Dear Haytham,
I am sending you some information in reference to Waleed Jaraysi and his
building located in Marietta, Georgia. I understand that you have been in
contact with Waleed and that Mr. Ayoob sent you some information on the
case.
I have been an acquaintance of Waleed for a few months and I got involved
with his case only as a friend. I felt it important for me to do as much
as possible to defend him and his pursuit to prevent the City of Marietta from
demolishing his building but it seems to be all in vain since the construction
is currently underway. In either case, I strongly feel that Mr. Jaraysi
has had his civilian rights violated with this decision by the City Council and
the City attorney, Doug Haynie. In addition, I strongly feel that Mr.
Jaraysi has been conveniently selected to face this demolition act due
to his Arab ethnicity. I cannot find another case in the City where a
building on one's property was ordered demolished due to the fact of being
uncompleted. Instead, I find the government bending over backwards in
order to adjust financial situations, including mortgage refinancing, loan
structures, and clemency of back payments in order for the owners to continue
with their ownership. This was not the case with Mr. Jaraysi. On the
contrary, it was the opposite. Mr. Jaraysi went as far as offering to
provide the financial amount to continue his construction as escrow under the
City supervision but was still denied.
The decisions that were made were made by the City attorney, Doug Haynie
and voted by the Marietta City Council. One of the members, who voiced his
opposition to giving Mr. Jaraysi another opportunity to complete the
construction was City Council Member, Anthony Calvin Coleman. This member
referred to himself as Reverend Anthony Coleman, yet as a so-called Reverend,
this individual found in his heart no room to give justice and opportunity and
voted against Mr. Jaraysi. I found this as opposite in someone who calls
himself a Reverend.
I only mention the above circumstances because of the latest news of
yesterday. According to our local nightly news on ABC, Mr.
Anthony Coleman was arrested for allegedly assaulting another member of the
council, Annette Lewish, in a parking lot on September 22, shortly after one of
the Council meetings. This is the same person whose vote to demolish
Waleed Jaraysi's building was instrumental in the City's decision. I find
it ironic for a person with this character voting against another person who
wants to build a wedding hall and office building that would benefit the City,
the community, and its people. This individual is assaulting others, even
a female, and yet has voting privilege to stop a lawful construction of an
ongoing building. Let me quote the words from Anthony Coleman when the
case came up for a vote to give Waleed another chance. City Councilman
Anthony Coleman said he is firmly opposed to giving Jaraysi another chance.
âEnough is enough,â Coleman said. âWeâre tired of Mr. Jaraysi just leading us
on. He never did any of the things he said he was going to do from the very
beginning. This is the last straw, and itâs time to lay the wrecking ball to
that.â These are the words from someone who just yesterday was arrested
for assaulting another female councilwoman in the parking lot. The
City Mayor should've immediately dismissed this accused assaulter and his votes
in the past should all be void. Letting him cast a vote is like letting
the wolf protect the chicken coop.
The City of Marietta should be held liable for either discrimination
of for lack of good judgement. In either case, I feel that Waleed Jaraysi
has a solid case against the ineptidue and incompetence of the members of the
City Council, the City Attorney, and the Mayor of the City of Marietta.
To confirm my allegations of incompetence and lack of judgement by the City
of Marietta, it was reported that even after this latest arrest of Councilman
Anthony Coleman for assaulting another female councilwoman, the City continues
to employ Coleman as a member of the City Council. And remember his vote
came after the incident after September 22nd.
Here we have a City Councilman arrested for aggravated assault being
allowed to maintain his political position while we have a hardworking
Arab-American businessman, wanting to complete the construction of his building,
but being denied by a City Council with many questions of integrity on
displayed. If this isn't discrimination then I ask, what is?
I am forwarding you the latest articles that Waleed has asked me to send to
you. Thank you very much.
James J. David