Dearborn’s Department of Public Health has been awarded a $101,000 grant to advance firearm safety. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services funding supports collaborative efforts to educate gun owners on safe handling and storage. 

Dearborn Mayor Abdulllah Hammoud says firearm injury prevention is a public health and safety priority. 

The city’s health department will distribute firearm safety kits, including gun locks, lockboxes, and educational materials.  Dearborn Chief Public Health Officer Ali Abazeed says the grant supports evidence-based education and access to safety tools. 

Additional headlines for Monday, Dec. 22, 2025

Michigan Chief Medical Executive makes Standing Recommendation regarding children’s vaccines 

Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, made a Standing Recommendation to continue issuing vaccinations on schedule based on recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). 

Bagdasarian shared that public health experts are not in agreement with new federal vaccine recommendations, prompting the announcement. One of the recent changes was dropping the Hepatitis B vaccine at birth and removing the COVID-19 vaccine recommendation for healthy children and pregnant women. 

Bagdasarian’s Standing Recommendation was made with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Immunization. 

She says the recommendation does not supersede clinical judgment. She also asks health care providers to make vaccines accessible by removing barriers for patients. 

Bagdasarian says vaccines keep people safe and potentially save lives. 

EGLE renews license for hazardous waste facility 

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has renewed the license for a hazardous waste treatment and storage facility in Detroit for the next 10 years.

Hazardous Waste Management Facility Operating License to EQ Detroit Inc., which does business as US Ecology Detroit South, was issued the license after regulatory review and a public comment process. Several people strongly opposed the facility because it emits strong odors leading to health concerns like asthma. The facility also has a history of clean air violations. 

EGLE renewed the license, adding new requirements, such as expanding air and groundwater monitoring. The facility must replace six tanks beginning in January 2026 and install odor control equipment by the end of Dec 2027.

Tunnel in southwest Detroit 

The Great Lakes Water Authority has started building a sewage relief system near the Rouge River in Southwest Detroit. Crews will spend at least two years digging a tunnel to carry excess stormwater to an underused retention and treatment center. Chief Operating Officer Navid Mehram says the $87 million project should reduce the risk of flooding and sewage backups during heavy rain. 

“So this is an example where we’re making an investment in our existing system by rerouting some flows, so that we can leverage an existing facility that wasn’t receiving all the flow it can treat.”

Mehram says the project will not increase customers’ sewage bills. He says state and federal funding will help pay for the tunnel. 

New tech firm in town 

Detroit is getting a new high-tech security and AI solution firm, Eccalon. The defense tech company will create 800 new jobs ranging from $25-100 per hour. 

The facility will have manufacturing operations, training programs and an innovation center. 

The company’s headquarters is moving from Maryland to become a part of the tech innovation in Detroit. Eccalon will be located at the Bedrock-owned Icon building at 200 Walker Street. 

Eccalon Chairman and CEO André Gudger says the new headquarters will develop cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing and automation. 

The company hopes to open early next year. 

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A recent study by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) found that 46% of adults aged 45 to 59 reported feeling lonely in 2025, compared to 35% of adults aged 60 and up. 

Heather Nawrocki is Vice President of Fun and Fulfillment at AARP. 

She says there are risk factors for lonely people.

“It’s important to keep an eye out for people around you that you know are spending a lot of time alone. They are going to be at a higher risk than someone who’s not. Mental and physical health challenges are also a big one,” she says.

Nawrocki says people who have physical health challenges may have difficulty getting out of the house to meet people in real life.

She says people who live in lower-income and rural areas also have higher risks for loneliness.

Get on the phone?

People can feel lonelier during the holiday season. 

Nawrocki says the study found adults 45 and older are engaging with fewer people in social settings. 

She says, however, that those who use technology usually have positive outcomes. 

“What the study shows is 6 in 10 really rely on tech, those who are not lonely. And they actually say they have more friends as a result of technology,” she says, although it depends on each person’s individual experience. 

Nawrocki says social health is just as important as mental and physical health to create the happiest, healthiest, longest life possible.

AARP offers 14,000 events online and in person nationwide for people to connect at aarp.org/connect.

Gender disparity

She says men have higher rates of loneliness compared to women.

 “They’re just not getting out of the house as much. They don’t have as many close friends and they’re not joining community organizations, clubs or pursuing interests with others the same way as perhaps they did before,” she says. 

The social interactions one can make doing volunteering, for example, are a great way to combat feelings of isolation.

Nawrocki says it’s important to check on friends and loved ones to rekindle relationships for social health, which also impacts health, happiness, and longevity.

Arab American candidate Abbas Alawieh has announced that he’s running to become the next state senator in District 2. The newly drawn district includes Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and parts of Allen Park and Detroit. 

Alawieh says he is running to uplift people’s voices. 

“I want to become a state senator that wields the power of a movement of people that will come together around this campaign to say, hey, District 2 is here to play.  We’re going to show up with our values, with our leverage, with our people power.” 

Alawieh previously worked on Capitol Hill for U.S. Representatives Andy Levin and Rashida Tlaib. He also served as chief of staff to Congresswoman Cori Bush. 

Alawieh also co-founded the Uncommitted National Movement, which aimed to pressure then Presidential candidate Kamala Harris to address U.S. policy on the war in Gaza. 

Additional headlines from Monday, December 15, 2025

Inaugural Rising Voices Artist & Creatives Cohort

The Asian American civic engagement nonprofit Rising Voices has launched a new project. 

The Rising Voices Artist & Creatives Cohort will sponsor four emerging creatives next year. Each artist will receive $2500 and a mentorship to create pieces for a gallery exhibition in July. The theme will be “Revolution, Resistance & Joy.” 

The deadline to submit an application is Feb. 1. Winning artists will be announced in March, with work time between April and June. 

Dearborn bus safety

The City of Dearborn and the Dearborn Public Schools unveiled a new bus safety program today. The program detects and penalizes drivers who illegally pass school buses.

About 40 million drivers in the U.S. illegally pass bus stops annually, leading to 2,200 violations.

School buses in the city will be equipped with “BusPatrol” technology which uses stop-arm enforcement cameras to record violations and report them to the Dearborn Police Department.

The new features are part of an effort to increase traffic patrols and educate the public about how to keep children safe as they’re getting on and off school buses. 

