strongly deny allegations made by a private investigator hired by Hamtramck they live outside the city At a contentious city council meeting on April 25 a private investigator the city contracted with to probe whether political candidates running this year for council or mayor said that councilmen Abu Musa and Muhith Mahmood live in Warren and Troy said his firm conducted surveillance using GPS trackers on the councilmen's cars and combed through public records and databases to conclude they "were not residing with the city of Hamtramck." Musa and Mahmood both denounced the allegations at the meeting banging on the council's table and raising their voices Musa shouted at the investigator while slamming his hands on the table: "I've been a councilman for more than a decade I disagree for the investigation and I'll see you in the court definitely." Musa added that he hopes the cost of the investigation is not paid for by Hamtramck taxpayers slamming them down: "I'm going to deny the allegations Mahmood told the Free Press later he does have a home in Troy "I never denied that I don't have a house in Troy," Mahmood said April 29 but I always live in Hamtramck." Mahmood said he has "all the documents" to prove it saying he was talking while at his home in Hamtramck Regarding the GPS tracker that the investigator claims shows he lives in Troy he said his children sometimes use his car and so that doesn't reflect that he lives in Troy "So that allegation was completely false," he said Hamtramck Clerk Rana Faraj said the city did not just target the two councilmen but were looking at the residencies of all who had filed to run for elected office in Hamtramck this year "There was a lot of talk about residency and we wanted just to confirm that all residents who apply for any position are in fact residents," Faraj said at the council meeting "We didn't just pick one or two people to do this investigation." More: Hamtramck clerk asks AG Dana Nessel to take action on election fraud allegations City rules require political candidates to sign an affidavit when they run declaring they have been a "bonafide resident" of Hamtramck for at least one year Their Hamtramck home must be the place where they pay taxes "habitually sleep" and keep their personal belongings and conduct daily affairs Their voter registration and driver's license must match the address and the home can't be just a place where they are staying occasionally Faraj said they first did background checks on all the candidates Those who did not meet requirements were disqualified; those who did qualify were then investigated further to ensure they lived in the city Faraj told the Free Press on April 29 that the issue will be settled next month "Council will decide at the next City Council meeting on May 13," Faraj said City officials said it's up to the council to decide on the investigator's claims The debates come as three council seats and the mayor's seat are on the ballot this year in Hamtramck. Mahmood is running for mayor and trying to get on the ballot, while Musa is running for reelection. Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, who was picked by President Donald Trump in March to be ambassador to Kuwait announced on April 22 he is endorsing Adam Alharbi Mahmood may be Alharbi's most formidable challenger Mahmood said he was concerned that the allegations against him came "all (of) a sudden one day before the deadline" for candidates to withdraw their candidacies The deadline to file to run for office was April 22 and the deadline to withdraw was April 25 He said that if people suspected he lived outside of Hamtramck he should have been told earlier about it instead of waiting close to the filing deadlines More: Nessel asks for special prosecutor in Hamtramck voter case due to anti-Muslim bias claims said "the council is technically the judge" in this case and will ultimately decide on the allegations made by the investigator He said the council did not have a quorum during the April 25 meeting to make a decision The two candidates accused are "innocent until proven guilty," Meroueh said Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo HAMTRAMCK – The Hamtramck City Council is expected to vote this month on whether two council members should be removed from the council and the ballot in this year’s city election This decision follows a report from a private investigator hired by the city, which found that council members Muhith Mahmood and Abu Musa do not reside in Hamtramck “How you going to represent a city and you don’t live there That ain’t right,” said Hamtramck resident Anthony Rice The investigator reported at the April 25 council meeting that, based on surveillance, GPS tracking, and public records, Mahmood lives in Troy and Musa lives in Warren. “They should live in Hamtramck to know what’s the problem in Hamtramck,” said Hamtramck resident Husam Al Salami. “It is important to have council members who understand the community and actually live here,” said Hamtramck resident Paul Opalewski. Musa is running for reelection to the council, while Mahmood is aiming to become the mayor of Hamtramck. During last week’s city council meeting, both vehemently denied the allegations regarding their residency. “I’m really frustrated. I’m angry. I’m not going to speak anything. I’m just going to deny the allegations,” Mahmood said. “I am a councilman for more than a decade. I disagree with the investigation, and I will see you in court,” Musa said. Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj said background checks were done on others seeking to be on the ballot. The city council will tackle the issue on May 13. Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Will Jones rejoined the Local 4 News team in February 2023 as a weekend anchor and reporter. He previously worked as a general assignment reporter for the station from 2012 to 2015. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Hamtramck police said a suspect in a shooting that left two teens wounded this week is in custody "The suspect in last night's shooting is currently in custody," Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri said in a Facebook post Tuesday "The firearm associated with the incident is also in police custody." The teens were shot and wounded near the Hamtramck Housing Commission's complex Monday Police were called to the location at about 8:30 p.m for a report of shots fired at the intersection of Circle Drive and Grand Haven within the Colonel Hamtramck Homes They immediately rendered aid until medics could take them to a hospital Altaheri also asked anyone with information about the suspect or the incident to call Hamtramck Police at (313) 800-5281 Hamtramck's number of aggravated assaults has been flat in recent years according to the most recent Michigan State Police crime data Monday's shooting is the latest in Metro Detroit involving teens Last week, Detroit police said they were seeking four minors who are people of interest in a shooting that wounded a 15-year-old on the city's west side Also last week, Detroit police said they were looking for two people wanted in connection with a shooting that wounded a 13-year-old boy on the city's west side On Easter Sunday, three teens were shot during an apparent robbery attempt at a Clinton Township housing complex La Marsa Restaurants has established a prominent presence in Michigan’s culinary landscape by skillfully blending authentic Mediterranean flavors with an unwavering commitment to health and sustainability including their latest addition in Hamtramck La Marsa exemplifies this mission through a meticulously crafted menu that celebrates the diverse culinary traditions of Mediterranean countries The Hamtramck location is particularly noteworthy It is distinguished by its contemporary design featuring warm earth tones and inviting decor that draws inspiration from the sun-drenched landscapes of the Mediterranean The thoughtfully arranged layout promotes a communal dining experience creating an atmosphere that encourages family and friends to gather and revel in the delight of exceptional food This inviting environment isfurther enhanced by a team of well-trained staff committed to providing personalized service ensuring that each dining experience is memorable and unique.Under Farhan Najar’s leadership La Marsa Hamtramck’s Kitchen is a hub of creativity and innovation The extensive menu reflects his passion for exploring new culinary horizons while honoring Mediterranean heritage with traditional dishes the shish Tawook with lemon presents a playful and delicious reinterpretation of juicy Kabob offering diners a vibrant medley of flavors that delights the palate The deboned chicken dish is the restaurant’s ability to seamlessly blendauthenticity with convenience making it easy for guests to indulge in rich flavors without the hassle In response to the local community’s preferences the Hamtramck menu has been thoughtfully fine-tuned to feature generous portions a characteristic that aligns with local dining expectations prepared through slow-cooking in a traditional brick oven until it reaches unparalleled tenderness and flavor exemplifies La Marsa’s commitment to crafting unforgettable meals that serve as the centerpiece for shared gatherings and celebrations for both Hamtramck and Detroit customers La Marsa also boasts an impressive array of dishes catering to vegetarian patrons ensuring that every guest finds something to savor The vegetarian grape leaves are carefully rolled by hand resulting in a creamy dip that perfectly complements the warm made from scratch with a harmonious blend of spices stands out as a popular and flavorful choice forthose seeking plant-based options La Marsa Hamtramck has made significant strides in the catering sector It adeptly accommodates a variety of events from weddings to corporate functions and family celebrations Its catering services feature diverse menu options that can be customized to suit the specific needs and preferences of each client reflecting the flexibility and creativity that La Marsa is renowned for La Marsa in Hamtramck welcomes students from various colleges and universities It provides a comfortable environment with ample seating allowing students to stay until they complete their homework and group projects without feeling rushed La Marsa Restaurants transcend the notion of merely providing a meal; theyoffer a cultural journey that transports diners straight to the heart of the Mediterranean through a masterful blend of flavors It’s a destination where people can relish healthy delicious cuisine while forging lasting memories with loved ones With an ongoing commitment to quality and community engagement La Marsa is poised to remain a cherished dining choice in Michigan for yearsto come Groups combating antisemitism, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the American Jewish Committee (AJC), and StopAntisemitism are urging President Trump to withdraw his nomination of Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib as U.S Ghalib’s nomination came after his endorsement of Trump during the 2024 election, which was part of a significant swing toward Trump among Arab American voters in Michigan His endorsement was an effort to seek a resolution to the Israel-Palestine war within the Trump administration “Amer worked hard to help us secure a historic victory in Michigan,” Trump wrote last week on his social media platform becoming the first Muslim mayor of Hamtramck Under Ghalib's leadership, the Hamtramck City Council passed Resolution 2024-51 a Palestinian-led initiative advocating economic pressure against Israel Hamtramck City Manager Maxwell Garbarino stated The White House had not yet officially submitted Ghalib’s nomination to the Senate on Tuesday afternoon WDET is the official media partner of the 2025 Hamtramck Blowout Wristbands may also be purchased in person for $40 at the festival at participating venues There are 25 participating venues to showcase the hundreds of local acts Bank Suey   |   Black Salt   |   Bumbo’s   |   Cafe 1923   |   Club Coyote   |   Coffeetron   |   Detroit Threads   |   Florian East   |   Fowling Warehouse   |   Ghost Light   |   Hamtramck Public Library   |   HenriettaHaus   |   High Dive   |   Kelly’s   |   New Dodge   |   Outer Limits Lounge   |   Painted Lady Lounge   |   Planet Ant Hall   |   Plav Post 10   |   Polish Sea League   |   Polka Dot Bar   |   Port Bar   |   Sanctuary   |   Small’s   |   Whiskey in the Jar For a festival map and to purchase wristbands in advance, visit the Hamtramck Blowout Website Check back soon for a lineup and schedule announcement WDET is a community service of Wayne State University CONTACT Membership Sponsorship Studio Rentals Technical Support Pitch Us a Story Help/FAQ Other Inquiries Shows Podcasts Schedule Listen Live Contests & Giveaways SUPPORT WDET Membership Leadership Circle Car Donations Business Sponsorship Broadcast Partners Program More » INSIDE WDET About Staff Jobs & Internships Public File FCC Applications (WXYZ) — A Hamtramck driving school on Conant Street is under scrutiny for not meeting requirements set by the Michigan Department of State Al Baraka Driving School's operations were suspended on Friday after inspectors found the registered place of business closed during working hours with boards on the windows and doors It's also alleged that the business failed to maintain records so they couldn't access the building and records That's why they suspended it," Shaker Sadeak the building caught fire back in April 2023 who is also the former owner of the driving school says he sold the business to his partner around 11 years ago "He is not in town right now," Sadeak said As per the complaint documents shared by Sadeak seven violations of the Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act have been listed which include the failure to provide records during the inspection and the business location not being accessible Other violations listed as part of imminent danger to the public allege that the instructors are not certified and the training vehicles are not properly insured Our vehicles are fully insured for the instructor and the students Both our instructors are certified in the state of Michigan," Sadeak said The complaint also accuses the school of teaching teen drivers without proper certification "It's an adult driving school only," Sadeak said "So you don't teach teen drivers?" 