September 15th, 20220DEARBORN — Judge Susan Dabaja was appointed a judge of the Wayne County Circuit Court on March 31 by Governor Whitmer, for a partial term that expires on January 1. She celebrated her investiture Monday, Sept. 12 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn.
Dabaja will be running in the November 8 election to retain...
March 31st, 20221DETROIT — On Thursday, Governor Whitmer announced the appointment of Susan Dabaja to the Third Circuit Court of Wayne County for a partial term in order to fill out a vacancy.
Whitmer also announced the appointment of Christopher Blount to that court for a partial term.
A former City Council president in Dearborn, and a former...
December 18th, 20211Dearborn's City Council president-elect is speaking out against the efforts of the outgoing administration to illegally create a position for one of its political appointees in the new city administration.
Dearborn City Councilman Mike Sareini, who is also Council president-elect, stopped by The Arab American News offices to chat with...
December 11th, 20210DEARBORN - Dearborn community members and a City Councilman were alarmed and concerned by a last-minute salaried position created improperly at the 11th hour and given to a political appointee as the city transitions out into a new administration and Council, and is facing a massive budget shortfall.
The “Neighborhood Liaison”...
September 29th, 20211DEARBORN — As the election nears, State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D-Dearborn) has secured several more endorsements for his campaign to become the city's next mayor.
Hammoud's former competitors in the primary election, Tom Tafelski, Jim Parrelly and Council President Susan Dabaja, all have announced their support for him.
“Tom...
July 24th, 20210Campaign finance reports show how much candidates in Dearborn’s mayoral race have received and spent in campaign funds through mid July. Dearborn mayoral candidate Gary Woronchak has compiled a summary of each candidate's finances, with numbers rounded up from reports publicly available.
The information is found on Woronchak’s...
July 1st, 20211DEARBORN — After the third round of catastrophic flooding in less than a decade hit Dearborn this week, city leaders are addressing the issue and calling for an investigation.
As an immediate response to the flooding, Council President Susan Dabaja called for the first of two emergency meetings on Saturday morning.
“We are...
June 26th, 20210WAYNE COUNTY —Flooding after extended rainfall has prompted Governor Whitmer to declare a state of emergency in Wayne County.
The declaration allows the state to address threats to public health and safety related to the heavy rainfall, which resulted in widespread flooding, power outages, flooded roadways, stranded motorists,...
May 26th, 20210LANSING — On Wednesday, Governor Whitmer announced five appointments to the Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs.
Of the five, three are reappointments and two are new appointees, namely Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed of Dearborn Heights and Dearborn’s Amal Berry, senior manager of global...
April 10th, 20211DEARBORN — Council President Susan Dabaja kicked off her mayoral campaign with a fundraiser event at Byblos Banquet Center in Dearborn.
The event, which was held outdoors and observed CDC guidelines with mask requirements and social distancing, brought out supporters from all around the community.
Fellow Council member Leslie...
March 27th, 20211DEARBORN — The Dearborn City Council agreed to table four ordinances pertaining to zoning regulations on medical marijuana grow and sell facilities.
Councilman Mike Sareini said it’s important to recognize the three different acts regarding marijuana in the state. Dearborn opted out of the state's most recent medical and...
March 5th, 20210DEARBORN — Governor Whitmer made an appearance Wednesday at the Miller-Rotunda Bridge in Dearborn with county and city officials.
The visit to the aging bridge highlights the governor’s long-standing promise to inject repair funds into the state’s crumbling roadways and infrastructure.
Whitmer discussed her “Bridge...
February 5th, 20210DEARBORN — Former City Council President Tom Tafelski and financial advisor Jim Parrelly have entered the race for Dearborn mayor, both announcing their intent to run in recent days.
The Dearborn City Clerk’s Office told The Arab American News on Thursday that only Dearborn School Board member Hussein Berry, former Wayne County...
February 1st, 20210DEARBORN — Former State Rep. and Wayne County Commission chairman Gary Woronchak has officially put his name in the running for Dearborn mayor.
Woronchak announced he had filed documents for his candidacy on Monday, Feb. 1, joining State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D-Dearborn), Dearborn Council President Susan Dabaja and Dearborn School...
