North East Ohio Democratic Veterans Caucus Endorses Mohammad Faraj for Cleveland Ward 7 City Council
North East Ohio Democratic Veterans Caucus Endorses Mohammad Faraj for Cleveland Ward 7 City Council
The North East Ohio Democratic Veterans Caucus (NEODVC), a dedicated group of men and women advocating for the veteran and military community, has announced their endorsement of Mohammad Faraj for Cleveland Ward 7 City Council in the 2025 Cleveland City Council election.
“This is an incredible honor,” states Mohammad. “During my first day of canvassing, I had a conversation with a veteran who shared with me that a politician hadn’t knocked his door in over 30 years. Amplifying the voices of veterans in local government is key to addressing problems pertaining to housing, public transportation, and healthcare. I’m looking forward to what we’re going to achieve together.”
During the past several months of the campaign, veterans have raised a number of critical concerns, including:
Healthcare access challenges: lack of women's clinics at VA facilities, limited OBGYN services, inconvenient appointment locations, and no on-site childcare for veterans with children.
Transportation barriers: cuts in services that make it harder for veterans particularly disabled and elderly to get to their medical appointments.
Workplace inequities: federal return-to-office orders threatening employment for disabled veterans unable to work in traditional office environments.
Housing discrimination: denials faced by veterans with criminal records, including minor offenses, leading to long-term instability.
Justice system reforms: improving access to and support through Veterans Dockets to address unique legal challenges.
Systemic neglect: dismissive attitudes from officials, inadequate local government advocacy, and the erasure of veterans’ history and contributions.
“Some of these problems cannot be solved by Cleveland city council alone. But city council can certainly be the catalytic spark that helps push for the awareness and the conversations needed to address these problems,” Mohammad assures.
Mohammad specifically references the role the federal government has over many veterans services, including medical care, and how difficult it can be for veteran constituents to navigate that level of bureaucracy.
Just recently, after an executive order issued by the Trump administration, the VA announced it was ending union contracts for most workers at Cleveland’s medical center.
“This hurts both workers and veterans, especially female veterans,” Mohammad comments. “It's infuriating to think of the sacrifices our servicemen and women have gone through to protect our country’s principles, only to have their livelihoods negatively affected by a hostile federal administration.”
Mohammad stays committed to amplifying the voices of veterans in local government, as he believes it is a perspective that can truly help to improve the everyday lives of every resident.