Hospitals make a call on vaccines

Several Michigan hospital systems reportedly plan to disregard federal recommendations and continue giving infants the hepatitis B vaccine. 

A federal advisory panel said earlier this month that doctors should wait to vaccinate babies against hepatitis B unless their mother tested positive for the disease. 

Health experts warn that will lead to an increase in childhood liver disease. Evidence shows giving newborns the vaccine early is safe and has drastically reduced hepatitis B in kids. 

The Detroit Free Press reports that Corewell, Henry Ford, McLaren, Munson and the University of Michigan health systems will continue to give the vaccine to children within the first day after they are born. 

Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter and Pat Batcheller 

Warming centers

The City of Detroit has opened warming centers to help residents escape the bitter cold. City officials say residents can escape the frigid conditions during the day at Detroit’s recreation centers and public library branches. Overnight shelter is also available. 

Those in need should call the Detroit Housing Resource Help Line for assistance at 866-313-2520 or online at detroitmi.gov. 

People can also go to a Detroit police precinct. 

Weather forecasters say the potentially life-threatening sub-zero wind chills are expected to abate later this week. 

Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter

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Seeking mental health care is complicated for many American Muslims due to cultural expectations and stigma. Oftentimes, Muslims believe troubling issues should be resolved within the family or through an imam.

Mosques around the U.S. are working toward destigmatizing therapy in Muslim communities to make it more accessible.

Danish Hasan, health director at the MY Mental Wellness Clinic in Detroit, says part of that work requires overcoming barriers to access.

“We have a little bit more stigma than some of the other communities,” he says.

When praying isn’t enough

Sabrina Ali is a stay-at-home mother and former teacher who grew up in a South Asian home in Canton, a multicultural suburb of Detroit.

She learned from a young age that she couldn’t talk about all her problems with her immigrant parents.

“It was like they just came from a totally different world… and for them it was like, ‘Well, what do you have to be depressed about? Like, you’re 13, you have a good home, you have a good family, like you have food on the table,’” she says.

Ali says her parents meant well, and suggested she pray more to resolve her internal struggles, “to be more religious, essentially, quote, unquote, whatever, whatever that meant to them,” she shares.

Ali says over the years when she felt distressed, she would pray. But one day, she realized she needed to go to therapy after having recurring nightmares.

So she started going to a free counseling program at the University of Michigan, Dearborn – the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), which offers free counseling services for full-time students. Ali says she learned about the program through her work with student groups on campus.

She says that although Muslims may feel “God is testing them” with a struggle, challenge, or test, it’s also important to take action.

“Maybe God is testing is me, but even my decision, the path towards making the decision to seek professional help, I think, in a way, was also a test, you know, because what is the saying, ‘trust in God, but tie your camel’, right?”

For many young Muslims, accessing CAPS is a private entryway to seek counseling services without having to tell your parents.

Destigmatizing therapy

Many American Muslims have grown up learning going to therapy is shameful and problems should be kept private. When there is conflict, they usually go to an imam first for advice.

Imam Mohamed Maged, resident scholar of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, also known as the ADAMS Center, says he realized 25 years ago some people needed more support.

“Sometimes they ask for us to pray for them, and we do provide that spiritual support, but I realized that some of them really might be suffering from mental health issues and they need somebody to help them,” he says.

To bridge this gap, ADAMS Center opened a Mental Health Program about 13 years ago. The program offers some mental health services inside the mosque, but also contracts to 17 providers through subsided services for 12 sessions.

They also serve the community at large.

Magid says showing people that imams and therapists are working together goes a long way.

“When you tell them this is a partnership between me and a mental health provider, both of us who can help you, they feel relief,” he says.

In partnership with existing community

In California, there are similar services provided at the Maristan clinic. It’s a holistic mental health clinic that is a part of The Muslim Community Center- East Bay, a faith based organization and mosque.

Founder Rania Awaad, a clinical professor of psychiatry at Stanford University, School of Medicine, says mosques are community gathering spaces.

“To have the mental health services is a major pro. It’s built in. It’s within the same institution that they’re already attending and that they trust,” she says.

Awaad says her research shows that many American Muslims want mosques to have mental health centers, while others want counseling services in a stand alone space for more privacy.1

Along with therapy provided by a Muslim therapist, in some cases people can request Islamic psychology, or the integration of faith into therapy.

Religion can provide structure for mental well being

For example, a patient who has obsessive-compulsive disorder exploring an Islamic psychology session might include learning about Islamic regulations for wudu or ablutions as a way to cope with religious compulsions.

“How much time, and how many limits of how much to wash, how many times to pray or redo your prayers,” Awaad explains.

Providers can point to a hadith, or a teaching of the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to draw the point home.

“Bringing in, well here’s the Hadith of the Prophet sallallahu Salam, that says no more than three washings in wudu,” she says.

This concept of having therapists placed inside the mosque is gaining traction.

MY Mental Wellness Clinic

Last year, the Islamic Center of Detroit began offering mental health services through the new program called the MY Mental Wellness Clinic, a youth-led initiative that began in 2016 through psychoeducation workshops.

Last year Hasan welcomed a crowd of state dignitaries and community members during the opening ceremony.

“We’re gathered here today to celebrate a vital initiative that has the power to transform lives in our community, the launch of our new mental health clinic,” he says.

Hasan says the clinic hopes to remove barriers and normalize taking care of ones’ wellbeing. He says the clinic began through youth initiatives to tackle mental health. Now, about half of the patients are the youth.

“The idea with this project is to be visible, to be present, to be accessible in an affordable for those that we serve,” he shares.

The clinic offers free mental health services to area residents, mosque attendees and has branched out to work with local institutions.

Similar clinics can be found around the U.S.

As more people seek therapy, Muslim providers are finding new ways to meet people where they’re at.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services plans to invest $38 million in housing support for Michigan residents recovering from substance abuse disorder. The funding is a part of the allocated Substance Abuse Disorder prevention measures for harm reduction, treatment and recovery services.

The state recently found about 7,500 people left treatment without stable housing. The funding will support about 3,400 recovery housing beds by 2028—a 40% increase.

Michigan will receive $1.8 billion from opioid settlements by the year 2040. Half of the funding will be distributed to the State of Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund while the other half will be distributed to county, city and township governments.  

The Michigan Association of Recovery Residencies survey found that providing recovery housing assistance helped people get and keep a job as part of their road to recovery.  

