Dearborn City Council members and other city officials listen to Mayor Abdullah Hammoud explain during his Sept. 19 briefing a proposal to rename Hubbard Manor West and East, and to provide first-time names for the Dearborn Historical Museum office building and the Rotunda Gallery at Henry Ford Centennial Library.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – The City Council will decide Sept. 24 whether to rename Hubbard Manor West for former Mayor John O’Reilly Jr., and Hubbard Manor East to recognize former City Councilmember Suzanne Sareini.
Mayor Abdullah Hammoud also has proposed naming the Dearborn Historical Museum office building after Chief Curator Jack Tate, and the Henry Ford Centennial Library Rotunda Gallery after longtime arts supporter EmmaJean Woodyard.
Hammoud said in an Aug. 27 memo to the council that former Mayor Orville Hubbard, for whom the manors are named, held office during a period when segregationist policies were enacted, which are incompatible to Dearborn’s current commitment to inclusion.
City Councilmember Ken Paris asks why the renaming and new name proposals cannot be separated for voting purposes.
“Renaming these spaces aligns them with our values and honors those who have actively contributed to a more inclusive community,” he said. “By renaming these city spaces, we take a significant step towards honoring the exceptional individuals who embody the best of Dearborn.”
Hammoud said the actions reaffirm the city’s commitment to equality, respect and a future that values and represents all residents.
O’Reilly served the city for decades, as did Sareini, the first Arab-American elected to the City Council, where she served for 24 years.
Hammoud said Tate’s dedication to preserving Dearborn’s history and cultural landscape is exemplary.
He also described Woodyard as “a driving force in Dearborn’s vibrant arts community.”
Councilmember Ken Paris asked why the name changes could not be voted on individually.
The mayor responded that he is free to vote for or against the proposal as it stands.
“You want to defend the Hubbard name when it comes before you, make the argument,” he said. “It’s that simple.”
Hammoud said the signage changes will be done with the least disruption possible, and that he believes the investment is justified to create “a more welcoming and representative public landscape that reflects the diversity and achievements of our community.”