In Our Opinion … It’s up to residents to turn city hall around
What a topsy-turvy time in Hamtramck.
If you are feeling that things in city hall have spun out of control, you’re not alone. We haven’t seen this level of dysfunction since the 1990s, when there was a political changing of the guard, so to speak.
Actually, back then, it was a younger generation stepping into Hamtramck’s political infrastructure -- and, as could be expected, the old-timers didn’t welcome it.
So, fast forward to today, and we are experiencing a cultural and ethnic clash play out.
It’s easy to caution folks to take a step back and a deep breath before this clash results in a total breakdown of the city’s ability to function.
But political dysfunction was also a factor leading to the first-ever state-appointed emergency financial manager taking over control of the city back in 2000. For a time, the mayor and council were excluded from meeting or making decisions.
We have faith this current mess in city hall will play out, and state intervention won’t be needed again.
Let’s hope that our elected leaders can discover their “better angels,” as President Lincoln famously coined, and all of this division can be put behind us.Posted June 26, 2026
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The turnaround will never happen unless the state takes over. The residents, most of which have never lived in a Democracy, let alone a Constitutional Republic, and have no idea what governance is all about. The elections are popularity contests an nothing more. That is way it’s incumbent on Governor Whitmore to see past possible racial charges and declare an emergency for the city.