Additional headlines from Monday, December 8, 2025

Health insurance

There’s about a month left to apply for health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act.

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is reminding Michigan residents to purchase health insurance by Dec. 15 to have coverage by Jan. 1. People who apply after that by Jan. 15 will not get coverage until Feb. 1.

DIFS Director Anita Fox says people should shop around for the most cost-effective plan with the best coverage. People can visit healthcare.gov or call 800-318-2596 for assistance.  

Loneliness on the rise for adults

A recent study by the American Association of Retired Persons or AARP found loneliness among adults 45 years and older increased to about 40%. That’s a 5% increase since 2018.  

Heather Nawrocki is the Vice President of Fun and Fulfillment for AARP. She says people have fewer friends and their social networks are smaller than they used to be. She says men have higher rates of loneliness compared to women. 

“They’re just not getting out of the house as much. They don’t have as many close friends and they’re not joining community organizations, clubs or pursuing interests with others the same way as perhaps they did before.”  

Nawrocki says the study also found people are volunteering less frequently, leading to less social interaction. 

She says it’s important to check on friends and loved ones to rekindle relationships for social health which also impacts health, happiness, and longevity. 

Film Detroit event

Film Detroit is hosting a free film experience this month.

Attendees will learn how to build video production skills, including how to create trailers and teasers. People will also be able to sing karaoke with the Karaoke Kingz.

They will have access to onsite film resources and permit support. The event takes place Dec. 22 from 5-8 p.m. at the Northwest Activities Center located at 18100 Meyers Rd.

Visit detroitmi.gov/filmdetroit for more information.  

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Wayne State University Law School’s Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights received a $350,000 grant to expand a disinformation tool, “VERDAD: Verifying and Exposing Disinformation and Discourse.”

The AI-powered tool monitors U.S.-based ethnic radio stations for disinformation in Latino media.

VERDAD Founder and journalist Martina Guzmán says the tool will expand to all 50 states in multiple languages and also globally.

“Oftentimes, people think there’s going to be like, this commercial that’s complete disinformation. And what happens is on Latino radio stations, on ethnic radio stations, people have talk shows. And on those talk shows, it is often those people that host the talk shows that are spreading disinformation,” she says. 

Guzmán says the tool began monitoring Latino radio stations in battleground states ahead of the 2024 election.

“We felt that the election would be won or lost in those states at the time. And that was the capacity we had that we could do these eight battleground states and maybe a few more,” she says. 

The grant was awarded to the Wayne State University Law School’s Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to expand its reach of languages and locations.

Guzmán says the tool works as a civil rights safeguard to empower voters.

“The tool records 24 hours a day, and once it hears misinformation, right? And it hears it based on hundreds and hundreds of disinformation keywords that we’ve uploaded into its system. And once it hears one of those words, it begins to really focus… it has an analysis component,” she says.

Since the VERDAD tool’s inception last year, more than 320 academics and journalists have registered to use the free tool on Verdad.app to write articles and research trends of LatinX voters.

The tool will add several languages, including Arabic, Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese to inform voters.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says there are now over 1,000 registered doulas in Michigan.

Dawn Shanafelt is the Director of the Division of Maternal & Infant Health for MDHHS. She says that’s twice the number of doulas the state department hoped to register by 2028. 

“Numerous doula trainings were approved by MDHHS and the Doula Advisory Council, as well as the cost for taking those trainings and the time it takes to attend the trainings was also reimbursed through the Doula Initiative,” she says.

Doulas are non-medical trained birthing assistants. 

Shanafelt says birth doulas provide benefits for expectant moms and babies, from reduced birth complications and medical interventions to postpartum care, especially if the care is provided early in the pregnancy.

“Improved mental health, reduced incidences of postpartum mood and anxiety disorder, and then really importantly, overall a satisfying birth experience in labor, birth and postpartum experience,” she says. 

People can choose a birthing assistant doula based on county or specialty through the Doula Registry, which has 700 Medicaid-enrolled doulas.

MDHHS says the state also hopes to improve birthing outcomes for Black and Indigenous families, who have higher mortality and morbidity rates compared to other populations. 

She says the state is hoping to increase the number of doulas in special populations that could benefit from a birthing assistant, including Black, Indigenous, and immigrant populations.

MDHHS says in fiscal year 2026, they will provide, “one Spanish-language training, one Arabic-language training and one Indigenous doula training,” and take on others upon request to The Doula Initiative team. 

Beginning in December, MDHHS will also expand identity options to include Indigenous doulas. 

Packard Plant 

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield announced plans to redevelop the vacant Packard Plant today. The former auto factory near West Grand Boulevard and East Palmer has been empty for more than 60 years and became a symbol of the city’s blight— sometimes attracting outsiders to take pictures of its crumbling walls. 

The city demolished portions of it to make way for new development, including a new 400-thousand square foot manufacturing center. 

Part of the changes include reactivating 28 acres of the former site for a public, private and philanthropic partnership. The changes include adding 42 affordable housing units, Detroit’s first indoor skate park and creative community programming areas. There will also be two acres of indoor and outdoor public spaces. 

The project is estimated at $50 million. The Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation is the nonprofit partner and fiduciary. The project is expected to be completed by 2029. 

Additional headlines for December 1, 2025

December starts cold 

December starts cold with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees below normal this week. The National Weather Service’s winter outlook for southeast Michigan calls for temps close to normal and above-average precipitation. Meteorologist Trent Frey says La Niña, a cool patch of water in the eastern Pacific Ocean, could bring us more rain and snow. 

“It is important to note that every La Niña is unique. So like I said. The odds are kind of tilted towards the wetter signal, and there isn’t really a tilt for temperatures. But since it is unique each season, you know these outcomes aren’t necessarily guaranteed.” 

On average, Metro Detroit gets 45 inches of snow each winter. 29 inches fell last winter. It’s been eight years since we saw above-average snowfall. 

Reporting by Russ McNamara

Detroit teens detained by ICE 

Detroit teens recently hosted a press conference to call for the release of two classmates from Western International High School from ICE detention. The detained teens and two of their parents were picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials last Thursday morning and are now being held in a Texas detention center, reports Chalkbeat Detroit. Students say they are worried about going to school or being outside due to the recent surge of detentions. ICE arrested the four individuals while they were sleeping, despite them having pending asylum cases. Students at the press conference also called on officials to do more to protect students, including having an immigration attorney on retainer at the school to help students. 

