School district is big loser in election

City Councilmember Mohammed Alsomiri survived the primary election on Tuesday and will now advance to the November General Election.

By Charles Sercombe
Hamtramck voters torpedoed the Hamtramck Public School District’s request for the renewal of a “sinking fund” millage during Tuesday’s primary election.
That rejection, by a 2-to-1 margin, was a shocker for some in the school district, although it appears to be a sign of things to come for other millage requests by the city and school district down the road.
The only other issue on Tuesday’s ballot for Hamtramck voters was the city council candidate race.
All three city council incumbents survived, but Councilmember Mohammed Hassan might be in trouble in the November General Election when Tuesday’s top six vote-getters will faceoff to see who grabs three council chairs next year.
Councilmembers Nayeem Choudhury and Mohammed Alsomiri were the top two vote-getters, while challenger Lynn Blasey came in third, with Hassan just four votes behind her.
The top six include:
• Nayeem Choudhury: 858 votes
• Mohammed Alsomiri: 853 votes
• Lynn Blasey: 813 votes
• Mohammed Hassan: 809 votes
• Muhtasin Sadman: 689 votes
• Nasr Hussain: 427 votes

The following candidates were eliminated:
• Yousef Saed: 395 votes
• Sari Ahmed: 291 votes
• Ruhel Amin: 113votes
• Write-in votes: 42
Hamtramck voters overwhelmingly rejected the 3-mill school millage renewal: 1,507 (no) to 757 (yes).
Wayne County Commissioner Martha Scott, whose district includes Hamtramck, had harsh words for the district at Wednesday’s monthly school board meeting.
Scott said she had been made aware of a number of troubling issues that the district has been facing for the past couple of years, and said:
“There were so many things I heard,” Scott said. “I can see why your millage didn’t pass. You’re not doing your job.”
Had the millage passed, it would have raised about $700,000 per year for up to 10 years. That revenue was strictly earmarked for repairing and updating buildings, making security improvements, and updating technology, among other items.
HPS Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed response to the millage defeat is on page X.
Turnout was considered low on Tuesday despite it being a sunny 80 degrees all day. In all, 2,525 voters turned out, which represents 19 percent of the city’s 13,249 registered voters.
Out of those voters, 1,531 voted by absentee ballot.
Voters whose precincts were located in the Hamtramck High School Community Center entered a sweatbox during the day. The air conditioning unit has not been working for the past two months, sources said.
While the weather was otherwise perfect, the day wasn’t without its drama.
Councilmembers Mohammed Hassan and Nayeem Choudhury got into a spat in front of the Hamtramck High School Community Center where residents in precincts 2, 3 and 4 vote.
Hassan accused Choudhury of violating state election law by being within 100 feet of the voting precincts. Choudhury was indeed within that candidate campaign restricted zone on the sidewalk in front of the steps leading up to the building where he was taking a photo with a person.
Nayeem responded to Hassan, saying” You’re always talking.”
In another incident, a woman walking up to the community center was offered candidate information for Yousef Saed which she rejected, saying, “I am not voting for homophobic candidates.”
That reference was apparently related to a controversy involving the mayor and the city council, who are all male and all Muslim. They banned the display of pride flags on public property. That decision just several weeks ago is still generating heated backlash against those city officials.
There was also some back-and-forth sniping online between candidates.
Nasr Hussain criticized Lynn Blasey for saying she was holding an election day get-together at Whiskey in the Jar bar on Yemans after the polls closed.
“Guess no Muslims will join,” Hussain said on the Facebook page called “Hamtramck Square,” in reference to the bar being a place where alcohol is served, which might offend some Muslim community members.
He went on to say: “A more appropriate venue should’ve been chosen. Maybe in the general election.”
Posted Aug. 11, 2023