A report released by the Asian American Legal Defense Education Fund found that Asian Americans face many barriers preventing them from exercising their right to vote.

AALDEF volunteers monitored polling stations in Detroit-area precincts with Arab American populations during the November election as part of the study.

The report, led by the 35-year-old New York-based civil rights organization and titled “Lessons Learned from the 2008 Election,” was delivered at a hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary-subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

The report documents violations of the Voting Rights Act, Help America Vote Act and other incidents in 52 cities across America. Violations cited included a lack of translators, racist or rude remarks from poll workers, voters being turned away and excessive ID demands.

State Rep. David Nathan

Legislator to meet with constituents
State Rep. David Nathan, who represents parts of northeast Dearborn and west Detroit, is scheduled to meet with constituents at the Arab American National Museum, 13624 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, on March 30 at 6 p.m.

“These forums give me the opportunity to speak with the people of the 11th District about the issues affecting the community,” Nathan said. “It also gives them the chance to voice their opinion on things they think the legislature should focus on… I can do that best by sitting down with them, face-to-face, and learning what it is they need from their state legislator to improve their livelihood.” 

Call 1.888.MYREP11 for more information.

U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township

Increased childcare credit proposed
U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, introduced legislation on March 12 that would expand the tax credit for childcare expenses.

The legislation would boost the maximum amount of child care expenses families can claim and increase the credit from 20 percent of those expenses to 35 percent, or 50 percent for poor families.

According to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, the average Michigan family spends between $6,300 and $9,300 a year for child care.

Under Peters’ proposal, even a family with no tax liability would be able to claim the credit.

The Dependent Care Tax Credit has not been increased since it was set in 1981.

Amnesty on parking/traffic tickets

Ten Wayne County district courts are cutting deals for people with unpaid parking tickets, in a month-long traffic and parking violation amnesty program to run through April.

The program gives residents a 50-percent discount on fines from traffic or civil infraction citations issued between Jan. 1, 2002 and Dec. 31, 2008.

The courts participating in the program include: 36th District Court in Detroit, 17th District Court in Redford Township, 18th District Court in Westland, 21st District Court in Garden City, 24th District Court in Allen Park, 28th District Court in Southgate, 29th District Court in Wayne, 31st District Court in Hamtramck 32B Grosse Pointe Park Municipal Court and 33rd District Court in Woodhaven.

Parking tickets issued in the city of Detroit are not eligible for the program.

For information, call 313.967.7400 or visit at www.36thdistrictcourt.org.

Michigan’s jobless rate highest in 25 years

Michigan’s unemployment rate has hit 12 percent, the highest since 1984, according to a state report released Wednesday.

The jobless rate increased four-tenths of a percentage point in February from January’s rate of 11.6 percent.

The national jobless rate also rose last month, increasing by a half percentage point to 8.1 percent.

Over the past 12 months, payroll jobs in Michigan fell by 277,000 or 6.5 percent.

Job losses in manufacturing, professional and business services, trade, transportation and utilities make up 80 percent of the decline.

The education and health care sectors have been the only employment categories to show an increase since February 2008, with a gain of 10,000 jobs.

Arab Americans to challenge school board members

DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Two Arab American women are looking to unseat two incumbent Crestwood school board members in May 5 elections.

Zenna Elhasan

Board members Ron Panetta and Ed Garcia are up for re-election. Zenna Elhasan and Wanda Saad are challenging them.
Elhasan is an attorney with Detroit law firm Allen Brothers.

Saad, an active parent in the district, has vied for a board seat three times before, including a run against Panetta in 2004. She said afterward in media reports, along with others, that ethnicity played a major role in the election.

Ethnic tensions have come up in other past

Wanda Saad

Dearborn Heights elections. In 2001, residents received calls from a campaign advertiser posing as a pollster who asked a series of questions about the ethnicity of an Arab American city council candidate, who eventually lost.
Arab Americans Tom Berry, elected to city council in 2005, and David Turfe, elected a judge in 2006, have since overcome the perceived prejudice barrier.

The city’s Westwood school district also has two incumbent board members, Luisa Donfried and Gregory Stephens, running for re-election on May 5 against challengers Willie L. Smith, Kevin King and Mario Fundarski.

Westwood board members earn $30 per meeting and meet once a month.

Crestwood members meet a minimum of twice per month and receive $50 per meeting.

Watch for a closer look at the candidates in upcoming issues of The Arab American News.

Popular arts forum returns to NAAM

DEARBORN — A biennal Arab American arts forum returns to Dearborn this weekend, attracting writers, performers, comedians and scholars from around the country.

“DIWAN: A Forum for the Arts” began Friday morning and runs through March 29 at the Arab American National Museum, 13624 Michigan Avenue, featuring performances by theater actress Najla Said (daughter of the late, celebrated Arab American scholar Edward Said), dancer-percussionist Karim Nagi, a comedy showcase and an open mic night.

Panel discussions on attracting audiences to Arab American art, using art to deal with war, using comedy to battle stereotypes and more are also planned.

Registration is $25 for one day, $65 for the weekend. Visit www.arabamericanmuseum.org/diwan for a full schedule.

Michel Aoun representative to appear in Troy

Lebanese American political group Tayyar Michigan is to host May Akl, press secretary of Lebanese member of Parliament Michel Aoun on April 13, 7 p.m. at the San Marino Club, 1685 E. Big Beaver Road in Troy.

Akl is a founding member of the Free Patriotic Movement, and coordinates U.S. efforts of the group’s diaspora committee.

The Free Patriotic Movement is a largely Christian political opposition party in Lebanon.

Tickets are $50. Contact Rami Haddad at 248.761.2692 or ramighaddad@gmail.com.

Basha Diagnostics installing latest MRI technology

ROYAL OAK — Patients gooing to Basha Diagnostics for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans will find something new this spring.

With a new Magnetom Verio MRI scanner from Siemens expected to be installed, one of the first in Michigan, Basha Diagnostics will offer some of the most advanced MR imaging services and maximum patient comfort.

With a large, patient-friendly 70-cm opening and one foot of headroom, patients won’t feel like they are nose to nose with the top of the magnet, making the tight confines of older MRIs are a thing of the past.

The Magnetom Verio boasts the strongest magnet field strength used clinically today and gives physicians access to neurological, orthopedic and cartilage assessment, and breast, vascular and cardiac imaging. The system’s large 70-cm opening accomodates a wide array of patients including people who have traditionally been hard to image, such as children, the obese (up to 550 lbs), the elderly, and claustrophobic patients.

The speed of MRI exams has also been increased.

“The Siemens Magnetom Verio gives Basha Diagnostics one of the most cutting-edge pieces of MRI equipment on the market today,” said Dr. Yahya. Basha. “With this system, we will have a magnet that operates at the highest clinically used field strengths, but that will allow us to deliver one of the most comfortable imaging experiences to our patients.”

Basha Diagnostics, with locations in Royal Oak, Sterling Heights, and Dearborn, has been serving patients and physicians for over 25 years. The clinics accept most insurance plans and provide free transportation for patients to and from appointments.