Rising Star Scholarship 

An armored vehicle company is offering its “Rising Star” scholarship. The scholarship will support two students pursuing secondary education in engineering or business, finance, or law. It aims to recognize students who demonstrate strong academic performance and leadership skills in engineering and business. Each scholarship is $2500. The scholarship is open to students enrolled full-time in an accredited university in the U.S. or Canada. Students must have a 75 percent average with valid citizenship, residency or study permit requirements and write an essay. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2026. Winners will be announced in March 2026. For more information, visit https://inkasarmored.com/inkas-rising-star-scholarship-program/

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The National Poll on Healthy Aging found many older adults have disabilities. However, they do not identify with being disabled, nor do they request accommodations, in part due to stigma. 

The poll found 19% of adults 50 years old and older have a disability but, they are less likely to ask for accommodations. 

Dr. Michelle Mead is a professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Family Medicine at the University of Michigan.  

She says many older adults look at disabilities as a natural part of aging rather than a disability, and don’t want to be stigmatized. 

“Even though the groups who are 65 and older are more likely to actually have a disability, they were less likely to identify as having one,” she says. 

The survey is part of the National Opinion Research Center, conducted at the University of Chicago for the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation at the University of Michigan. 

Mead says despite older adults not seeking accommodations, half of older adults may legally qualify for accommodations, especially for those who are 65 and up.

 “This is what the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, Section 504, and this other legislation was about doing. It’s about including, providing opportunities, ensuring that a functional limitation, a diagnosis or impairment doesn’t stop people. But the stigma is that it still does,” she explains. 

Mead says older adults face stigma and barriers to living healthy lives.

“The stigma is one built into our society. We have ageism that says it’s bad to get older. That does not value the various skills and strengths that you learn and the different ways of doing things that are required through experience,” she explains.

Clinician support

The survey hopes to educate clinicians on how to serve older adults better.

“Many of the individuals with disabilities, I know, are fantastic problem solvers. They have to be. But unfortunately, the world still isn’t set up to work with, to consider, to involve people with disabilities. So, until that happens, we need to develop workarounds,” she shares.

The University of Michigan Center for Disability Health and Wellness, where Mead is the founding director, created several tip sheets for clinicians to gather relevant information to serve older adults with disabilities.

“I think what I’m hoping to do with this research is to increase awareness about the importance of asking the right questions, developing processes to allow the best care to occur, and making sure that we connect the dots to both reduce healthcare costs and improve lives,” she says. 

The poll surveyed over 3,800 adults 50 and up by phone and online. 

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says there are now more than a thousand registered doulas in Michigan. That includes 700 doulas who take Medicaid.

Doulas are trained non-medical professionals who provide birth assistance, including emotional and physical support, and help families navigate the birthing experience. 

Dawn Shanafelt is the Director of the Division of Maternal & Infant Health for MDHHS. She says the state has surpassed its goal of registering 500 doulas through the Doula Registry by 2028, doubling that number as of last week. 

“What’s next for the program is to continue to support our existing doulas that are part of the registry. So the one thousand plus doulas. And then we are really focusing on enrollment and recruitment of doulas in areas where the number of doulas that are available for families is lower, and then also for special populations.”

Shanafelt says that includes populations that speak a language other than English, Indigenous populations, and teenage parents.  

She says having doula-assisted births reduces birth complications and medical interventions, shortens the duration of labor, and increases breastfeeding support. Babies also tend to have healthier birth weights.  

Additional headlines for Monday, November 24, 2025

MDHHS launches more On-the-Go food pantries

MDHHS has added a mobile food distribution site in Hamtramck, partnering with Forgotten Harvest.

The On-the-Go popup pantry will provide food pick-up for people who schedule appointments. There are options for fresh produce and grains and culturally appropriate foods such as halal or kosher options.

MDHHS says they will select and offer similar mobile food pantry options in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties every month. The next one in Hamtramck will be held tomorrow Tuesday, Nov. 26 at the MDHHS office located at 12140 Jos Campau St. in Hamtramck.

People can make an appointment by emailing MDHHS-FH-WC-Hamtramck@michigan.gov.  Dial 211 or visit mi211.org online for free referrals to food pantries.  

Entry Points artist residency program wins award

A Hamtramck-based artist residency program is receiving a $175,000 award.

Entry Points is a program which offers housing and studio space for returning citizens who were formerly incarcerated juveniles. The nonprofit is receiving the 2025 J.M.K Innovation Award. The award is given by the J.M. Kaplan Fund to 10 awardees for their work in tackling social justice, environmental conservation, and heritage preservation.  

Entry Points was created by artist-activist Jonathan Rajewski and writer and former juvenile lifer Kyle Daniel-Bey through Hamtramk Free School, an alternative educational organization that facilitates creative writing and art workshops in Michigan prisons, working with juveniles who were sentenced to life without parole.   

Entry Points helps returning citizens reintegrate into public life, including presenting their work publicly.  

EGLE awards grants to limit runoff

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is awarding $2.9 million to several groups to reduce pollution in waterways.

The Nonpoint Source Program grants will fund eight projects aimed at eliminating runoff at nonpoint sources which come from farms, urban areas and construction sites.

This occurs when there is rain, snowmelt, or when the wind carries pollutants into waterways. The grants will help repair waterways to reduce sediment, nutrients, and bacteria.  

If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at DetroitEveningReport@wdet.org.

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The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Michigan chapter, reports an increase in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sightings in metro Detroit.

CAIR-MI officials say community members have seen ICE vehicles in Wayne County. ICE also announced an increase in enforcement in the area.

CAIR-MI advises community members to be vigilant and aware of their rights, including asking to see a warrant and remaining silent except to request an attorney. The civil rights organization says people should have emergency contacts memorized and plans in place for their family members in case of an emergency. 

Additional headlines from Monday, November 17, 2025

Hamtramck Elections

The Wayne County Board of Canvassers decided Friday not to count 37 ballots from Hamtramck’s mayoral race found in the city clerk’s office the day after elections. The board still has to count 120 cured ballots in the race, which could swing the vote in either direction.

Mayoral candidate Adam Alharbi sued opponent Hamtramck City Councilman Muhith Mahmood alleging residency fraud. The votes will be certified by tomorrow November 18.  