7 News Detroit reporter Faraz Javed asked "driving lessons for teens" is listed under the services section you believe the complaint is wrong?" Javed asked But it seems the 16-year-old school may have a reputation for something else "That's the place to go where you will for sure pass They will give you your license," Katie Simmons said Simmons says Al Baraka is the only driving school she attended before getting her driver's license 10 years ago When she heard about the school's suspension And I watched him check everything off like I did everything right," Simmons said We just provide the training in the vehicle," Sadeak said Sadeak says a meeting has been set up next month with the Department of State to iron things out Hamtramck — The Hamtramck city clerk is questioning whether an investigator for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel was removed after looking into allegations of election fraud after uncovering evidence of wrongdoing in the case City Clerk Rana Faraj said she has presented the Attorney General's Office with "numerous reports and evidence" of absentee ballot fraud during the 2023 Hamtramck City Council election that was allegedly committed by an unnamed "council member." But Faraj wrote: "Nothing significant has been done to hold this person accountable." Attorney General Dana Nessel's office said Wednesday it is seeking the appointment of a special prosecutor to review the allegations and evidence "This department investigated these allegations for months and at the conclusion of our initial investigation determined another agency should make the charging decisions," spokesperson Danny Wimmer said Nessel was concerned "that wrongful perceptions of bias were heightened following the criminal charges issued against defendants connected to the pro-Palestinian encampment" at the University of Michigan and because the attorney general "had personally appeared at public protests against the anti-LGBTQ policies of the Hamtramck City Council in 2023," Wimmer said Wayne County Circuit Court records show that on Oct a recommendation for a warrant was sought by Assistant Attorney General Alexandra Peterson to charge a Hamtramck council member with two counts of impersonating another to vote at an election and two charges of inducing an unqualified voter to apply for an absentee ballot a warrant from the same official was sought for another Hamtramck council member to charge the individual with impersonating another to vote at an election absentee ballot tampering and inducing an unqualified voter to apply for an absentee ballot for an alleged July 1 If the charges were to be filed and a conviction occurred on the impersonation charge the defendants would face up to four years in prison Nessel's office has been investigating potential election fraud in Hamtramck tied to the 2023 City Council elections according to Wayne County Circuit Court records did not respond to a request for comment on the clerk's allegations Faraj wrote in her letter to Nessel that video cameras mounted near absentee ballot boxes "captured clear evidence of suspicious activities like multiple instances of large batches of absentee ballots being dropped into boxes at once strongly suggesting a single individual rather than multiple legitimate voters "These incidents were properly documented and turned over to the authorities," Faraj wrote this council member continues to act as though he's above the law I have repeatedly sought help from the state during previous suspicions of his fraudulent activities despite having collected extensive evidence we continue to face silence and inaction." Faraj asked Nessel whether one of her investigators had been removed from the case after finding evidence of fraud "I have now received reports that the investigator assigned to this matter by the Attorney General’s Office has been removed from the investigation not because he has failed to uncover evidence of criminal activity but precisely because he has," Faraj wrote "The members of this office and other city employees that gave interviews and cooperation are left to wonder whether it was all a waste of our small city’s very scarce resources to offer such cooperation." Faraj told The Detroit News she's waiting for Nessel's office to act on her allegations and now it's up to the authorities to step up and ensure accountability," Faraj said in a statement three incumbents were running for reelection against three challengers for three seats on the six-member council Council member Mohammed Hassan got the most votes with 22.1% of the vote and incumbent Mohammed Alsomiri was second finishing 82 votes ahead of fourth-place finisher Lynn Blasey at 15.8% The election ensured Hamtramck remained an all-Muslim council with a Muslim mayor, a distinction it first earned in the 2021 elections is taking so long to investigate the city clerk's fraud allegations but I'm as puzzled as anyone about why this case is just sitting here," Majewski said "It's not like she'd be losing support in Hamtramck over it." The former mayor called the allegations "old news to us in Hamtramck." "It's not just this past election cycle; it's been going on for multiple elections going back probably a decade," said Majewski who was mayor during multiple election fraud scandals that resulted in convictions "It's really undermined confidence in the election process." In 2014, Republican former Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette charged four Hamtramck men with unlawfully returning and possessing absentee ballots in the 2013 primary election. Salim Ahmed, Armani Asad, Russell Mohammed and Mohammed Rahmon pleaded guilty to unlawful handling of absentee ballots. This column has been updated to reflect news developments The good news is that Hamtramck will soon be able to elect a new mayor The bad news is that Mayor Amer Ghalib been tapped by his buddy Ghalib, mayor of Hamtramck since 2022, has shown little ability to adequately represent the interests of his own community. the soon-to-be former mayor will represent even more Americans There’s not a whole lot of difficult diplomatic work to be done with Kuwait ally (though that may mean less these days if you ask Canada and Ukraine) It’s a cushy gig that will hopefully turn Ghalib away from local politics for good A Muslim immigrant from Yemen who became the first non-Polish mayor in the history of Hamtramck Ghalib could have been an inspiring figure to local Arab Americans who relish seeing their own rising to prominent leadership positions challenging stereotypes and serving with honor he became an embarrassing symbol of homophobia quid-pro-quo politics and blind Trump worship who leads the town with the heaviest concentration of immigrants in the U.S. is perhaps best known for endorsing Trump during last year’s presidential race days after the Republican demagogue tried to stoke the flames of xenophobic frenzy by declaring “They’re eating the pets!” on the debate stage The endorsement came as many in Michigan’s Arab and Muslim communities were desperately seeking an end to the bombardment of Gaza But Ghalib made no mention of Gaza when he endorsed Trump What he did mention was the “gay agenda.” Ghalib supported a boisterous movement against books that arose in 2022 targeting school libraries over primarily LGBTQ-focused content devolved into reprehensible anti-LGBTQ+ rallies that accomplished little beyond exacerbating homophobic stereotypes and animosity toward Arab and Muslim communities Ghalib could have helped turn the dustup into a rational conversation about library curation diversity and parental involvement in education he used the divisive issue to his advantage courting unsavory electoral strategists and building political capital he’d later leverage into a job in the Trump administration Many Republican candidates seized on the book-banning rallies making unprecedented overtures to Arab American voters who peddled the same kind of anti-gay rhetoric before each losing their respective races for governor For Ghalib, who later backed and enforced a ban of the LGBTQ+ flag on Hamtramck property, the visits from Trump-aligned figures kept coming. He met twice in 2023 with Trump’s former national security advisor Michael Flynn, who once likened Islam to “a malignant cancer.” The last thing that city needs is a president bent on mass deportation cultural homogeny and regressive tax policy – or a mayor who cheers him on Add to that a reputation for hostility to LGBTQ+ Americans and you’ve got enough evidence of bad leadership to justify a plain unapologetic reaction to Ghalib’s ambassador appointment: Update: The same day this column published Trump appointed another local mayor who endorsed him during the presidential race While Bazzi, a Lebanese immigrant, has not engaged in the type of anti-gay policy and rhetoric that Ghalib seems to thrive on, he has embraced Trump's anti-immigrant falsehoods, saying "illegals" are "committing atrocities against the American people," ignoring the reality that undocumented immigrants, as a group, commit fewer crimes than American citizens Khalil AlHajal is deputy editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters (WXYZ) — Two teenagers were shot in Hamtramck Monday night The shooting happened in the area of Dyar Street and Caniff Street Police said one of the victims is a teenage girl who was shot in the head Details about the second victim have not yet been released We're told that both shooting victims are in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery We're told that the shooting happened after some sort of dispute and that authorities have strong leads on the alleged shooter but no arrest has been made as of Tuesday morning Police say there is no threat to the community at this time “We have good relations with the community here, everyone here, from the elders, the young,” Hamtramck Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri said Just at this location — we had a turkey giveaway this situation does not represent the entire community to apprehend this individual and send a strong message of stop the violence stop the cycle of violence.”Authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward 7 News Detroit saw a vehicle with bullet holes near the scene Police said the shooting is believed to have stemmed from a dispute. While a suspect has been identified, the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hamtramck Police Department at 313-800-5281. Dane Kelly is an Oreo enthusiast and producer who has spent the last seven years covering Michigan news and stories. Two teens were shot and wounded near the Hamtramck Housing Commission's complex Monday night Hamtramck Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri said in a Facebook post early Tuesday The Hamtramck Housing Commission provides low-income housing on Dequindre Road near Interstate 75 "We appreciate the community’s help in identifying the suspect who are currently in stable condition," he said in the post "No officers were injured and there is no threat to the community at this time." The chief said in another post that the shooting appeared to stem from a dispute and investigators have strong leads on the suspected shooter this situation does not represent the entire community," the chief wrote in the post Altaheri said officers were called to the scene of the shooting at about 8:30 p.m and immediately rendered aid until medics could take them to a hospital He said investigators recovered multiple shell casings at the scene Detectives have identified a suspect and the investigation is ongoing “Our police department is working diligently to handle the situation and I have full faith in our Police Chief and department to keep our community safe," Max Garbarino Last week, Detroit police said they were seeking four minors who are people of interest in a shooting that wounded a 15-year-old on the city's west side Also last week, Detroit police said they were looking for two people wanted in connection with a shooting that wounded a 13-year-old boy on the city's west side On Easter Sunday, three teen boys were shot during an apparent robbery attempt at a Clinton Township housing complex Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib has announced his reelection bid saying that President Donald Trump supports his campaign for a second term Ghalib confirmed to the Free Press Tuesday he will be running again to lead the city in Michigan that has the highest percentage of immigrants and drew national attention last year after he endorsed Trump Ghalib said that he spoke with Trump on Tuesday discussing foreign policy issues related to the Middle East and Ukraine "He supports me taking a dual role here and there," Ghalib told the Free Press Ghalib said last month at a city council meeting there's a "possible appointment by the president," but "I'm not sure yet." If Ghalib did leave Hamtramck to accept a job with the administration he would be replaced by Mayor Pro Tem Khalil Refai The city council voted last month for Refai to replace Councilman Abu Musa as mayor pro tem Ghalib, 45, defeated Mayor Karen Majewski in November 2021 with 68% of the vote becoming the first non-Polish resident to be mayor of Hamtramck Ghalib galvanized support in the