DETROIT — Rashida Tlaib has been an advocate of reforming scrap metal shops since her first elected term, representing Detroit’s southwest district in the Michigan House of Representatives. But two weeks ago, her battle intensified, after the catalytic converter for her vehicle was stolen and allegedly sold to a local scrap metal shop. 

Tlaib says she was with her children at the riverfront in downtown Detroit on Monday, August 19, when the catalytic converter on her 2012 vehicle was stolen. Later on, she learned from a couple of reliable sources that most stolen catalytic converters in the area end up at a nearby shop, named Southwest Metals, owned by Joe Fawaz, and located just six blocks away from her home. 

Tlaib says that Southwest Metals has earned a bad reputation around Detroit for giving instant cash to people who turn in catalytic converters, or any other types of scrap metals that appear to have been stolen. She says she visited the shop in the following days, in an attempt to get her car part back, but had no luck, even after multiple conversations with Fawaz.

Tlaib, who had rallied in front of scrap metal shops before, held a protest with residents in front of Southwest Metals, just days later, demanding that the shop, along with other local scrap metal shops, stop engaging in illegal activity that would provoke people to steal scrap metal parts for money. 

Tlaib has been an advocate of reforming scrap metal shops since her first elected term, representing Detroit’s southwest district in the Michigan House of Representatives.

She says residents who live near Southwest Metals have complained on numerous occasions over stolen metal that was then turned over to the shop. She alleges that Southwest Metals has had multiple run-ins with the law and are ticketed and cited occasionally by the Detroit Police Department.  

“It’s known as the place to go when you want instant cash. These are all allegations, but I have credible sources that confirm this,” Tlaib says. “DTE recently went there and found very expensive equipment that obviously didn’t belong there. I don’t know why they haven’t been held accountable yet.” 

Tlaib says that she, along with an association of scrap yard owners, is working on a bill, which aims to reform the transactions of scrap metal sales at shops. The bill will require the filing of a detailed reporting form with each purchase, including the name of the employee weighing the scrap metal, the description of the materials, a photograph of the material and a delayed payment to an address. The bill would ban the practice of selling scrap and receiving immediate payment. 

Scrap metal theft doesn’t only appear to be a problem in Detroit, but across the State as well. Michigan is ranked second in the country for insurance claims, based on scrap metal theft. 

The Arab American News made attempts to contact Fawaz on Wednesday, but phone calls were not returned. Fawaz did however have an opportunity to speak with FOX 2 News, regarding his incident with Tlaib last week. He claims that she only launched an attack on his business after he refused to give her a deal on a good “hook-up.” 

Additionally, Fawaz provided audio to the local news station of Tlaib’s husband, allegedly trying to bargain a catalytic converter out of the shop. Tlaib says that her husband was just acting out of concern and trying to get the stolen part back. She adds that there would have been no reason for her to bargain for another catalytic converter, as her car was under warranty. She says she only went to the shop, because it was her right to get her stolen property back.

“Our Arab American community works so hard to run legitimate and ethical businesses in Detroit, and here you have a business running a fraudulent scheme that’s tearing our businesses and neighborhoods apart. I don’t care for someone’s ethnic background, I care about holding businesses accountable and answering to the law,” Tlaib adds.

Residents continued to protest in front of Southwest Metals this week, even without Tlaib’s presence. 

To learn more about her scrap metal theft initiative visit www.facebook.com/stopthetheft.