Closing parishes

The Archdiocese of Detroit announced a two-year process to reconstruct parishes in Southeast Michigan.

Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger said over the weekend that there has been a decline in Catholics attending Mass, in ordained priests and “participation in the sacraments.” The changes include downsizing from 200 parishes which once served 1.5 million Catholics to today’s population of about 900,000 worshipers, half of whom he says are not baptized nor attend Mass regularly.

Weisenburger says there are also several aging church buildings and a shortage of priests. The new structure will move from a Families of Parishes model to a “pastorate” model, grouping one or more parishes into a single pastor’s team.

Parishioners will have opportunities to share their input through two listening sessions at each parish. The new changes will be announced in early 2027. Changes will take place by July 2027. Restructuring can be monitored at restructuring.aod.org.  

Keith Center grant to expand AI tool 

Wayne State University Law School’s Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights received a $350,000 grant to expand a disinformation tool.

The VERDAD: Verifying and Exposing Disinformation and Discourse AI-powered tool monitors U.S.-based ethnic radio stations for disinformation for Latino media. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation awarded the grant to develop and enhance the tool. The expansion includes adding more states and adding languages including Arabic, Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese.

The award-winning journalist Martina Guzmán founded the tool. Guzmán says the tool works as a civil rights safeguard to empower voters. Since the VERDAD tool’s inception last year, more than 320 academics and journalists have registered to use the tool.  

Healing asthma event  

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Michigan chapter, is hosting a program for people with asthma.

HEAL Asthma MI is a free program to help Michigan residents with resources and tools. Participants must be medically diagnosed with asthma, be 18 and up and face challenges to getting fair or equal health care.

To sign up, contact 248-406-4254 or email aafahealasthma@gmail.com. 

Free turkeys

The Islamic Center of Detroit is hosting a Turkey distribution this weekend.

The distribution takes place Saturday, Nov. 22, from 1-4 p.m. The mosque is providing halal turkeys. The Islamic Center of Detroit also has a food pantry open every Saturday from 2-5 p.m., located at 14350 Tireman Street in Detroit.  

The Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance, in collaboration with the Oak Pointe Church, is hosting a Turkey Giveaway on Monday, November 24 at 10 a.m. People can pick up a free turkey at the Brennan Pool Building at 21415 Plymouth Road in Detroit. First-come first-served.  

If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at DetroitEveningReport@wdet.org.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Both of Michigan’s U.S. Senators voted against a procedural move to end the federal government shutdown.

Seven Democrats and one independent joined Republicans last night, taking the first step toward funding the government. GOP Senators agreed to hold a vote next month on extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits. The deal does not guarantee they’ll be renewed. Democratic senators Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters say promising to hold a vote on the issue isn’t good enough.

The compromise would reverse the mass firings that took place when the shutdown began and ensure federal workers get back pay.  

-Reporting by Pat Batcheller  

Additional headlines from Monday, November 10, 2025

Supreme Court order blocks SNAP payments

On Saturday the U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency stay blocking the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition from issuing full payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. This pauses benefits for 42 million Americans, including many children and the elderly.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director, Elizabeth Hertel, says she is disappointed by the move. MDHHS began sending out full payments on Thursday, however the new order prevents the department from finalizing payments for Michigan residents who have not yet received their payments for November.

To fill the gap, Governor Whitmer announced an additional $4.5 million to the Food Bank Council of Michigan to feed families including food delivery services for families who are unable to visit a food bank. Dial 2-1-1 or visit mi211.org to find assistance. 

Last week, the city of Detroit launched a network of food pantries map with 85 certified food pantries. Mayor Mike Duggan says the city authorized $1.75 million for the project. People can visit detroitmi.gov to find a location near them.  

Catholic Charities provide hunger relief

Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan is providing emergency relief while SNAP benefits are in limbo for 1.4 million families in Michigan.   

People can drop into the Center for the Works of Mercy on 10301 Woodward Ave in Detroit on Thursdays between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays beginning Nov. 22nd through Dec. 6th between 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.  

According to DetroitCatholic.com, the city of Detroit donated food from Forgotten Harvest to support the center.

The Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan are also asking people to donate unexpired AND nonperishable food on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. or provide monetary donations. The group is matching donations up to $20,000 thanks to an anonymous donor. The center is also looking for volunteers.  

MSU study brings solar panels and farming together 

Michigan State University researchers are building an outdoor laboratory to see if solar panels can improve crop production for farmers.

Anthony Kendall is an Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at MSU. He says the project involves researchers from different fields who can offer a variety of perspectives. 

“There’s a real asymmetry of solar installation information that exists right now. And we hope by doing open science with a lot of community feedback, to really just provide better information to everyone.”

He says they’ll also use the project to teach farmers how to use solar panels in under-producing areas of farm fields. The project is funded by a $3.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation.  

MDOT regulations

The Michigan Department of Transportation is still collecting public comment on a set of proposed regulations that could put parameters on how people can protest on MDOT owned roads.

The new rules would require protestors to get a permit before occupying an area such as an overpass or rest stop. MDOT’s Engineer Greg Losch said on the podcast “Talking Michigan Transportation” that the rules are a response to complaints from the public.  

“We’ll be responding to the public complaint, like, ‘hey, I stopped at whatever rest area and someone asked me to sign a petition and I don’t really want to be solicited for that. Why why are you allowing this, MDOT?’” 

Losch said the regulations intend to ensure public safety. Activists argue that this is an infringement of First Amendment rights. MDOT will be accepting public comments on its website through November 20th.  

If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at DetroitEveningReport@wdet.org. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. 

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Dearborn voters have elected Mayor Abdullah Hammoud for a second term. 

Hammoud won with more than 70% of the votes in his bid against challenger Nagi Almudhegi.

He told a crowd of about 250 people at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center Tuesday night that the city is built on coexistence across faiths, backgrounds, and political views. 

“To our Arab American community, to our Polish, Irish, and Italian American families, to every new neighbor and every long time resident, white, Black or brown, to every faith and every background, Dearborn is a place where you are seen, where you are valued, and where you belong.” 

Hammoud became the city’s first Arab American and Muslim mayor in 2021 after mobilizing volunteers for clean-up efforts from catastrophic floods. 

