Dozens of residents addressed the Dearborn City Council on Sept. 23 during an expanded public‑comment period after a confrontation at the Sept. 9 meeting in which Mayor Mehr Hamoud told a resident he was “not welcome” in the city.

The exchanges ranged from calls for the mayor to apologize to public defenses of his record and appeals for civil coexistence. The session included pastors, longtime residents and newcomers who voiced opposing views on whether the mayor’s remark was an inappropriate rebuke or a necessary rebuke of incendiary behavior.

The comments mattered because they focused attention on the city’s national profile and on how elected leaders should respond to inflammatory speech. Supporters said Hamoud’s broader record of outreach and neighborhood work outweighs the contested remark; critics said an apology or clarification is required to restore trust.

Pastor Nathan Hayes opened public comment by thanking the council and mayor for civic leadership and calling Dearborn “the greatest city that I’ve ever lived in.” Resident Scott Cherry said the city belongs to its residents, not elected officials, and invoked free‑speech arguments: “This is America. This is The United States,” he told the council.

Several speakers urged the mayor to apologize. Adam Simnowitz said the mayor’s remark had violated the mayor’s oath and asked Hamoud to retract and reaffirm that all residents are welcome. Zian Summers said saying a resident is “not welcome” flattens the multiculturalism that, he said, “makes Dearborn so special.”

Other speakers defended the mayor. Sarah Lau, who described herself as a longtime resident and Christian, urged the council to consider the mayor’s record of neighborhood outreach and emergency response and said “five seconds of a council meeting taken out of context shouldn’t define the character of a man who has spent years helping his neighbors.” Eddie Fecori, who identified himself as an Arab Christian, said he supports Hamoud and believes the mayor’s leadership has been constructive for Dearborn.

Some public comment widened the discussion to other community disputes. Andrea Unger repeated noise complaints about amplified calls to prayer near East Dearborn, saying the neighborhood petitioners have asked for enforcement under the city’s noise ordinance and asking what the city’s next step would be. Mayor Hamoud said no ordinance had been changed to allow amplified religious calls and said police were compiling enforcement data.

The mayor spoke near the end of the public‑comment period, urging unity and saying Dearborn “represents the best of America,” and reminding the public that footage of meetings is available in full so residents can see context. He also stated, in response to questions about stifling speech, that “there was no stifling of speech,” and that anyone who attended was allowed to make their opinion heard.

The council did not take any formal action on the matter at the meeting; several speakers called for further council discussion or a public statement. Council members and the mayor repeatedly encouraged civility and said the video record and further public forums are available for residents who want to continue the conversation.