Duggan.

DETROIT — Detroit gas station owners met with Mayor Mike Duggan last week. The mayor listened to the businessmen’s concerns and promised to increase cooperation between gas stations and city officials, business advocate Nasser Beydoun said.

Gas station owners have been complaining of excessive ticketing, disrespect by the police, hefty fees and poor services in Detroit. They say the city is unjustifiably scrutinizing small stores at a time when dangerous crime is ravaging the city. 

Detroit’s predominantly Arab American business owners had convened on Aug. 31, pledging to form a coalition to safeguard their interests. They also threatened to sue the city. 

According to Beydoun, Duggan reached out to the small business owners after reading The Arab American News’ report on the meeting. 

He said the discussion with Duggan was positive and productive. 

“The mayor agreed to work with the city’s departments to reduce the fees and resolve the issues to make Detroit more small business friendly,” Beydoun said. “He will be announcing an initiative soon. He assigned people in his office to address our concerns and come up with solutions.”

Beydoun added that the specifics of the plan have not been finalized. However, one of the immediate effects of the meeting is that the pumper license regulations will be eased. Nasser explained that all gas station employees are required to carry that license, which is “inconvenient.”

“Also, there was an agreement that the license department would handle all license issues, not the police,” he said.

Beydoun said he hopes this step will ease the tension between the businesses and police officers.

At the Aug. 31 meeting, Shaker Aoun, chairman of the Tri-County Business Committee, said he is constantly hearing about cases of harassment and discrimination against gas station owners by Detroit Police.

“We are getting pressured by the city,” Aoun said. “We are getting so much pressure from the cops, from the inspectors, from the tax people, from the fire department. We have to organize ourselves because we have no choice but to be together.”

Beydoun said gas station owners still intend to form a lobbying group under the Tri-County Business Committee to look after their interests.

John Roach, the communications director at the mayor’s office, said Duggan periodically meets with gas station owners to discuss public safety and other issues. 

“One of the key reasons the mayor hosts these meetings is so he can hear and address the concerns of business owners,” Roach told The Arab American News in an email. “The mayor and gas station owners agree on the need to improve safety. We are working together to develop a solution that works for our business owners, as well as the City of Detroit and the community.”