Hammoud ran on a bid to continue the work he started four years ago. He said, “The way to win re-election campaigns is to treat people with dignity, to meet them in their homes and in their communities, listen to their needs, and deliver change that their families can see and can feel. That’s what we’re doing in Dearborn.” 

Also in Dearborn, voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to create a ward system for districted city council seats. 

More election coverage

Two men have been charged with alleged terrorism-related crimes after federal authorities made arrests and seized weapons last week from a storage unit in Inkster and a home in Dearborn. 

According to a 72-page criminal complaint unsealed in federal court, the men had allegedly scouted areas in Ferndale. The individuals were charged with allegedly receiving and transferring guns and ammunition for terrorism. 

FBI Director Kash Patel announced arrests on Friday but no further details were provided then. Over the weekend, Michigan defense lawyer Amir Makled, representing one of the detainees, disputed the FBI allegations. 

Additional headlines from Monday, November 3, 2025

Detroit voters  

Detroit’s mayoral candidates are in the final hours of their campaign before voters choose the city’s first new mayor in a dozen years. The election features the Reverend Solomon Kinloch against long-time City Council President Mary Sheffield. 

Kinloch argues Detroit officials like Sheffield have not done enough to fight poverty or extend development from the city’s core business districts to its outer neighborhoods. “And the question becomes: do you to move forward with a manager and an administrator that wants to maintain the status quo and look out for downtown, and forget about the rest of the town?”

Sheffield counters that programs she initiated helped Detroit move past bankruptcy and lure new investment across the city. 

Sheffield says she will push for more affordable housing, better schools and safer streets in Detroit’s neighborhoods. 

– Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter

The Department of Elections and the Department of Transportation will provide free bus rides in Detroit tomorrow to encourage people to vote. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Dearborn wards

Dearborn voters will vote on Proposal 1, deciding whether they want wards in the city.

Dr. Ronald Stockton, a professor emeritus of Political Science at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, says creating wards is challenging, as many people may run for office within each district. “So it’s not as if a ward can just have a bunch of leaders get together and say, ‘Okay, this is our nominee.’ That’s not the way it’s going to work.” 

Each ward would represent about 15,700 people. If passed, the changes would create seven-districted city council and two at-large seats. Opponents say it would create division in the city of 110,000 people.

Organizers of the group Dearborn Wants Wards say districted elections will reduce barriers for people to run for office and allow for better representation. If passed, the changes will not go into effect until 2029. 

Dearborn WORKS

Officials joined the city’s first business opening under the Dearborn WORKS program on Friday. Sewing Your Life is a new sewing school on Dearborn’s Southend opened by a graduate of the program “Dearborn Women’s Opportunity to Realize their Knowledge and Skills” or Dearborn WORKS. The initiative is a joint effort by the City of Dearborn and the Arab American Women’s Business Council (AAWBC), aiming to empower and train local women entrepreneurs. 

Owner Nasim Alghuzzy will be teaching free sewing classes for up to 50 women at a brick-and-mortar training school as part of the grant program. After completing the free training, she can operate as a for-profit business. Applicants for the free courses can sign up at Dearborn.gov/BusinessResources. Classes begin Nov. 17th. 

ICE – Center Line

Rising Voices organizers are asking the city of Center Line not to train local law enforcement to act as immigration officers for ICE. The city stopped using the program in 2012, which led to racial profiling and lawsuits.

The Asian American-focused nonprofit community advocacy organization is asking the city and police to rescind any potential agreement. 

If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at DetroitEveningReport@wdet.org. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. 

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

On Nov. 4, Dearborn residents will vote for mayor of the city. Current mayor Abdullah Hammoud is running for a second term against political newcomer, independent Nagi Almudhegi.

Dearborn voters elected the city’s first Arab American Muslim mayor, Abdullah Hammoud, in 2021. 

“It’s my hope that we’ve demonstrated that we have been able to make progress over these last four years, and we’re running for another term to continue on that progress,” he says.

Hammoud says during his nearly four years in office, crime has dropped significantly, and he’s helped bring in $100 million in grants to improve the city.

During his campaign in 2021, he organized volunteers to clean homes devastated by catastrophic floods. He says residents are still concerned about flooding.

“Each and every single time it rains, if it’s a heavy rain event, people are texting anxiously, asking what has been done to help prevent flooding and back up into people’s basements,” he says. 

The city has invested $25 million in capturing rainwater in short-term projects, hoping to attract another $400 million for long-term projects.

Machhadie Assi is a community organizer and political strategist. She says flooding caused by poor infrastructure concerns her.

“The Mayor and his team, they’ve been working tirelessly on improving it and developing it. I’m sure we’re not at a point where it’s perfect, but there’s definitely progress,” she shares.

Assi is raising her three kids in Dearborn. She says she’s voting for Hammoud.

“They’ve been always transparent on what they’re doing and what they’re working on and what’s in progress,” she says.

Assi says it’s a way to keep the administration accountable. 

Resident Maryam Hoballah says she appreciates Hammoud’s focus on creating more green spaces in the city.

“I have two young kids, and I just love that he’s renovating the parks, and he’s making it a safe environment for kids too,” she says. 

Hammoud says building parks and green spaces is a priority for him as a father. He says the city invested $30 million in parks and green spaces.

Back to the basics

Abdulnaser Alnajjar has been living in Dearborn for 17 years. He says the city has shifted away from helping residents with their basic needs. 

He says the city needs a new leader, “someone who cares actually to fix their real problem, not just bragging about grants and some parks that I personally don’t care about.” 

Alnajjar says the next mayor should focus on different issues like tax increases, garbage collection, traffic, and public safety.

He says the city also feels divided. 

“I do a lot of door knocking and the west side, and then they feel like that they’re not welcomed, they’ve been pushed [out] by the city and when you come to the East Side, the East Side, feel like the West Side is getting all the good services, and we just get the leftover[s].”

Alnajjar believes mayoral challenger Nagi Almudhegi brings a fresh perspective to city politics.

A fresh perspective 

Nagi Almudhegi has been working as an IT professional for 20 years. He says he’s running for Dearborn mayor as an independent candidate to bring change to the city. 

He’s also Arab American.

“These last few years is I see the direction of Dearborn deteriorating. We’re more divided than ever before,” he says.

For example, Almudhegi says more could have been done sooner to resolve the flooding in the city.

