There is a lot at stake in this election

If you haven’t voted already, there is still plenty of time left.
Absentee ballots can still be dropped off at city hall, and in-person voting is also going on in city hall through this Sunday (Nov. 3).
This coming Tuesday, Nov. 5, is election day, just in case anyone is unaware – which would be hard to believe, just based on the volume of advertising right now.
No matter what you do, be sure to vote, as this election is one of the most consequential in recent history. This election will determine which direction this country will go.
And if you don’t know which two directions this election represents, do yourself a favor and educate yourself real fast.
Locally, Hamtramck has three important elections.
There are six candidates seeking two seats on the Hamtramck School Board.
This board desperately needs some new faces to steer the district away from the disastrous course that Board President Jihan Aiyash, who is seeking re-election, has overseen.
The district is also seeking a property tax millage renewal of 18 mills. This tax is only paid by non-homestead property owners.
That means home owners do not pay this tax. It applies only to the owners of commercial properties and rental dwellings.
If this tax is not renewed, it will spell financial disaster. The millage generates about $2.7 million per year for up to 10 years.
However, we wouldn’t be surprised if voters reject it, considering that the district, under this board’s supervision, has attracted over a dozen lawsuits in the past few years.
And that includes lawsuits filed by current Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed, which fortunately were thrown out by a federal judge, basically for lacking substance.
But the district was recently socked with a $950,000 court award to a former assistant principal regarding action taken by Ahmed. The district’s insurance carrier will cover only a third of that – meaning taxpayers have to foot the balance through the district’s budget.
That’s about $600,000 less than what will be spent on students.
Again, you can thank the leadership of Aiyash and Ahmed for that financial hit.
Also, Wayne County has a regional tax millage renewal that is shared among the county’s schools, from which Hamtramck benefits.
The important thing to do is vote in this election cycle, because there is, truly, an awful lot at stake.
Posted Nov. 1, 2024