To Tell the Truth: Hamilton’s Transparency Test

“To Tell the Truth” — it was once a beloved game show built on truth-telling and deception. In Hamilton, transparency seems to have become just as elusive as that old television game.

The Hamiltonian, along with the Water Workers’ Union, IUOE Local 772/HOWEA, has repeatedly asked the City of Hamilton to disclose one simple fact: how much has the ongoing water workers’ strike cost the city?

Over the summer, city officials told both The Hamiltonian and the union that the information would be made public in October. October came and went. It is now mid-November, and despite several follow-up requests, the City has remained silent.

Let’s be clear: The Hamiltonian firmly believes Hamilton taxpayers are entitled to this information. We recognize that strikes cost money to manage — that is not in dispute. What is in dispute is whether the city has spent a reasonable amount or an excessive one. Without disclosure, there is no way to assess that.

For the record, The Hamiltonian is not aligned with IUOE Local 772/HOWEA. We have, however, been sympathetic to their position because we believe they have a legitimate and well-founded claim to a carve-out based on their specialized accreditation and unique value to the city.

This is not about taking sides. It’s about accountability. Hamiltonians deserve to know whether their local government is willing — or even able — to tell the truth about how much this strike has cost. Is transparency a genuine commitment, or merely a slogan used when convenient?

The Hamiltonian has learned that IUOE Local 772/HOWEA has now threatened legal action if the city continues to withhold this information. By refusing transparency, City Hall not only erodes public trust — it risks compounding costs through potential litigation, once again leaving taxpayers on the hook.

Does this sound familiar? Think of the Red Hill Valley Parkway scandal. Think of the contaminated water cover-up. Must Hamilton taxpayers once again bear the burden of secrecy and mismanagement?

The question now is simple: Will — or can — the City of Hamilton tell the truth?

The Hamiltonian believes this is more than a budgetary matter. It is a defining test — one that will reveal whether Hamilton’s civic culture is capable of honesty and transparency, or whether the corrosive habits of evasion have taken root so deeply that they simply can’t tell the truth anymore.

Hamiltonians deserve an answer.