Mayor Abdullah Hammoud wants local residents to help shape Dearborn’s future

Local residents can submit ideas, vote on what matters most, and directly shape the future of the city. 

MICHIGAN—If you could change one thing about your city, what would it be?

In Dearborn, local residents are being asked that question right now. And their answers could influence what city leaders like Mayor Abdullah Hammoud end up doing next.

Last month, the city of Dearborn partnered with Change.org to launch a new online platform where residents can submit their own ideas, weigh in on suggestions from their neighbors, and vote on what issues matter most. More than 30,000 votes have already been cast across more than 250 ideas—ranging from traffic safety concerns to broader quality-of-life improvements.

And unlike traditional city surveys, the most popular ideas won’t just sit in a report. 

They’ll actually be developed into real proposals for city leaders to consider later this year.

Dearborn is one of just four cities nationwide (and the only one in the Midwest) testing the “Ideas for Change” initiative. For Hammoud, the goal is simple: better understand what residents actually want to see in their city—and then turn those ideas into action.

“This city was built on an idea for change,” Hammoud said in a press release. “Since its founding, Dearborn has continued to put forward bold, innovative ideas to move our region forward. The Ideas for Change survey builds on this by inviting residents to share their vision for the future of our city. We welcome the feedback and look forward to seeing proposed ideas.”

Some ideas gaining traction center on traffic safety, with residents calling for more enforcement on speeding and reckless driving, as well as more safety measures near parks and schools. Others are calling for lower taxes, more housing, and a new skate park for local teenagers.

Residents can either submit their own ideas or scroll through suggestions from others and vote, creating a real-time snapshot of what issues are resonating most across the community.

The portal will remain open through April 19. After that, city officials say a group of residents will help turn the most widely supported ideas into formal proposals for leaders to consider.

City officials told the Detroit News the goal is to highlight where residents already agree, especially at a time when political divisions can often overshadow shared priorities.

Curious what your neighbors want to change? Click here to explore the ideas, vote on proposals, and submit your own through the city’s online portal before the April 19 deadline.

READ MORE: Dearborn mayor tests solutions to Michigan’s biggest problems

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