city's growing Yemeni American and Bangladeshi American communities There doesn't appear to be any mayoral challengers yet who have announced their candidacies or filed campaign finance reports with the county The most recent campaign filing with Wayne County for Ghalib shows his campaign committee had a $212 balance said Tuesday he's not running for mayor because he's busy at work with a new position persuading Bangladeshi Americans to vote for her "We also discussed foreign policy and agreed that peace in the Middle East and Ukraine is our common ultimate goal and he emphasized on the importance of accomplishing that goal in a fair and peaceful way I thanked the President for his call and for his support." Ghalib said earlier that he continues to support Trump despite his recent remarks calling for Palestinians to be moved from Gaza even though he disagrees with removing Palestinians that President Trump and I have some differences and we do not agree on everything," Ghalib wrote in a statement on Feb "This was the first sentence of my endorsement and he posted it on his Truth Social page I also asked people in my endorsement to have realistic expectations and goals one of them is that the United States foreign policy will not change much and its commitment to support Israel will not change!" Ghalib added that he has no regrets supporting Trump "I disagree with the president on the idea of evacuating the indigenous people of Gaza from their homeland but this idea was on the table during the 15 months war but President Trump did stop and delivered his promise of ceasefire," Ghalib said "I don’t regret supporting him in the election." Ghalib has been an outspoken supporter of Palestinians over the years, supporting the renaming last year of a street in Hamtramck as Palestine Avenue More: Arab Americans in Michigan slam Trump's Gaza plans, but also criticize Democrats saying he has mandated "No flags on government buildings other than the U.S flag," called for an "Immediate Ceasefire and peace in the Middle East," and for "no gender ideology promotion and sexually explicit materials allowed in our schools Federal government recognizes M and F sexes only." The mayoral position in Hamtramck is considered a part-time position with the city manager running many of its daily operations The salary is 4% of the salary of the Michigan governor with the top two candidates advancing to the November election Contact Niraj Warikoo:nwarikoo@freepress.com HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – Police said two teens were hospitalized following a shooting near a Hamtramck housing complex. Officials say they are investigating the shooting, which occurred on Monday (April 28) night on Circle Drive between Sefridge Street and Oklahoma Street. Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Details about the victims’ conditions have not yet been released, and police have not disclosed any information regarding potential suspects. This is a breaking news story, and updates will be posted as they become available. Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service. In a letter to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel a city official in Hamtramck who oversees elections is accusing a councilman of voter fraud alleging that cameras have "captured clear evidence of suspicious activities" involving absentee ballots Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj is asking Nessel "to take action" in the attorney general's investigation into alleged voting irregularities in the city saying in her March 12 letter that Councilman Mohammed Hassan "continues to act as though he's above the law openly bragging that no one can touch him." The claims of voting irregularities involve the 2023 elections when three city council seats in Hamtramck were on the ballot Wayne County Court records show an assistant attorney general under Nessel submitted a case last year against Hassan involving violations of election laws: two charges of absentee ballot tampering and two charges of impersonating another to vote at an election The state attorney general's office also filed a case involving election law against another Hamtramck councilman Muhtasin Sadman: a charge of impersonating another to vote at an election and two charges of inducing unqualified voter to apply for absentee ballot The court records show there was a recommendation for a warrant on Oct The dates of the alleged incidents listed in the records were on Sept Both were running for election that year and won council seats The records also show election charges involving another Hamtramck man who's not an elected official It's unclear what the current status is of those cases A spokeswoman for Nessel said no charges have been filed yet by their office [ STAY UP TO DATE:Sign up for our Daily Briefing newsletter today to get the Free Press in your inbox "The Department of Attorney General investigated the underlying facts and its special agents have submitted that warrant for a prosecutorial review but no decisions or charges have been filed," Kimberly Bush director of Nessel's Office of Public Information and Education "Decisions" regarding charges "have yet to be made," Bush added A spokesperson for Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said this case is being handled by the state since their office does not handle election cases elected in 2023 with the support of Hassan said the allegations listed in the court records are "all fake." "I haven't been charged," Sadman told the Free Press Sadman claims a former candidate or councilman made "a conspiracy to" give us a "bad reputation," adding that "I believe in the justice in this country and I believe that I will get real justice." Faraj started by writing: "I’m writing to formally express my frustration and deep concern about the ongoing election integrity issues here in Hamtramck specifically involving a current City Council member who has repeatedly been accused of election fraud including Michigan State Police and the Attorney General’s Office nothing significant has been done to hold this person accountable." Faraj did not mention Hassan's name in the letter but confirmed to the Free Press it was referencing Hassan it’s my responsibility to address issues that affect our community," Faraj told the Free Press in a statement "The letter to the Attorney General’s office was sent in that capacity I remain committed to transparency and serving Hamtramck with integrity." Faraj expressed concern that Nessel has not taken action alleging the state investigator assigned to the case has been removed but precisely because he has," Faraj said in the letter said this week their office has not received a copy of Faraj's letter and did not comment further on her allegations Faraj said the 2022 ballot proposal approved by voters that enhances security led to cameras at City Hall that monitor activity outside absentee ballot drop boxes "Those cameras have done exactly what they were intended to do: they've captured clear evidence of suspicious activities strongly suggesting a single individual rather than multiple legitimate voters," she wrote "These incidents were properly documented and turned over to the authorities Faraj said she's worried that voting irregularities may happen again this year. Three council seats are up for grabs and also the mayor's position. Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, named by President Donald Trump to be ambassador to Kuwait, may step down if he's confirmed by the U.S Ghalib did not return an email seeking comment for this article Hamtramck mayor: Donald Trump picks Amer Ghalib for ambassador to Kuwait She suspects that politics is the reason why charges have not yet been filed "I really applaud the city clerk for taking this step which is pretty unprecedented," Majewski said "She uses the kind of strong language that folks around Hamtramck have been using for a long time in discussing this." Folks in the city and folks in City Hall have been interviewed I have to think that there are political reasons for that A lot of people in Hamtramck are waiting .. and more impatiently now that the city clerk has been brave enough to make this public statement." Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo Below is the full copy of the letter Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj sent this month to Attorney General Dana Nessel: Hamtramck city officials said they are holding off on deciding whether to place the names of two councilmen seeking re-election on the ballot after a background check revealed the politicians allegedly live elsewhere The delay comes after City Clerk Rana Faraj said she planned to submit the names of candidates who will appear on the November ballot to the Wayne County Clerk's Office by a deadline of 4 p.m But Hamtramck City Manager Max Garbarino said officials will tackle the subject at the next city council meeting He said the city needs additional time to wade through several legal concerns after a private investigator said council members Muhith Mahmood and Abu Musa live at residences in other cities in suburban Detroit "Not only do we have a question of should they be on the ballot based on what this private investigator says but also should they even be able to continue on council?" A spokesperson for the Wayne County Clerk's Office did not immediately return a call seeking comment Faraj initially said she needed to make a decision by 4 p.m regarding the council members' candidacies during a noon emergency meeting of the council on Friday said the meeting was called to discuss a private investigator's report that Mahmood and Musa Meroueh said that because three city councilmen were unable to attend the meeting the seven-member panel did not have a quorum and could take no action He added that the issue would have to be decided at a full city council meeting and Councilman Muhtasin Sadman were in attendance a representative from the private investigations company read a condensed version of the report He said detectives surveilled the candidates The investigators said they found Musa lives at a home in Warren both Mahmood and Musa denied the accusations that they live in other cities and it has humiliated me in front of my community and the people who love me and voted for me They questioned the timing of the meeting and the release of the report Meroueh explained that a background check of every candidate for a city office was started by a private investigations firm the day after each submitted an application to run candidates are required to sign an affidavit swearing that they are Hamtramck residents He said it took time for the firm to compile all of the information into a report to give to the city clerk's office Mahmood tossed papers in front of him around Musa tore up a sheet of paper and banged on the table A couple of dozen residents and supporters attended the meeting and spoke Among them was Dearborn resident and Republican activist Hassan Aoun who said he was removed from Dearborn's ballot Aoun warned Hamtramck officials about potential lawsuits resulting from removing candidates from ballots for the upcoming municipal election "You guys are putting yourselves up for a big lawsuit," he said More: Ambassador nominations mark big moment for Detroit's Arab community. But it's complicated for some Ghalib reiterated the comments of some members of the public that the oral report given to the council on Friday seemed thin and unprofessional Meroueh told the mayor and the council the report was thorough but condensed for the benefit of the meeting He also explained the matter was brought before the council for it to make a decision on next steps and to give the city clerk some direction on her office's submission to the county clerk he said the city plans to reach out to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office for assistance with the issue (WXYZ) — Federal funding granted during the pandemic is being pulled from at least 27 school districts across Michigan The Trump administration announced the COVID-19-related grants would go away on Friday Michigan's State Superintendent Michael Rice said suspending relief funds is anything but good for the future Michigan districts stand to lose $42 million of unspent federal funding according to the Michigan Department of Education Hamtramck Public Schools could lose $7.2 million Pontiac could miss out on $3.3 million and Brighton is at risk of losing $1.2 million an English teacher at Hamtramck’s alternative high school and the president of the Hamtramck Federation of Teachers said the funding has been beneficial to infrastructures upgrades we’ve added air conditioning to all of our buildings that didn’t have air conditioning We upgraded the heating to go along with that and that came with a lot of new vents and also new windows so everything would be more energy efficient," she explained “What the Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and her boss are suggesting is they’re going to claw that money back They’re going to reach into our accounts and pull the money back," she said we are obliged and we’re in the middle of the work that money’s going to come out of the general funds and what general funds are used for are for what you see here — furniture Coral said the funding shift could mean fewer supplies — potentially impacting learning “I don’t know if it will mean a staff reduction a promise was made and now a promise is being broken She has a son in the eighth grade who has special needs and said he takes classes at Grosse Pointe schools through an arrangement with Hamtrack Public Schools the teachers and they’re doing an awesome job for my son,” Dhar said 7 News Detroit reached out to Hamtramck school board President Abdulmalik Algahaim who echoed the funding gap would be filled by the general fund "A change