Blue Ridge residents demand city council de annex land linked to developer's extremist ties

Concerns over a proposed development in Blue Ridge took center stage at the City Council meeting on May 13, 2025, as residents voiced urgent calls for action regarding the developer's controversial affiliations. A group of concerned Texans, led by a speaker who highlighted troubling social media posts by Suhana Kareem, manager of Hamra Princeton 18 LLC, demanded the city council de-annex the land in question. They argued that Kareem's public support for Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, poses a significant threat to community safety and values.

The speaker emphasized the need for clear and direct responses from the council, questioning the appropriateness of allowing a project linked to someone who endorses violence against Western nations to remain under city jurisdiction. They raised concerns about the developer's alleged attempts to alter business records to distance themselves from Kareem following media scrutiny, calling for accountability and transparency from city officials.

In a related discussion, resident Carrie Allen expressed gratitude to the council for accepting a petition signed by approximately 80 voters, which requested the removal of certain properties from the city limits. However, she clarified that the petition aimed to exclude these properties only from the city, not from the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), highlighting a potential oversight in the council's actions.

The meeting underscored the community's demand for a decisive stance against affiliations perceived as threatening to local values and safety, with residents urging the council to take immediate action to protect Blue Ridge from developments linked to extremism. As the council navigates these complex issues, the implications for community trust and safety remain at the forefront of public concern.