City Hall Insider … 10/8/24

By Charles Sercombe
The city council met on Oct. 8, and all councilmembers were in attendance.
Certificates of appreciation were given to the following recipients: Mohamed Alduais, Abdo Ali Ahmed, Tawfeek Algahaim, Nasser Kaid, Greg Kowalski, Greg Kirchner, Asm Rahman, Bill Meyer, Alhassan Ali Ashabi, and Abdullah Alghazali.
During public comment, a man from Dearborn thanked the mayor and city councilmembers for endorsing Donald Trump for president.
“I encourage you to take the lead and the path forward, because we have suffered many things in the last couple of years supporting the Democratic Party,” he said.
He added that Democrats are in favor of exposing school children to sexually explicit books, and push a “destructive agenda.”

Another Dearborn man spoke in Arabic, in order for Hamtramck residents to better understand what he was saying.
Another man said he was upset about “disturbing things attacking the (Hamtramck) mayor.”
He went on to say that, while in office, the Biden-Harris administration has given billions of dollars to Israel’s “war machine.” He said voting for Trump will “at least … have a shot at an actual change.”
A resident spoke in Arabic to complain about city code enforcers.

Hassan Aoun of Dearborn criticized Councilmember Mohammed Hassan for criticizing Mayor Amer Ghalib.
“I’m following the Hamtramck mayor,” Aoun added.
He further said that Hamtramck was “defunded” $10 million because city officials banned the display of pride flags on public property.
“Republicans have family values,” Aoun said.

Bill Meyer said that both Democrats and Republicans support funding war.
In a discussion on a proposed contract with Detroit Arborist Collective to remove trees when needed, Councilmember Khalil Refai questioned why the city can’t perform this service with its own employees.
City Manager Max Garbarino said city workers indeed do some of the work.
“We are bringing a lot of stuff in-house,” he said. “It’s just a matter of having the resources to do it.”
The proposal called for paying the contractor $1,400 for the removal of average-sized trees.
The contract was approved, with Councilmembers Refai and Mohammed Hassan objecting.

The council unanimously agreed to accept $30,000 from the Michigan Department of Treasury to fund an in-depth look at the city’s future financial picture.
City Manager Garbarino noted that the study is needed in light of Wayne County closing down its jail in Hamtramck. That action will result in the loss of about $1 million a year in revenue for the city.
Mayor Ghalib noted that past financial predictions have been contradictory – one pessimistic and another optimistic.
Garbarino said this study will look at the city’s finances by “starting from scratch.”
“I’m hoping it’s a lot more detailed, more on point,” Garbarino said.

In another proposal, the council unanimously rejected a proposal by the police department to purchase a surveillance drone for criminal investigations.
Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri said the purchase and use of the drone is part of his philosophy about police work: “Trust, Training and Technology.”
The drone package would have cost a little more than $40,000 over the next four years.
Andrew Robinson, the police department’s crime analyst, said the drone would not be used to look into cars or homes, or to spy on people. He said it would helpful when there is a barricaded gunman situation, for example, or for finding a suspect on the run.
Councilmember Refai objected to the cost of the service, saying: “This is just crazy. I think our city is not ready for this. So I think we’re doing well without a drone in our city. Maybe it’s not the time for it now. … The price for it is too much.”
Chief Altaheri noted that “at the end of the day, it keeps us safe.”
Councilmember Muhith Mahmood said the city has made a number of purchases lately and, for now, “Let’s show people things are working.”
Robinson said that “You can’t put a price tag on saving an officer’s life, or a civilian life, within our city.”
After the proposal was rejected, Mayor Ghalib said the department can try again later to get the purchase approved.

In his report, Mayor Ghalib said that he won’t discriminate against anyone “regardless of any difference of political views.” Ghalib is a Trump supporter.
Councilmember Hassan noted that Trump said that those emigrating from Yemen are “terrorists.”
(Ghalib and many others in the community are immigrants from Yemen.)
“I cannot believe that,” Hassan said, about Trump’s comment. “I cannot take it as a human.”
Hassan also said that Trump has said that he has no problem with transgendered people using the same restrooms as those who are not transgender.
“How come, as a human, I’m going to use together the same bathroom as my kids, my daughter?” Hassan said.
As Hassan continued to talk politics, Ghalib interrupted him and said that councilmembers only get five minutes to talk.
Ghalib said that a clarification from Trump is coming soon about his comment on Yemeni immigrants being terrorists.
He then told Hassan that he has to resign from office to run against him as mayor.
“You will lose,” Ghalib told Hassan.
Councilmember Mahmood said a council meeting is not place for a political debate.
“We still love our mayor, and whatever he decided, this is a personal decision,” Mahmood said.
Councilmember Refai said he is a lifelong Republican, and believes “in the values the party stands for.”
As for the opening of a Trump campaign office in Hamtramck, it “was a moment full of hope and excitement.”
But Refai admitted that Trump’s comments about Yemeni immigrants were “harmful remarks.”
Posted Nov. 8, 2024