“What I would have done exactly within the first six months of getting into office, I would have issued a report,” he says.

If elected, Almudhegi says he wants to build a $1 million internship program for youth.

He also wants to attract more businesses.

“I want Dearborn to be known as the entrepreneurial hub and innovation hub of America, and we have the talent to do it,” he says. 

Mayor Abdullah Hammoud says the city invested a $25 million federal grant to improve Warren Avenue and launched the Night of Innovation to provide monetary prizes to businesses during a pitch competition.

“We are at over 100 ribbon cuttings this year,” he shares.

Recently, Hammoud has come under fire for telling resident Ted Barham he’s not welcome in Dearborn in response to a comment against a street sign bearing the name of Arab American newspaper publisher Osama Siblani. The sign was put up by Wayne County.

Nagi Almudhegi says he would have handled things differently by staying silent.

“As politicians, we can come up with statements that will try to defuse the situation,” he says.

Hammoud issued a response to the criticism at a city council meeting, saying everyone is welcome. 

“Those who call Dearborn home know who we are, a city that welcomes and embraces everyone. It is our hope that one day, the unity you actually find in Dearborn, amongst its residents, is the same unity and coexistence that you see across our entire nation,” he says.

Representation for Arab Americans

Ali Baleed Almaklani, Executive Director of the Yemen American Benevolent Association, has been living in Dearborn for more than 50 years. He says Dearborn has more Arab American representation in public office than it did prior.

“Listen, long time ago, we didn’t have nobody in the city council. We used to wish to have an Arab American, Muslim American, whatever, to be even in the city council,” he says.

Dearborn residents will have to decide whether they want to give Abdullah Hammoud another four years in office or want a new leader to bring a different viewpoint to the city.

Election day is Tuesday, November 4th.

More election coverage

Adam Alharbi, 44, is an engineer for the Department of Commerce. He’s running for Hamtramck mayor to improve the place he’s called home since he was a kid.

“I will show that I’m for everyone. I’m not a Yemeni candidate or a Muslim candidate, I’m an Hamtramckan candidate that I will serve everyone equally, regardless of race, religion,” he says.

Alharbi says among residents’ top concerns are high property taxes and water bills, along with deteriorating water lines and sewer systems. 

“We have sewer systems and water lines that are deteriorated and been neglected for so many years, and now we need millions and millions of dollars to change them,” he says.

But Alharbi says there is potential for change.

“We have potential to make it look nice and attract visitors and businesses and improve our city,” he says.

Alharbi, 44, was the highest vote getter in Hamtramck’s mayoral primary election, with 1,931 votes. 

Alharbi says repairing water and sewer lines can take place over years and phases.

Connecting Hamtramck

Recently, several Hamtramck city councilmembers have been charged or are being investigated for alleged election fraud cases.

He says its also important to educate voters, who may have a language barrier in the Yemeni and Bengali communities, to not present their ballots to any candidates, amid the allegations. 

“Some of them [voters], because either they’re fairly new in Hamtramck, they feel like, oh, a candidate, he’s a government employee. He’s asking me this, it must be legal, but they don’t think it’s legal,” he says.

Alharbi says working with influencers to create videos in various languages about the do’s and don’t’s of elections may help inform voters.

If elected, Alharbi says he will make educational videos about city meetings and host an annual State of the City to further engage residents.

“A lot of people don’t watch or attend the council meetings, so I will make sure that I provide videos afterwards, explaining what happened, what our plans are, what our challenges are, so that they’re aware” he says.

Welcoming business, bringing people together

Alharbi, who is a part of the Downtown Development Authority, says he plans to expand business in the city by updating parts of Banglatown in Hamtramck to reflect the Bangladeshi population. Similarly, he hopes to create a Yemen Town and World Town on Jos Campau to reflect the communities in the city and attract new businesses.

“We’re called the world in two square miles. We just want to make Hamtramck a better city, good reputation and welcoming to everyone,” he says. 

He says as a business owner, he will also work to ease business permits on Jos Campau and provide incentives to big businesses. 

Alharbi previously served on the Hamtramck Zoning Board of Appeals and as Vice President of the Yemeni American Leadership Association (YALA). 

Alharbi says he would like to host more events in the city to bring people together.

“We should look out for each other, because what unite us is far more than the differences we have,” he says.

He hopes to bring positive change to the city.

“I want a legacy that showcases a successful Yemeni Muslim person who improved a city regardless of the challenges that we had,” he says.

More election coverage

Lynn Blasey, 42, is a write in candidate for Hamtramck mayor. She says she decided to run after community members asked her to run.

“When some community members approached me, it was really asking me to be a voice or a viable choice that residents can feel more comfortable about,” she says.

Blasey is the co-director of Community Arts Partnerships for the College for Creative Studies. She has worked at the education department at the Arab American National Museum, educating people about Arab American communities. 

Blasey ran and lost bids for the Hamtramck City Council in 2021 and 2023. She serves as the vice chair of the Hamtramck Arts and Culture Commission. 

She created the Hamtramck Area Disaster Recovery Group as part of flood recovery efforts for FEMA after the floods in 2021.

Uplifting Hamtramck

Blasey says she’s concerned about Hamtramck’s public image.

“People across the world have some pretty negative opinions of our city, and so this is a really good opportunity to sway that narrative and help celebrate the wonderful, magical things that make this community so unique and diverse,” she says. 

Blasey says she’s disappointed by the recent election fraud in the city.

“I have spoken up previously about the effects cheating has and that people doing it continuously is a degradation of our democracy and really weakens the whole system,” she says.

Blasey says she would like to hold people accountable by taking a firm stance against people who don’t respect the law.

She says it’s important to communicate and connect with community leaders and organizations in Hamtramck to bring people together.

“I think we need to return to having more town hall meetings, utilizing some of our public spaces when there are some of those more challenging issues on the table, really taking those to the community,” she says.

Supporting the arts and businesses

Blasey is connected to the city’s arts community. She says more can be done to leverage artists. 

“There is a huge design economy, arts economy, that Hamtramck is not really tapped into. We have a lot of artists here, but we’re not capitalizing on that,” she says.

Blasey is a part of the Hamtramck Downtown Development Authority’s Organization & Promotions sub-committee. 

“I think there are some really uniquely Hamtramck ways that we can attract new businesses,” she says.

