City Hall Insider … 8/27/2024
By Charles Sercombe
The city council met on Aug. 27, and all councilmembers were in attendance.
A short update was given by the city administration on the creation of new Neighborhood Enterprise Zones (NEZ).
The locations for the proposed zones are as follows:
o The area bound by Caniff on the north, Yemans to the south, Nagel to the west and Brombach to the east.
o The area bound by Hewitt to the north, Denton to the south, Lumpkin to the west and Jos. Campau to the east.
o The area bound by Jacob to the north, Goodson to the south, Jos. Campau to the west and Gallagher to the east.
Those who are in the designated zones who apply for a tax break for additions or new housing have to first get approval by both the city and then the state.
During public comment, Ibrahim Aljahim said the public school district needs to do something about speeding drivers around their school buildings.
He also questioned why the police department has a deputy chief position, but the fire department does not.
City Manager Max Garbarino explained that positions in the fire and police departments are contractually negotiated, and that there was no need to create such a position for the fire department.
A resident complained about a female police dispatcher who handled his call. He said there was a suspicious person that needed to be checked out, but the dispatcher insisted that his part of the block is in Detroit, and advised him to call the Detroit Police Department.
Despite his pleas that he indeed lives in Hamtramck, the dispatcher remained adamant. He then called the Detroit Police Department, only to be redirected back to Hamtramck.
This time the Hamtramck dispatcher was corrected by a supervisor who said the caller’s house was indeed in Hamtramck.
The resident said the dispatcher’s handling of his call is unacceptable, and as it turned out the department was aware of the suspect in question. However, it was too late by then.
The resident said the dispatcher’s ignorance was “dangerous,” and that the dispatcher needs further training.
This led to a discussion among councilmembers about making sure officers and dispatchers are thoroughly trained as to where the city’s borders are located.
Councilmember Mohammed Hassan said that, if it comes to it, the council can eliminate the newly-created position of deputy chief in the department.
Another resident said his area of the city, near Oliver and Miller streets, needs more police patrols and stepped-up code enforcement.
A man, who identified himself as a human rights activist, said he was mistreated by officers for having a registered gun in his possession. He said he feels “discriminated against,” and he threatened to “get the hell out” of the city.
Another resident complained about high property taxes. He said the city needs to lower the taxes in order to “bring the people back.”
He also complained about the delay in repaving Caniff from Jos. Campau to Conant.
(The city says that reconstruction is likely to happen in October, and the project was delayed by the state.)
A Detroit resident said the city’s bike lanes and parking meter system “are big fat mistakes.”
A lengthy discussion was held on installing bumps in an alley, west of Conant, where a mosque is located. The mosque has volunteered to pay for the cost of installation.
The council agreed to go ahead with installing speed bumps (not the less-jarring speed humps.)
The council OK’d a proposal to add to Burger St. the honorary name of a female child who was accidently run over by a school bus several weeks ago.
The street will be given the honorary name of “Ameena Anaaya.”
Councilmember Hassan said that he counseled the family after the accident, and said “I feel their pain.”
A lengthy discussion was held on whether to purchase a new camera and recording system for the interrogation room in the police department.
Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri said the current recording system takes too long to set up, and is generally not convenient or efficient. He said the new system will “keep our work more ethical.”
The system will cost $8,000 per year for the next five years.
Mayor Amer Ghalib said the city has already spent a lot of money on new cars and other upgrades.
This purchase, he said “is one of the least concerns we have tonight.”
City Manager Garbarino advocated for the purchase.
“Any technology we put in the hands of our officers makes them that more efficient in doing their job,” he said.
Councilmember Mahmood Muhith said there have been concerns about police response in the community.
“The service level is not as great as other cities,” he said.
Ghalib said that, although he’s been “defending the police since I came into office,” there are community concerns.
“Public safety is not in the best shape at this time,” Ghalib said.
He said there was one incident involving how officers responded to suspects who were connected to a stolen vehicle. The officers have been criticized for not pursuing the suspects.
This incident, Ghalib said, “destroyed everything we have been working on.”
Having said that, the council unanimously agreed to the recording system purchase.
The council then agreed to sell three city-owned lots to a housing developer for a total of $30,000.
The lots are located at 12042, 12050 and 12056 Nagel.
In another development, the council approved a redevelopment proposal to demolish the gas station at Jos. Campau and Botsford in order to build a modern looking gas and automotive service station.
Councilmember Khalil Refai credited the site owner for staying and investing in Hamtramck.
A lengthy discussion was held on two public safety issues.
One was involving the death of the 3-year-old girl on Burger St. who was killed by the school bus. City Manager Garbarino said the matter is being reviewed by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
Councilmember Hassan said he wants to see the surveillance recording of the accident.
Garbarino said “It’s not good policy for graphic footage of a little girl and a school bus” to be released.
The other incident was the aforementioned criticism of officers not pursuing stolen car suspects.
Police Chief Altaheri said the recording of the situation was “disturbing.”
But he cautioned that “you don’t know what was in their (officers’) mind” at the time.
The chief said the issue brought to light that more supervision was needed during the night shift, and he reassigned a supervisor to that shift.
Garbarino pointed out that despite “out of tens of thousands of good interactions the police department has throughout the year, it takes one incident to take away all that.”
He added that he has “full faith” in the new police chief.
Councilmember Refai said he has noticed some officers just “sitting there” and not patrolling.
He said this has lead to a reputation that “if you want to steal a car, go to Hamtramck. You want to rob somebody, go to Hamtramck because officers are sitting more in the offices instead of patrolling the streets.”
In later discussions about other topics, Mayor Ghalib complimented the council for being more cooperative than previous city councils.
“We work as a team better than any other council,” Ghalib said. “In the past, we used to hear crazy things.”
Regarding property taxes, Councilmember Hassan said the city needs to re-assess housing values “to find out how we can bring the taxes down.”
He said the city’s Assessor’s Office is not always correct, adding that a previous assessor was fired for using an incorrect assessment formula.
During public comment, Ibrahim Aljahim said the city is demonstrating “third world politics.” He did not offer an explanation.
He also said the city previously had been able to attract more state grants through the governor, secretary of state and attorney general.
Mayor Ghalib said: “We are very proud this state doesn’t like us. We know the reason why the attorney general (Dana Nessel) doesn’t like us, so we don’t care.”
He did not elaborate on the comment, however in the past, Attorney General Nessel has criticized the council and the mayor for their banning of the LGBTQ pride flag being displayed on public property.
Posted Sept. 27, 2024