in administrations should not void previous commitments." Secretary of Education needs to rethink her March 28 communication," Rice said President Donald Trump announced Friday evening that Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib will be his next ambassador to Kuwait Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social account which has the highest percentage of residents of Middle Eastern descent among states "I am pleased to announce that Amer Ghalib will be the next United States Ambassador to Kuwait," Trump said Amer worked hard to help us secure a Historic Victory in Michigan I know he will make our Country proud in this new role becoming the first non-Polish mayor in the history of Hamtramck Last month, Ghalib said he was running for reelection as mayor But Ghalib hinted he may be tapped for another role telling the Free Press that Trump "supports me taking a dual role here and there." More: Hamtramck mayor Amer Ghalib announces reelection campaign, says Trump supports him from the Ross University School of Medicine and continues to serve his community as a proud healthcare professional." In 2021, a spokeswoman for the parent company of Ross University said Ghalib did not receive a degree from Ross University School of Medicine It's unclear if Ghalib has since earned a medical degree from the university Messages left with officials at the university were not immediately returned Friday Ghalib did not return a voicemail seeking comment Nominations for ambassador require Senate confirmation the next mayor of the city would be Hamtramck Mayor Pro Tem Khalil Refai The City Council voted in January for Refai to replace Councilman Abu Musa as mayor pro tem More: LGBTQ and faith communities struggle for unity in Dearborn, Hamtramck according to the conservative Middle East Forum and its allies invaded Iraq the following year to free Kuwait from Hussein's rule Hamtramck has the highest percentage of immigrants among all cities in Michigan many of them with roots in Yemen and Bangladesh Ghalib has been courted by Republican leaders in Michigan as well with State House Speaker Matt Hall and 2022 gubernatorial GOP nominee Tudor Dixon recently meeting with him Trump's pick of Ghalib was praised by Hassan Aoun, a Republican activist in Dearborn who called Ghalib "a dedicated public servant and a strong leader His leadership in Hamtramck has been inspiring." Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com Four of the six members of the Hamtramck City Council are under criminal investigation for conspiracy and election fraud related to the illegal acquisition of absentee ballots This is according to official documents recently released by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office which requested the appointment of a special prosecutor last month  due to the “religious and social sensitivity” of the case The investigation involves Council members Mohammed Hassan in addition to former Council member Nayeem Choudhury A sixth individual added to the investigation is Tyronne Slappey though his connection to the local government of this culturally and racially diverse city remains unclear A petition filed on March 10 by Danielle Hagaman-Clark assistant attorney general and head of the Criminal Investigations Division accuses the six individuals of “conspiring to obtain unmarked absentee ballots signed by newly naturalized citizens then filling them out with their own candidate choices” during the 2023 City Council election The petition also states that some suspects “paid money for votes and coerced others to claim residence at addresses they did not actually live in” to sway election outcomes While some of the accused Council members have denied the allegations others declined to comment during phone interviews with local newspapers In the final round of the Hamtramck City Council elections in November 2023 Bangladeshi American Mohammed Hassan led the race with 22 percent of the vote followed by Yemeni American Mohammed Al-Somiri Bangladeshi American Muhtasin Sadman narrowly beat his opponent placed fifth with 15.3 percent of the vote The Michigan Attorney General’s Office justified its request for a special prosecutor by citing the “political and religious sensitivity” of the case — particularly given previous criticism of Attorney General Dana Nessel for opposing Council decisions related to LGBTQ+ issues and for filing charges against pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Michigan last fall The Hamtramck City Council is composed entirely of Muslim members of Yemeni and Bangladeshi descent who chairs the Council under the city charter the Council unanimously adopted a resolution to divest from Israel and boycott products from companies that support the Israeli state which it accused of practicing apartheid and committing ethnic cleansing against Palestinians in the occupied territories In her petition seeking the appointment of a special prosecutor Hagaman-Clark rejected claims that the legal proceedings were driven by anti-Muslim or anti-Arab bias “Critics — though unjustifiably — have claimed these prosecutions stem from bias against Muslims and/or individuals of Arab descent,” she wrote spokesperson for Attorney General Nessel’s office confirmed that the case was referred to the FBI in December This prompted Nessel to formally petition in March for the appointment of a special prosecutor the Attorney General’s Office requested arrest warrants in October for Mohammed Hassan and Muhtasin Sadman on charges related to identity fraud and ballot tampering no criminal charges have yet been filed against them Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj stated in a March 12 letter to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office that “video evidence shows individuals depositing large bundles of absentee ballots into drop boxes all at once” raising concerns about the integrity of the election process This case emerges as the April 22 deadline approaches for submitting candidacy applications for the upcoming Hamtramck City Council elections which will include three open four-year seats and the mayoral race Muslims make up more than two-thirds of the city’s nearly 28,000 residents As the deadline for the mayoral and City Council seats approaches the political landscape in Hamtramck is shifting Mayor Ghalib has been nominated by President Trump for a U.S which could leave a temporary vacancy in the mayor’s office While Hamtramck’s Council positions are officially nonpartisan some members have shown clear support for Democratic candidates particularly in the context of the 2024 presidential election Both Hassan and Alsomiri backed Kamala Harris while Musa and Sadman were seen with Ghalib and others at Trump’s inauguration in Washington with the community watching closely as the investigation unfolds and the election looms Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" views and interviews from the Arab world and the Arab American community.. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" 1 (313) 582 - 4888 info@arabamericannews.com © 2025 The Arab American News views and interviews from the Arab world and the Arab American Community on Thursday said it's temporarily cutting approximately 200 jobs at its Factory Zero Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center as the electric vehicle market hits a bumpier road than expected but to market conditions for purchases of the GMC Hummer EV pickup and SUV and Sierra EV truck Chevrolet Silverado EV truck and Cadillac Escalade IQ EV SUV that the plant produces GM nearly doubled its EV sales year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025 But as the availability of new vehicles with various powertrains improved post-pandemic sales of EVs have missed industry expectations revealing consumer hesitation around affordability Those challenges have been augmented with President Donald Trump pausing federal funding for charging stations directing his administration to reevaluate electrified vehicle subsidies and instituting 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and certain parts that could increase all vehicle costs "Factory ZERO will adjust production to align with market dynamics," Kelly said in a statement "Impacted employees will be placed on a temporary layoff and may be eligible for subpay and benefits in accordance with the GM-UAW national contract." The job cuts are only the latest related to rollbacks in EV predictions GM cut a third shift at its Ramos Arizpe manufacturing plant in Mexico in accordance with Honda Motor Co Ltd.'s decision to slow production of the all-electric Prologue SUV made its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn that assembles the F-150 Lightning truck a one-shift operation last year and it nixed plans for an all-electric three-row SUV in its Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario Stellantis NV also began idling its Windsor and Toluca assembly plants in Ontario and Mexico Those plants build the all-electric Jeep Wagoneer S SUV and Dodge Charger Daytona muscle car as well as gas-powered Jeep Cherokee crossovers and Chrysler Pacifica minivans GM said it would increase production at its Fort Wayne Assembly plant in Indiana Cadillac this week said the XT6 will end production at the end of the year in Spring Hill The luxury brand has introduced a series of new EVs where 55% of the residents are of Middle Eastern descent Trump won with 42.48% of the vote over Vice President Kamala Harris provided to the Free Press from City Clerk George Darany Voter turnout in Dearborn was smaller compared to 2020 where 39% of the residents are of Middle Eastern descent Biden received 68.8% in Dearborn while Trump received 29.9% Muslim voters interviewed Tuesday at polling sites said they were disappointed with the Biden administration's support for Israel's attacks and also preferred Trump's views on economics "We have to fix our problems here in America," Nagi Almudhegi You want to take care of your children first before you go and take care of your neighbors and somebody overseas or abroad The leaders of the United States have to take care of the citizens of the United States Why are we worried about every single problem in the world when we have so many systemic issues here in the U.S.?" where Lebanese Americans make up the largest group among its Arab population there has been outrage in recent weeks over Israel's attacks in Lebanon that have led to deaths and displacement affecting many families in Dearborn Mosques were packed in recent weeks in Dearborn with memorials for the dead More: Trump, Harris vie for Arab American, Muslim votes in Michigan as Yemenis gain spotlight In November 2020, Biden crushed Trump with 88% of the vote in the two precincts in the south end of Dearborn the area Almudhegi was speaking from Tuesday but was expected to win that area in yesterday's election according to precinct results of election day voting The anger towards the Democrats was already seen in the February presidential primary when Biden received only 4% of the vote in the south end while 'Uncommitted' got 91% of the vote Trump also had a substantial increase in support but Harris won the working-class city that has the highest percentage of immigrants among cities in Michigan Harris got 46.2% in Tuesday's election in Hamtramck a significant decrease from Biden's 85% four years ago while Trump got 42.7% and Jill Stein was at 8.96% according to results provided to the Free Press by City Clerk Rana Faraj Mohammed Alam has been a loyal Democrat for decades and active in the party but said he voted for Trump because the "Biden Harris administration failed to take any prompt action" to stop Israel's attacks against Palestinians an immigrant from Bangladesh who spoke Tuesday at Hamtramck High School said he was also disappointed with Biden's policies in Bangladesh is a Democrat but voted for Trump because of tax and economic issues saying he will help manufacturing and workers in Hamtramck "The Muslim community is united in principle against the Biden Harris administration More: Trump meets Arab Americans in Dearborn, vows to bring peace in Middle East Ghalib had strongly urged his followers to support Trump writing in a statement Tuesday: "Whoever loves it’s an opportunity for our community to advance to the top But three members of the Hamtramck city council holding a car rally and gathering in support of Harris on Oct the same day Trump held a rally in Novi in which he brought out Muslim leaders on stage with him The overthrow this summer of Prime Minister Hasina in Bangladesh who was often criticized by Biden officials also may have played a role in helping Harris eke out a victory in Hamtramck and some other Bangladeshi American voters had opposed Hasina The Biden administration strongly supported the new government in Bangladesh led by Muhammad Yunus that opposed Hasina Another city councilman of Bangladeshi descent The three mayors with the highest percentage of Arab Americans — Dearborn Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck — did not endorse Harris Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud did not endorse any candidate Ghalib backed Trump and Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi endorsed Trump Ghalib and Bazzi spoke at Trump's last campaign rally Monday night in Grand Rapids 39% and Douglas Marsh of the Green Party got 15% Contact Niraj Warikoo:nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo Discover unique arts and culture events in metro Detroit happening March 20–27 This weekend in metro Detroit is a musical takeover on many fronts, from the eagerly anticipated (and WDET supported) Hamtramck Blowout to celebrating musical legends like The Beatles and The Spinners a family-friendly parade of devilry is overtaking the Cass Corridor to welcome spring alongside