Dear Editor:

The recent closure of the Twisted Tiki Food Truck in Syracuse is more than a story about one small business — it’s a symptom of a council that repeatedly fails its community. The Syracuse Town Council is always in the InkFreeNews headlines, but never for the right reasons. Instead of championing local entrepreneurs, they seem focused on protecting personal interests and clinging to nepotism.

Twisted Tiki was never just a food truck. It was a vibrant, community-centered initiative, bringing people together, sharing delicious food and promoting a core Hoosier value: entrepreneurship. Yet, despite overwhelming support from residents, the owners were forced to leave. They said it clearly: Operating in Syracuse became a constant source of stress and anxiety. Their decision to walk away was not a surrender — it was a choice for peace and happiness in the face of unnecessary opposition.

What exactly was Twisted Tiki “hurting”? Did selling food from a mobile truck undermine the town’s economy? Absolutely not. They were building community, paying taxes and adding something fun to the town. Their presence was a net positive. So why did the council act as if this was a threat? Was it bruised egos? Conflicts of interest with officials’ personal business ventures? If so, residents deserve transparency and investigative reporting.

The council’s repeated resistance to positive, local initiatives signals a deeper problem. Leadership should be about lifting the community, not obstructing it. Twisted Tiki’s departure isn’t just a loss for a single business — it’s a loss for the town as a whole. It’s a wake-up call to change Syracuse’s elected leadership.

This is where residents must pay attention. 2026 is an election year. Any citizen can run for town council. This is a real opportunity to bring in leaders who understand and prioritize local businesses, community engagement and align the town’s actions with our values. It’s a chance to replace officials whose actions are not aligned with the town’s well-being.

Syracuse should be a thriving, welcoming place for small businesses. The downtown development plan shows our potential, but leadership needs to be supportive of new ideas and start-ups.

Remember residents: the next election is your chance to ensure that voices like Twisted Tiki’s are supported, not silenced. Perhaps don’t just vote, but run for town council and lift Syracuse to the the level we know it can be at.

Toby Lamp