City Hall Insider … 11/22/23

What is our City Council up to these days? We have the highlights of the latest council meeting.

By Charles Sercombe
The city council met on Oct. 24, and all councilmembers were in attendance.
Mayor Amer Ghalib announced that it was his birthday, and fellow councilmembers wished him a happy birthday. Councilmember Khalil Refai joked: “You turned 21.”
Ghalib is in his 40s.
A proclamation was read in honor of Hamtramck Police Reserve Deputy Chief Richard Dobek, who died on Oct. 21. He was still an active member of the reserves, and served with the organization for 55 years.
He was 78 years old.
The proclamation read, in part:
“… It is with heavy hearts and profound sorrow that we, the City of Hamtramck, gather today to pay tribute to a man whose unwavering dedication to our community exemplified the highest ideals of public service; and Richard Dobek, a devoted and steadfast guardian of our city, joined the Hamtramck Police Reserves in 1968, demonstrating a commitment to the safety and well-being of our citizens that endured for over five decades; and Richard Dobek’s service to the Hamtramck Police Reserves was marked by a tireless pursuit of excellence, unwavering dedication, and a passion for upholding the law, earning him the respect and admiration of his colleagues, the Police Department, and the entire community he served. …”
City Manager Max Garbarino, who is a former Hamtramck Police Chief, said that Dobek “will be greatly missed.”
The newly appointed Executive Director of the Hamtramck Parks Conservancy, Tom Habitz, introduced himself and gave a brief overview of the organization.
He said the Conservancy is supported by various grants, and that soon fundraising efforts will be underway.
The Conservancy was formed in 2020, and works in conjunction with the city and the public school district to improve parks and recreation programs.
At hamtramckparks.com, you can view a 200-page plan for the group.
Habitz said the goal is to transform 26 acres of park and recreation area into being the “heart of the city.”
John Hennessey, the city’s contractor engineer, discussed the upcoming reconstruction of Caniff, from Jos. Campau to Conant. This will be the third and last portion of the street to be rebuilt.
The project will begin sometime next spring or summer, and it will cost over $1.8 million. Hennessey Engineering will complete engineering plans for the project, for a cost of over $120,000.
Funding for the project comes mostly from federal funds, although a small portion also comes from the state road repair fund
Councilmember Refai said it’s important for the businesses on Caniff to have at least one lane of traffic open.
Hennessey said he is aware of the need, and that the street should have been resurfaced at least 20 years ago.
“We’re here to improve the quality of life,” Hennessey said.
The council approved an $800,000 grant from the Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance, to be used for training officers in de-escalation techniques.
Training will be provided by the Eastern Michigan University Center for Health Disparities Innovation and Studies.
This will be a three-year program.
The Fire Department also got the OK to hire a contractor to replace part of the fire station’s roof, for a cost of $70,575.
The roof is 50 years old, and it’s well past its life expectancy.
Councilmember Mohammed Alsomiri questioned the cost, saying he’s had larger roofs replaced for less cost.
The area in question is 4,500 square feet. The job includes a complete tear off of the old roof.
City Manager Garbarino said the complete replacement is a better plan that just encapsulating it.
“We like to do it right the first time – not just patch it,” he said.
In a resolution that was added onto the agenda at the beginning of the meeting, the council called for a cease-fire in Gaza.
The resolution read, in part:
“… Millions of people are facing dire circumstances, lacking access to essential necessities such as shelter, clean water, food, electricity, and medical supplies; and there exists a substantial risk that this conflict may further destabilize the Middle East and potentially spill over into neighboring regions, posing a threat to global peace and security; and every individual residing in that part of the world deserves the right to live in an environment marked by peace, freedom, dignity, justice, and the same fundamental human rights enjoyed by people worldwide. …”
The resolution also called for “President Biden and all elected officials and policymakers in our government to employ their influence and authority to advocate for an immediate cease-fire. We also implore them to facilitate the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, with the dual purpose of preserving innocent lives, reinstating peace and stability, and preventing the further proliferation of violence to neighboring regions. …”
Councilmember Mohammed Hassan criticized those who always criticize the council for its policy on public comment but did not show up for this meeting to voice their concern in the conflict.
“Shame on you guys, always coming, talk ‘oh I need to talk,’” he said. “We don’t hear your voice today. … Shame on you guys who always say ‘I want to speak, my voice matters.’ Your voice doesn’t matter? Because you’re racist? You don’t worry about anybody else. You worry about yourselves.”
Hassan also lashed out at President Biden, saying he won the 2020 Michigan presidential election by only 20,000 votes. Hassan said the Muslim community in the state controls 30,000 votes.
(Editor’s note: Biden won Michigan by over 154,000 votes. There are approximately 200,000 Arab-Americans in the metro area, according to the Arab American Institute.)
Hassan said that Biden’s support of Israel could cost him votes in 2024.
“We can change Michigan,” Hassan said, “including the governor.”
Both Democratic and Republican administrations have been supporters of Israel. Biden has cautioned Israel to use restraint in retaliation against Hamas and also to not send ground troops into Gaza,
Mayor Ghalib said, in response to Hassan, “We understand your frustration.”
Ghalib also cautioned about the sources of news reporting on the Israel-Hamas war, saying that there have been “fake” reports. One report was about the initial Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Some news reports said that babies had been beheaded and that women were raped.
That, he said, “turned out to be a lie.”
(There were conflicting media reports about the Hamas attack.)
He also said that the hostages who have been released by Hamas said they were treated well.
Councilmember Abu Musa also criticized President Biden, calling him “sleepy Joe.”
Adding to the criticism of Biden was Councilmember Refai.
“I’m sick of our current administration. … Sleepy Joe, I think he hasn’t woke up from his sleep,” Refai said.
(Biden’s political rival, Donald Trump, and apparent Republican presidential candidate for 2024, has nicknamed Biden as “Sleepy Joe.”)
Refai also questioned why the regular public commentators who come to council meetings are not in attendance.
Councilmember Nayeem Choudhury said “the Gaza people don’t deserve this war.” He called for “allowing food and medical supplies to be distributed in Gaza.”
He said he is not against Israel, and that “we need a common ground.”
Posted Nov. 22, 2023