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Nayeem Choudhury (Photo: Facebook)
A Hamtramck councilmember who took office last year has dropped a proposal to give himself and his colleagues a 400-percent raise after becoming the subject of news coverage.
First, when contacted about the plan by the Free Press, Nayeem Choudhury, an insurance agent, said he actually only wanted a 200-percent hike for councilmembers and the mayor and would amend the resolution accordingly. He then pulled it from council's Tuesday's agenda following backlash.
Hamtramck's councilmembers and mayor are part-time and reportedly get paid 2 percent of the Michigan governor's salary — about $3,200. Choudhury's initial resolution would have boosted that to 10 percent, or $16,000, in what he said was an effort to attract more qualified people.
Mayor Karen Majewski told the Free Press she opposed the idea, as the working-class enclave faces "significant" financial challenges due in part to the pandemic.
It's unclear whether Choudhury plans to resurrect the proposal; he did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Also Tuesday, Hamtramck's council rescinded a ban on marijuana dispensaries following a resident petition to allow them.
