Muslim community introduces new leaders as residents press council on streetlight, sidewalk safety

Tarek Sufi, director of public affairs for the Amniya Muslim community in Zion, used the city council public-comment period to introduce the congregation’s new chapter president, Safa Bagh, and new imam, Doha Ali, and to request meetings with council members.

The introductions came during a broader public-comment segment in which residents raised safety concerns about neighborhood infrastructure. Lawrence Jones, who identified himself as a Cypress Park resident, said a streetlight at Mark Avenue and Harvey has been out for roughly a year and that overgrown parkway trees are impeding sidewalks and existing lighting. "It's a safety concern to our neighborhood," Jones said, asking the council to expedite repairs and tree trimming.

Another resident urged the city to add pedestrian signage and to paint yellow curbs at several intersections to reduce risks to children and cyclists who are forced into the street. Council members and staff said those items would be addressed in departmental commentary and that staff would follow up with the neighborhood association.

Why it matters: residents described immediate public-safety risks—children cycling near obstructed sidewalks and reduced nighttime visibility—as the reason for asking for expedited city action. Council responses during the meeting indicated staff follow-up rather than immediate policy changes.

What happens next: the mayor and staff said they would handle the specifics in departmental follow-up; residents were told to expect a reply during departmental commentary or direct communications from assigned departments.

Sources: public comments to the council as recorded Nov. 4, 2025.