a Detroit cryptid Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, is underway. Take your celebration of color, love, and spring to new heights at the Holi Color Fest at the Exodus Rooftop this Saturday March 22 Tickets are for entry only and start at $25 Great music has longevity, and that can be seen in two special performances happening this weekend. The touring show “Rain: A Beatles Tribute” will be making its Detroit stop at the Fox Theatre this Friday Tickets are still available and start at $25 The second big-time musical group being showcased is a Motown favorite: The Spinners. The renowned group will be performing at the Andiamo Celebrity Showroom this Saturday The Marche du Nain Rouge takes a little red creature of mishap prominent in Detroit’s local legend and makes him a focal point for a spring celebration of mischief and revelry This year’s Marche du Nain Rogue is on Sunday The celebration will kickoff with musical performances at the intersection of Canfield and Second he’ll lead crowds in a procession down to the Masonic Temple which will host an afterparty from around 2:30 p.m Organizers encourage all attendees to show up loud and Detroit-proud in costumes, prepared to participate in a parade with good humor and high energy. Read more about the event and parking at the Marche Du Nain Rouge website WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today Give now » President Donald Trump has picked Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib announced his selection Friday night of Ghalib on social media Amer worked hard to help us secure a historic victory in Michigan," Trump wrote on the platform Truth Social Ghalib, who is Muslim and a Yemeni immigrant, endorsed Trump in September as the Republican presidential nominee sought votes from Arab Americans in the battleground state of Michigan Ghalib said Trump's goal was "to end the chaos in the Middle East and elsewhere." Trump campaigned with Ghalib in Hamtramck on Oct. 18 But the endorsement didn't result in the Republican winning the Wayne County community that has elected an all-Muslim mayor and City Council Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris won the predominantly Muslim American city 46.2%-42.7% over Trump with Green Party candidate Jill Stein getting 9% Ghalib announced he would seek a second term as the city's mayor "I’ll continue to serve my city and my community with sincerity through this position and through other potential prestigious future positions," Ghalib wrote on Facebook Trump described Ghalib as someone who serves "his community as a proud healthcare professional." Ghalib was among four Hamtramck city officials who used $9,662 in taxpayer funds to travel to Washington, D.C., for Trump's second presidential inauguration in January, according to financial records previously obtained by The Detroit News Ghalib said he chose to go to "strengthen the relationship with the president and his team in hope that we use the channel of communication with the white house to bring resources for our city." one of which I just received a call yesterday from President Trump and there is a possibility that I will be appointed in his administration and I will use my position to continue to serve my community," Ghalib added in an email to The News Kuwait, located in the Middle East, has a population of about 5 million. The U.S. and Kuwait have enjoyed a long history of friendship and cooperation, according to the U.S. Department of State Former President Donald Trump made a short stop Friday afternoon in Hamtramck where he called it an honor to have the endorsement of Mayor Amer Ghalib who described the GOP nominee's visit to the city as historic was focused on past ruptures in the community with Republicans "We had a history of disconnect and miscommunication with the Republican Party and the party of common sense Now we are here to end that disconnect," he said "And (Trump's) visit today is to show respect and appreciation for our community," Ghalib said he promised to end violent conflict abroad We want peace in the Middle East and we're going to get peace in the Middle East," Trump said The office where Trump spoke featured signs reading "We trust you," one man in attendance shouted at Trump saying Trump hadn't done anything for working families in Detroit and Hamtramck self-serving man who is unfit and unworthy of serving as POTUS," Aiyash said in a social media post on X The visit was one of six to Michigan on Friday between the two presidential candidates: Trump also did a panel in Auburn Hills and hosted a rally in Detroit while Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris held rallies in Grand Rapids Harris criticized Trump and appealed to union workers Trump participated in a town hall and held a speech at Huntington Center in Detroit where an apparent microphone problem left him unable to address the crowd for 18 minutes When Trump's plane touched down in Michigan earlier in the day he predicted a fallout in Arab American support for Harris "Well I don't think they're going to be voting for her because she doesn't know what she's doing," he told reporters Ghalib joined other Arab American local leaders to support a movement to vote uncommitted in Michigan's Democratic presidential primary instead of President Joe Biden to protest his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Biden lost to the uncommitted vote in Hamtramck and other Wayne County cities home to large Arab American and Muslim communities Michigan 2024 Election: GOP election lawsuits swamp Michigan courts ahead of November election The national movement of Democrats mobilizing against the Biden administration's Gaza policies has declined to endorse Harris Trump made brief comments on the latest developments in the war saying the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar makes peace easier "I'm glad that Bibi decided to do what he had to do," Trump told reporters referring to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen Looking for more on Michigan’s elections this year? Check out our voter guide, subscribe to our elections newsletter and always feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor Hamtramck — A chilly drizzle didn't stop Detroiter Kameryn Bartell from continuing a family tradition in honor of her late father Kelvin Bartell Standing in line under her umbrella around the corner from Hamtramck's New Palace Bakery Tuesday morning Bartell said she was picking up a half dozen paczki for her family "My dad always used to take me here on Paczki Day so I like to keep the tradition going," she said he kept the tradition going so I like to try to keep it going for him." Bartell is one of the many visitors Hamtramck will have as part of a greater Fat Tuesday celebration bars and restaurants all over Metro Detroit will mark the start of Lent with Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras parties with Polish food the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is Paczki Day the longest-serving Polish bakery left in Hamtramck crowds will migrate to the city's bars where polka bands rock groups and DJs will entertain as revelers down shots of Jezynowka — or Jezy More: Paczki, king cake, gumbo and more: Celebrating Fat Tuesday in Metro Detroit "It continues a long heritage," said Whiskey in the Jar owner Tom Jankowski His neighborhood watering hole was open by 9 a.m ready for the party crowd with beer koozies and beaded necklaces in the bar and the Kielbasa Kings band ready to get started in the tent around 10:30 a.m "Even though there's been a big demographic change in Hamtramck it's still considered the center of Polish culture in the Metro Detroit area," he said "It's important we keep the tradition alive and have a little reunion for the people to come back home their old classmates and just have a good time." "And of course it precedes our religious holidays While for many Paczki Day in Hamtramck is about tradition and a yearly pilgrimage to the 2.2-square-mile enclave for others it's a new late-winter activity to have fun with and I think it's going to be a tradition now until we're too old to move," said Gail Esker of Commerce Township who was grabbing a piping hot order of sugar-dusted beignets from a food truck outside of Whiskey in the Jar Julie and Keith Snyder of Flint always wanted to get paczki from Hamtramck on Fat Tuesday and finally made the trek Tuesday "We took the day off just to experience it," said Julie Snyder While some were stoking new Fat Tuesday traditions others were doing what they always do on Paczki Day which is dance along to the Polish Muslims The parody rock band plays a mix of oldies punk and classic rock but with a "Weird" Al-esque Polish party twist Even though they were playing for free Tuesday afternoon at Whiskey in the Jar they still packed in the fans for their morning set at Ant Hall on Caniff (admission was a $10 donation to the nonprofit venue) Janet O'Connor was in the house with two dozen friends she traveled with via party bus from Royal Oak "I like this venue because the music is good," said O'Connor She's was only up to one paczek by the time she landed at Ant Hall Tuesday just before midday but last year on Fat Tuesday she said she ate paczki for breakfast "It's a celebration of our Polish heritage One of those bars was likely the PLAV Post #10 a veterans hall where the annual paczki-eating competition took place at noon As the four competitors tried to eat as much fruit- and custard-filled paczki as they could within 10 minutes emcee and contest record holder 10-time champion Matthew Holowicki hyped the crowd up who is retired from this particular contest holds the record with 23 paczki downed during competition another former champ Steve Paljusevic watched After winning in 2023 by eating 12 1/2 paczki Paljusevic decided he was a one-and-done winner because he didn't like the notoriety that went along with winning an eating competition "You get the same three or four questions: How much did you eat adding that he'd rather be known as an indie music fan "I'm going to see Eastside Elvis and maybe the Polish Muslims Darien Worrell of Milford won the PLAV Post competition earning him a name on the Paczki Cup for a fourth time He downed 10 paczki and exited the hall before he could be reached for comment from around the state to a tiny museum in Hamtramck that has held the stories of Ukrainians in Detroit since they began arriving to work at the Dodge plant in 1912 Where do I apologize on behalf of America?’ ” said executive director Olga Liskiwsky Artists fill the gift shop with their artwork painted eggs and beaded clothing now sold to help pay for injured soldiers Detroit quietly holds Ukraine and Ukrainian families close What began as a reading room more than half a century ago has evolved into a space that attracts visitors from around the world A small yellow and blue Ukrainian flag hangs in the window a former congressman from Hamtramck who spent three decades in state and national politics representing Macomb and St Clair counties and parts of Oakland and Sanilac counties grew up in a home where Ukrainian and Polish were spoken My grandfather migrated from Ukraine in 1912 He worked 30 years at the Dodge plant as a fireman,” Bonior said I am devoting the rest of my life to Ukraine very important to step up to be strong for democracy It’s something all our relatives have fought and died for the son of a printer who served in the U.S Air Force from 1968-72 during the Vietnam War plans to return to Ukraine at the end of March for the second time in 13 months [STAY UP TO DATE:  Sign up for our Daily Briefing newsletter today to get the Free Press in your inbox He works aggressively behind the scenes as someone who once held the powerful role of House majority whip the enforcer of political party discipline in Washington a role in which he was preceded by Newt Gingrich Three generations lived together in his childhood home near Holbrook and Lehman These days he writes about Ukraine for the National Catholic Reporter newspaper and the Macomb Daily Polish restaurants in Hamtramck are staffed with Ukrainian servers who moved to Detroit to be safer cleans houses in Royal Oak with his wife to earn money Their employer called the museum to ask whether the couple would be safe during these uncertain times Waves of Ukrainians have settled in metro Detroit since the start of World War I in 1914 so they formed fraternal organizations throughout the country and borrowed money from each other who has run the tiny Ukrainian museum for eight years translates historical books and documents into English and then archives materials the Rosary High School graduate attended Ukrainian language school on Saturdays and went on to attend Harvard summer school to study Ukrainian history and literature She later was certified to teach Ukrainian my parents always instilled in us that we are proud Americans ‘How can we remove intelligence sharing as Putin continues to bomb innocent civilians?’ Every day there’s bombing.” (The Trump administration halted intelligence sharing with Ukraine after the highly publicized Oval Office blowup between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Liskiwsky decided to run the site that is little-known to many outside the Ukrainian community She wanted to invest in preserving her roots rather than pursue a national position despite so many encouraging her to do so Looking through books, she pointed to a picture from 1933 on Woodward Avenue in Detroit. It was a protest led by Ukrainian Americans against the manufactured famine in Ukraine organized by the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin “They were isolating entire areas of Ukrainian peasants who didn’t want to participate in collectivization of their farms The Ukrainians wanted to retain ownership of the land that their families had farmed for generations," she said "Stalin sent brigades of enforcers into the villages to remove all foodstuffs Despite the fact that it was a bumper crop that year people were burying food for their own survival Local families donate photos of their parents and grandparents from the past 100 years Liskiwsky gently paged through documents and images She talks about textiles and war bonds and stamps from all over Ukraine She’s aided by an intern from Mumford High School provided by the Bloomberg Philanthropies the Ukrainian church community has been strong We used to practice our music and dance in the hall.” the Ukrainian National Temple — center of the Ukrainian American community beginning in the 1930s — is now a Spanish Pentecostal church in an original Ukrainian neighborhood off Michigan Avenue and Livernois More: She watched a Russian bomb land near her son — and change their lives Catholics and Jews found refuge in DetroitA majority of the people who came to metro Detroit from Ukraine were from western Ukraine and Byzantine Rite Catholics whose priests could marry Jews were forbidden to live in Russia as part of an ethnic cleansing program," Liskiwsky said But he’s listed in as a citizen of Austro-Hungary and ethnically is Ukrainian the Russian Empire made a great proclamation that Ukraine does not exist and Ukrainian is not a language Ukraine was independent for a brief period after World War I but regained its full sovereignty and territory in 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union The museum displays stamps and war bonds from past and present Families who have lived in Detroit for generations now reach out to try and help They raise money selling donated items and handmade crafts to help pay for medical treatment or surgery for Ukrainian soldiers “People reach out and share that the right side of their son’s right face was blown off and they don’t have money for surgery We’re constantly dealing with these sorts of heartbreaking situations,” Liskiwsky said “All these things are circular,” Bonior said More: Protesters in Detroit and Canada unify across river, rally against Trump presidency is the daughter of parents who fled from Ukraine during World War II with just the clothes on their backs Ukrainian Immaculate Conception High School and then language school on Saturdays She participated in Ukrainian dancing and never spoke English at home “It would have been disrespectful,” Dzul said She and her family have returned to Ukraine to see family and visit gravesites “We are trying to help in every which way we can.” have been to the Polish border to help with medical care and language translation “My niece was a television reporter in Kyiv who fled for her life when the main city was getting shelled,” Christina Dzul said because she speaks four languages and they made her a reporter in Washington Now she’s working for an organization trying to find more than 20,000 children abducted by Russia They have been able to get 200 or 300 back but there are 20,000 who have been taken.” serves on the board of the tiny Ukrainian museum and has traveled overseas to conflict zones “The world has always felt the United States is a supporter of international peace and good deeds,” he said “That whole system is completely falling apart Americans have questioned Trump’s perceived admiration for Putin over Zelenskyy an architect from Bloomfield Hills and professor at Oakland University is a board member at the museum whose parents immigrated as children from Ukraine to Canada and the U.S after spending five years in “displaced persons” camps in Germany awaiting approval for refugee status during World War II “I come from a long lineage of Ukrainian patriots,” Voronovich said “My mother was a school psychologist and my father a chemical engineer My father’s father was a doctor and my other grandfather was a veterinarian They came with nothing but their education and their determination to persevere.”  Ukrainians are not special or unique in any way as far as love “I think Ukraine is representative of basic humanity; people who want to live in freedom.” he can’t help but include details about “the Polish miracle,” the largest refugee migration in 2022-23 since World War II Some 13 million Ukrainians came across the border into Poland taken into homes and convents and monasteries and churches “One of the places we went was Ukrainian Catholic University,” Bonior said during a talk at the St “A lot of the university is made up of women now (while the men are off fighting) It was quite moving to hear what they had to say,” he said and she had a boyfriend fighting on the front line we will be ready to become the best people.’ ” Ukrainians will never give up because its people have an unwavering spirit and an ability to persevere against all odds “We are not afraid because we know that Ukraine is and always will be,” Voronovich said … Ukraine’s fight is the fight for every human being who ever had their identity or freedom threatened Phoebe Wall Howard is a former Detroit Free Press auto reporter who now writes a column on car culture consumer trends and life called “Shifting Gears" on Substack HAMTRAMCK, Mich. (WXYZ) — Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib has been selected to be the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait, President Donald Trump announced on Friday Ghalib endorsed Trump’s presidential campaign in September The two met in person in September during one of Trump’s campaign visits to Michigan Previous coverage: Hamtramck residents react to Mayor Amer Ghalib endorsing Donald Trump in September 2024 became the city’s first Muslim mayor when he was elected in 2021 the city made headlines banning pride flags from being flown on city property which is something that didn't sit well with some liberal voters in the city The city of Hamtramck is known for its large immigrant population Hamtramck is reportedly the first Muslim-majority city in the United States and also made headlines as the first city with an all-Muslim city council Ghalib has been a vocal critic of Israel over its war in Gaza and the Hamtramck City Council had passed a resolution to divest from Israel and to not support companies associated with the country Previous coverage: Amer Ghalib talks with Carolyn Clifford about his endorsement of Trump in September 2024 Ghalib also joined a group of fellow Democrats who signed a letter in February 2024 vowing to vote uncommitted during the primary After expressing frustration with the Biden and Harris administration Ghalib said he believed Trump could help reach a ceasefire.  Trump released a statement about Ghalib’s nomination: Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Nearly a thousand parishioners with ties to Ukraine gathered at a Hamtramck church for services on Easter Sunday celebrating the day Jesus rose from the dead while worrying about the war ravaging their home country Easter Mass at the Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church with every crevice of the church filled with worshippers Easter symbolizes renewal and rebirth for Christians and Catholics of Madison Heights attended the service with his wife and 8-year-old son He said he has been attending services at the church since October 2022 but it is a strange feeling," Kubyk-Bohumil said More: Children of war: Ukrainian refugees at Warren school learning to face uncertainty More: Metro Detroit employers fret as Trump weighs revoking Ukrainians' legal status Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter truce in Ukraine from Saturday morning to midnight Easter Sunday but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Sunday of creating a false appearance of honoring an Easter cease-fire President Donald Trump on Friday said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are “coming to a head” and insisted that neither side is “playing” him in his push to end the grinding three-year war More: Pope Francis emerges from convalescence on Easter, delights crowd with popemobile tour More: Why Metro Detroiters are still learning centuries-old egg-decorating technique the choir director at Immaculate Conception who lives in Shelby Township and serves as the honorary consulate of Ukraine in Detroit said that while he was feeling great due to the Easter holiday Perets remains optimistic that the war will come to an end "I believe things will be all right," Perets said after Sunday's Mass "I think everything is going to be all right He said the church at McDougall Street and Commor Avenue in Hamtramck is packed to its 600-person capacity every Sunday the standing areas beside and behind the pews and stood in the lobby and outside Several dozen parents and children were also in the church's basement who campaigned for Republican Donald Trump last fall used $9,662 in taxpayer funds to travel to Washington for Trump's second presidential inauguration according to financial records obtained by The Detroit News While Hamtramck has a population of about 28,000 people its government sent Ghalib and three members of the city council to the Jan revealed documents released by Hamtramck through a Freedom of Information Act request the three city council members who also attended the inauguration were Abu Musa Ghalib defended the spending for the inauguration and said he had saved the city money by not going to other events and conferences “We were invited as state officials to the inauguration," Ghalib said "So we represent the city when we go there.” Sadman declined to answer questions about the inauguration travel on Tuesday evening referring a reporter to Ghalib's comments at the meeting Musa and Refai didn't respond to requests for comment on Tuesday Refai wrote that the inauguration "was truly unforgettable as we had the opportunity to meet many people from all over the country including those who knew us and know the city we represent." "We are grateful for this unforgettable experience and proud to have been part of this historic moment," Refai wrote in the Facebook post which included photos of the Hamtramck officials inside Capital One Arena Ghalib, who is Muslim and a Yemeni immigrant, endorsed Trump in September as the Republican nominee sought votes from Arab Americans in the battleground state of Michigan More: Hamtramck mayor who backed Trump also called Saddam Hussein a 'martyr' It would have been legal for Ghalib and the city council members to use taxpayer money for the inauguration trip if the travel was focused on city business, said Mark Brewer, a campaign finance lawyer and former chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party. But government employees generally can't use public resources for personal benefit. "The question is did the taxpayers benefit from that expenditure of funds or was it purely a personal benefit," Brewer said. It's unclear what meetings or conversations the Hamtramck officeholders had on their venture to Washington, D.C. According to the financial records obtained by The News, Omar Thabet, a city employee, helped reserve four rooms at a SpringHill Suites in Alexandria, Virginia, for the traveling Hamtramck officials. The two-night hotel stays cost $2,612. Thabet also booked the flights for Ghalib, Musa and Sadman, with the "economy/coach" tickets costing $3,299. Refai submitted his own expense report with a a Jan. 19 flight costing $1,252. Refai's $2,692 expense report featured a $274 payment for "dining, group" on Jan. 20 and $573 for a vehicle rental. Hamtramck City Council members make 2% of the governor's annual salary: about $3,186. All four city officials also received $100 per diems for the inauguration trip, amounting to $1,200 for the entire group. Ghalib was also reimbursed for traveling 44 miles, to and from the airport, and $18 for "dining," according to the records. GMC CarsDue to potential manufacturing defects that can cause engine failure The General Motors logo is displayed at the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant in Hamtramck FileNEW YORK (AP) — General Motors is recalling nearly 600,000 vehicles across its Cadillac due to potential manufacturing defects that can cause engine failure An investigation by GM has found 28,102 complaints or incidents across the U.S related to engine failure of these vehicles between April 2021 and February 2025 including 14,332 reports that alleged loss of propulsion The probe also identified alleged reports of 12 crashes and 12 injuries as well as 42 fires — but noted that causes were not always clear and that "all specifically alleged injuries," for example The Office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is asking for a special prosecutor to take over her investigation into alleged voter fraud in Hamtramck among several city councilmen saying that perceptions she is biased against the councilmen Arabs and Muslims could affect her prosecution Her office said Friday that Nessel and her department don't have any ethnic but are asking for an outside prosecutor to avoid any appearance of bias into the probe of a conspiracy by elected officials to illegally cast ballots they collected from voters and paid money for Nessel's office revealed new details about its probe into ballot fraud in 2023 elections in Hamtramck saying Friday it had asked the FBI to take up the case but it was rebuffed in December by the U.S Attorney's Office of the Eastern District of Michigan which declined to handle the investigation and prosecution An assistant to Nessel sent a letter known as a "petition for appointment of special prosecutor" last month to the Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council an autonomous state agency that heads an office with the Attorney General's Office that handles outside prosecutors confirmed to the Free Press it has received the March 10 letter from Assistant Attorney General and