September 14th, 20172HAMTRAMCK — A councilmember in one of the most diverse cities in the nation is facing a backlash after he blamed a trash problem on immigrant residents.
"There is an issue with trash in Hamtramck," Councilman Ian Perrotta said in an interview on WWJ AM 950. "I think some of it comes from the fact that some of our immigrant...
August 18th, 20170DEARBORN — Many gears work in concert to make a city run. Government bodies like the mayor's office and the City Council, as well as departments like human resources and engineering, and several commissions, all play vital roles in maintaining the high quality services residents expect.
Most Dearbornites, almost half of whom are of...
August 11th, 20170HAMTRAMCK — Even though 33 percent of Hamtramck's residents are Yemeni, only one Yemeni candidate— Mohammad Al-Somiri— made it to the general elections this year.
Yemeni American Councilman Saad Almasmari said the community was hoping educator Akil Al-Halemi would make it through the City Council primary race because of his high...
August 11th, 20170DEARBORN HEIGHTS — On August 8, Dearborn Heights held its municipal primary elections for mayor, City Council, City Clerk and treasurer. Mayor Dan Paletko won first place in the mayoral race, followed by Councilwoman Lisa Hicks-Clayton who came in second. The two candidates will face off in the general election on November 7. Eduardo...
August 11th, 20172DEARBORN — Despite excitement about this year's primary elections, the bustle of many campaign volunteers outside polling locations and significant mayoral races, the average voter turnout in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck was about 22 percent.
Several incumbent Arab American candidates in the three cities secured their...
August 4th, 20170One might think that Dearborn prospers businesswise— mainly as home to Ford Motor Company's world headquarters—yet it doesn't, due to the lack of change in the system and in the administration.
Many businesses have moved out after Dearborn established restrictive ordinances. Business owners began setting up shops in nearby cities...
July 28th, 20171As Dearborn Heights' community and economic landscape transforms to reflect its neighboring city of Dearborn, so must the city's government transform to reflect its constituents.
Over the years, many Arab Americans have steadily moved from Dearborn to Dearborn Heights, a bedroom community whose obstacle to tremendous ambitions has...
July 21st, 20170HAMTRAMCK — When the voters of Hamtramck elected four Muslims to the City Council in 2015, it made headlines nationally and internationally on media outlets like the Washington Post, the New York Daily News, CNN, Fox News and more as a seemingly oxymoronic move in an "American city"— as if those public officials' Islamic faith...
July 14th, 20176HAMTRAMCK — In 2015, Hamtramck became the first city in the United States to elect a Muslim majority to its city council. While many right wing pundits charged that the council would enact Sharia (Islamic law) at its first opportunity, the contrary occurred.
When Acting City Manager Katrina Powell's two and a half year contract...
July 14th, 20170HAMTRAMCK — As Michiganders mull over who to elect or reelect to various government positions, a town with a growing Arab American population is also preparing for the upcoming elections.
Hamtramck is facing shifting demographics, reflecting that of its neighbors, Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. It's also where an unprecedented...
July 14th, 20171DEARBORN — After a lengthy process, the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) endorsed candidates for various positions in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights' for the August 8 primary elections.
For two days, the group interviewed candidates running for mayor and City Council in both cities, and for city clerk in Dearborn....
July 7th, 20170DEARBORN — Two men who attacked City Councilman Mike Sareini and his 66-year-old mother in March are facing two counts each of assault and battery. They are set to appear in court on Aug. 4 before Judge Mark Somers in the 19th District Court in a pretrial settlement conference.
The conference will result in either a deal with Wayne...
June 2nd, 20170DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights city councilman Tom Berry, who originally resigned from his position on May 16, decided to rescind his resignation.
He spoke about his decision to finish the rest of his term at the May 23 council meeting.
"I love this city…," he said. "I decided that maybe resigning today was not the most...
June 2nd, 20171DEARBORN — Amid significant plans to pull the city into the future, forgotten remnants are driving it back to a history paved by segregation.
Explicit disparities between Dearborn's west side and the east side have long been the proverbial elephant in the room.
Michiganders contend that infrastructure conditions vary greatly...
May 19th, 20170DEARBORN — On Tuesday, May 16, Dearborn Heights City Councilman Tom Berry abruptly resigned.
He released a letter to the mayor, city residents, employees and his fellow City Council members, explaining his decision and sincerely expressing the honor he had in working with "loyal and hardworking people" during his tenure.
He said...
April 4th, 20170DEARBORN HEIGHTS ― As the April 25 filing deadline for municipal elections draws near, dozens of candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to compete for available city positions.
Dearborn Heights is facing shifting demographics, reflecting that of its neighbor, Dearborn, where nearly half of the 22 candidates for city...
March 15th, 20170DEARBORN— As Dearborn City Councilman Mike Sareini and his mother left the funeral service for his friend, former Fordson High School principal Imad Fadlallah, at the Islamic Institute of Knowledge on Monday, two men verbally and physically attacked them.
The incident took place about 7:30 p.m.
“I want to make it clear that I...
