1
April 25, 2010 at 9:48 pm
If its to keep the city going, why would the mosques not support Hamtramck. You people need to stop being so judgmental towards the Muslim people.
Roger
April 28, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Considering that mosques both dislike alcohol and pork products, I think with Hamtramck they’ve had to, er, turn the other cheek. I mean with us being the once bar capitol of the world AND Headquarters to a number of well known meat packers, i think they knew what they were getting into. Diversity means we can have a mix of cultures and beliefs and not have hatred between us.
Cathie Gordon
May 7, 2010 at 4:37 pm
The Hamtramck Labor Day Festival has been in existence for many, many years. As a resident, business owner and councilperson I now see the many faces that make up this event. This IS the “feel good” event of the year for the residents of our great community…..young and old! This event provides a sense of togetherness and at the same time benefits the city economically…..i.e bars, restaurants, retail, and service industries. I feel that we need to preserve this event………then again can WE as a financially struggling city afford to bankroll an event that may loose money again? I
believe the review’s solution IS on target!! VOLUNTEERS & FUND RAISERS. As a bar owner, I would be happy to help with any type of fundraising for this event, and I can say with some certainty alot of other bar owners may feel the same way. WE all need to pitch in to make this event happen! Maybe The Review can kick it off with a healthy donation and/or hold a fundraiser at the office to get the ball rolling……or maybe donate 15% of all ads placed during the months of June and July to this festival. Anyway, LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN…..without digging the financial hole (for the city) any deeper.