Muslim Observer

Volume 16, Issue 34; Aug 15 - 21, 2014
michigan
The Muslim Observer
7
SE Michigan news
Compiled by Adil James, detroit@muslimobserver.com
Michigan’s First Halal Food Festival
TMO Stringer, adapted from Press Release
Canton, MI, August 12, 2014 –Michigan’s first
and largest Halal Food Festival (Halal Fest) took
place at the Heritage Park in Canton, Michigan.
Hundreds of people from different ethnicity
and background attended the Halal Fest. It was like
a mini carnival atmosphere with people enjoying the
food and the beautiful sunny weather.
There were about 10 food stalls serving different
ethnic food and they all had long queues. Sometimes
the waiting period was over ½ an hour. The
longest waiting period was at the ice cream truck.
Children enjoyed face painting, slides, air
jumper, and small carnival rides.
Although the fest was to run up to 7:00 PM
most of the stalls were running out of food items by
6:00 PM.
People reacted differently, one said, “it is successful
considering it is being held for the first time”.
While other thought it was not organized properly as
there was no one to answer a question nor any officially
responsible person was visible. Another person
questioned the authenticity of the halal/zabiha
food. He further said, “I see non Halal atmosphere
in Halal fest, commenting on children’s face painting,
etc.”
Over all the efforts of Chef, LLC, in organizing
this event was successful in drawing a large crowed
from diverse background, enjoying different food
and meeting friends.
Dalia Mogahed
ISPU Appoints Mogahed
Press Release
The Institute for Social Policy
and Understanding is pleased
to welcome Dalia Mogahed as
the institute’s new Director of
Research.
Washington, DC - The Institute
for Social Policy and Understanding
is pleased to welcome
Dalia Mogahed as the institute’s
new Director of Research.
Ms. Mogahed is an experienced
research analyst and director
who has capably managed
the establishment and growth of
other research based institutions
that study issues related to Muslim
populations in the US and
abroad. ISPU wanted to recruit a
Director of Research who would
be able to lead its research department
through its next phase
of growth and development.
ISPU strives to produce evidence
based recommendations for both
communities and policy makers.
Working closely with the Executive
Director, Chief Operating
Officer, and ISPU Research Fellows,
the Director of Research
will develop, lead and execute
ISPU’s research strategy.
Ms. Mogahed previously
served as the Executive Director
and Senior Analyst for the Gallup
Center for Muslim Studies where
she led global research analysis of
surveys from over 40 countries,
resulting in widely cited policy
briefs, reports and scholarly articles.
By effectively managing
diverse teams and multimillion
dollar budgets, Ms. Mogahed
was able to successfully establish
the Gallup Center as a leading authority
on Muslim affairs.
In 2008 with Dr. John L.
Esposito, Ms. Mogahed coauthored
the book Who Speaks for
Islam? What a Billion Muslims
Really Think. Ms. Mogahed is a
frequent commentator in global
media outlets and international
forums. She has received numerous
awards and recognitions
from entities such as the World
Economic Forum, University of
Wisconsin, Ashoka, and Freedom
House.
“I’m excited to join ISPU
because of the important research
the organization is pioneering on
the challenges and opportunities
facing the Muslim American
community. I’m also thrilled to
be working with the ISPU team, a
group of passionate and genuine
people committed to growth and
excellence,” said Mogahed.
ISPU’s Interim Executive
Director, COO and Director of
Policy Impact, Farhan Latif added,
“This is a great juncture for
Dalia to be joining ISPU. Dalia’s
leadership as Director of Research
will infuse ISPU with her
passion for producing practical,
evidence based solutions to complex
challenges. Building upon
an assessment of our first twelve
years, we’ve refined our focus to
concentrate on issues that impact
the American Muslim population.
Dalia’s experiences blend
research management with content
expertise in such a way that
it makes her an exceptional candidate
to lead our research efforts
in this second decade of ISPU’s
growth.”
“I’m pleased to see that ISPU
continues to attract new leaders
of such national significance as
Dalia. We are excited to have her
join the ISPU family,” added Dr.
Farid Senzai, ISPU Board Member
and former founding Director
of Research.
Children play in bounce houses at the halal food festival.
Water Deal Could Force Another Delay in
Detroit Bankruptcy Trial
By Lisa Lambert and Karen Pierog
Aug 12 (Reuters) - A federal
judge could once again push
back the start date for the trial
on Detroit’s exit from the largest
municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history
after some creditors said on
Tuesday a possible settlement is
snarling key components of the
restructuring plan.
The complicated settlement
rests on a tender offer for $5.2 billion
of the city’s water and sewer
revenue bonds. The deadline for
bondholders to tender their debt
voluntarily for repurchase is Aug.
21, the same day the trial is to begin,
with the final settlement possibly
becoming firm weeks later,
in the middle of the proceeding.
Because the settlement could
significantly alter the proposed
restructuring plan that U.S. Bankruptcy
Judge Steven Rhodes will
weigh at the trial, some city creditors
are asking for a two-week delay
to the start date. They say that
would give the city enough time
to file a new version of the plan
incorporating the settlement.
In a hearing on Tuesday,
Rhodes, who has already delayed
the trial once, appeared to agree.
Detroit wants to maintain the
current schedule and has suggested
moving testimony on the revenue
bond settlement toward the
end of the trial. If Rhodes decides
the plan is fair and feasible, then
the delay will make it hard for
Detroit to meet some of its deadlines,
lawyers for the city said at
Tuesday’s hearing.
“Understand what you’re
asking the court to do,” Rhodes
said to the lawyers. “You’re asking
the court to start a confirmation
hearing on a plan you don’t
want confirmed, knowing you’re
going to file a plan two weeks
later that you do want confirmed.
That’s very tough.”
Since Detroit filed for bankruptcy
protection more than a
year ago, it has reached a long
string of settlements on its $18
billion in debt and obligations.
But coming to an agreement
around Detroit Water and Sewerage
Department debt had seemed
nearly impossible, and in July
most of the bondholders voted
against the city’s debt adjustment
plan. Last week, though, the
DWSD announced the tender offer,
saying those who agree to exchange
their current debt for new
bonds will not be able to oppose
the restructuring plan.
There is a possibility, though,
that not enough bondholders will
tender their debt or the offer will
not create “sufficient savings,”
Heather Lennox, an attorney for
the city, said at the hearing. At
that point, the current bankruptcy
plan’s treatment of the bonds will
stand.
Three counties, meanwhile,
whose residents pay for and receive
DWSD services, object to
the plan’s proposed diversion of
millions of dollars in department
revenue to city pension payments.
They claim that money is needed
for critical water and sewer system
improvements. On Tuesday,
Rhodes allowed their objections
to move forward.
WATER PLAN HAS MANY
FACETS
Detroit outlined its tender
offer for $2.75 billion of sewer
bonds and $2.433 billion of water
supply system bonds in a court
filing late on Monday. It offers
Water, p. 18