Criminal Bureau Chief Danielle Hagaman-Clark requesting a special prosecutor "The case still has not been assigned as of this morning," Perry said The investigation targets six people, four of them city councilmen and a former city councilman, according to the petition that Nessel's office forwarded Friday to the Free Press. Wayne County records reviewed previously by the Free Press showed only two city councilmen were under investigation It was unclear until Friday why the investigation was at a standstill Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj sent Nessel a letter on March 12 urging her to take action accusing City Councilman Mohammed Hassan of ballot fraud and acting as if he was untouchable Faraj expressed concern that more ballot fraud could occur this year told the Free Press on Friday that no charges have been filed yet and explained why they are requesting a special prosecutor determined another agency should make the charging decisions and manage the potential ensuing prosecutions in order to avoid any perception that personal or institutional biases would impact prosecutorial conduct in these cases," Wimmer said "While our investigation and prosecutorial review were free from personal or institutional biases there had occurred a confluence of events around the time the initial investigation concluded that could create the perception of bias It was a concern of the Attorney General’s that wrongful perceptions of bias were heightened following the criminal charges issued against defendants connected to the pro-Palestinian encampment at (University of Michigan) and in light of the fact that Attorney General Nessel had personally appeared at public protests against anti-LGBTQ policies of the Hamtramck City Council in 2023." one of the city councilmen under investigation Calling Hamtramck "a national embarrassment" at the 2023 rally "Take down the wall you have now built that has made this proud city into a national embarrassment and raise the flag of equality," Nessel said at the Hamtramck park in 2023 "I will continue to fight for you in Lansing but I ask that you treat all your residents with dignity the first LGBTQ+ person to be Michigan's attorney general also pleaded in her 2023 remarks for Muslims and LGBTQ+ people to work together instead of fighting Some Muslims in Michigan have criticized Nessel and other Democratic leaders such as Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan for criticizing Hamtramck over its flag ban while not attacking cities such as Livonia that passed similar bans Livonia is a majority white Christian city while Hamtramck has the highest percentage of immigrants among cities in Michigan It has the only all-Muslim city council in the U.S Some Muslims were also upset over her prosecution of pro-Palestinian protesters in Ann Arbor There's also concern among Arab Americans and Bangladeshi Americans they are being targeted because of a fear over them acquiring political power Hagaman-Clark said they are "investigating a conspiracy to unlawfully obtain access to absentee ballots with the intent to illegally vote the ballots." "conspired to receive unvoted absentee ballots that had been signed by recently naturalized citizens and to then fill in the candidates of their choosing as well as had citizens claim addresses they did not live at in order to gain an advantage in local elections." Hassan was reelected in 2023 and another candidate he supported The six people listed as under investigation in the petition are Hassan Hassan has not returned emails and voicemails left in recent weeks Sadman told the Free Press earlier this year that the claims against him are "all fake." Alsomiri told the Free Press on Friday that he was not involved with any voter fraud "I don't have anything to do" with this case Alsomiri said he has been working as a volunteer for the community for years "Why (would) I go to do something wrong?" he said Choudhury told the Free Press by phone: "I don't have any comment at this moment." Choudhury's business was raided by Michigan State Police in 2017 and his father was stopped and questioned by state troopers on suspicion of voter fraud Local elections in Hamtramck are nonpartisan The city drew national attention last year as Donald Trump actively engaged the Muslim community in Hamtramck holding a rally in the city with Mayor Amer Ghalib and other officials and Muslim leaders Musa and Sadman endorsed Trump while Hassan and Alsomiri endorsed Kamala Harris In her petition requesting a special prosecutor Hagaman-Clark wrote about Nessel and the politics of Hamtramck The letter mistakenly says the five politicians are of Arab descent Four of them are immigrants from Bangladesh "It is undisputed that Attorney General Nessel has been critical of policy positions taken by the Hamtramck City Council (positions that were supported by Suspects 1-5) — even speaking at a rally in June 2023 outside of City Hall during the run-up to the 2023 election," Hagaman-Clark wrote "Attorney General Nessel has also been criticized for her prosecutions of pro-Palestinian protestors at the University of Michigan that these prosecutions were brought due to bias against Muslims and/or people of Arab descent It is likely similar criticisms would be raised if prosecutions were brought here as suspects 1-5 are of Arab descent." Below is the fully copy of the petition letter sent by an assistant to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel requesting a special prosecutor in the investigation of voter fraud allegations in Hamtramck: poses in the riding ring at Willowbrooke Farm in Plymouth with members of the staff and a new class of eager young riders Nine Detroit-area nonprofits will share $1.3 million through the Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus (KIP:D+) grant initiative for implementation-ready projects that range from development of a world-class equestrian center for youth programs to engaging Hamtramck and eastside Detroit communities around environmental health concerns The organizations will spend the next two years implementing the projects shaped by community engagement to improve quality of life in neighborhoods Funded by The Kresge Foundation, KIP:D+ is administered by Co.act Detroit in partnership with Michigan Community Resources (MCR) and Kresge It is a successor to the Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit initiative which was launched in 2014 KIP:D and KIP:D+ have distributed $15 million The new cohort of grantees includes seasoned KIP:D+ grantees building on previous successes First time KIP:D+ grantee A Girl Like Me serves teen moms and families in need across Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. They will use grant funds to create a central resource hub in the Brightmoor community in northwest Detroit. The new grant marks continuous growth for A Girl Like Me — whose founder Tyra Moore was featured last year on The Drew Barrymore Show This is the first grant of this size the organization has received A 2022 KIP:D+ planning grant allowed returning grantee Freedom House Detroit to hire an architecture firm to design restore and transform their current building and grounds Freedom House continues to build upon this work with their new KIP:D+ grant which will fund a new intake center connecting recently arrived refugees and asylum seekers with shelter “The KIP:D+ grant will help Freedom House Detroit build a 4,900 square foot addition to provide space for an official new arrival intake center and family suites to give those seeking humanitarian protection safety and dignity in a welcoming space,” said Elizabeth Vasquez chief executive officer of Freedom House Detroit will use KIP:D+ funds to launch their inaugural Preserving Black Legacy Fellowship This fellowship will support a cohort of Black Detroiters conducting a unique community archiving project on Black Detroit history The fellowship will culminate in a two-day gathering dedicated to Black Detroit storytelling planned for 2026 The decision to focus Kresge’s 2024 grant dollars toward implementation-ready projects arose from a program review led by a new advisory group of residents from across Detroit The process was informed by an analysis by sector partner Data Driven Detroit As a result of advisory group recommendations applicants seeking planning support alone were not considered in this round of grants In addition to funding focused on project implementation this round included an honorarium of $2,000 for the 13 finalists that did not receive grants intended to help offset the operational costs of applying Kresge has funded innovative projects in Detroit through its KIP:D grant initiative since the first grants were made in 2015 a year after the program was announced in 2014 Kresge began a partnership with MCR to advise on program structure and to support KIP:D applicants These cohorts have grown into a community of change agents Kresge transitioned administration of the program to Co.act in 2021 at which time the “Plus” was added to highlight the new collaboration and expansion of the program to include eligibility of projects in Hamtramck and Highland Park The 2024 round of KIP:D+ awards brings the total of grants made to projects and planning efforts to 193 – along with $15 million in total grant support dollars KIP:D broke new ground to demonstrate that Detroit neighborhood residents have the vision and will to make transformative changes – they only need the tools and support,” said Wendy Lewis Jackson managing director of Kresge’s Detroit Program “This latest round of grants reaffirms the importance of residents and their nonprofits as engines of progress to improve quality of life across the city.” The KIP:D+ selection committee is composed of 75% Detroit Selection committee members represent a diverse range of perspectives new American residents and active military or veterans 78% have leaders who identify as BIPOC (Black Indigenous and people of color) and 67% are led by women Organizations include a range of budget sizes with 56% working with annual operating budgets of less than $500,000 per year • A Girl Like Me, Inc. will acquire and transform a property in Detroit’s Brightmoor community into a central resource hub with support programs for teen moms and young girls in need • Black Bottom Archives will debut the year-long Preserving Black Legacy Fellowship training a cohort of seven Black Detroiters in preservation and storytelling techniques to support archival projects that use oral history to share their neighborhood’s story • Class Act Detroit will continue developing the House of Hip-Hop a historic 13,000-square-foot formerly vacant house of worship into a community center and cultural hub for BIPOC youth in Detroit’s Midwest/Tireman neighborhood • Detroit Hamtramck Coalition for Advancing Healthy Environments builds upon previous KIP:D+ work to implement a community engagement plan to study environmental health issues priorities and solutions on the near eastside of Detroit • Detroit Horse Power is preparing to reactivate the demolished Paul Robeson School site in central Detroit into the largest urban equestrian education center in the nation where they will scale impactful youth development programs for the next generation of Detroiters • Freedom House Detroit will continue to develop their East Campus Project including the construction of a New Arrival Intake Center to support recently arrived refugees and asylum seekers • Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation plans to enhance the interior and functionality of their 10-year-old community-based business incubator and co-working space, Grand River WorkPlace • Jefferson Chalmers Farmers Market will construct a welcome center serving as storage for market equipment and to facilitate EBT/SNAP transactions • Urban Neighborhood Initiatives will implement their Green Project Playbook vision which includes goals around stormwater management beautification and workforce development in Detroit’s Springwells neighborhood Learn more about the KIP:D+ initiative in this 2021 video: Cydney Camp is special projects manager for Co.act Detroit Hannah Colborn is director of marketing and digital strategy for Michigan Community Resources (WXYZ) — A city known for its large immigrant population Hamtramck is reportedly the first Muslim-majority city in the United States and also made headlines as the first city with an all Muslim city council Some in the community are now expressing shock that the Democratic mayor is officially endorsing former President Donald Trump Inside one of Hamtramck’s popular coffee shops which is something DePollo says didn't sit well with liberal voters in the city “I think more liberal folks in Hamtramck didn't vote for him in the first place so it probably won't change their minds," DePollo said of the endorsement Zakaria Ghaleb is a 28-year-old Yemeni immigrant who came to Hamtramck 14 years ago He said he won't be voting for either candidate but he remembers when Trump issued a travel ban to seven Muslim-majority countries “In his first term when he (Trump) banned immigration from Yemen so I was surprised he (mayor) was endorsing Trump,” Ghaleb said Related video: Group rebrands as 'Abandon Harris' campaign before election Then you have other residents like Farhan Alnajar a small business owner who has lived in Hamtramck since 2000 he was afraid of a Trump presidency back in 2016 “I even posted a small video on Facebook saying 'If Trump wins I will leave the country.' I'm glad I didn't Alnajar said he likes how Trump is in favor of school of choice and religious freedom when it comes to schools He also supports Trump because he says it will lead to lower taxes "The most important thing is cut the taxes," Alnajar said Our Carolyn Clifford spoke to Ghalib to hear why he’s supporting Trump “There was a major disconnect