January 28th, 20210DEARBORN — Mayor Jack O'Reilly, Jr., who has been in office since 2007, has decided he will not be running for reelection this year.
O’Reilly, 72, became mayor in 2007 when former Mayor Michael Guido died of pancreatic cancer. He was elected to full terms in 2009, 2013 and 2017. Prior to his appointment to complete Guido's term,...
December 31st, 20200DEARBORN - With restaurants still being closed to indoor dining due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Dearborn has approved funding to help restaurants.
The funding, set for up to $200,000, authorizes the administration to work out a plan to provide tents, lighting, seating, tables, and heating in public spaces.
On Saturday,...
December 21st, 20200DEARBORN — After seven years on the City Council, Council President Susan Dabaja has announced her candidacy for mayor.
Dabaja is a lifelong Dearborn resident born to immigrant parents in Dearborn’s Southend.
Having grown up in public housing, Dabaja went to Salina Elementary School, and Stout Middle School and graduated from...
December 10th, 20200DETROIT — With panelists giving the green light on the use of the Pfizer vaccine, Wayne County is anticipating delivery of the first round of COVID-19 vaccines.
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans said that it’s currently unknown how many vaccines the county will be given:
“Wayne County is working closely with the state of...
December 10th, 20200DEARBORN — In an attempt to encourage residents to get into the holiday spirit, the Dearborn Downtown Authority has scheduled its third annual Winterfest Market.
On Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., residents are encouraged to come and visit more than 20 different vendors from the community for a fun-filled day of...
October 24th, 20200DEARBORN — Accountability For Dearborn (A4D) has turned to the City Council to address racial segregation in Dearborn while also releasing police records for the last decade.
Having submitted a Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) request almost three months ago, A4D announced that it had finally received the information it had...
DEARBORN — Jill Biden, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, spoke at a voter mobilization event at the popular Shatila Bakery on Warren Avenue on Tuesday. The event was invite-only and not open to the general public due to COVID-19 concerns.
Dearborn was one of four stops Biden made in the state this week, as...
September 18th, 20200DEARBORN — A fundraiser held in Dearborn on Sept. 11 raised more than $10,000 for relief efforts in Lebanon.
The fundraiser was set up by Dearborn City Council President Susan Dabaja, the Dearborn Fire Department and the Dearborn Heights Professional Firefighters, while being hosted by The Amity Foundation, a local non-profit in the...
August 31st, 20200DEARBORN — The Dearborn City Council unanimously passed ordinance No. 20-1680 to provide for several different environmental protections that have also been advocated for by state Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D-Dearborn).
“Nearly five years ago, I met an elderly gentleman in the south end of Dearborn,” Hammoud said. “After a few...
May 1st, 20201On Wednesday, Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly announced on Facebook that he and his wife were dealing with the coronavirus and the city’s many residents were happy to hear that they had recovered from the terrible virus, safe and strong.
“Although I am a public figure, I am someone, like many of you, who values personal and family...
March 16th, 20180DEARBORN – On March 15, a large crowd of community members and local elected officials came out to Byblos Banquet Hall in support of 19th District Court Chief Judge Salem Salamey’s bid to be re-elected to the bench.
Salamey, a father of four, was elected Dearborn’s first Arab American judge in 2012. He is currently running...
January 12th, 20180DEARBORN — During the inauguration ceremony for Dearborn city officials on Jan. 9, Mayor Jack O'Reilly told the audience that Dearborn is a unique community.
"I have to tell you there aren't communities like Dearborn all over the place, said O'Reilly, who was sworn in for his third full term. "There aren't people that come together...
January 5th, 20180Questions:
1. Where did you celebrate?
2. What is your personal New Year's resolution?
3. What are your hopes for the New Year?
Bill Bazzi
Dearborn Heights City Councilman
1. Celebrated with friends and family
2. To be the best I can be, and as I promised residents when I ran for election, to represent them and to do...
December 15th, 20170DEARBORN — Candidates in Dearborn's Nov. 7 municipal elections spent almost $ 1 million during the election, according to the Wayne County Clerk.
Dearbornites voted for a mayor, seven City Council members and a City Clerk.
The final campaign finance reports show that all 18 candidates spent a total of $997,864 out of $1,146,725...
