HAMTRAMCK — A candidates’ forum is be held on Thursday, July 30, 7 p.m. at the BHA Hall, 2320 Caniff Street.

The forum will allow the five mayoral and 12 city council candidates to speak to citizens and answer questions.

“We have to get the views of the candidates,” said Michael Prentiss, organizer of the event.

Each candidate will address the audience for three minutes, followed by a question and answer session with the citizens.

“The question that really concerns us is how they will handle the economic crisis that faces the city,” Prentiss said. “This question will be given top consideration at the forum.”

Prentiss, who recently moved to Hamtramck, along with several anonymous citizens, organized the forum after seeing a lack of information presented to the community. “Everyone has known about this election for several months, but there has been no civil event,” Prentiss said. “We need everyone to come.”

Hamtramck has a large Yemeni American population. City council meetings are frequently heated and lively.

At least one Arab American candidate, Abdul Algazali, a current city council member, is running for mayor.

Economic power of immigrants essential

A report released on July 17th by the Immigration Policy Center entitled “New Americans in the Great Lakes State: The Political and Economic Power of Immigrants, Latinos, and Asians in Michigan” lauded Arab Americans’ contributions to the state’s economy while calling immigrant workers “essential.”

The report studied Latinos and Arab Americans in Michigan, noting that Dearborn had the highest proportion of Arab Americans of any city in the United States by far. Statewide, the number of people claiming to have Arab American ancestry rose from 1.2 percent in 2000 to 1.4 percent in 2007.

Arab Americans’ employment contributed $7.7 billion in total earnings in the four counties of the Detroit metropolitan area in 2005 according to the Center of Urban Studies at Wayne State University, generating an estimated $544 million in state tax revenue.

Also according to the study, Arab American business and consumer spending supported an estimated 141,541 jobs in 2005 in the four counties of the Detroit metropolitan area.

In 2007, immigrants comprised a total of 6.9% of the state’s workforce according to the U.S. Census Bureau, including a total of 1.3% who are unauthorized. If the unauthorized immigrants were to leave according to the census, the state would lose $3.8 billion in expenditures and more than 20,000 jobs.

Michigan was home to 609,457 immigrants in 2007, roughly the size of the city of Boston, Massachusetts, for a total of 6.1 percent of all citizens; a .8 percent increase from 2000.

“Immigrants and entrepreneurs are integral to Michigan’s economy and tax base,” the report concluded. “They are an electoral force with which any politician must reckon.”

Arab American groups to hold golf outings

The Ramallah Club of Metro Detroit will hold its 3rd Annual Golf Outing at the Fox Hills Golden Fox Country Club in Plymouth on Saturday, July 25 at 10 a.m.

The popular golf club is located at 8768 N. Territorial Road. For more information, contact Sam Rizkallah at 734.776.5866.

Another Arab American golf outing is set for August 10.

The 15th annual American Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC) golf outing will be held that Monday at the TPC Dearborn golf course, which is the former home of the TPC Ford Senior Players Championship event and is regarded as one of the best courses in Michigan.

The course features tee options ranging from 6,100 to 7,000 yards and was designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus. It is located at One Nicklaus Drive in Dearborn.

Those interested in forming a team, being a sponsor, or donating to the raffle can call Hebah Alwerfalli at 313.945.1700 or e-mail her at hebaha@americanarab.com.

Free jazz concert series in Dearborn

The sounds of live jazz music will echo through the air surrounding Dearborn City Hall Park from July 29 through August 26 as the East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (EDDDA) and Smooth Jazz V98.7 have partnered to provide a free Wednesday concert series for the public.

“This is a perfect opportunity for the public to stroll around our historic downtown, visit the Arab American National Museum, check out the many culturally rich businesses and ethnic restaurants, and then relax to some of the area’s best jazz artists,” said EDDDA Executive Director Michael Boettcher.

The park is located at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Schaefer Road in Dearborn and the concert series features locally and nationally praised jazz musicians. Each concert will run from 7 to 9 p.m.

July 29 features David Myles and the Mylestones, August 12 is Jesse Coleman, August 19 is Penny Wells, and August 26 is The Broothers Groove.

The public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for their own comfort.

For more information about East Downtown Dearborn and upcoming concerts, visit www.eastdowntowndearborn.com or call the EDDDA at 313-943-3194.