Vote Ali

I am running for re-election because I continue to believe that an independent voice on council is vital for our community’s interests and goals.

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Dear Friends,

When I was first elected in 2018, I promised to serve with integrity and a desire to compromise and find solutions to address our city’s most difficult issues. My common-sense approach on council has been to be a critical thinker in deliberations and to represent all members of our broad community who were missing from council discussions. At every council meeting, these are the principles that have guided my votes.

Open discussion and debate are the bedrock for government to be transparent and one that represents everyone. Good governance demands asking uncomfortable questions, paying close attention to details, and not succumbing to mob mentality.

These are the tenets that drive my decisions, and, if re-elected to a second term, will continue to give me purpose as I represent the Fifth Ward with honesty, openness, and accountability.

I will need your support – monetary donations are always appreciated, but there are other ways to help. Volunteer to walk with me as I knock doors and talk with residents, host a yard sign at your home, or arrange a meet and greet with neighbors. Most importantly, share with your 5th ward friends and neighbors why your support me for Ann Arbor City Council.

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Development

On council, my decision process for development is guided on advancing and protecting our public interests and following our Comprehensive Land Use Plan. There is a false pretext that we need to bend the rules to attract developers to build in Ann Arbor. I believe through our tax base, people, and cultural institutions we have fostered a highly desirable place to live, work, visit and invest.

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Affordability in Ann Arbor

In Ann Arbor, an average two-bedroom apartment rents for $2,000 a month – this means many of our teachers, nurses, skilled workers, artists, and their families cannot afford to live in the community they enrich. We must address the day-to-day affordability of living in Ann Arbor to continue our rich diversity and I will be a voice for the working and creative classes.

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Social and Restorative Justice

As a Palestinian-American, social and restorative justice are core beliefs that have been present throughout my life. As a youth, I remember attending many anti-war rallies with my family to protest the on-going wars and injustices in the Middle East. These early experiences made me consciously aware of the systemic inequalities and injustices that permeate our societies and institutions.

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Dioxane Plume Cleanup

After decades of inadequate cleanup and failed obligations, in 2020 City Council formally asked Governor Whitmer to petition the EPA for intervention. The EPA has greater enforcement powers to compel the polluter to pay for an effective cleanup. I will continue to defend the recent progress we have made to ensure that we have safe drinking water for Ann Arbor’s future generations.

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Our Local Independent Businesses

I have owned and operated Jerusalem Garden since I took over the business in 1993. I know first-hand the challenges many small businesses face – worker shortages, lack of workforce housing, and increasing costs of doing business. Small independent businesses are the heart and soul of our community’s social and economic vitality, and Ann Arbor has a long history of supporting our local businesses.

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Join My Campaign

There are many ways to help my campaign. Sign up on the right to receive updates on campaign news and events, and to volunteer to support my re-election efforts.