In Our Opinion … City candidates have their homework to do

Hamtramck voters have spoken, and the final round of candidates for mayor and city council will now prepare to square off in the November General Election.
That election is just a little over two months away, and we urge the candidates to start doing their research on city matters, especially about the financial picture facing the city for the next few years.
One of the city council candidates who did not make the final cut, Joe Strzalka, a former councilmember, posted a warning recently on social media about the dire financial projection for the city – and it’s worth reviewing.
In short, starting this year, the city will be lucky to make ends meet and, going forward, Hamtramck will be spending more than what it currently brings in, revenue-wise.
Look up Plante Moran in the council’s agenda section for data.
There are four new candidates without government experience who are seeking a job on council, and they need to get themselves up to speed real quick, because over the next four years some really tough financial decisions will have to be made.
For that matter, some of the incumbents should take another hard look at the financial forecast, because they’ve had the past few years to study the report, and hardly a word has been said about what’s looming.
Get to work candidates. The city depends on you being informed.
Posted Aug. 15, 2025