Dabaja did not return an email or text message seeking comment; during Tuesday s meeting, she spoke in favor of the move.
Two members of the Dearborn City Council, Erin Byrnes and Leslie Herrick, told the Free Press they opposed ending the Zoom option. The other City Council members did not respond to the Free Press. I would like to see all of our meetings remain on Zoom given that we are still in the middle of a pandemic, Byrnes told the Free Press. That is the safest option. I also think that Zoom probably provides greater accessibility for residents and for those looking to tune in.
Dearborn ends online speaking for council meetings, drawing protests Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press
For the first time in several months, Dearborn City Council held its public meeting in person on Tuesday evening without an option to speak online through Zoom.
City officials and some City Council members touted the move as a step toward getting back to normal.
But protesters and some residents are speaking out, noting that Michigan and Dearborn still have a high number of new COVID-19 cases. It s a tension that other municipalities may face as more get back to in-person meetings and end their online speaking options.
Seven candidates file for Dearborn mayor; 18 for City Council; no challenger for City Clerk arabamericannews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from arabamericannews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Police Officers Association of Dearborn endorses Susan Dabaja for mayor Posted: Monday 04.19.2021 7:53 pm
Three other candidates sought the endorsement for mayor from POAD.
Bill Anhut, POAD President, said that Dabaja was the right choice.
“The Police Officers Association of Dearborn is proud to endorse Council President Susan Dabaja on her historic run for mayor,” he said. “The officers of the POAD recognize Council President Dabaja’s support of public safety over the past seven years and look forward to her leadership in the mayor’s office.”
The endorsement process involves a rigorous questionnaire and personal interview after the mayoral candidates must apply for the endorsement.
Dearborn police are arresting Black suspects and issuing citations to them at significantly higher rates compared with white suspects, prompting protests from a group of activists who are calling upon Dearborn to reduce spending on police and crack down on what they see as racist targeting.
The city of 94,000 that s the headquarters of Ford Motor Co. has seen an intense debate in recent months as members of a new group called Accountability for Dearborn, formed last year after George Floyd s death, have increasingly spoken out at Dearborn City Council meetings. Floyd died on May 25 in Minneapolis in an incident with a police officer, prompting widespread protests and calls for reform of police across the U.S., including in metro Detroit.