between us and the Republican Party I think this has to come to an end,” Ghalib said "We have high hopes he will end the chaos in the Middle East like he said.” Watch Carolyn Clifford's interview with Ghalib in the video below: and the Hamtramck City Council passed a resolution to divest from Israel and to not support companies associated with the country Ghalib also joined a group of fellow Democrats who signed a letter in February vowing to vote uncommitted during the primary Ghalib now believes Trump could help reach a ceasefire Ghalib says he's been in contact with Trump campaign officials for weeks and requested a meeting with Trump The two met in person before Trump's rally last week in Flint “We led and supported the uncommitted movement for a reason because of his (Biden's) foreign policy how he is handling the situation in the Middle East," Ghalib said "We asked multiple times that they should change course but nothing happened Kamala Harris is still going in the same path and nothing was addressed While the mayor is throwing his support behind Trump it’s still a guessing game where the rest of the city will stand in November I would be very surprised if he (Trump) wins the election here," DePollo said "I think they will follow Amer Ghalib because they had very good living time under Trump," Alnajar said of Hamtramck citizens “I don't think they should focus more on the international issues; they should focus on their local issues first.” “They are voting Trump because of the domestic policy for here at home,” Ghaleb said of Trump supporters he knows within the Yemeni community the reaction is they were doing good economically under Trump and they're fed up with this open border under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.” Ghalib also said he officially invited Trump to hold a rally in Hamtramck and he even discussed opening a Trump campaign office in the city We reached out to the Michigan Democratic Party Monday afternoon for a response to the endorsement but did not hear back before publication Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” podcast we’re reflecting on some of the stories we’ve reported on at WDET this year that show how special the people and places in our community truly are We also share some news about what’s happening in the community over the holidays Today, we hear some of WDET reporter Nargis Rahman’s interview with fiber artist and educator Fatema Haque who helped realize the first exhibit of Bengali arts and culture at the Hamtramck Historical Museum She spoke about some of the community programming created around the exhibit Do you have a community story we should tell Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org The 21-hour comprehensive course aims to give the public a working knowledge of the police department’s personnel and policies The Hamtramck Police Department is rolling out a new Citizens Police Academy  — a new course for Hamtramck leaders to learn the ins and outs of the department Hamtramck Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri says the 21-hour comprehensive course will give the public a working knowledge of the police department’s personnel and policies “I really think it’s going to really be a bridge between us and the community because the people attending the Citizens Academy are leaders within the community That’s who we’re targeting: it’s the doctors Altaheri says the course consists of a series of classes held once each week for three hours The department hopes to provide tours and ride-alongs as well Altaheri says it’s an effort to build bridges between the department and the public and create events every year where we bring all the different graduates from various years together and we hope that they could be liaisons and be ambassadors for the police department but also for their own community,” he said Altaheri says he hopes youth will also take part in the academy “We also want to make sure we get all groups of people from different walks of life So we’re reaching out to the African American community so we want to make sure we get a diverse group of people,” he said because they also get to know one another.” People who live and work in Hamtramck are encouraged to apply Altaheri says he hopes the course also dispels misconceptions about the police department while creating transparency Classes will be held from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, starting Jan. 29 through March 19. Those interested in participating can register at hamtramckcity.gov or by visiting the department’s Facebook page Applications can also be picked up at the front desk of the Hamtramck Police Department WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today Donate today » Faye Nemer never voted for a Republican for president "I think it was surprising for me to vote for a candidate other than a Democrat," she recalled Nemer is founder and CEO of the MENA American Chamber of Commerce in Dearborn which represents around 3,500 business leaders from Middle Eastern and North African backgrounds She says many felt abandoned by the Biden-Harris administration's support for Israel in the war with Hamas in Gaza hoping that he could bring peace to the region Arab and Muslim voters helped deliver the key swing state of Michigan to President Trump last year some are expressing concern about his rhetoric regarding the Middle East Nemer supports a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and she believes Trump could make his mark by pushing the United States to recognize a Palestinian state lasting peace that President Trump wants to accomplish," she said "And that could be a defining moment for his presidency to finally achieve peace in the Middle East." The U.S. and some key European allies have taken the position that a Palestinian state should be the product of a negotiated solution that includes Israel also voted Republican for the first time last year hoping that Trump would bring peace to the region "But we hope that [he] could accomplish this Trump also made significant gains in nearby Hamtramck, which has an all-Muslim city council and mayor thinks many Arabs and Muslims have increasingly felt alienated from the Democratic Party — on both foreign policy and domestic cultural issues to support the Democratic Party," Ghalib said That attack, he explained, happened in 2023, when Hamtramck's city council voted unanimously during June to ban most flags — including Pride flags — on public property The vote prompted criticism from some Michigan Democrats Ghalib said that served to distance some local Muslims from the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, Republicans reached out, with Trump campaigning in Hamtramck and Dearborn before the election They care about raising their kids the way they want not letting others implement some values that conflict with our values," Ghalib explained "We hear good stuff from his side about this - protecting the next generation and the family values." more than two-thirds of Americans oppose it Last week, Trump posted an apparently AI-generated video of a so-called "Trump Gaza" development which featured an image of Trump sunbathing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Ibrahim Duhaini said it made him regret supporting Trump and he would not have done so if he'd known Trump would post such a message "He didn't say anything like that before," Duhaini said he said that he would strive for peace and justice for the whole region." calls the video "unbecoming" to the president and "destabilizing" to peace talks in the region She said it's also counterproductive to Michigan Republicans' efforts to build on Trump's success in the last election There's various windows of opportunity in swing states that will have contentious elections," she said "And the Republicans were hoping through outreach efforts to be able to continue to garner support of the Arab American voting bloc as well as the Muslim American voting bloc." "Those prospects are most certainly being harmed by this rhetoric," she added Nemer called on Trump to take down the video in a statement to NPR and urged him to issue a statement aimed at reconciling with the Arab and Muslim American community a spokeswoman called Trump a "visionary" and said his plan would "resettle" Palestinians without specifying where they'd be relocated Become an NPR sponsor A Hamtramck community activist was sentenced Friday to probation and community service after he pleaded guilty earlier to a charge of criminal sexual conduct involving a mentally disabled victim. Prosecutors had accused Ibrahim Aljahim of assaulting a student at a charter school in Hamtramck where he was employed who has been active for years in political and community advocacy in metro Detroit pleaded guilty on September 30 to criminal sexual conduct in the second degree with someone who is mentally disabled Two other charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct against a mentally disabled person were dismissed Aljahim's sentence includes 40 hours of community service The terms of his probation include: registering as a Tier 2 sex offender for 25 years; psychological screening and treatment as recommended; sex offender counseling and treatment as recommended; and no contact with the victim Criminal sexual conduct in the second degree carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison told the Free Press: "The conviction in this case is the result of the courage of the victim and the dedicated work of Assistant Prosecutor Kristen Cartwright." Aljahim was originally charged in September 2019. At the time of the incident he was the community liaison at Oakland International Academy's high school in Hamtramck Aljahim had inappropriate sexual contact with an 18-year-old male student on school property during school hours," Worthy's office said at the time in a statement Aljahim was "in a position of authority over the victim," prosecutors said But Worthy appealed and then reissued the charges in March 2022 Aljahim later became a fugitive after he failed to turn himself in Marshals Service arrested him in June of that year in Mississippi Aljahim was known among politicians in metro Detroit he had photos of himself with a range of elected officials and government leaders He has taken part in various rallies and events over the years Contact Niraj Warikoo:nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo Hamtramck residents will be voting on a $2.7 million non-homestead millage to continue operating costs for the Hamtramck School District for 2025-2034 The resolution to adopt the renewal of the operating millage took place at a regular board meeting held between the Hamtramck’s Board of Education says 72 percent of the money will go toward salaries and school services “About $2 million of this goes towards salaries for teachers everybody that works for the district,” he says The proposed millage would replace an existing millage that expires next year taxing non-homestead (business properties) of up to 18 mills Homeowners and renters do not pay the tax Larson-Shidler says if the millage doesn’t pass the district would have to make up $2.7 million some other way He says that represents about 6 percent of the total general fund operations Last year Hamtramck voters did not pass a $900,000 sinking fund millage which would have gone toward school repairs Larson-Shidler says that puts more pressure on the district to have a general fund which can sustain repairs school safety and general operations such as salaries We’re providing education to the kids pays for staff to do all the services that educate our students,” he says Hamtramck is the most populated city in the state with a poverty rate hovering around 38 percent according to Census data The proposed non-homestead millage renewal has provisions to protect tax rollbacks impacted by Michigan’s Headless Amendment which limits property tax increases if there the tax base increases or there are state spendings which burden taxpayers The provision would allow an additional 2 mills to be levied if needed The Hamtramck Public Schools relies on multiple types of funding to operate Hamtramck Public Schools has recently faced decreased student enrollment Larson-Shidler says those declines in part were impacted by the Virtual Academy “I think last year’s enroll decrease had to do with our Virtual Academy… there was a reduction in thatprogram from the prior year So that’s where we saw the student loss was in that area,” he says He says this year student enrollment is currently up by about 150 students This tax levy does not apply to owner occupied homes or to persons renting their homes This proposal would replace and extend the authority of the School District to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mils on all property except principal residences (owner occupied homes) and other property exempt by law which currently expires with the School District’s 2025 tax levy and allow the School District to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills in the event of future Headlee rollbacks of up to 2 mils This authorization will allow the School District tocontinue to receive revenues at the full per pupil foundation allowance Shall the limitation on the total amount of taxes which may be assessed against al property except principal residences and other property exempted by law situated within the School District of the City of Hamtramck be increased in the amount of 20 mils with 18 mils being the maximum allowableannual levy ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) This operating millage fi approved and levied would provide estimated revenues to the School District of $2,748,420 during the2025 calendar year Voters will vote on the millage on November 5 The new millage would be used for 2025-2034 © 2020 YemeniAmerican.com