She says it’s important for people to work together, building on each other’s strengths. 

“I think there is so much value in bringing people together,” she says.

More election coverage

Dearborn’s Department of Public Health published a report on its Air Quality Project. Health Director Ali Abazeed says over a million air quality measurements were recorded in 2024. 

“And that data confirms what residents have long known, that pollution burdens are evenly distributed across the city, and we’re using that data. We’re using that insight as we have to help hold polluters accountable, to guide smarter and fair policies for our residents.”

Abazeed says there were about 22-23 days in 2024 that air quality reached levels of unhealthy for sensitive groups, with spikes near traffic corridors or industrial zones. 

The report also found 200 people subscribed and received over 41 thousand text alerts about air quality. 

Abazeed says the department is expanding to have 11 monitors and adding sensors for ozone. Signs for the monitors are listed in English and Arabic for residents. 

Read the report at Dearborn.gov/EnvironmentalHealth. 

 Additional headlines from Monday, October 27, 2025

Bangladesh Consulate office  

A Bangladesh Consulate office is set to open in Detroit. The Advisory Council in Bangladesh approved the proposal last week.

Dhaka Tribune reports that Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam says the new consulate offices will provide online services. Each year, the Embassy of Bangladesh provides mobile consular services in Michigan, serving more than 1,000 people per trip in Metro Detroit in cities like Hamtramck, Detroit, and Warren. 

Michigan’s Bangladeshi community has been asking for a permanent office for years. People travel to Washington D.C. or New York for similar services. A date has not been set for the opening of the new office. 

Detroit Elevate Showcase

TechTown Detroit is hosting the Detroit Elevate Showcase next month. 

It’s a business showcase being held at the Eastern Market for second stage businesses who are beyond the startup phase. The program supports businesses from Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park.

Detroit Elevate Showcase is a program by TechTown Detroit, the Gilbert Family Foundation, and operated by Black Leaders Detroit and QT Business Solutions. Attendees can meet entrepreneurs and try their services.

The Showcase takes place on Friday, Nov. 14. Learn more at detroitelevate.org.  

Global Detroit awardees

 To mark its 15th anniversary, Global Detroit is hosting its Tapestry 2025 event next month.

The event will highlight Changemakers. Among awardees is Estrella ‘Star’ Crawford, Senior Vice President and Market Executive at Bank of America Detroit who will receive the Corporate Leadership Award and Christine Sauvé will receive the Immigrant Advocacy Award for her work at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.

The Global Detroit Celebration of 15 Years takes place on November 13 from 6-8 p.m. at the Jam Handy in Detroit. Tickets are $135 and up.  
Día de los Muertos, La Jalisciense market 

La Jalisciense Supermercado y Taqueria is hosting a 2-day vendor market to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexicantown this weekend.

The third annual celebration will include a community altar or ofrenda. Community members are invited to bring photos flowers and family keepsakes to add to the ofrenda. The market features local vendors selling handcrafted jewelry art and food. 

 Leslie Vargas of La Jalisciense Supermarcado y Taqueria says the market and community ofrenda is an opportunity for people to come together from all cultures. She says this year it will especially be important to her family after losing her grandmother. 

 “I know that means the same for the community to have that space of grieving and participating in a beautiful culture or a tradition that’s not their own, and for them to feel invited, and for them to feel like, hey, there’s a space for you to just come and put your picture and you know, everyone grieves different, but it’s beautiful to remember the loved ones that are not longer with us.” 

The restaurant will be collecting materials for the community ofrenda until November 3 and displaying them until November 20. 

The La Jalisciense restaurant will be serving traditional Mexican dishes and drinks throughout the weekend for the occasion. The market will be open Saturday, November 1 from 2-9 p.m., and Sunday, November 2, from 2-6 p.m. Admission is free. 

If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at DetroitEveningReport@wdet.org.

Editor’s Note: This article was updated 10/27/2025 at 8:55 p.m. to reflect the postponement of the Detroit Elevate Showcase. It is not being held this Wednesday, but November 14. 

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hamtramck City Councilman Muhith Mahmood, 52, is running for mayor in Hamtramck. 

If elected, Mahmood would become the first Bangladeshi American Muslim mayor in the city.

Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib is not running for re-election. President Trump has nominated him for ambassador to Kuwait. He awaits a U.S. Senate vote.

Mahmood’s platform

Mahmood says voters are concerned about property taxes, high water bills, and deteriorating infrastructure.

“Everything is high in Hamtramck due to the fact of one of the oldest city in Michigan is over 100 years old, and last few years, the city was being neglected,” he says.

Mahmood says he will work hard to bring the city back to good shape, “Where people can come and invest their money. We get different sources to earn the money so we don’t have to raise the taxes every year.”

Mahmood has previously served as the sergeant-at-arms for the Unite Here! Local 24 union, representing hospitality workers; the Democratic Party’s 13th district Vice Chair, and president of the Michigan Bangladeshi-American Democratic Caucus (MI-BADC). He’s the founder and president of Golapganj Helping Hand USA, a charity organization that serves people in Bangladesh and in the U.S.

Investigations for election fraud in Hamtramck

Hamtramck voters have expressed concern about pending investigations of alleged election fraud by several councilmembers. 

Mahmood says people are taking advantage of voters, some whom are newer immigrants, and may not know some of the laws of elections.

“Some of the people are taking advantage out of it, picking up their ballot or picking from mailbox, frauding their signature. Of course I’m against it. That’s not what democracy is,” he says.

He says people have the right to choose their leaders, and community leaders play a role in educating voters.

Mahmood, who is part of a residency fraud investigation by the Michigan State Police, says he has been living in Hamtramck since 2021, when he ran for a seat on the city council.

“And that time they investigated everything. I don’t know why it became an issue after a few years, even though not when I was running… after I get elected, few years later, it became an issue,” he says.

Mahmood says he owns other homes, including one in Troy, where his family lives.

He says he is running for mayor in Hamtramck because he loves the city, and he hopes to bring people together. 

“Everybody needs to have a step forward to a one inclusive city… We all need to respect each other, respect their values, respect their religious freedom,” he says.

Mahmood’s opponent, Adam Alharbi, is an engineer for the Department of Commerce. 

Lynn Blasey, Community Arts Partnerships co-director for the College for Creative Studies, is running as a write-in candidate. 

More election coverage