Controversy over the City of Dearborn’s newly proposed garage ordinance is growing, as the measure could be approved at the next City Council meeting Sep. 10. 

Many Arab Americans plan on attending the meeting and voicing their opposition to the ordinance. The Arab American News, however, would urge these residents not to take that route. 

It’s unfortunate that the media has created the perception that it’s an issue between Arab Americans and the City, giving the impression that people in our community are the only residents who use their garages for other purposes.

The ordinance would prohibit residents from converting any garage into a “habitable space,” which means no living, sleeping, eating or cooking.

The newly proposed rules regarding the use of garages are motivated not by hate or discrimination towards our community, as many people continue to assert, but rather out of safety concerns.     

The ordinance would prohibit residents from converting any garage into a “habitable space,” which means no living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms and open-flame heaters are not allowed as well. 

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering the fact that open flames near exhaust fumes from cars and motorcycles is a dangerous safety threat. 

Another safety threat that’s likely to occur when garages are used as living spaces is by placing vehicles outside garages and on to streets, it becomes difficult for emergency vehicles to get through. 

Residents have also complained that when garages are converted into living areas, owners often leave their lawn equipment, trash can and other storage items in their backyard creating issues of blight for neighbors. 

Garages aren’t meant to be living spaces, therefore building permits can’t be issued to convert them. A spokeswoman for the City has made it clear that the conversion would be illegal. 

These are the main reasons why we’re urging Dearborn residents to support the new ordinance, and for the sake of safety, not to rally against it.